“Then it will have to be the other way. Let me see: seven sisters. Well, I shall not forget you while I am gone.”
Mr. Duncan went to church that evening with Fan and Nelly, and, after he came home, had a long talk with papa out on the porch. Papa had enjoyed his guest very much and I was glad of that. It had been quite a holiday time.
After breakfast the next morning, Mr. Duncan went away. He took little Edith in his arms, and walked up and down the room with her.
“I feel as if I did not want to go away,” he said, turning to mamma. “I think you must spoil everybody in this house. I almost envy the boys their summer vacation.—Ah, Miss Fanny, you see I am by no means perfect.”
Fan nodded her head rather approvingly. I am not sure but she liked a spice of wickedness.
“I shall remember your promise,” he said to me, with his good-by.
What had I promised? About the boys—was it? Well I would do my best. I should have done it without his asking.
“And in three months or so I shall see you again. Good by, little flock.”
Ah, little did we guess then how many things were to happen before we saw him again!
But the house seemed quite lonesome without him. I made the children ready for school, and then went at my rooms. If the boys should be like Stephen, it would not be so very bad after all.