But I did have a little quiet cry when I went to bed. The house would never be the same without Fan. I should miss her so much.
I felt better the next day and went at my work cheerfully. About noon it cleared away bright and crisp.
“Rose,” said papa, “could you go down to old Mrs. Aitkens’ this afternoon? She is very poorly and may want something done.”
“Yes,” I answered quickly. I would give moping no place to settle itself to-day.
Mrs. Elsden came in after dinner and staid quite awhile, to cheer me up, she said. If I was lonesome Addie should come over and spend the day with me.
“I would be glad to see Addie,” I said, “but I should be too busy to get lonesome.”
Then as I was going right by Jennie Ryder’s I remembered a book she wanted, so I decided to call. She and her mother sat in their cheerful parlor, as cosy as you please. I took the chair beside hers and there right in the edge of her pretty willow work-stand lay a gentleman’s glove with her needle in it. Our eyes fell on it at the same moment. She blushed and tucked it out of sight, and then the next instant drew it forth with an odd deliberateness and went on mending the rips.
I laughed a little, so did she.
“Richard left his gloves here last evening;” she said. “He has no one to look after such matters now.”
“He will have quite a trial of loneliness,” I answered. “Mrs. Fairlie and Kate expect to be in Europe two years or more. Kate will have her darling wish.”