Chapter XI: Miss Peggy's Daughter

LADY MARGARET BROWNING kept her word and called again. This time she came rather later in the afternoon, shortly before the boys returned from school, and Mrs. Mead remembered to tell her that her mother's old nurse occupied one of the attics.

"Oh, I've heard my father mention her!" she cried; "he was speaking of her only the other day, and wondering if she was still living. My mother loved her ever so dearly. Oh, please, please let me see her!"

So it came about that when the boys arrived home, on going straight upstairs to Mrs. Winter's attic, as they usually did to fetch Stray for a walk before tea, they found Lady Margaret Browning there. She was seated close to Mrs. Winter, and the two were talking of "Miss Peggy." Stray, standing with his head resting on her knee, was looking up into her face approvingly.

"Come in, both of you!" Mrs. Winter said, as the boys stood hesitating in the doorway; and they obeyed, Jackie following his brother shyly.

Lady Margaret rose and shook hands with Bob, then she kissed Jackie, and, seating herself again, drew the little fellow close to her and kept her arm around him whilst she talked to the others.

Jackie stood very still, every now and again glancing up into the sweet, fair face of Mrs. Winter's visitor, which, each time he did so, smiled tenderly at him. So this was the lady who had given Bob so much money in return for her brooch. Yes, she was wearing the brooch now. As his eyes noted it she put up her hand and touched it.

"I've had the fastener made safer," she said to Mrs. Winter. "Oh, I was so delighted to get it back! I shall always feel thankful to Bob for having found it."

"I'm so glad I did," said Bob, adding quickly, "I don't mean because of the reward."

"Aunt Martha's kept all the money!" Jackie stated abruptly.

"She's going to keep it for me till father comes back, then I'm going to give it to him," Bob explained; "but I'd have liked to have spent a little of it. I wanted to give Jackie a toy horse, and Mrs. Winter something."

"I take the will for the deed, Bob," smiled Mrs. Winter.

By-and-bye, Lady Margaret rose to leave, and Bob accompanied her downstairs. Mrs. Mead bustled out of the shop into the passage on hearing them talking. Lady Margaret, who had come on foot, asked if Bob might go with her as far as the street where she meant to take a tram.

"Certainly, my lady," Mrs. Mead replied; "he'll be proud and pleased, I'm sure."

Bob was indeed proud and pleased as he walked along by Lady Margaret's side. She asked him many questions about Mrs. Winter, and he told her all he knew about her, and how wonderfully kind she had been to Jackie and him.

"Aunt Martha didn't understand about Jackie," he explained; "she thought he was naughty because he always cried when she put him to bed. It was not that—he was frightened. But now he isn't frightened any more because Mrs. Winter's taught him Jesus is with him. If it's ever so dark he doesn't cry now."

"Oh, Bob, how glad you must be!" Lady Margaret said earnestly. "I hope Jackie will always remember Jesus is with him. We all need to remember that, don't we, because life is so dark sometimes? Then it is such a comfort to know there is One in the darkness to cling to, and that out weakness may become strength through Him."

They had reached the tramline now, after having passed through several back streets, but there was no tram in sight. Lady Margaret glanced at her watch, then said—

"See, here is a nice toyshop! Tell me what sort of horse you meant to give Jackie, I should like to buy one for him."

"Oh, how kind of you, my lady!" cried Bob. "Oh, thank you, thank you!"

He followed her into the shop. Quickly the purchase was made, wrapped in brown paper, and placed in Bob's arms. By that time a tram was coming, and they had to hurry from the shop. A minute later Bob was standing alone on the pavement, and Lady Margaret Browning had gone.

Jackie was almost overwhelmed with Joy and gratitude when he saw the present Lady Margaret Browning had sent him by his brother.

"Oh, Bobbie!" was all he said at first, but the sight of his glowing face, as he knelt on the kitchen floor examining the toy, told of the feelings he could find no words to express. "Well, now, this is certainly very kind of Lady Margaret," remarked Mrs. Mead, who was standing by; "she must have taken a fancy to you, Jackie. Bob, do you know she thinks your father will have the Military Cross—he's almost sure to, she says."

So it was no great surprise when a few days later news came that the boys' father had indeed won the medal, and many were the warm congratulations Mrs. Mead and her young nephews received.

"Your father deserves it," Tom Smith said to Bob heartily; "I want you to tell me more about him—I like hearing of people who do brave things. I say—" he reddened as he spoke—"I suppose you've heard that Stray saved my little sister from drowning?"

"Yes. And I've seen the collar your father gave him; it's a beauty."

Tom nodded. He was silent a minute, then he said—

"Look here, I told a lie about that ruby brooch, I never saw it till you had it in your hand after you'd picked it up. I'm sorry now I behaved as I did about it. Do you believe me?"

"Yes," Bob answered, much astonished. "Say no more about it!" he added, observing that Tom really looked ashamed of himself.

"All right!" Tom agreed, "I'm sure I don't want to!" He paused hesitatingly, then asked: "Can't we be friends?"

"Perhaps, if you stop bullying and telling lies," Bob replied doubtfully.

"Oh, well," Tom said, his countenance brightening, "I'll see what I can do!"