Oh , thank God ! '' `` I had to come back . I was starving for a glimpse of your face and of the old home , Mother , '' sobbed Missy . `` But I did n't mean you should know -- I never meant to show myself to you . I 've been sick , and just as soon as I got better I came here . I meant to creep home after dark and look at the dear old house , and perhaps get a glimpse of you and Father through the window if you were still here . I did n't know if you were . And then I meant to go right away on the night train . I was under the window and I heard you telling my story to someone . Oh , Mother , when I knew that you had forgiven me , that you loved me still and had always kept my room for me , I made up my mind that I 'd show myself to you . '' The mother had got her child into a rocking-chair and removed the shabby hat and cloak . How ill and worn and faded Missy looked ! Yet her face was pure and fine , and there was in it something sweeter than had ever been there in her beautiful girlhood . `` I 'm terribly changed , am I not , Mother ? '' said Missy , with a faint smile . `` I 've had a hard life -- but an honest one , Mother . When I went away I was almost mad with the disgrace my wilfulness had brought on you and Father and myself . I went as far as I could get away from you , and I got work in a factory . I 've worked there ever since , just making enough to keep body and soul together . Oh , I 've starved for a word from you -- the sight of your face !
But I thought Father would spurn me from his door XXXXX I should ever dare to come back . ''
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