I read it to father, and he was very much pleased, but he made one little growl. There are some voices that express disapprobation that way, and it is really more amusing than unkind.
"Like Ben Hayne! Why, he's nothing but a big, soft-headed boy. Homer's smarter in his little finger than Ben's whole body."
"Ben is very nice and kind," I said honestly, "but Norman is the best of all."
He gave a chuckle at that. "You mark my words, Homer will be a rich man some day. I don't know about the rolling stones, though it did seem an excellent thing for Norman. But he will never come back here and settle in Chicago."
Long afterward that sentence recurred to me.
I took my letter over to Mrs. Hayne. Hers was a good deal on the same lines, only there were more to ask about. She made a different comment.
"Why shouldn't you like Ben!" she exclaimed, rather tartly. Then as she looked at me I felt hot all over. "Ben's a nice boy an' he'll make a nice man if he gets the right kind of wife. He will do quite as well as Norman, you'll see if he doesn't. I dare say Norme will get so stuck up with fine people an' talkin' French that he'll hardly look at us when he gets back. I'm most sorry I consented to have him go."
"But he will be back in another year." I did not think he could change so very much in that time.
"Mebbe so, mebbe so," and she tossed her head.
There was not another girl in school who had a letter from a friend or who was asked to write one. My secret was too precious to be bruited abroad. I put it in my box of treasures and read it over when no one was by. It seemed very silly to do this, and yet I took fervent pleasure in it.