“Well then, does she need a tonic? I remember you used to dose us all with sulfur and molasses every spring, Judy. Perhaps it might do her good.”

Judy did not think sulfur and molasses would help Pat much.

CHAPTER 29

It was a mild day when Rae came home…a day full of the soft languor of early spring when nature is still tired after her wrestle with winter. There had been a light, misty snowfall in the night and Pat went for a walk to the Secret Field in the afternoon to see if she could win from it a little courage to face Rae’s return. It was very lovely in those silent woods with their white-mossed trees. Every step she took revealed some new enchantment as if some ambitious elfin artificer were striving to show just how much could be done with nothing but the white mystery of snow in hands that knew how to make use of it. Such a snowfall, thought Pat, was the finest test of beauty. Whenever there was any ugliness or distortion it showed it mercilessly: but beauty and grace were added unto beauty and grace even as unto him that hath shall be given more abundantly. She wished she had someone to enjoy the loveliness with her…Hilary…Suzanne…David…Rae. Rae! But Rae would be coming home in a few hours’ time, artificially cordial, looking at her with bright, indifferent eyes.

“I just can’t bear it,” thought Pat miserably.

When Pat heard the jingle of sleigh-bells coming up the lane in the “dim” she fled to her room. Everyone else was in the kitchen waiting for Rae…mother and Sid and Judy and Tillytuck and the cats. Pat felt she had no part or lot among them.

It had turned colder. There was a thin green sky behind the snowy trees and the silver gladness of an evening star over the birches. Pat heard the noise of laughter and greeting in the kitchen. Well, she supposed she must go down.

There was a sound of flying feet on the stairs. Suddenly it seemed to Pat that there was no air in the room. Rae burst in…a rosy, radiant Rae, her eyes as blue as ever, her mouth like a kissed flower. She engulfed Pat in a fierce leopard-skin hug.

“Patsy darling…why weren’t you down? Oh, but it’s good to see you again!”

This was the old Rae. Pat was afraid she was going to howl. All at once life was beautiful again. It was as if she had wakened up from a horrible dream and seen a starlit sky.