Hal hoped so too. He was young; and the world looked bright; and then they all needed him. Not that he had any morbid thoughts of dying, only sometimes it crossed his mind. He had never been quite so well and strong since the accident.
For Granny's sake and for Dot's sake. He loved them both so dearly; and they seemed so peculiarly helpless,—the one in her shy childhood, the other on the opposite confine. He wanted to make Granny's life pleasant at the last, when she had worked so hard for all of them.
But God would do what was best; though Hal's lip quivered, and an unbidden tear dropped from the sad eye.
O Florence! had you forgotten them?
[CHAPTER XV.]
HOW CHARLIE RAN AWAY.
"Where is Charlie?" asked Hal as they sat down to the supper-table one evening.
"She didn't go to work this afternoon, but put on her best clothes, and said she meant to take a holiday."