Daybreak | Page 7

dream about the sea. Oh, I am so glad that you and I are going to
the sea."
So the little head with its mass of golden brown hair found a
resting-place on Kate's shoulder, and silence reigned for a time. And
Kate, her arm round the sleeping child, watched those green fields
flooded with summer sunlight with thoughts so new and strange that
often the tears would come into her eyes. She could not quite
understand this new life yet, but somehow, since the day when the
fast-closed door was unlocked, and the Friend admitted, she had found
all her old restlessness and her hard thoughts of life vanish, and deep
peace and love had come in their place.
"Is it a station?" said a little dreamy voice at length, and the brown head
moved uneasily. "Please tell me when there's something to be seen
besides 'Colman's Mustard.'"

"There is something!" cried Kate, breathlessly, "there is, Oh, Frances,
such a beautiful face!"
Little Frances was on her feet in a moment, and rushed to the farther
window. Before the train had quite stopped, her head was such a long
way out that an old German from the next window shouted to her, "If
you do not take care, Miss, some fine morning you vill get up vidout
your head."
"I see her," said Frances, turning round to Kate, "all in grey, with a very,
very large bunch of roses in her hands. Now she is talking to three big
brothers. Now the big brothers are carrying all her things; books, and a
bag, and a basket, and a cloak, and a parasol, and a funny stick with
wires in it."
"Lawn-tennis racket," suggested Kate, who knew country ways.
"There is a funny old woman with a hook nose walking with them, and
now the big brothers are laughing and talking to her."
"Maybe she's the old nurse," remarked Kate.
"They are coming our way; oh, do you think she will get into our
carriage?"
"No, she'll travel first-class," said Kate, with a little sigh.
"No, no, I can hear them speak of travelling third. Kate, put your old
hat straight on your head. Tie my blue tie--quick, please!"
The arrangements were scarcely completed when a young man's face
appeared at the window, and soon after they heard a voice: "I say,
Violet, if you really mean to travel third, you and Nanny had better get
in there. There's only a poor girl with crutches and one other child."
"All right, Dick; help Nanny up first, and give her a corner seat with
my cloak behind her. Now Nanny, darling, lean on his arm."
"Put Nanny facing the engine, or she'll think she's going the wrong

way," shouted another voice, and a peal of laughter followed.. The old
woman after some difficulty was safely landed inside the carriage. The
brothers, carrying the things, followed. Violet with her great bunch of
roses came last.
It was quite new to poor Kate to hear brothers and sisters laughing and
joking together. She could not half understand the little jokes that
passed, but she liked to listen. The musical voices and the ringing
laughter seemed to do her good.
And Violet all the time was conscious of a great pair of wistful eyes
fixed on hers. As soon as the final good-bye to the brothers had been
said, and the train was really off, she whispered something to Nanny,
and began unfastening her bunch of roses. Nanny, meanwhile, bent
forward towards Kate: "You've been ill, my dears," she said.
"We've both been run over," said Kate.
"Eh, dearie me, now! to think of that!" said the old woman,
sympathisingly. "And you were hurt a great deal, I daresay."
"I lost my leg," said Kate.
"Well, now, I can feel for you there,--not as I ever lost one of mine, as
is as good as ever,--but I as good as lost one in Mr. Fred. You
remember, Miss Violet, my dear, that summer when he fell from the
apple tree, and the doctor said as he'd never seen such a leg. Dearie me,
what a sight of trouble we had with him to be sure!"
Violet had risen from her seat, and came towards the two poor girls.
"I want you to let me pin some of these roses in your dresses," she said,
brightly. "They are so sweet. Do you care for flowers?"
"I do. Thank you, Miss, very much." Kate lifted her head, and for a
moment the two girls looked each other full in the face. Such a contrast
they were! Violet all glowing with life and happiness and beauty; and
Kate with her old, sad face, and pathetic, dark eyes.

"Nanny, dear," said Violet, turning to the old nurse; "don't you think
my