The old bench was warm in the sunshine . Old Man Shaw sat down with a long sigh , and dropped his white head wearily on his breast . He had decided what he must do . He would tell Blossom that she might go back to her aunt and never mind about him -- he would do very well by himself and he did not blame her in the least . He was still sitting broodingly there when a girl came up the lane . She was tall and straight , and walked with a kind of uplift in her motion , as if it would be rather easier to fly than not . She was dark , with a rich dusky sort of darkness , suggestive of the bloom on purple plums , or the glow of deep red apples among bronze leaves . Her big brown eyes lingered on everything in sight , and little gurgles of sound now and again came through her parted lips , as if inarticulate joy were thus expressing itself . At the garden gate she saw the bent figure on the old bench , and the next minute she was flying along the rose walk . `` Daddy ! '' she called , `` daddy ! '' Old Man Shaw stood up in hasty bewilderment ; then a pair of girlish arms were about his neck , and a pair of warm red lips were on his ; girlish eyes , full of love , were looking up into his , and a never-forgotten voice , tingling with laughter and tears blended into one delicious chord , was crying , `` Oh , daddy , is it really you ? Oh , I ca n't tell you how good it is to see you again ! '' Old Man Shaw held her tightly in a silence of amazement and joy too deep for wonder . Why , this was his Blossom -- the very Blossom who had gone away three years ago ! A little taller , a little more womanly , but his own dear Blossom , and no stranger . There was a new heaven and a new earth for him in the realization . `` Oh , Baby Blossom ! '' he murmured , `` Little Baby Blossom ! '' Sara rubbed her cheek against the faded coat sleeve .
`` Daddy darling , this moment makes up XXXXX everything , does n't it ? ''
At about against along by for in into that to