Then he was gone.
Mrs.Darling stayed on the piazza two whole hours longer, but Father never came out at all again.
It was the next morning that Susie said this over the back-yard fence to Bridget: "It does beat all how popular this house is with the ladies--after college hours!" And Bridget chuckled and answered back: "Sure it is! An' I do be thinkin' the Widder Darlin' is a heap fonder of Miss Jane now than she would have been had poor dear Mr.Darlin' lived!" And she chuckled again, and so did Susie.

And then, all of a sudden, I knew.

It was Father all those ladies wanted.

It was Father Mrs.
Darling wanted.

They came here to see him.