way's green
gate, addressed in the same handwriting--the Captain's. It was not
from the Captain, however, but from Ida.

"MY DEAR, DEAR MRS. OVERTHEWAY,

"We got here on Saturday night, and are so happy. Papa says
when will you come and see us? I have got a little room to
myself, and I have got a glass case under which I keep all
the things that Papa ever sent me, and his letters. I bought
it with part of a sovereign Uncle Garbett gave me when I
came away. Do you know he was so very kind when I came away.
He kissed me, and said, 'GOD bless you, my dear!
You are a good child, a very good child;' and you know it
was very kind of him, for I don't think I ever was good
somehow with him. But he was so kind it made me cry, so I
couldn't say anything, but I gave him a great many kisses,
for I did not want him to know I love Papa the best. Carlo
will put his nose on my knee, and I can't help making blots.
He came with us in the railway carriage, and ate nearly all
my sandwiches. When he and Papa roll on the hearthrug
together, I mix their curls up and pretend I can't tell
which is which. Only really Papa's have got some grey hairs
in them: _we know why_. I always kiss the white hairs when I
find them, and he says he thinks I shall kiss the colour
into them again. He is so kind! I said I didn't like Nurse
to wear her black dress now, and she said it was the best
one she had, and she must wear it in the afternoon; so Papa
said he would get us all some bright things, for he says
English people dress in mud-colour, while people who live in
much sunnier, brighter countries wear gay clothes. So we
went into a shop this morning, and I asked him to get my
things all blue, because it is his favourite colour. But he
said he should choose Nurse's things himself. So he asked
for a very smart dress, and the man asked what kind; and I
said it was for a nurse, so he brought out a lot of prints,
and at last Papa chose one with a yellow ground and
carnations on it. He wanted very much to have got another
one with very big flowers, but the man said it was meant for
curtains, not for dresses, so I persuaded him not to get it;
but he says now he wishes he had, as it was much the best.
Then he got a red shawl, and a bonnet ribbon of a kind of
green tartan.