Daisy, Maud, Hazel and Ray seemed to shrink closer together on the old mahogany sofa. Cora and the Robinson girls with Cecilia were grouped closely about the sick child.

 

"It's all about grandfather," she began. "I had the dearest, darlingest grandfather, and since he went away I am so lonely. Only for mother," she added, with something like an apology. "Of course, I am never really lonely with mother."

 

Mrs. Salvey shook her head. Then she picked up the discarded sewing.

 

"You see," went on Wren¹, "we used to live with grandfather in a beautiful cottage right near the river. He was a sea captain, and couldn't live away from the waves. Then I was strong enough to play on the sands."

 

Wren stopped. At the mention of her infirmity a cloud covered her young face. Presently she brightened up and resumed:

 

"But I am going to be strong again. When I find—"

 

She tossed her head back and seemed to see something beyond. For a moment no one spoke². The silence was, akin³ to reverence⁴.

 

"Then," sighed the child, "when we lived by the ocean grandfather went out in a terrible storm—he said he had to go. And he never came back."

 

"Oh!" gasped⁵ Cora involuntarily.

 

Cecilia bent⁶ so close to Wren that her breath stirred the brown ringlets over the child's ears.

 

"But, of course," declared the child vehemently⁷, "he will come back.

If not here—in some other world."

"Dear," said Mrs. Salvey, "you had better make your story a little short. I am sure the young ladies will want to get over the roads before nightfall."

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