"We can trust Mrs. Waring-Gaunt for the first," said Larry with confidence, "and mother for the second." In neither the one nor the other was Larry mistaken, for Mrs. Waring-Gaunt in a very few minutes discharged both passengers and freight at the Gwynnes' door, and supper was waiting.
"We greatly appreciate your kindness, Mrs. Waring-Gaunt," said Dr.
Brown, bowing courteously over her hand. "I shall look in upon your brother to-morrow morning. I hardly think there is any great cause for anxiety.""Oh, thank you, Dr. Brown, I am glad to hear you say that. It would be very good of you to look in to-morrow.""Good-night," said Jane, her rare smile illuminating her dark face.
"It was so good of you to come for us. It has been a delightful ride. I hope your brother will be better to-morrow.""Thank you, my dear," said Mrs. Waring-Gaunt. "I should be glad to have you come over to us. I am sure my brother would be glad to know you.""Do you think so," said Jane doubtfully. "You know I am not very clever. I am not like Kathleen or Nora." The deep blue eyes looked wistfully at her out of the plain little face.
"I am perfectly certain he would love to know you, Jane--if I may call you so," said Mrs. Waring-Gaunt, impulsively kissing her.
"Oh, you are so kind," said Jane. "I will come then to-morrow."The welcome to the Gwynne home was without fuss or effusiveness but had the heart quality that needs no noisy demonstration.
"We are glad to have you with us at Lakeside Farm," said Mr. Gwynne heartily, as he ushered Dr. Brown and Jane into the big living room, where his wife stood waiting.
"You are welcome to us, Dr. Brown," said the little lady. And something in the voice and manner made Dr. Brown know that the years that had passed since his first meeting with her had only deepened the feeling of gratitude and affection in her heart toward him. "We have not forgotten nor shall we ever forget your kindness to us when we were strangers passing through Winnipeg, nor your goodness to Larry and Kathleen while in Winnipeg. They have often told us of your great kindness.""And you may be quite sure, Mrs. Gwynne," said Dr. Brown heartily, "that Larry brought his welcome with him, and as for Kathleen, we regard her as one of our family.""And this is Jane," said Mrs. Gwynne. "Dear child, you have grown.
But you have not changed. Come away to your room."Once behind the closed door she put her arms around the girl and kissed her. Then, holding her at arm's length, scrutinised her face with searching eyes. "No," she said again with a little sigh of relief, "you have not changed. You are the same dear, wise girl I learned to love in Winnipeg.""Oh, I am glad you think I am not changed, Mrs. Gwynne," said Jane, with a glow of light in her dark blue eyes. "I do not like people to change and I would hate to have you think me changed. I know,"she added shyly, "I feel just the same toward you and the others here. But oh, how lovely they are, both Kathleen and Nora.""They are good girls," said Mrs. Gwynne quietly, "and they have proved good girls to me.""I know, I know," said Jane, with impulsive fervour, "and through those winters and all. Oh, they were so splendid.""Yes," said the mother, "they never failed, and Larry too.""Yes, indeed," cried Jane with increasing ardour, her eyes shining, "with his teaching,--going there through the awful cold,--lighting the school fires,--and the way he stuck to his college work.
Nora's letters told me all about it. How splendid that was! And you know, Mrs. Gwynne, in the 'Varsity he did so well. I mean besides his standing in the class lists, in the Societies and in all the college life. He was really awfully popular," added Jane with something of a sigh.
"You must tell me, dear, sometime all about it. But now you must be weary and hungry. Come away out if you are ready, and I hope you will feel as if you were just one of ourselves.""Do you know, that is just the way I feel, Mrs. Gwynne," said Jane, putting the final touch to her toilet. "I seem to know the house, and everything and everybody about it. Nora is such a splendid correspondent, you see.""Well, dear child, we hope the days you spend here will always be a very bright spot in your life," said Mrs. Gwynne as they entered the living room.
The next few days saw the beginning of the realisation of that hope, for of all the bright spots in Jane's life none shone with a brighter and more certain lustre than the days of her visit to Lakeside Farm.
