moaned Cecily . `` He 'll be as prosperous as ever in a week or two , '' said the Awkward Man kindly . The Story Girl gathered Paddy up in her arms . Most mellifluously did he purr as we crowded around to stroke him ; with friendly joy he licked our hands with his little red tongue ; poor Paddy was a thankful cat ; he was no longer lost , starving , imprisoned , helpless ; he was with his comrades once more and he was going home -- home to his old familiar haunts of orchard and dairy and granary , to his daily rations of new milk and cream , to the cosy corner of his own fireside . We trooped home joyfully , the Story Girl in our midst carrying Paddy hugged against her shoulder . Never did April stars look down on a happier band of travellers on the golden road . There was a little gray wind out in the meadows that night , and it danced along beside us on viewless , fairy feet , and sang a delicate song of the lovely , waiting years , while the night laid her beautiful hands of blessing over the world . `` You see what Peg 's wishbone did , '' said Peter triumphantly . `` Now , look here , Peter , do n't talk nonsense , '' expostulated Dan . `` The Awkward Man found Paddy this morning and had started to bring us word before Cecily ever thought of the wishbone . Do you mean to say you believe he would n't have come walking up our lane just when he did if she had never thought of it ? '' `` I mean to say that I would n't mind if I had several wishbones of the same kind , '' retorted Peter stubbornly . `` Of course I do n't think the wishbone had really anything to do with our getting Paddy back , but I 'm glad I tried it , for all that , '' remarked Cecily in a tone of satisfaction . `` Well , anyhow , we 've got Pat and that 's the main thing , '' said Felix . `` And I hope it will be a lesson to him to stay home after this , '' commented Felicity . `` They say the barrens are full of mayflowers , '' said the Story Girl . `` Let us have a mayflower picnic tomorrow to celebrate Paddy 's safe return . '' CHAPTER XII . FLOWERS O ' MAY Accordingly we went a-maying , following the lure of dancing winds to a certain westward sloping hill lying under the spirit-like blue of spring skies , feathered over with lisping young pines and firs , which cupped little hollows and corners where the sunshine got in and never got out again , but stayed there and grew mellow , coaxing dear things to bloom long before they would dream of waking up elsewhere . 'T was there we found our mayflowers , after faithful seeking .
Mayflowers , you must know , never flaunt themselves ; they must be sought as becomes them , and then they will yield up their treasures XXXXX the seeker -- clusters of star-white and dawn-pink that have in them the very soul of all the springs that ever were , re-incarnated in something it seems gross to call perfume , so exquisite and spiritual is it .
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