"By
degrees you must tell me all the things you specially did and loved,
as a little boy. I like to know them. Had you always that room, next
door to your mother's?"
"Ever since I can remember," said Garth. "And the door between was
always open. After my mother's death, I kept it locked. But the
night before my birthday, I used to open it; and when I woke early
and saw it ajar, I would spring up, and go quickly in; and it seemed
as if her dear presence was there to greet me, just on that one
morning. But I had to go quickly, and immediately I wakened; just as
you must go out early to catch the rosy glow of sunrise on the
fleeting clouds; or to see the gossamer webs on the gorse, outlined
in diamonds, by the sparkling summer dew. But, somehow, Margery
found out about it; and the third year there was a sheet of writing-
paper firmly stuck to the pincushion by a large black-headed pin,
saying, in Margery's careful caligraphy: 'Many happy returns of the
day, Master Garthie.
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