The girls sat down on a little willow seat, large enough for two, and Winnie had to begin all over again and tell what she knew about Mrs. Alroy's illness. In the meantime they heard Mr. Allen descend the stairs and go out of the street door before Fannie had time to call to him.
"I wonder if papa has gone to Mrs. Alroy's now," said she. "Whatever can she want of him? Perhaps she is going to have him make her will."
"But why should she do that?" said Winnie. "She can't have much to leave to anybody; and, if she had, Ernestine would be the only one to get it, wouldn't she? But what would Ernestine do if her mother should die? Who would take care of her? You know she has always said she would teach when she had finished school, and it will be years before she does that. Do you know, if the worst should happen, I'd love to have her stay with us, and I almost believe mamma would be willing."
"I think that would be a good deal for your family to do," was the answer, "but maybe papa would help."
"I don't believe Ernestine would be helped by anyone unless she did something in return. But how long I am staying! I must go right away."
"Oh, stay just a minute longer," said Fannie. "I want to show you my hanging garden;" and she threw up the long window and stepped out to a little balcony, almost filled with flowers in pots and boxes, and baskets full of vines drooping over all.
"Oh, how lovely!" exclaimed Winnie.
"Yes, isn't it? I care more for this than anything else I have," Fannie replied, breaking off a bunch of heliotrope and pinning it to her friend's dress.
"Oh, thank you!" said Winnie. "But now I must go."
"Yes, I suppose you must," said Fannie, reluctantly. "I'll put on my hat and go a ways with you."