"I'm sure it must be," returned her aunt. "I'm glad, too, Ora."
"Aunt Phenie isn't. She talks about my throwing myself away, and all that—even now she does."
"Never you mind what folks say. You ain't wasting your life, and it ain't likely you ever will. I guess as time goes on your duties will be marked out pretty plain for you, and nobody'll gainsay that they're not duties. How's Almira?"
"She's pretty smart. She eats better. That reminds me. I thought I'd get you to let me have some of grandpap's nice good apples, if you have any to spare. She's real fond of apples."
"Of course you shall have some," Miss Phosie responded cordially. "We gathered some to-day from the trees down by the potato patch; they're proper good, too." She went through to the pantry, and saw, passing the window, Luther Williams and Kenneth pacing slowly. She gave a quick sigh. "Yes," she murmured, "it's a great thing to have the right to speak out your feelings. Ora hasn't lived very long, but she's had more than I've had." Then because it seemed too bold a thought, she thrust it from her, and diving down into the bag of apples, selected the finest for Almira who, too, had loved and lost, but had mourned openly.
CHAPTER XVIII
ON HASKINS' ISLAND
"It is getting too lonely for three women to be down here on this point by themselves," remarked Miss Elliott one morning after a three days' storm during which they had scarcely set foot out of doors. "Lizzie is becoming discontented and yearns for city streets. Moreover, the supplies are not what they were, and she thinks our daily bill of fare unworthy of her powers. To be sure we are perfectly safe, for Mr. Williams comes prowling around before daybreak to see that we haven't been blown off the rocks over night, and Kenneth spends most of his time here, keeping his eye on us, as it were, or on you I should say," for it had been evident long before this how matters stood between the young people, and Gwen had confessed that there was an understanding between them. Once satisfied that Kenneth's character was all that she could approve, Miss Elliott offered no objections. "I hate to take you back to the city," she went on. "You look like a different girl, but I should like you to have a still longer holiday."
"I am a different girl," returned Gwen. "I am a very happy one. What a wonderful summer it has been. To be sure it will be a little hard to get into the traces again, but I feel quite equal to it, and the waiting for Kenneth doesn't seem hard when I am to see him before spring."