He took her to the orchard and followed out his crafty plan of surprise perfectly . She rewarded him by doing exactly what he had dreamed of her doing , clapping her hands and crying out : `` Oh , daddy ! Why , daddy ! '' They finished up with the shore , and then at sunset they came back and sat down on the old garden bench . Before them a sea of splendour , burning like a great jewel , stretched to the gateways of the west . The long headlands on either side were darkly purple , and the sun left behind him a vast , cloudless arc of fiery daffodil and elusive rose . Back over the orchard in a cool , green sky glimmered a crystal planet , and the night poured over them a clear wine of dew from her airy chalice . The spruces were rejoicing in the wind , and even the battered firs were singing of the sea . Old memories trooped into their hearts like shining spirits . `` Baby Blossom , '' said Old Man Shaw falteringly , `` are you quite sure you 'll be contented here ? Out there '' -- with a vague sweep of his hand towards horizons that shut out a world far removed from White Sands -- `` there 's pleasure and excitement and all that . Wo n't you miss it ? Wo n't you get tired of your old father and White Sands ? '' Sara patted his hand gently . `` The world out there is a good place , '' she said thoughtfully , `` I 've had three splendid years and I hope they 'll enrich my whole life . There are wonderful things out there to see and learn , fine , noble people to meet , beautiful deeds to admire ; but , '' she wound her arm about his neck and laid her cheek against his -- `` there is no daddy ! '' And Old Man Shaw looked silently at the sunset -- or , rather , through the sunset to still grander and more radiant splendours beyond , of which the things seen were only the pale reflections , not worthy of attention from those who had the gift of further sight . VII . Aunt Olivia 's Beau Aunt Olivia told Peggy and me about him on the afternoon we went over to help her gather her late roses for pot-pourri . We found her strangely quiet and preoccupied .
As a rule she was fond of mild fun , alert to hear East Grafton gossip , and given XXXXX sudden little trills of almost girlish laughter , which for the time being dispelled the atmosphere of gentle old-maidishness which seemed to hang about her as a garment .
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