“You have managed to get so much of real sympathy and heartiness into your girls’ souls. They are natural. There is no aiming at any superiority. They will always go into beautiful places because they fit just like a statue in some niche. I cannot tell you what a pleasure Fanny has been to us. I do not think Kenton is as fond of Helen, way down in the depths of his heart, though we always had to coax her into our lives, and alter the niches a little. So we are doubly glad to have her.”
It was such a sweet, heart-felt welcome that the tears positively did come to mamma’s eyes this time.
“Thank you a thousand times for your cordiality;” she murmured with a great tremble in her voice.
“Winthrop is very young, but the Churchill blood is loyal to the last drop. I think he will be true as steel through any probation. And since they can have only one spring-time, one glad season of bright, eager, joyous youth, we will all try to keep out the thorns and let them ramble to the very mountain tops if they so elect. I dare say you fancy me a foolish old woman!”
I thought her just splendid! Fan would be rich in love on every side.
“They are both young,” returned mamma. “Mr. Endicott considers it best that there should be no formal engagement for the present, but I feel as if it was quite a settled matter.”
“You must not become jealous if we should monopolize her a great deal. She is such a comfort to Lucy, with her bright engaging ways. And I seem to be almost sharing your bliss of motherhood.”
Fan returned just then fairly bewitching in her new timidity. We kissed all round, and they drove away. I took up my sewing, but the house seemed strangely still.
“Rose, dear,” mamma began presently, “this will bring a sense of lonesomeness to you that may be depressing at first. I had hoped the circle would not be broken quite so soon. But you must be a brave little girl.”
“Oh,” I replied, “I am happy because she is. And then she will not leave us for ever so long. But she is so bright and pretty that some one would have fallen in love with her if it had not been Mr. Ogden. You will not be robbed of me so soon—if that is any comfort.”