behind her and unfastened her dress without any further remark. And
though Elsie had a slight suspicion that she was being managed, it
was so delightful to feel herself nearing her bed without any effort
on her part that she yielded herself to the soothing touch, and said
"Good-night" quite gratefully when nurse bent over her at last with a
kiss.
But before this, the last good-nights were being said at Bickley.
"Lily is going home with us," said Frank, one of the Reigate boys.
"Mother's asked her to stay till Monday."
"I am glad of that," said her grandfather, laying his hand on Lily
Archer's shoulder. "I was wondering where my little lonely bird would
rest to-night?"
"Were you?" asked Lily, looking up gratefully.
"I thought they had asked you to stay here?"
"So grandmamma did, but I thought I ought to go back to be ready for my
school children on Monday."
"And now?" asked her grandfather.
"Now," interrupted Jack, "'we' want her. Some of us would be dreadfully
disappointed if she went back to London to-night. We are going to
telegraph to her home to say she'll be up by the first train on Monday."
Every one seemed to think this a capital plan, and soon the Reigate
party were on their way to the station, Claude Champion thinking that
quiet walk under the stars the very pleasantest thing in that eventful
day.
By-and-by, they reached home, where they found a bright fire blazing,
lighted by the maid to greet their arrival.
Sitting round in a circle, they all compared notes of their experiences
of the day's doings, each telling his or her view of the great event.
Dorothy, the only girl, standing close to Lily's side, while Jack
looked thoughtfully into the fire.
Presently he told them the story of his cottager's trouble and relief,
and ended up with a funny look as he said,—
"I never can see why it is people are so immensely fond of their
babies! Babies seem to me to grow on every hedge!"
His mother, who was sitting opposite him, shook her head, smiling,
however, to herself.
"Eh, mother?" he asked. "Did you ever value us in that frantic sort of
way?"
"Not frantic at all," she answered; "but—Jack, I think I have had to
learn that it is only as long as God keeps my dear ones for me that I
can hold them."
"I suppose it is," said Jack seriously, "but—"
"It is the safest keeping of all—" said his mother.
And then their eyes wandered to two pictures on the wall, at which they
looked, often unconsciously, every day of their lives, and of which
their mother had told them the story, which flashed on Jack now as she
spoke.
"Say us that lullaby, mother," he said.
So his mother repeated,—
"Lying at rest, softly at rest,
Thus lies my child to-day;
Safe from fear, far or near,
Safe from the world's dismay.
Sailing at rest, sweetly at rest,
Thus sails my love to-day;
Safe from fear, God is near,
Safe from the heart's dismay.
Only at rest, always at rest,
In Thee, my Lord, to-day;
Safe from fear, Thou art near;
Safe in Thy care we stay."
Then she told them if they did not say "Good-night" soon, the Golden
Wedding-day would be gone, and they would have to wish each other good
morning, which would not be at all nice!
But before twelve o'clock strikes, indeed, an hour before that, the
last of Mr. and Mrs. Forde's children were arriving at their home in
London.
It was late, and a hansom was the only vehicle which could be obtained
at the station. But the two children thought this all the more fun, for
to squeeze into it and to drive along with the cool night air blowing
in their faces with the moonlight making everything almost as bright as
day, was a treat such as they had never before enjoyed, and was a fit
close to the day, to their thinking.
Mildred sat on her father's knee, while her little sister Dolly stood
up behind, and leaned over her mother's shoulder, kissing her softly
every few minutes, and whispering happy nothings.
At last, they drew up close to home, and their father hurried to the
door to get it opened as soon as possible.
But the servants were on the look-out, and so was Vixen, in her kennel.
He had hardly touched the bell before the lighted hall was in full view.
Mildred led her little sister in. And while her mother was putting
aside her bonnet, she kept her amused, though she could not help
yawning privately.
She was not sorry to go straight upstairs when her mother came back,
but was too much of a child-lover not to be interested in their little
darling's sayings and doings while she was being undressed.
"I've got a secret!" exclaimed Dolly suddenly. "Where's father?"
"He is downstairs," said her mother.
"He mus' 'tum up," said Dolly, decidedly.
"Oh, Dolly, he's tired," said Mildred, who stood in her little pink
dressing-gown ready for bed, but obliged to stay to hear what their pet
had to say.
"He isn't," said Dolly. "I've got what Grandma said, to say to him.
Call him, Mildred!"
"He will not mind, for once," said their mother; "he is such a dear
father! But, Dolly, after that, you must lie down and go to sleep, for
you were never up so late in your life before!"
Dolly nodded, and Mildred ran out to the stairs and called, "Father,
Father, Dolly has something very particular to toll you!"
"Hey day! Has she? Then I must come, I suppose. What is it, Dolly? You
do not want any more biscuits, I hope?"
"I'se 'sick' of biscuits," said Dolly, shaking her curls.
"Then what is it? Have you enjoyed yourself?"
"She did," said Mildred, "and so did I. That's not what she wants to
say."
"Is it that you want to go to bed, like the stag in the picture
downstairs, who knows that his time for rest has come?"
"Well," began Dolly, with a bright look in her eyes, "I fink it is."
"Or is it that you have blown away all your teeth with those bubbles of
Lily Archer's?"
Dolly laughed gleefully, while two rows of pearls, perfect and even,
came into view.
"Make haste and tell me then," said her father, smiling. "I'm going off
to sleep."
Dolly peeped up in his face to see if he were in earnest.
"'Tum 'tose to me."
"Don't strangle me then."
"Shall I say it?"
"Why, yes, Dolly, be quick,—that's what I'm waiting for."
She put her soft little arms quite round his neck and her rosy lips
touched his ear.
"Grandma told us—" she said, and paused.
"I'm quite ready for it—"
"It's only 'Good-night,' father dear! Good-night!"
THE END.