been away."

"Well, miss, it seems rather a lot to pay, for only just that. And a lot
to bear too, when you are 'appy enough already. What I do want to go to
is our own treat, when it comes, and I'd like to go to the sea for a day."

"Well, I am sure you can, Mary. I will speak to mother and father about
it."

Audrey was busily collecting the things for her mother's lunch-tray.
She had to make her an omelette, and she felt nervous about it, for
hitherto Irene had helped her, and Mary was not capable of doing so.

As soon as it was ready she hurried upstairs with the tray. She had not
seen her mother yet since they had all departed, and she had suddenly
begun to wonder how she was bearing it.

"Of course I ought to have run in at once to see her," she thought
remorsefully, "but I did feel miserable."

Mrs. Carlyle was lying propped up on her cushions with Debby's kittens
beside her. "Well, darling," she said, looking up with a glad smile of
welcome, "how did they all go off, I am longing to know. I have been
picturing their enjoyment of everything they see and do on the journey,
and their joy when they first catch sight of the sea."

"Oh dear," sighed Audrey, "everyone is thinking of their happiness.
I can only think how miserable it is without them; and I should have
thought you would have felt it even more than I do, mother."

"Perhaps it is that I have had more experience, dear, I seem to live again
my own first visit to the sea; and time does not seem so long to one when
one is older either, and it passes only too soon. I feel too full of
gratitude to feel miserable, I had been thinking for such a long time
about a change of air for them, and worrying myself because it seemed
absolutely out of the question. Then quite suddenly the way was opened
and all was made possible without my help or interference. One could sing
thanksgiving all day long one has so many blessings to be thankful for."

"I shouldn't have thought you felt that, mother, shut up here week after
week as you are; with nothing to look out at but the garden and the road."
Audrey strolled over to the window, "and such a garden too!" she added
sarcastically.

Mrs. Carlyle glanced out at it and sighed. "I often wish,"--she said, but
did not finish her sentence.

"What do you often wish, mother?"

"I often long for the time when I shall be able to go out there again and
help to keep it nice. If I ever am permitted to," she added in a