For the crush at St.
Peter's."
"Kind and thoughtful, for we shall feel his gift refreshing in the
crowd," said Lady Esmondet.
"Poor dear, far away; we shall miss him on this bright Christmas
morn," said Vaura, as she read the words, "I am weary waiting."
"But I am forgetting my gift to you, and one from dear Uncle Eric,"
and Vaura took from a small box a lovely locket, on one side was a
miniature copy of Haughton; on the other the lovely face of the giver.
"And this from Uncle for you came to me on yesterday;" and Vaura
presented a photo of Col. Haughton.
"How sweet it is to be remembered, Vaura, and it's a good likeness of
your dear uncle. And here is a gift from myself, a mere bagatelle, but
I hope you will like it," and she handed Vaura an acknowledgement from
Worth of an order for a ball-dress, to be at Haughton Hall on the 5th
January, 1878.
"Thanks, god-mother mine, your thoughts are always of some one other
than of Alice Esmondet."
"Not at all, dear."
"I shall be glad to return to England now," and there was a tender
light in Vaura's eyes; "that is, dear god-mother, if you have laid up
a sufficient store of strength.
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