How her heart beat when a carriage drove up to the door, with a gentleman and lady in it, whom she knew must be her papa and mamma, while on the coach box was seated a young boy. “What a fine, noble, little fellow he is,” she thought to herself, as the boy scrambled down without waiting for the assistance of any one.
The next instant she scarcely knew what was happening—every one seemed so full of confused delight. She felt that she was in her mother’s arms, who, still holding her, threw herself into those of granny. Then her papa, a fine, handsome gentleman, took her up and kissed her again and again; and next, she saw the little boy who had come in with a whip in his hand; she sprang towards him exclaiming, “You are Norman!” and, following the impulse of heart, covered his face with kisses.
“Yes, that’s my name,” answered the boy, “and you are the sister Fanny I was told I should see; and is that old woman there granny? Will she want to kiss me as you have done? I hope she won’t, for I do not choose to be treated as a baby.”
Happily Mrs Leslie did not hear these remarks; they grieved Fanny sorely.
“Oh but dear granny will love you as she does me, and you must come to her as I am sure she wants to see you,” she whispered gently. “Then you shall go out with me, and I will show you my poultry and Trusty and all sorts of things, which I am sure you will like.”
“Come along then,” said Norman, “I shall like to see the things you talk of.”
“Not surely till you have spoken to granny, but afterwards I will gladly take you,” said Fanny, and she led him up to Mrs Leslie.
Though his grandmamma kissed him several times, he behaved better than might have been expected, restraining for a wonder his impatience, somewhat awed perhaps by the dignified manner of the old lady.
“And now, Fanny, I am ready to see what you have got to show me,” he exclaimed, as Mrs Leslie taking her daughter’s arm led her into the drawing-room.
Captain Vallery cast a proud glance at his two beautiful children as hand in hand they ran upstairs.