Chapter VIII: Granfer's Eightieth Birthday

FAIR dawned the morning of Granfer's eightieth birthday. The sun rose behind a gray mist which it quickly dispelled, and shone on a world decked with fresh green fields, tender budding leaves, and myriads of flowers. Never during all the eighty years of his long life had Granfer seen a more beautiful May morning; never had his heart beat happier, or his soul been filled with a greater joy, than to-day as he came downstairs to be greeted with good wishes, loving kisses, and kindly looks from each member of the family in turn.

At Coombe Villa Mr. Manners was awake and up early. He went into the garden and gathered a bunch of flowers for his little girl; then returned to the house to wait till she should come downstairs. At last she entered the room, looking a trifle pale still as a result of the shock of her fall, and limping in her walk, but smiling and bright as ever.

"Oh, you dear old father!" she cried when she caught sight of the flowers. "I know those are for me!"

She went up to him and put her arms around his neck, giving him a tender, loving kiss.

"Has my darling slept well?" he enquired.

"I fell asleep the minute I was in bed, and never woke up till Nanny called me just now," she answered.

"Is it not a lovely morning?"

"Beautiful. There has been a heavy dew during the night, and everything in the garden is the fresher for it."

"It is Granfer's birthday," she reminded him. "I wonder if his son has come home?"

"Yes, Una; he returned last night!"

"Oh!"

For a moment she said no more; her lips trembled with emotion, and her eyes shone through a mist of tears. Presently she said simply:

"God has answered Granfer's prayers at last."

Her father kissed her again and again.

"Was Granfer very delighted to see him?" she asked. "How did you know, father?"

Then he told her the whole story, how he himself was Granfer's son, and how he had gone to Lowercoombe Farm the night before and become reconciled to his father. She listened in silence, too amazed to utter a word, but there was a glad light upon her face and joy in her tremulous smile.

"So you see, Una darling, Granfer is your grandfather as well as Nellie's and Bessie's; and Mrs. Maple is my sister Mary, and your aunt," Mr. Manners said in conclusion. "They are so pleased to think that you are related to them, and I have promised that we will have tea at the farm this afternoon because it is Granfer's birthday, and he wishes it."

"Oh!" cried Una again, with a little gasp of astonishment. "Oh, how wonderful! Father, you only told me half the secret, after all! You never said you were Granter's son! I am so glad you are! Oh, dear Granfer, how pleased and happy he must be!"

"And I am happy too, Una, happier than I have been for many a long year. It was you who told me my father had forgiven me and wished to see me again."

"Granfer loves you so much, father darling, and I am sure you love him, don't you? Fancy Nellie and Bessie being my cousins! But I don't think I can care for them any more than I do now, because I am really very fond of both of them, and I'm sure I don't know which I like best!"

Una was full of excitement. After breakfast there was Nanny to be told the wonderful news, and to the little girl's great astonishment she discovered that her nurse was not so surprised as she had anticipated she would be.

"I have guessed your father was old Mr. Norris's son for some while now," Nanny confessed, "on account of different things I have heard Mrs. Maple say about her brother, and by putting two and two together. I am glad it has come out at last. Ah, Miss Una, this life is too short for folks who love each other to be angry long; we ought to learn to forgive and forget!"

"Granfer is not angry now!" Una said quickly, fearful lest Nanny should not have grasped that fact.

"I should think not! There, dear, I won't say a word against your grandfather, for I believe the good Lord has really softened his heart; even to my eyes, he doesn't look quite so grim as he used," and Nanny gave Una a kiss, adding gently, "God does everything for the best, my dear, and He makes all right in the end!"

At four o'clock the gig arrived from Lowercoombe Farm, driven by the farmer himself, and with the faithful Rags in attendance.

"I hope you are going to take kindly to your new uncle?" Mr. Maple said with a merry twinkle in his eye as he lifted Una in his arms to put her into the conveyance.

For answer the little girl clasped him tightly round the neck, and, after pressing a kiss on his bronzed cheek, answered promptly:

"Indeed, I love you very dearly already! You are so very kind!"

They drove off, Una seated between her father and the farmer, the latter amusing her with an account of how the tame lamb was daily growing bolder, so that they had great difficulty in keeping it out of the house.

"It's so tame that it follows my wife everywhere," he declared, "and she has to shut it up on Sundays when we go to church, or we should never keep it at home!"

In ten minutes they arrived at Lowercoombe Farm, where Una was carried into the kitchen, and surrounded by her aunt, and grandfather, and the children. They had so many questions to ask and to be answered, and made so much of her, that she felt quite bewildered at first; but by-and-by she noticed that Granfer was wearing the suit of clothes he usually wore on Sundays, and that Mrs. Maple and Nellie and Bessie were attired in their best gowns in honour of the day.

Presently, they had tea in the best parlour, which room was only used on great occasions, or when there were visitors at the farm. Una sat between her father and grandfather in a sort of dream-like happiness. In the centre of the table was Granfer's birthday cake, which he cut himself, and every one declared to be most delicious.

The old man and each member of the little party seemed merry and pleased. Now and again Una met her father's eyes and smiled in answer to his affectionate glance that mutely asked if she was happy and content. She was both, though it seemed very strange to find herself and her father so much at home at Lowercoombe Farm.

During the evening the little girl had a few words alone with her grandfather, and took the opportunity to tell him how glad she was to know of the relationship between them.

"God has been very good to me, my dear," he said gratefully. "He has given me back my son."

"Yes," she answered, smiling brightly, "God is good." She took his hand in her little, soft fingers, and looked tenderly into his aged face, as she added lovingly:

"He has given me my Granfer too!"

ONE CHRISTMAS TIME