Winner Stories

Next Winner (81) | Previous Winner (79)

Browning again. But did no one come to help you? I sent Gemma.
I didn't want help, thank you, said Erica. I only wanted to see
Elspeth because I have a message for her.
How conscientious you are! said Rose, laughing. I always make
a point of forgetting messages when I go from home. Well, you will
find Elspeth in the little room on the next half landing, the work
room. She was here not two minutes ago. Good night! Breakfast is
at nine, you know; and they'll bring you a cup of tea when they
call you.
A little shyly, Erica made her way to the work room where Elspeth
was tacking frilling into one of Rose's dresses. The old woman
started up with a quick exclamation when she appeared in the
doorway.
May I come in? said Erica, with all the charm of manner which she
had inherited from her father. 'Tis very late, but I didn't like
to go to bed without seeing you.
I hope missie has everything she wants? asked Elspeth, anxiously.
Yes, indeed! said Erica. All I want is to see you, and to give
you my father's love, to ask how you are. He and Aunt Jean have
often told me about you. You have not forgotten them?
Forgotten! No, indeed! cried old Elspeth. When I saw you at
'Takin' the book,' and saw you so like your poor father, I could
have cried. You are Mr. Luke's bairn, and no mistake, my bonny
lassie! Ah, I mind the day well when he came to my room the auld
nursery in the parsonage, where I had reared him and told me that
master had ordered him out of the house. I pray God I may never
again see a face look as his looked then!
Tears started to her eyes at the recollection. Erica threw her
arms round her neck, and kissed her.
You love him still. I see you love him! she exclaimed, all her
feeling of isolation melting in the assurance of the old servant's
sympathy.
So, after all, Erica had a maid in attendance, for Elspeth insisted
on seeing her to bed, and, since they talked all the time about the
old Scotch days, she was well content to renounce her independence
for a little while.
But, whether because of the flickering fire light, or because of
the strangeness of the great brass bedstead, with its silken
hangings and manycolored Indian rezai, Erica slept very little
that night. Perhaps the long talk about her father's early days
had taken too great a hold of her. At any rate, she tossed about
very restlessly in her luxurious quarters, and when, for brief
intervals, she slept, it was only to dream of her father taking

Next Winner (81) | Previous Winner (79)

Winner Index