Thompson soon arrived with a couple of strong farm-men, and between
them they carried my poor groaning school-mate back to the farm, where
Mrs. Marshall was waiting, full of alarm at the chapter of accidents
which had happened. It was a painful journey home for Ernestine, and it
was many weeks before her sprained ankle would allow her to walk, or
take any part in our school games again. I think I was able to make the
dull hours she had perforce to spend on her sofa pass a little more
brightly for her, and she was grateful to me beyond words.

"No, don't!" I said, when she tried once to stammer out her thanks.
"We've forgotten all that old time. It's no use remembering bygones.
We're going to start afresh now, and we'll all give you ever such a
jolly welcome when you're well enough to come into school again."

And so my last trouble at The Hollies had passed away, for Miss Percy's
hard discipline had resolved itself into the genial sway of Miss Hope,
and Ernestine Salt, who had been the one stormy element in my class, now
wrote herself upon the list of my friends.

CHAPTER XI

AT MARSHLANDS AGAIN

"Each year to ancient friendships adds a ring,
As to an oak, and precious more and more,
Without deservingness, or help of ours
They grow, and, silent, wider spread each year
Their unbought ring of shelter or of shade."

I had so many visits to pay to various friends and relations of my
father, who took a kindly interest in my welfare, that it was not until
the following Easter-time that I was able to accept Mrs. Winstanley's
oft-repeated invitation that I should spend a second holiday at
Marshlands. How familiar the dear little station looked as Cathy and I
turned out our numerous bags and packages upon the platform at Everton!
The very porter knew me again, and greeted me with a grin of welcome;
and every house, and tree, and bend of the road as we drove home through
the village, felt to me like an old friend.

"Well, Miss Humming-bird, you have grown out of all knowledge!" said the
squire. "The gray pony is still at your service, and there's a nice
light little rod-and-line we could soon teach you to whip the stream
with. We'll make a sportswoman of you yet, I declare!"

Mrs. Winstanley welcomed me home equally with Cathy.

"I'm longing to see your Nature Note-Book," she said. "You must have
made many additions since last we met. The wild daffodils are out in the
Wyngates meadows,