“Is the bear still on exhibition, Mrs. Endicott?” asked Stuart.
“I am afraid you, in your perfect health, do not realize how hard some things are to endure,” she said, with a touch of reproof in her voice.
“I am glad I have not such a fearful temper.—Miss Endicott, you play croquet, of course. I challenge you to a game.”
Fanny tripped gayly down the path. But mamma, I noticed, looked very grave.
CHAPTER IV.
Fan, Nelly, and Stuart played croquet until it was fairly dusk. There were shouts of laughter, and much hurrying around, as if no time was to be lost. Mamma and I went quietly about our duties; and when I had the children in bed, I came into the nursery and sat down to have a brief talk with her. By this time the click of the balls had ceased, and the three were strolling up and down the street.
“How odd it seems!” I said. “I wonder if we shall get along nicely.”
“Don’t begin to fear thus early, Mr. Faint-heart,” returned mamma, smilingly. “It will not be as nice as having our house to ourselves; but we are not doing it for pure enjoyment. When we are tired, and worried, and discouraged we must think of all the nice things we shall buy in the fall, and be comforted. We shall have papa a new study carpet, and get his chair freshly covered.”
“And if it could be Russia leather! That would last him all his life. At all events, we will spend half on him; and I am sure he will deserve it. He will, likely, be the greatest sufferer by the confusion.”