Our "banishment," as I sometimes, in a rather discontented mood, called
our stay abroad, came to an end rather sooner than we had expected,
thanks to an unusually early and genial spring, which made even father
think that it would be safe for mother to return to England. Moore, by
this time, was in rollicking health and quite fit for school. And to me
our home-going was considerably damped by the knowledge that it meant
parting with my last playfellow.
After all, the winter had passed pleasantly enough; the Paynes had
helped to enliven it. But mother looked rather askance at my friendship
with them.
"Boys again!" she said half-laughingly. "Always boys, Regina! I wish
there had been a _Miss_ Payne."
"She wouldn't have been half as nice as Isabel Wynyard," I replied.
"And Rupert is really not like a boy; his whole interest is in books and
things of that kind. But you should be pleased, mamma, that I have made
_one_ real girl friend at last."
"So I am," was the reply--"very pleased."
"If only they lived nearer us," I said with a sigh. "I shall be
dreadfully dull at home when Moore goes."
"Poor Regina!" said mother. "Well, we must find something to cheer you
up."
And though I did not then know it, I believe that it was this
conversation that made her determine to arrange for my promised visit to
Millflowers as soon as possible. She never thought of herself, though
home without _any_ child in it seemed scarcely home to her.
The first few weeks, however, of our return were very bright and happy.
It was delightful to have Moore so thoroughly his old self, and two of
the other boys were with us for Easter; and best of all, the brother
whom I cannot describe as a "boy," as he was already twenty-five--
Jocelyn--our "eldest," and I must almost say "dearest."
He was deputed to take Moore to his new school, and very proud Moore was
of him as an escort.
"How I wish I could go to Winchester with you both," I said the evening
before they were to leave. "I really do think, Jocelyn," for it was to
him I was talking, "it was a great mistake that I was not a boy after
all, though I have been trying my best lately to make myself into a
`young lady'! Has mamma told you so? For every one of us, from oldest
to youngest, confided in Jocelyn. I put the question with some little
anxiety, for my brother's approval was very dear to me."