forget the spots, and in a few moments came out on the piazza, chirping like a little bird.  By this time the rare quality of the morning had stolen like wine into our brains, and you exclaimed, “We will have breakfast out here, under the vines!  How George will like it!” And in another instant you were flitting back and forth, helping the rather ungracious Bridget move out the breakfast-table, with its tempting array.

“Oh, mamma, mamma,” cried Blue Eyes, “can’t I have my little tea-set on a little table beside your big table?  Oh, let me, let me!” and she fairly quivered with excitement.  You hesitated.  How I watched you!  But it was a little late.  Bridget was already rather cross; the tea-set was packed in a box, and up on a high shelf.

“No, dear.  There is not time, and we must not make Bridget any more trouble; but”—­seeing the tears coming again—­“you shall have some real tea in papa’s big gilt cup, and another time you shall have your tea-set when we have breakfast out here again.”  As I said before, you are a kind mother, and you made the denial as easy to be borne as you could, and Blue Eyes was again pacified, not satisfied, only bravely making the best of it.  And so we had our breakfast; a breakfast to be remembered, too.  But as for the “other time” which you had promised to Blue Eyes; how well I knew that not many times a year did such mornings and breakfasts come, and that it was well she would forget all about it!  After breakfast,—­you remember how we lingered,—­George suddenly started up, saying, “How hard it is to go to town!  I say, girls, walk down to the station with me, both of you.”

“And me too, me too, papa!” said Blue Eyes.  You did not hear her; but I did, and she had flown for her hat.  At the door we found her, saying again, “Me too, mamma!” Then you remembered her boots:  “Oh, my darling,” you said, kissing her, for you are a kind mother, “you cannot go in those nice boots:  the dew will spoil them; and it is not worth while to change them, we shall be back in a few minutes.”

A storm of tears would have burst out in an instant at this the third disappointment, if I had not sat down on the door-step, and, taking her in my lap, whispered that auntie was going to stay too.

“Oh, put the child down, and come along,” called the great, strong, uncomprehending man—­Blue Eyes’ dear papa.  “Pussy won’t mind.  Be a good girl, pussy; I’ll bring you a red balloon to-night.”

You are both very kind, you and George, and you both love little Blue Eyes dearly.

“No, I won’t come.  I believe my boots are too thin,” said I; and for the equivocation there was in my reply I am sure of being forgiven.  You both turned back twice to look at the child, and kissed your hands to her; and I wondered if you did not see in her face, what I did, real grief and patient endurance.  Even “The King of the Golden River” did not rouse her:  she did not want a story; she did not want me; she did not want a red balloon at night; she wanted to walk between you, to the station, with her little hands in yours!  God grant the day may not come when you will be heart-broken because you can never lead her any more!