Rachel was perfectly happy . She wished she might stay forever in that low , dim room with all its treasures . `` I see your little friends coming around the point , '' he said , finally . `` I suppose you must go . Put the rest of the goodies in your pocket . '' He took her up in his arms and held her tightly against his breast for a single moment . She felt him kissing her hair . `` There , run along , little girl . Good-by , '' he said gently . `` Why do n't you ask me to come and see you again ? '' cried Rachel , half in tears . `` I 'm coming ANYHOW . '' `` If you can come , COME , '' he said . `` If you do n't come , I shall know it is because you ca n't -- and that is much to know . I 'm very , very , VERY glad , little woman , that you have come once . '' Rachel was sitting demurely on the skids when her companions came back . They had not seen her leaving the house , and she said not a word to them of her experiences . She only smiled mysteriously when they asked her if she had been lonesome . That night , for the first time , she mentioned her father 's name in her prayers . She never forgot to do so afterwards .
She always XXXXX , `` bless mother -- and father , '' with an instinctive pause between the two names -- a pause which indicated new realization of the tragedy which had sundered them .
came come coming forgot held mentioned said see smiled wished