“I am very sure of that, and that is why I am showing you that you took the wrong way to win your aunt Eunice’s favor. I hope some day she will overcome her prejudice in your direction, and when she does you will be glad that it is because you have been your honest, straightforward self and have been a good girl because it is right and lovely to be good and not because there is any material gain to be had from it.”
Elizabeth looked very sober; but there was a wistful look in her face, too, and Grandpa Gil understood what she was thinking. “I am sure that your main motive was to please your father and mother,” he went on, “and to help them and your sister, but I wouldn’t try to do grown-up things before you are able. Do the best you can, and maybe things will come out better than they promise now.”
“That is just what mother told Kathie.” Elizabeth brightened up. “You are very encourageful, Grandpa Gil. I feel ever so much better and I won’t borrow the McGonigle babies any more, neither will Betsy.” This ended the conversation, but its effect was lasting.
Grandpa Gil sat for some time lost in thought. After awhile he called Miller to bring around the motor car. When it came, he went off without asking anyone to go with him. He stopped at Miss Dunbar’s, went in and presently came out with Miss Jewett. The two were in earnest conversation. When the car started off again it turned into the road which led to the Academy.
CHAPTER XVIII
Wedding Gifts
MR. KEMP had gone off on a sketching trip with some of his former fellow students. The studio was closed for the time being. Elizabeth, particularly, missed the figure of her friend swinging along the road, hat off, sketch box in evidence. He always gave a cheery call as he passed, and his merry whistle was heard long after he had gone by. It still wanted nearly two months before the close of school, but Miss Jewett’s wedding was already talked of, and the new house next to Miss Dunbar’s was almost finished. Nothing gave Elizabeth and Betsy more pleasure than to visit this future home of their teacher. Betsy felt a peculiar interest in it because it would be her uncle’s, too, and Elizabeth was deeply concerned in anything associated with her beloved Miss Jewett, so the two little girls had many an intimate talk over this new home.
“Uncle Rob says they are going to stay at Miss Dunbar’s till they get the house all furnished, and they want to do it gradually,” Betsy informed her friend. “They don’t want to go in until it looks cosey and homelike, and the grounds are all cleared up. Of course they are going to be gone for two months on their honeymoon, and will buy most of the things in the city before they come back. Won’t it be fun, Elizabeth, to watch them fix up the house; and won’t it be funny to say aunt Margaret instead of Miss Jewett?”
Elizabeth sighed. “I wish she were going to be my aunt Margaret, too,” she said.
“Maybe she will let you call her so,” said Betsy, with a generous impulse. “I am going to ask her.”
“Oh Betsy, would you really!” Elizabeth’s face was radiant.