The holidays drew to a close.  The return of the mother and sisters was at hand.  Emilie was not without her fears for Edith at this time, but she trusted in the help which she knew Edith would have if she sought it, and was thus encouraged.  The right understanding between her brothers and herself she was rejoiced to see daily increasing.  It was not that there was nothing to ruffle the two most easily ruffled spirits.  Fred was not considerate, and would constantly recur to his old habit of tensing Edith.  Edith was easily teased, and would rather order and advise Fred, which was sure to bring on a breeze; but they were far less vindictive, less aggravating than formerly.  They were learning to bear and forbear.  Edith had the most to bear, for although Fred was impressed by her kind and altered conduct, and could never forget the generous act of sacrifice when she parted with Muff to gratify him, he was as yet more actuated by impulse than principle, and nothing but principle, Christian principle I mean, will enable us to be kind and gentle, and unselfish habitually, not by fits and starts, but every day.

Joe Murray was sitting at his door smoking his pipe, and watching his little grandchildren as they played together (this time harmoniously) in the garden.  They were not building a grotto, they were dancing, and jumping, and laughing, in the full merriment of good healthy happy children.  Emilie and Edith greeted Joe as an old friend, and Joe seemed delighted to see them.  The two children, who had been commissioned to search for corallines, rushed up to Edith with a basket full of a heterogeneous collection, and amongst a great deal of little value there were some beautiful specimens of the very things Edith wanted.  She thanked the little Murrays sincerely, and then looked at Emilie.  Should she pay them? the look asked.  It was evident the children had no idea of such a thing, and felt fully repaid by Edith’s pleasure.  Edith only wanted to know if it would take from that pleasure to receive money.  She had been learning of late to study what people liked, and wished to do so now.

Emilie did not understand her look, and so Edith followed her own course.  “Thank you, oh, thank you,” she said.  “It was very kind of you to collect me so many, they please me very much.  I wish I knew of something that you would like as well as I like these, and if I can, I will give it to you, or ask mamma to help me.”  The boy not being troubled with bashfulness, immediately said, that of all things he should like a regular rigged boat, a ship, “a little-un” that would swim.  The girl put her finger in her mouth and said “she didn’t know.”  “Are you going to have a boat?” said every little voice, “oh, what fun we shall have.”  “Yes,” said our peace-making friend, Sarah.  “You know that if Dick gets any thing it is the same as if you all did.  He is such a kind boy, Miss, he plays with the little ones, and gives up to them so nicely, you’d be surprised.”