"Hush now! Be quiet. You'll be late for your lessons. You're to stay to dinner at the Rectory, and your box will be sent over the first thing this afternoon."
"Am I going for good now? Then I must say good-bye to everybody, and what about Chris? Is he coming with me?"
"Of course not. Run down now and say good-bye to your aunt pretty. I shall never get done in time, and my best bonnet is being cleaned. 'Tis most vexin'."
"But are you going away, Goody, too?"
"I should think I was! Do you think I'd let your aunt go without me? I've maided her for over twenty years, and it may be a bit of nursing I shall have to do. But I'm ready for anything! I always was. And if good is coming to my dear mistress, and the smiles be coming back to her face—well, I'd be willing to work myself to the bone."
"Oh, do tell me, darling Goody, what it's all about." Harebell was frantic with curiosity. She put her small arms round Goody's substantial waist and held her tight. "Is it anything about—about—a gentleman?"
She sank her voice to a whisper. Andy's words came back to her. "Don't you go for to mention his name, or you'll get old Andy into trouble."
Goody broke away from her impatiently.
"Go off to your lessons this minute, and mind you behave yourself at the Rectory, and have pretty manners like a little lady!"
