the same words, they all
more or less brokenly said to him at last; and to each and all he
answered, in that way of his they loved and trusted, "I will."
From Andrew Churchill it was assurance enough.
* * * * *
CHAPTER II
"There! Doesn't that look like a 'Welcome Home'?"
Celia stood in the doorway and surveyed her handiwork. Mrs. Birch, from
an opposite threshold, nodded, smiling.
"It does, indeed. You have given the whole house a festival air which
will captivate Andy's heart the instant he sets eyes on it. As for our
little Charlotte--"
She paused, as if it were not easy to put into words that which she knew
Charlotte would think. But Celia went on gleefully:
"Charlotte will be so crazy with delight at getting home she will see
everything through a blur at first. But when we have all gone away and
left them here, then Charlotte will see. And she'll be glad to find
traces of her devoted family wherever she looks."
She pointed from the little work-box on the table by the window, just
equipped and placed there by her mother's hand, to the book-shelf made
and put up in the corner by Jeff. She waved her hand at a great wicker
armchair with deep pockets at the sides for newspapers and magazines,
which had been Mr. Birch's contribution to the living-room, and at the
fine calendar which Just had hung by the desk. Her own offerings were
the dressing-table furnishings up-stairs.
All these were by no means wedding gifts, but afterthoughts, inspired by
a careful inspection of the details of Doctor Churchill's bachelor home,
and the noting of certain gaps which only love and care would be likely
to fill.
In four hours now the travellers would be at home, in time, it was
expected, for the late dinner being prepared by Mrs. Hepzibah Fields.
For the present, at least, Mrs. Fields was to remain. "I've had full
proof of Charlotte's ability to cook and to manage a house," Doctor
Churchill had said, when they talked it over, "and I want her free this
first year, anyway, to work with her brush and pencil all she likes, and
to go about with me all I like."
Mrs. Fields, although a product of New England, had spent nearly half
her life in Virginia, in the service of the Churchills. She had drawn a
slow breath of relief when this decision had been made known to her, and
had said fervently to Doctor Churchill:
"I expect I know how to make myself useful without being conspicu
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