She was entirely happy there. She had grown very fond of Katy, and was perfectly at home with the others. Phil, and Johnnie, who had returned from her visit to Cecy, were by no means too old or too proud to be playfellows to a child of eight; and with all the older members of the family Amy was a chosen pet. Debby baked turnovers, and twisted cinnamon cakes into all sorts of fantastic shapes to please her; Alexander would let her drive if she happened to sit on the front seat of the carry-all; Dr Carr was seldom so tired that he could not tell her a story and nobody told such nice stories as Dr Carr, Amy thought; Elsie invented all manner of charming games for the hours before bedtime; Clover made wonderful capes and bonnets for Mabel and Maria Matilda; and Katy - Katy did all sorts of things.

Katy had a peculiar gift with children which is not easy to define. Some people possess it, and some do not; it cannot be learned, it comes by nature. She was bright and firm and equable all at once. She both amused and influenced them. There was something about her which excited the childish imagination, and always they felt her sympathy. Amy was a tractable child, and intelligent beyond her age, but she was never quite so good with anyone as with Katy. She followed her about like a little lover; she lavished upon her certain special words and caresses which she gave to no one else; she would kneel on her lap, patting Katy's shoulders with her soft hand, and cooing up into her face like a happy dove, for a half hour together. Katy laughed at these demonstrations, but they pleased her very much. She loved to be loved, as all affectionate people do, but most of all by a child.

At last, the long convalescence ended. Walter was carried away to his father, with every possible precaution against fatigue and exposure, and an army of work-people was turned into Mrs Ashe's house. Plaster was scraped and painted, wallpapers torn down, mattresses made over, and clothing burned. At last Dr Carr pronounced the premises in a sanitary condition, and Mrs Ashe sent for her little girl to come home again.

Amy was overjoyed at the prospect of seeing her mother, but at the last moment she clung to Katy and cried as if her heart would break.

`I want you too,' she said. `Oh, if Dr Carr would only let you come and live with me and mamma, I should be so happy! I shall be so lonely!'

`Nonsense!' cried Clover. `Lonely with mamma, and those poor children of yours, who have been wondering all these weeks what has become of you! They'll want a great deal of attention at first, I am sure medicine and new clothes and whippings - all manner of things. You remember I promised to make a dress for Effie Deans out of that blue-and-brown plaid like Johnnie's balmoral. I mean to begin it tomorrow.'

`Oh, will you?' - forgetting her grief - that will be lovely. The skirt needn't be very full, you know. Effie doesn't walk much, because of only having one leg. She will be so pleased, for she hasn't had a new dress since I don't know when.'

Consoled by the prospect of Effie's satisfaction, Amy departed quite cheerfully, and Mrs Ashe was spared the pain of seeing her only child in tears on the first evening of their reunion. But Amy talked so constantly of Katy, and seemed to love her so much, that it put a plan into her mother's head which led to important results, as the next chapter will show.


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