on dreamily, "hereyes are a little like the sea, don't you think, Mavis?"
"Like the sea when it is _quite_ good, quite at peace, loving andgentle," she replied. "But still, if you had lived beside the sea aslong as we have, Bertrand, you'd understand that there's never a surefeeling about it, you never know what it won't be doing next; and theprincess, you know, makes you feel surer than sure; that's the best ofher."
"Yes," said Bertrand, "the sea's like Ruby and me. Now just at thistime I want more than anything to be good, and never to be selfish orcruel, or--or boasting, or mischievous. But when I get about again withRuby--even though she's very good now, and she never was anything likeas bad as me--I don't feel sure but what we might do each other harm andforget about being good and all that; do you see?"
"I think it's a very good thing that you do _not_ feel sure," saidMavis. But she was struck by his saying just what Ruby herself hadsaid, and it made her a little anxious.
The children's new resolutions, however, were not put to the test in theway they expected. Bertrand quickly got well again and was able to runabout in his usual way. But very soon after this his uncle, the fatherof Ruby and Mavis, came unexpectedly for one of his short visits to thecastle, to his little daughters' great delight. And when he left hetook Bertrand away with him. There was more than one reason for theboy's visit coming to an end so much sooner than had been intended.Miss Hortensia may have had something to do with it, for though she hadgrown to like Bertrand much better during his illness, and no one couldhave been more delighted than she at the improvement in him, it was notto be wondered at if she trembled at continuing to have the charge ofhim. Then, too, Bertrand confided to his uncle his wish to be a sailor,in which he never again wavered.
Ruby and Mavis felt sad when the travellers had left them. Theirfather's "good-byes" were the only alloy to the pleasure of his visits.And this time there was Bertrand to say good-bye to also!
"Who would have thought," said Mavis, "that we should ever be sorry tosee him go? But I am glad to feel sorry."
"Yes," said Miss Hortensia, "much better for him to go while his presentmood lasts, and we are able to regret him. And may be he will come topay us a visit again some time or other."
"I hope he will," said Mavis. "I don't think he will _ever_ again belike what he was, cousin."
"Mavis," said Ruby, when they were alone, "when Bertrand does come tosee us again, we must plan all to go to Forget-me-not Land together. Itwould be so nice, all four of us. Winfried will come to see us againsoon; he said he would whenever he comes to his grandfather; let us askhim. I am sure the princess wouldn't mind now Bertrand is sodifferent."
"I am sure she wouldn't," said Mavis, smiling. "And who knows," Rubywent on, "what lovely new things and places we shan't see when we gothere again. Winfried says there's no end to them, and that every timewe go we'll find more to see."
"Perhaps it's because we learn to see better and better," said Mavis.
And I think she was right.
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The End.
The Children of the Castle Page 23
