Christian life -- Juvenile fiction; Didactic fiction; Domestic fiction; Siblings -- Juvenile fiction
Then she remembered that she had not asked God's pardon for the
wicked, resentful temper she had been indulging in, and, sinking on
her knees by the window-sill, she covered her face with her hands and
prayed earnestly. When she rose from her knees she saw a stream
of people descending the hill, and by-and-by was able to distinguish
the forms of those she knew. She noticed that her father and uncle
had joined Mr. and Mrs. Mickle, and that Gerald was following behind
with the Mickle children. She changed her mind about going to the
gate, and determined to remain where she was, for she was shy about
answering the good-natured, anxious questions she knew would be put
to her concerning her headache if she encountered her friends just
then.
So she drew back from the window, and allowed the Mickles time to say
good-bye at the gate before she peeped out again; presently, hearing
footsteps on the gravel path outside, she glanced out, and saw her
father.
"Well, Angel, how's the headache?" he asked, as she appeared
in sight. "Better, eh?"
"Yes, father, thank you," she answered, "much better."
"That's right. We came down the hill with the Mickles. Uncle Edward
wanted them all to come in, but they thought it too near dinner-time.
Yes, you are certainly looking better—a little pale still, but you
make a charming picture, standing there framed in roses and
honeysuckle!"
She laughed, and, leaning her arms upon the window-sill continued
to converse with him. He saw she was her usual cheerful self again,
and was pleased that the shadow had gone from her face; he had
guessed her pain had been as much mental as physical.
"Uncle Edward and Gerald have gone a short distance down the hill
with the Mickles," he informed her. "Come out into the garden
with me, Angel; or, do you think the sun will be too hot for you?
I am considering your poor head, my dear."
"Oh, my head is all right now," she assured him.
She put on a shady hat, and running downstairs joined Mr. Willis,
who had gone around to the front door to meet her. They strolled
about the garden, looking at the flowers, until Mr. Bailey and Gerald
returned. The latter glanced at Angel rather dubiously; but his face
brightened instantly when he met her eyes.
"I'm so glad your headache is gone!" he exclaimed heartily. "It is
gone, isn't it?"
"Yes," she nodded.
"We have had many inquiries to answer about you, Angel," Mr. Bailey
said. "Mrs. Mickle was much concerned to hear you were not well, and
suggested several remedies for headache, which I see I need not give
you now. You are looking almost yourself again."
Before going into the house to dinner, Angel seized an opportunity
to draw her brother aside out of hearing of the others, and said
earnestly: "Gerald, will you forgive me for being so unkind and
ill-tempered last night? I know you didn't mean to hurt me, and—and—"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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