“We decided last night, dear. You know how Uncle Walter loves to take us along.”
“Will it be a nice long case? Say yes!”
“Yes,” smiled the elder woman, “three or four weeks, probably, and maybe longer. You never can tell how long lawyers will be, threshing out justice.”
“Where? Where? Oh, I call this fine!” Gloria was pulling out the contents of a bureau drawer. “Where are we going, auntie?”
“To Cheyenne. Gloria, what in the world are you up to?”
“Packing. Cheyenne! I'll dress in a jiffy, auntie, and when I've got my trunk packed I'll pack you.”
CHAPTER III.
Walter McAndrew, Attorney-at-Law, was in rather frequent demand in distant places, when the services of an especially acute lawyer were in demand. When these “cases,” as Gloria termed them, called him to locations worth visiting, Mr. McAndrews delighted in taking his wife and ward with him. The evening preceding the packing-scene in Gloria's bedroom, he and his good wife had come to the rapid decision that a trip to the West just now would be good for Gloria—more likely than anything else to eradicate impressions of unpleasant Pleasant Street. Gloria's impressions were apt to come and go easily, they reasoned, and it was important for this one to go.
“You were going away, anyway, and I suppose I can go too, even if it is hot,” his wife had sighed in gentle renunciation of her own comfort. As for Gloria—the child was always delighted with variety and change. No trouble about Gloria!
Ten years earlier, when, close upon the death of his beloved young wife, Gloria's father had slipped out of life, the orphan of seven years had been given into Mr. McAndrews' charge, to be loved and petted, while Mr. McAndrews was given her generous little fortune to husband and watch over. It had been a beautiful home for Gloria; unquestioningly she had accepted all its comforts and love. Yet Gloria was not selfish—only young. Gloria's father had been a keen business man, and the investments of his money as he earned it had been of the kind that fatten men's pocketbooks, however lean they may make the bodies of other men.