"She is getting on comfortably," said Miss Bertha—"in fact, if you are very good, you shall see her this afternoon. She is staying in the house. I have two little guests, you see."
But later on, when Miss Bertha went to find Susy, she was missing. And Lucy put a slip of paper into her mistress' hand.
"'Tis rather a scrawl, ma'am. Perhaps you may be able to make it out. I'm afraid she's slipped off after her father. She's been in a rare taking over him, and seemed wonderful set on seeing Miss Christina this morning. I said to her that she couldn't be disturbed.
"'I should like to thank her! I should like to thank her!' she kept repeating.
"I said she would be able to do it later on.
"And she shook her head, 'I can't wait. It will be too late!'
"I didn't know what she was meaning, but now I see she meant to go off. 'Tis very ungrateful, and she's not fit to tramp off yet awhile!"
Miss Bertha took the bit of paper. It was badly written and badly spelt, but tears were in her eyes as she deciphered it.
"I thanks you all, hand my biggest thanks to Miss Tener for I nose her luvs me, hand I luvs her for evermor, but dad as nobuddy and i must fin him and luv him lik muther toled me i was to and I ses good by for we wonte be bak here agen for the perlesse will katch him Loosee said dad wud be kort, and he don't mene to hert.
"SUSY."
She showed the paper to Christina, who looked at it long and earnestly. When she raised her eyes to Miss Bertha's, they were glowing with enthusiasm.