Page:Cornelia Meigs--The Pool of Stars.djvu/181

 she said to Elizabeth. "Have I ever shown you this silver ball that came from India or told you the story that was brought with it?"

Betsey was never to forget that afternoon. Treasure after treasure Miss Miranda set before her, tale after tale she told, that carried her listener so far away that trouble, disappointment, misgivings for the morrow, were all forgotten. There were stories of strange foreign lands where sea-faring Reynolds forbears had journeyed to find endless adventures and to bring home tales of the glittering, colorful Orient. There were stories of her own youth, of her brother's absurd mishaps and deeds of daring, stories of the Northern woods where they had camped, of tramping journeys they had taken together over forested hills and marshy valleys, where moose called at twilight and deer broke cover as they came near. The hours sped, the hot sunlight moved across the room, touched the ceiling and was gone, the hard day was over. The nurse came to the door and said that Mr. Reynolds was better, was conscious and was asking for his daughter.

"Miss Miranda," said Betsey as, a little later they were returning the ornaments to the shelves where they belonged, "it was I that should have comforted you to-day, but you helped me instead. I don't understand how you know such wonderful