"You didn't have to imagine,—you only had to expect."
"You laid limits, you see," said Susan, suddenly beginning to pour out the coffee, and pouring with a glad dash that swept over cup and saucer together. "I expect if God hadn't been patient—like Mr. Rath—He could have very well hid that will forever. There may be a lot of such goings on in the world, for all we know. My goodness, suppose I'd been like Matilda and not have had old Mrs. Croft around for one minute,—it makes me ill to think of it! It's a lesson for me, too."
"Life is all lessons," said Jane. "Dear me, think of Aunt Matilda's surprise!"
"Think of it! Good mercy, how can I wait to tell her!" Susan's whole face beamed. "I don't mind a bit her coming back now. That shows the good of making that declaration about her. Those declarations are a great thing. I've told myself Matilda was coming back in a perfectly right way so many times that now, however she came back, I'd be positive it was perfectly right."
"Ah, Auntie," said Jane, "you've got hold of another great truth. Every one seems quicker than me."
"Well, you started us at it, anyhow," said Susan kindly. "Oh my, but I'm happy! Why, I believe I'm really in a hurry now for Matilda to come back, just so I can tell her. Think of that—me really and truly anxious to see Matilda again! My, you Sunshine Jane, you—what a lot of difference you've made in me."
"When is your aunt coming?" Lorenzo asked Jane.
"She went for three weeks," said Jane; "it will be three weeks next Thursday."
"Goodness, only three weeks, and it seems like three years?" observed Susan. "What a lot has happened! There's Jane—and her religion—and me up and well—and old Mrs. Croft here and gone—and you, Mr. Rath,—and then you and Jane—and now this money."
"I can't believe any of it," said Jane; "I try, but I just can't. I guess I'm hopelessly limited. I'm too bewildered, I—"