But not even Uncle Blair 's sympathy could take the sting out of the fact that there was no Paddy to get the froth that night at milking time . Felicity cried bitterly all the time she was straining the milk . Many human beings have gone to their graves unattended by as much real regret as followed that one gray pussy cat to his . CHAPTER XXX . PROPHECIES `` Here 's a letter for you from father , '' said Felix , tossing it to me as he came through the orchard gate . We had been picking apples all day , but were taking a mid-afternoon rest around the well , with a cup of its sparkling cold water to refresh us . I opened the letter rather indifferently , for father , with all his excellent and lovable traits , was but a poor correspondent ; his letters were usually very brief and very unimportant . This letter was brief enough , but it was freighted with a message of weighty import . I sat gazing stupidly at the sheet after I had read it until Felix exclaimed , `` Bev , what 's the matter with you ? What 's in that letter ? '' `` Father is coming home , '' I said dazedly . `` He is to leave South America in a fortnight and will be here in November to take us back to Toronto . '' Everybody gasped . Sara Ray , of course , began to cry , which aggravated me unreasonably . `` Well , '' said Felix , when he got his second wind , `` I 'll be awful glad to see father again , but I tell you I do n't like the thought of leaving here . '' I felt exactly the same but , in view of Sara Ray 's tears , admit it I would not ; so I sat in grum silence while the other tongues wagged . `` If I were not going away myself I 'd feel just terrible , '' said the Story Girl . `` Even as it is I 'm real sorry . I 'd like to be able to think of you as all here together when I 'm gone , having good times and writing me about them . '' `` It 'll be awfully dull when you fellows go , '' muttered Dan .
`` I 'm sure I do n't know what we 're ever going to do here this winter , '' said Felicity , XXXXX the calmness of despair .
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