she
began. "Why, Marilla, you don't look as if you had ever been ill! And
we're so glad to get you back. Oh, you don't know what an awful time I
had, and at first the babies wouldn't let Ellen touch them. Flo or I
had to feed them. I'm clear worn out now, but I do hope the babies
haven't forgotten you, for I want a little rest. It seemed too bad
that you should have given out just then. And I do believe you've
grown taller. Why, you are quite a big girl."

The twins sat on a blanket on the grassy space at the side of the
house. Mrs. Borden led the girl out to them with a glad sound in her
voice.

"Here's your dear Illa come," she said. "Dear Illa that you've wanted
so much."

Pansy looked up. Marilla gave one spring and knelt down beside them.
It was nice to be longed for, to be remembered. She had really loved
them. Her heart was always reaching out for something to love.

"Illa, Illa," almost shouted Pansy and went down head first in
Marilla's lap.

"Oh, you darling!"

"I'm glad you didn't get weaned away, Marilla. I was afraid you would,
having such a fuss made over you. Mr. Borden said the house was fine.
That Miss Armitage must be rich. Well--she was very good to you and
did the best she could for us. But that Ellen didn't like children,
that was the long and the short of it, and she has just the place for
her, and eighteen dollars a month. Yes, Violet, this is our own
Marilla come back to us, and we shall never let her go away again."

Violet had looked rather wary and been chewing on the end of her
thumb, but now she nodded and began to hitch toward Marilla.

"Now we're going over to the cottage to dinner. It's such a pleasure
to go together. I always take Jack. He has nice table manners if he
isn't an angel otherwise. Oh, there he is! Jack, here's Marilla!"

Jack gave a sort of wild howl of delight and started on a run with
outstretched arms. Over went Marilla and Pansy and Jack on the top of
the heap. Pansy gave a smothered scream.

Mrs. Borden caught Jack by the shoulder and dragged him up. "You bad,
bad boy!" she exclaimed, angrily.

"Hello! what's the row?" asked Mr. Borden, advancing to the fray.

Jack rubbed his eyes to make some tears.

"Well, you said you was glad to see her an' so was I. An' I was jest
gone' to hug her an' the bug fell over, an' I couldn't help it."

Mr. Borden laughed. Mrs. Borden picked up Pansy and comforted her. But
she did howl as if she had been half killed.