Hatty finished gathering the flowers, but her thoughts were not on her bouquet, but on her brother. In her heart she thanked God for prompting him to take this first right step, and earnestly she prayed that he might go steadily forward in the path that leadeth unto life.
The weeks flew by, and Aunt Barbara was able first to take a short drive, and then to be in the air hour after hour.
One Saturday Mr. Lee pushed back his chair, after dinner, and looking pleasantly round on his children, said, “What do you all say to a visit to Mr. Sparrow’s peach orchard to-day?”
The young faces flushed back a glad response, and every little voice was raised in a joyous welcome to the proposal.
“Aunt Barbara must go, too,” said Meg, giving the old lady a protective look, which, although it was quite absurd, sprang from real kindness.
“Yes, Aunt Barbara must go, of course,” said Mr. Lee, smiling.
“And Hatty, Hatty so dood,” put in Harry, as he laid his plump hand caressingly on Hatty’s white arm.
“Yes, every one must go, if the carriage is as full as the shoe where the old woman lived, with that wonderfully large family.”
“I hope none of us will have to be whipped and sent to bed,” said Meg, laughingly.
“No, no. You shall all have peaches and bread, instead,” said Mr. Lee, with a quizzical look.
The children all laughed so much at what they thought a charming witticism on their father’s part, that they could hardly hear his voice when he spoke again to say they must be ready in an hour; and then away he went, to give orders about the carriage.
At the first mention of the excursion Marcus had darted away to get his fishing-tackle in order; for he knew there was a famous trouting stream on Mr. Sparrow’s farm, and he meant to have sport, for which he cared more than for bushels of peaches.
The hour passed quickly away in busy preparation for the coming pleasure, and all were ready when the great family carriage Mr. Lee had borrowed from his brother, came up to the door.
The horses seemed as full of glee as the children, and Mr. Lee could not leave them to attend to the ladies. Marcus assisted Aunt Barbara very carefully down to the gate, and handed her in so dexterously that she was able to take her seat without complaining of twisting her joints with the exertion. Then Mrs. Lee was escorted with great ceremony, by Marcus, and placed at Aunt Barbara’s side. Jane (with the baby in her arms) and Hatty took up the middle seat. Marcus was to sit with his father,—but what was to become of Harry and Meg. The little things looked disconsolate as they saw the places filling up; but Hatty called out, cheerily, “I will hold Meg,” and Marcus said, almost in the same breath, “Harry must sit on my knee, that all the gentlemen may be together.”