"I must thank you for the nice time I have had here. You have been very kind to me, and I shall be dreadfully sorry to leave."
"I think Sunnie will be sorry, too. I consider you have been very successful with her picture and am glad you have been happy with us. When must you start?"
"This afternoon, if I may," said Jean, turning away to prevent Mrs. Gordon's seeing the quick tears in her eyes.
She hardly knew what she was doing for the next hour or two. Every one was kind, but Jean resented their comparative indifference to her departure. Meta expressed a hope that she would meet her again in London.
Sunnie was the only one who really cared, and when she heard, she put her little arms round her neck, drew her down to her, and began to cry.
"You are one of my friends," she sobbed. "I can't bear a friend to go away."
Jean kissed the golden head.
"I shall not forget you," she said. "I shall write letters to you now and then; will you not like that?"
"Yes," sobbed Sunnie, "but I shall be so empty without you, when Cousin Leslie isn't here. Will you never come back, never?"
Jean could not bring herself to reiterate that mournful word.