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Meade, L. T., 1854-1914

"The Children's Pilgrimage"

The moment Toby
saw the cat it occurred to him that a life of ease was returning
to him, and he was not slow to avail himself of it. But there was
no time to notice Toby, nor to think of Toby, for instantly he
was followed by Maurice and Cecile and, immediately after them,
a dark-eyed boy, and then a great big man, and last, but not least,
a fair-haired and beautiful young woman.
It was at this young woman Mammie Moseley stared even more intently
than at Cecile. But the young woman, taking Cecile's hand, came over
and knelt on the ground, and, raising eyes brimful of tears, said:
"Mammie, mammie, I am Susie! and Cecile has brought me back to you!"
* * * * *
Over the confusion that ensued--the perfect Babel of voices--the
endless exclamation--the laughter and the tears--it might be best to
draw a veil.
Suffice it to say, that this story of a brave endeavor, of a long
pilgrimage, of a constant purpose, is nearly ended. Lovedy and her
party spent a few days in London, and then they went down into Kent
and found good faithful Jane Parsons, now happily married to the very
night-guard who had befriended Cecile and Maurice when they were sent
flying from Aunt Lydia to London. Even Aunt Lydia, as her mother's
sister, did repentant Lovedy find out; and, seeing her now reduced to
absolute poverty, she helped her as best she could. Nothing could
make Lydia Purcell really grateful; but even she was a little
softened by Lovedy's beauty and bewitching ways.


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