Tim arose and made a speech. “Miss Beth, you dear child,” he began, and the audience shouted: “Hear, hear!” endorsing this estimate of Beth before he could get farther. “It’s sorry we are to be seein’ the last of you, as the man said to the thrain he’d run himself purple to catch whin he saw it turnin’ the corner, beyant the station. Trump is startin’ this day week to go afther you an’ it’s envyin’ Trump we’ll all be whin he gets there, more by token that you’ll likely throw your two arrums around him an’ kiss him plenty, which is what no Shetland pony can appreciate fully. Take it all in all, Miss Beth, high an’ low in your uncle’s house, an’ more, maybe, in your uncle’s stable, have come to love the sweet face of you this winter, an’ it’s just walkin’ rolls of crêpe we’d be didn’t we know you’d be here again next season. So we wish you good luck, Miss Beth, darlin’, an’ I’m thinkin’ there’s no better way to end a farewell speech than to say Godspeed, which is all wan with God bless you!” This speech, which Tim ended with a bow that would have done credit to a dancing master, was applauded to the echo. “You have to reply, Bethie,” whispered Uncle Jim, pulling Beth to her feet with a whirl. She laughed, but looked frightened, although all the faces before her were familiar ones, which smiled at her with affectionate looks. They saw a round-faced little girl, crimson with embarrassment, dark blue eyes dilated and excited, smiling, tremulous lips, fair hair flowing around her shoulders, snowy white floating frock making her look especially innocent and childish. It came to one or two present, notably to Aunt Alida and Anna Mary, that this child had come into her uncle’s household for more than her own sake and to spend a “wonder-winter” in the enjoyment of all that great wealth can give. She was a simple little girl, wholly unconscious and modest, but there was in her a quality, a nobility of mind and heart, which made those who loved Beth feel that it held the promise, the assurance of a future of important achievement. “I can’t make a speech; Tim’s speech was lovely,” said Beth in a little voice and they all applauded, choosing to consider this the opening of a speech. So Beth found herself launched, which was Uncle Jim’s intention when he led the applause. “I’ve had the nicest winter ever was,” Beth went on. “It’s been just like a fairy story. It’s gone right on from glory to glory. I’ve had a wonder-winter, in Wonderland. I’m fearfully, fearfully sorry I’ve got to go, but Aunt Alida and Uncle Jim are going to ask me again, they say, so maybe I’ll come back--if my great-aunt Rebecca can get along. Everybody has been so good to me, everybody! I’m--I’m just as obliged as I can be. I hope everybody will keep well this summer and be here, if I do come back. And--and--I’m really ever so much obliged.”