The nursery windows were open. The sunshine fell in bright patches
across Robin’s little white crib, where he lay among his pillows,
literally embowered amid blossoming plants.
“See, Elizabeth,” he called. “Here’s another!—a crimson bramble rose. It
hasn’t any card, ’cept just a happy Easter one. Mother can’t guess who
sent it, so I think _maybe_ it was Mrs. _Bo_-gardus! That makes five
flowers, and two rabbits, and three chickens, and a little red
prayer-book, all for me! Here’s a pansy for you and Ernie, please;
’cause you want to look pretty Easter day.”
“Thank you, honey,” we answered. And, though the stems were very short,
we managed to pin Robin’s pansies into our coats.
“They are playing ‘Welcome, happy morning!’” said Ernestine, as the
front door closed behind us, and the jubilant music of the chimes rang
more clearly to our ears. “Oh, Elizabeth, we _are_ happy, aren’t we?”
“Indeed we are, Ernie dear,” I returned. And then we had to hurry, since
it was already late.
“See, there are Aunt Adelaide and Meta,” I cried, presently, as we
neared the church porch. “They are going in just ahead of us. How
stunningly they are gotten up! Meta’s suit is charming, and what a love
of a hat!”
“But we look nice, too,” returned Ernie, with an irrepressible little
skip, and a downward glance at the bright flower in her button-hole. “We
can’t help it, Elizabeth,—because, we are _so glad_!”
The swelling notes of the organ, the youthful, soaring voices of the
choristers, in exultant anthem and hymn, the collect, and short, strong
sermon, seemed all a wonderful expression of our own inward thanksgiving
and gratitude. Never before has an Easter service meant so much to me,
and I know it was the same with Ernie.
Our shabby gloves met in sympathetic clasp. We squeezed one another’s
hands, and thought of that other morning when we sat side by side on the
dark attic stairs, waiting for news of Robin. Oh, to have made up one’s
mind to renunciation, only to have one’s treasure given back
double-fold! For we have great hopes of Bobsie now; Dr. Porter is more
than satisfied with the progress he is making; and only listen,—there’s
more good news to tell!
For after service Aunt Adelaide and Meta waited for us in the
church-porch, and we walked a couple of blocks together.
“Geof is very anxious to see you, Ernie,” said Aunt Adelaide. “Can you
manage to get around for a little visit this afternoon? Dr. Porter has
given his permission.”
“Oh!” cried Ernie, with an ecstatic little prance. “May I truly come?
That’s the one thing needed to make the day perfect!”
“Ask your mamma to come with you,” smiled Aunt Adelaide;—for the old
breach seems really healed at last. Our mutual anxiety over Geof and
Robin has brought us closer together than anything else could ever have
done. “Tell her please that there is a little matter Uncle George and I
want to talk over with her.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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