CHAPTER XXII.

BROUGHT HOME.

THEY stopped at a baker's shop—Lettie still borne in the arms which could not weary of their burden—and there Leveson ordered loaves and rolls sufficient to supply the Forsyth family for a week at least. At another shop, he desired that a goodly pat of butter and a quart of milk should be despatched to the same quarter; from another, he sent tea and sugar; and finally a joint of meat was ordered to follow in the morning. After which he hailed a cab, and stepped into it, sitting with Lettie on his knee, not making her talk, but watching the bewildered gravity of the little face, and tracing more strongly every moment the likeness to little Vi of old.

Home at last. Leveson paid and dismissed the cabman, then lifted Lettie up the steps and into the hall. Josie came rushing to meet him, but stopped short at the sight of the ragged little stranger.

"Yes, Josie, it is Vi herself," said Leveson.

Josie looked extremely perplexed what to do.

Lettie made no move, of course; and Josie was much more sensitive to the rags than Leveson had been.

But a quick "Josie, have you no welcome to offer?" recalled her to herself, and taking Lettie's hand, she kissed her shyly, letting the hand drop again the next moment. It felt very uncomfortable. Somehow this was not at all like the rapturous and enthusiastic re-union that she had always imagined for Vi's return; and that silent timid poor child did not seem in the least like her own sister. There was something unreal about the whole matter, and Josie looked distressfully at her brother.

"Patience, dear; it will all come right in time," said Leveson comprehendingly. "Where is my mother?"

"Up-stairs. She heard you come, and she said she was sure, by the way you shut the door, that you had some good news."

"Come, then, she is prepared," said Leveson. "We will go to her at once."

Leading the passive little Lettie by the hand, he took her to the door of the room, and entered alone. But he had no need to break the good news. One look at his face told all. "Vi!—She is found!" were the only words heard, broken by a stifled cry; and then Lettie was folded in such a passionate embrace, that it seemed as if she could never again be set free. Words failed here. Even sobs were silent in that first five minutes of unutterable joy, and only the pressure of the mother's arms spoke of what was passing in the mother's heart.

But she regained self-command. For the sake of her child, she sat up, and smiled, and looked into the little strange yet familiar face, and stroked back the uncombed hair, and kissed the thin though dimpled cheeks. "Vi, my little pet—my little darling—have they told you who I am? Do you know me, sweet one? Do you love me, precious Vi?"

"Call her Lettie—that is the name she knows," whispered Leveson.

"I wants mother," murmured Lettie, who was growing alarmed at such vehement caressing; and seeing this, Mrs. Therlock forced herself to be calm.

"You shall have her again another day," said Leveson, laying his hand on Lettie's head. "But this is mother, Lettie, and you are going to learn to love dear mother very much. Do you remember that story I told you?"

Lettie nodded.

"This is the poor mother who was so unhappy; but now she is happy, because she has her lost child back again."

"She ain't happy—she's a cryin'," said Lettie.

"Only because she is so very glad that she doesn't know what to do. Isn't Lettie glad to come to her own dear mother?"

"I wants—mother," said Lettie, with trembling lips.

"And won't you have me for a mother, sweet one?" asked Mrs. Therlock.

"Don't you think some of my frocks and things that I have outgrown would do for Lettie?" demanded Josie suddenly. "She is so very ragged."

This was a practical turn given to affairs. "Would you like a pretty frock, Lettie?" asked Leveson. "And some shoes and stockings?"

"Hor does want a jacket ever so, 'cause he can't get no work," said Lettie.

"You darling, he shall have it," said Mrs. Therlock eagerly. "Give me a kiss, and Hor shall have a new jacket."

"And now Josie shall take her to nurse in the next room, and see what can be done in the way of dress," said Leveson, when that request was acceded to. "No, mother, you must lie quiet. I cannot have you overdo yourself, and I have a great deal to tell you. They will become better acquainted if they are alone together," he added, in a lower voice.

