Mr. Wells listened interestedly. “I think I’ll have to accept Dr. Paul’s invitation to go down there some day,” he said. “Are you there all the time except in summer?”
“No, we’ve been very little there of late years. Aunt Sarah keeps the house open, and we go between while, generally at Christmas, and sometimes at Easter. We were abroad for a year. Last winter we were at school in Washington, and this year I go to college.”
“Oh, you do? And where?”
“To Barnard, I think.” Nan made the decision suddenly. Was it not in New York?
“That’s good; then no doubt but I shall see you often. Will all the family be there, too, in New York?”
“I am not sure what the others will do. Mother and Aunt Helen hate to make so many changes in the schools and very likely I shall have my freshman year without them. Then Mary Lee will come along, I hope, and later the twins.”
“But even if they are not there you can come and have tea at the studio. Pinch and I have one together, you know, and his sister or some of our friends help at the tea-table.”
“That would be delightful.” Nan spoke with less enthusiasm, the chill of a stranger presence touching her.
“You know you will need your friends to rally around you if you are to be there alone,” continued her companion.
“So long as our dear friends, the Pinckneys, are near at hand I shall not mind, and no doubt I can do very well anyhow, for we were one year at boarding school while mother and Aunt Helen were in Europe. Then, two of my old chums will be with me. Jo Keyes is one, you know.”