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It was decided that the secret should be a Christmas-present for "Auntie Hester," to be bought in Southminster. The Bishop found that Regie's entire capital was sixpence. But Regie explained that he could spend a shilling, because he was always given sixpence by his father when he pulled a tooth out. "And I've one loose now," he said. "When I suck it it moves. It will be ready by Christmas."
This profound truth was proving itself equal to the occasion at Warpington Vicarage. Mrs. Gresley was well again, after a fortnight at the seaside with Regie. The sea air had blown back a faint color into Regie's cheeks. The new baby's vaccination was ceasing to cast a vocal gloom over the thin-walled house.
They were sitting on opposite sides of the fire, one very gloomy, and the other very pettish, when the waggonette stopped at the gate, to put out Miss Hacket and take up Dolores. Hands pulled her up the step, and a hubbub of merry voices received her in the dark. 'Good girl, not to keep us waiting. 'Oh, Dolly, Dolly, Macrae says Uncle Regie's come! 'Oh, Dolly, it has been such fun!
These expeditions to Westhope were a great event. At two o'clock exactly the three children rushed down-stairs, Regie bearing in his hand his tin money-box, in which a single coin could be heard to leap. Hester produced a bright threepenny-piece for each child, one of which was irretrievably buried in Regie's money-box, and the other two immediately lost in the mat in the pony-carriage.
Regie's large eyes were turned upon her with solemn inquiry in them. It is crises like this that our first ideals are laid low. Regie had always considered Hester as the very soul of honor, that mysterious honor which he was beginning to dimly apprehend through her allegiance to it, and which, in his mind, belonged as exclusively to her as the little bedroom under the roof.
"My wife demurs at sending him," said Mr. Gresley. "No, no, she does not," said the Bishop, gently. "Hester saved Regie's life, and it is only right that Regie should save hers. You will come over this afternoon to take him back," he continued to Mr. Gresley. "I wish to have some conversation with you." Fräulein appeared breathless, dragging Regie with her.
Then all in a moment her face altered. Her agonized eyes turned to the doctor. In an instant Dr. Brown's hand was over Regie's eyes, and he hurried him out of the room. "Take him out of hearing," he whispered to the Bishop, and darted back. Hester was tearing the bandages off her hands. "I don't know what has happened," she wailed, "but my hands hurt me so that I can't bear it."
"So theology and natural science are to be Regie's first lessons?" said my father, drawing me to him. "I've been talking on stilts, I know," said Mr. Andrewes, smiling. "We'll use simpler terms, duty to GOD, and duty to Man. One can't do either without learning how, Mr. Dacre." I repeat this conversation as I have heard it from my father, since I grew up and could understand it. Mr.
"Then he has not come with you?" Regie's mind was what his father called "sure and steady." Mr. Gresley often said he preferred a child of that kind to one that was quick-witted and flashy. "No, he has not come with me." "Mary!" shrieked Regie, "he has not come." "I knew he had not," said Mary. "When I saw he was not there I knew he was somewhere else."
"Uncle Dick did say it was a flying half-penny, and you said so, too, and that other auntie. And I thought it did not matter putting in flying half-pennies, only common ones." Hester saw the difficulty in Regie's mind. "It felt common when it was inside," said Regie, doubtfully, "and yet you and Uncle Dick did say it was a flying one."
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