“Oh, as to that—we’ll see,” said Mrs. Rosscott, and laughed afresh. “But there is one thing that must be done at once.”
“What’s that?” Jack asked.
“We must tell Aunt Mary who I am.”
“Oh, to be sure,” said the young man.
“I hope she won’t take it in any way but the right way!” the widow said thoughtfully.
“My dearest, in what other way could she take it? I think she has proved her opinion of you pretty sincerely.”
“Yes,” said Mrs. Rosscott, with a little smile, “I certainly have cause to feel that she loves me for myself alone.”
When they returned to the house they went straightway to Aunt Mary’s room, and the first glance through the old lady’s eye-glasses told her that her wishes had all been fulfilled. She sat up in bed, took a hand of each into her own, and surveyed them in an access of such utter joy as nearly caused all three to weep together.
“Well, I am so glad,” was all she said for the first few seconds, and nobody doubted her words forever after.
Then Mrs. Rosscott removed her hat and jacket, and when she returned to the bedside her future aunt made her sit down close to her and hold one of her hands while Jack held the other.