The Quest of Happy Hearts Part 8

The whole group who had been perfectly quiet as they waited, now broke into a jubilee of merriment.

"We're going to live with Aunt Janice--always," Beth said,--"isn't that delightful?"

"Quite delightful," Peter Greyson replied, as he looked round on the group. "We have these young visitors to the castle to thank for our part of the good times, because they found you, Marty and Jerry, away out here in the forest."

"We were out on an adventure--" Nora's eyes were s.h.i.+ning, "a happiness quest, to find someone to whom we might bring happiness. I read a story once like that, and we decided to go on this same quest."

Marty clapped her hands gleefully--

"You've brought happiness to three of us today, and in a way to 'Gem' and the kitten and the cat, too! Can we move today, grandfather?"

Mr. Greyson, smiled down on his enthusiastic young granddaughter, with a shake of his head.

"I must go up to the castle first, and make all arrangements with Miss Meredith. I think that it will be best for me to see her, Don, and so I shall give her the answer before you get there--then, you may start to pack up things and get ready for the move, Marty. I'll leave you young folks to gather the greens for the party tomorrow, and have your picnic together afterwards."

"We will start to hunt them right away," Harry began, taking out his trowel, "because there's so much to do and we must make a beginning on our part, so all will be ready on time."

"Aunt Janice says the cake will be the biggest the old kitchen has ever had baked."

"With the whitest, loveliest icing," Alice supplemented.

Everyone joined in the general laughter that followed Alice's speech.

With a smile, then, Mr. Greyson was off down the trail that led out of the forest and on toward the castle beyond.

Marty accompanied him for a short way along the path, her hand clasping his tightly, and Jerry remembering that he had forgotten to ask his grandfather something of importance, followed, to speak a word and return with Marty.

The Merediths waited in a group, until they returned to start to gather decorations.

"The chain of happiness for others, as well as for ourselves, is really growing," she began, her eyes following the three figures in the distance.

"Oh, Nora--" Janey said, "let's always try to keep on finding hearts that need happiness."

"Let's--" Beth agreed, and all of the others joined in accord in the lovely plan, that they had made theirs.

"Dear Aunt Janice started it all by inviting us on a visit to the castle; now it's growing beautifully."

"Because, you see, we are on a quest of happiness for others; our dear heavenly Father undoubtedly blessed such a quest, for He wants happy hearts. Only let us not forget that hearts must know our dear Lord Jesus to be crowned with happiness."

"Crowned with happiness!" Janey repeated softly. "Remember our motto, Nora?--_I would look up--and laugh--and love--and--lift_--.'"