Mrs. Therlock submitted, though she gazed longingly after the little pair as they disappeared. She had many things to ask and hear—many particulars concerning Leveson's search—how he had found Lettie; with whom she had lived; what had been the manner of her life; and why and when the Forsyths had first taken her up.

Leveson had so much to say, that before he had finished, the door again opened, and the two little sisters entered, hand in hand—Lettie arrayed in a blue merino frock, outgrown by Josie, with her hair brushed smoothly behind her ears, and a neat pair of shoes and stockings on her feet. The pleased smile on the little face was even a greater change.

"Little pet! You like your new frock, don't you?" said Mrs. Therlock, drawing her close for another embrace. "Does it feel warm and comfortable?"

"She looks nice, doesn't she?" said Josie, as Lettie nodded. "I feel somehow as if she were really more like my sister now."

"Do you know what to call this little girl, Lettie?" asked Leveson, touching Josie's shoulder.

"Miss Josie," promptly responded Lettie.

"No, only 'Josie,' because she is your sister. And what are you to call me?"

Lettie attempted no answer.

"You must call me Leveson. It is a hard name, isn't it? But you will soon learn how. And this lady?"

"I dunno," said Lettie.

"Won't you call me 'mother,' darling?" asked Mrs. Therlock.

But Lettie thought of another, and at once said—

"No."

"'Mamma,' then, sweet one."

Lettie nodded. She was very sparing of her words that evening, grave, demure, silent, and submissive. They gave her a good tea which she heartily enjoyed, and Josie brought out numberless toys afterwards, making her presents generously of the best among them; but Lettie would only show pleasure by looks, not by words.

Mrs. Therlock could not bear to have her out of her sight, though as yet there was no return of affection, and when they put her to bed, she sobbed herself to sleep for "mother." Her own mother, sitting near, shed a good many tears in company, but she knew how time would work, and she was too happy and thankful for the great mercy of having her child restored, to dwell on minor troubles.

Josie was happy too, yet not without a cloud. Leveson saw and understood. When Lettie was gone to bed, and Mrs. Therlock had vanished to watch by her side, he took Josie on his knee, and said, "Well, little sister?"

Josie sighed.

"It has been a bright day for us, has it not?"

Josie hung her head, and said, "I'm glad she's found."

"Only that?"

"I am glad," said Josie, with a little sob. "And I don't want to be nasty and cross,—only mother does kiss her so very very much."

"Don't you think it is natural she should?"

"She hasn't remembered to give me one kiss all the evening," said Josie, another sob welling up from the depth of her heart.

"Think of the five long years that you have had all the kisses she had to give—and poor little Lettie without one."

"I know, but that makes it harder to bear," said Josie, in a choked tone. "And Lettie doesn't care. And I shall only have half of mother now, and I used to have the whole of her."

"And do you think, Josie, that all the love she gives to Lettie will take away one feather's weight from what she has always given to you?" Then putting his arm round her, he quoted, "'Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad, for this thy brother'—thy sister—'was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.'"

"But you don't think I'm like that elder brother, do you?" said Josie indignantly. "Because he didn't like to see the fatted calf killed, or the best robe given; and I am sure I liked ever so much to see Vi eating the plum-cake, and dressed in my old blue frock."

"Perhaps the old blue frock does not occupy quite the same space in your thoughts, as the best robe did in those of the elder brother. He was jealous, you see, not at his brother having the same that he had himself, but because he had better."

Josie sighed. "I don't mean to be jealous. I'm sure I shouldn't like to be."

"Then fight it in the right way, dearest, when the feeling comes, and remember that mother has to win Vi's heart, while she is sure of yours. That makes a great difference. And you will try to win her also to love you, will you not?"

"Yes, I mean to be kind," said Josie, in a low voice. "I did try this evening."

"And you succeeded too, dear. Vi will soon learn to love you dearly, if you go on as you have begun."

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