Antoine did not answer until he had choked back one or two obtrusive sobs. “And ma mère?” he asked.
“She will be back and forth every day, with two homes instead of one.”
“And am I really to have lessons?”
“Really and truly,” answered Margaret.
“I don’t know how to be thankful enough,” said the lad. “But who pays for them?”
“Never mind asking questions,” said Margaret, smiling. “It is your business to accept propositions.”
“I know—it is Elsie!” he exclaimed gleefully. “She said she should dispense charity like a millionaire.”
Margaret laughed as she replied: “I don’t think Elsie’s princely income, as she calls it, will be equal to all the schemes she has in her bright head; but I know I am very glad of the prospect of having her with us once again. It’s a dull house without her.”
“And shall we have the old ‘evenings’ over again?”
“Indeed we shall, please God. We’ll take up the thread where it snapped on that awful night of the fire, only a little wiser and tenderer perhaps in our judgments.”