CHAPTER XVI. FAREWELL VOICES. "There is a soft and gentle form That oft before my memory springs, That still to me a guardian saint Calls back the thought that's prone to err, UCH as Charlie L'Estrange loved his future now before him was to his boyish vision a glorious one. Had not he read "Tom Brown's Schooldays," and "Eric Williams, or Little by Little," till Charlie imagined himself the hero of schoolboy feats and adventures, and one among the gay throng of cricketers and competitors for prizes at school? When Charlie and Alice met this morning in the wood, just as they had met scores of times before, it seemed to Alice at first almost impossible that this was to be the last of these happy meetings. Yet she felt it must be, and as each step brought her nearer and nearer to Charlie, her heart was too full for words. Charlie knew when he saw Alice alone, without Harry or Nell, that she had already heard all, and his own heart was well-nigh as sad as Alice's, as he said "You see, Alice, I had to bring them all home to-day," pointing to his number of books. She made no reply, but held out her hands to take some. He divided the books with her, and then they walked on for a few minutes without speaking. It was Charlie at last who broke the silence by saying "You know the little pigeon with the dark ring round its neck, Alice?” "Yes, Charlie," came in a low tone. "I think it will soon begin laying, Alice, and hatch some eggs too-you will take care of them you not, Alice?" for me, will "Yes, Charlie," came again, but in a lower tone. "And about the rabbits, Alice, they are rather troublesome, they want to be fed so often, but old James the gardener will help you. Oh! my garden, Alice, you never can keep it and your own free from weeds-but do not try-only will you remind James to put out my geraniums. And the seeds, Alice, I will leave you to sow just whatever you like. I'll tell you, Alice, would you wish to have it all made into one large garden now?" he added quickly. But she replied as quickly, "No, no, indeed I would not-you shall have it when you come back. I will take care of it when you are gone." And here two large drops came from under the large brown hat and fell on Charlie's books. "Not a bit of it, Alice, no, you are not going to do that," Charlie said kindly, as diving his hand into Alice's pocket he felt for her handkerchief, but it lay there so wet, telling its own tale, that he did not dare to take it out. He added, "Here is mine, quite a grand one, Alice, with this mauve border." Then he put the handkerchief with the mauve border under the large brown hat and wiped away Alice's tears. And then the mauve-bordered handkerchief wiped away a tear from somebody else's eyes too, as Charlie continued, "I will write to you very often, Alice, and you will write to me long letters and tell me everything. Yes, I shall want to know what you are doing all day long." the thought of these long letters cheered ice's heart, so that she and Charlie began to talk quite happily of the future, and when they reached the avenue, Alice's flushed cheeks were almost as cool as the winter breezes which blew on them. "Hurrah, Charlie !" shouted Harry, putting his head out of the playroom window as they passed. "How beautiful she looks now, the sails all ready to be spread. I shall work at her all day, and have her finished this evening." "Oh, this evening, Alice, I had almost forgotten. Mr Blackburn wants us all to go to the rectory, to see a magic lantern that a gentleman who is on a visit at the rectory has. Such beautiful slides as he has got. You will all be delighted with them," said Charlie, as he began to look over his schoolbooks, and select which he should take with him, while Harry worked at his yacht, and Nell and Alice went to see if they could help nurse in arranging Charlie's clothes. Nurse was very glad of their assistance, so while Alice's loving little hands folded the pretty blue ties, and put them in the green box with Charlie's gloves, Nell sat down patiently, and marked on several pair of socks, C. L'E. |