"That'd be a fine start for him," said Susan
Sowerby. "I'd like to see his face, lad. I would
that! He mun come back -- that he mun."

One of the things they talked of was the visit
they were to make to her cottage. They planned
it all. They were to drive over the moor and
lunch out of doors among the heather. They
would see all the twelve children and Dickon's
garden and would not come back until they were
tired.

Susan Sowerby got up at last to return to the
house and Mrs. Medlock. It was time for Colin
to be wheeled back also. But before he got into
his chair he stood quite close to Susan and fixed
his eyes on her with a kind of bewildered adoration
and he suddenly caught hold of the fold of her
blue cloak and held it fast.

"You are just what I -- what I wanted," he
said. "I wish you were my mother -- as well as
Dickon's!"

All at once Susan Sowerby bent down and drew
him with her warm arms close against the bosom
under the blue cloak -- as if he had been Dickon's
brother. The quick mist swept over her eyes.

"Eh! dear lad!" she said. "Thy own mother's
in this 'ere very garden, I do believe. She
couldna' keep out of it. Thy father mun come
back to thee -- he mun!"

[[352]]

p351 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p352w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p353

v?