“Mamma,” asked the child, with a serious, wistful look in her eyes, “how is it that the things we love best and care most for always seem to go away soonest?” It seemed to Winifred that the warm, loving arms closed more tenderly and closely round her as the mother answered gently: “Does it seem so to you, darling?” “Yes, mamma. It was my favourite rose-tree that died last winter, and my favourite oak-tree that was blown down in the storm. Ronald lost his best puppy, and papa’s favourite horse went lame. I like all the birds very much, but the swallows much, much the best, and it is the swallows who go, and the robins and chaffinches that stay behind. I wonder why it is.” “But the swallows come back again, darling,” said the mother, kissing her child’s broad brow. “I remember how sorry my little girl was when they had all gone last year; but here they are again, and it was such pleasure to watch them build that you told me it made up for the long time of waiting. It will be the same again this year, Winnie.” “Will it, mamma? It seems as if it would be winter for such a long, long while. I cannot fancy that the spring will ever come again.” Mrs. Digby made no reply, and by-and-by Winifred went on. “And last year I was so disappointed, for I never said good-bye; I never saw them go. I had watched them gather, and gather, and gather, and I did so want to see them start, and I never did. Do you think they will gather here again this year, mamma?” “I think it is very likely. They very often do.” “If they do, I will be _sure_ not to miss them; I do so want to see them go, and say good-bye.” “What is it you are not going to miss, my little girl?” asked a kind, cheery voice from the other side of the room. Winifred and her mother looked round, and saw that Dr. Howard had entered unobserved. He was never very many days without paying the child a visit, and she had grown fond of the old man, and was not afraid to talk to him freely. He came and sat in her vacated seat--the wide window-ledge--and looked into her face, and took the thin little hand in his, and patted it in a friendly fashion. “Well, Winnie, what is it you are so anxious not to miss? Do you want my leave to go to a children’s party, or to do something else bold and daring?” “Oh no!” answered Winnie, smiling; “we were only talking about the swallows. We think they will gather here before they fly, as they did last year, and I do so want to see them go. Last year I missed them somehow.” Dr. Howard smiled and shook his head. “I never saw the swallows go yet, little maid, though I am an old man now; and what is more, I never knew anybody who had, either.” Winifred’s eyes opened wide. “Does nobody ever see them go? Somebody must. They do not turn into fairies and vanish away, do they?” The old doctor smiled and answered in a fanciful way for a little while, until seeing the child was growing puzzled, he said at last: