"Do you want to go to Lakewood with your Aunt Lillie and Bertie, or would you rather stay here with the servants and Mademoiselle?"
Ruth hesitated for a moment. "I'd much rather stay here," she replied, "if—"
"If what?" asked her uncle.
"If Mademoiselle were not going to be here, too."
Mr. Mayfield laughed. "That's frank at least. Well, she is not to be here all the time. She is going away for three days. I shouldn't wonder if she stretched the time longer, and there will be only Katie to look after you. Mrs. Mayfield will take Minnie with her. The cook and Martin will have the house to see to. Can you stand a whole week in such company?"
"Oh, yes, for I'll have Hetty, you know."
"I may be back in two or three days myself."
"Then I should surely like to stay."
"Bless the child," murmured Mr. Mayfield. "I think then since you do not really care to go that we will leave you here," he added.
It was certainly an easy way to arrange affairs, for Katie was steady and conscientious. She could be relied upon to take good care of the little girl, and Mr. Mayfield promised himself a free afternoon when he would take his niece to a matinee and give her a little of the attention which he felt he had been rather chary of.