“I shouldn’t wonder at all if Lester had suggested it to him,” said David. “Lester’s my best friend. I suppose, though, I mustn’t say anything to him about it.”
“No, since it’s Dr. Wallace’s wish.”
“Perhaps Lester will come and see me during the vacation; perhaps he’ll refer to it in some way.”
“Of course, if he should do that. But we must be careful to respect Dr. Wallace’s wish.”
She could not help rejoicing with her boy over his good fortune, and she could not help sorrowing for it in her heart. Already she had come to look upon him as her prop and her companion in the loneliness with which she must always now be surrounded. Was there no end to the sacrifices required of women? But even while her spirit made that outcry, a look into her son’s radiant face comforted her.
The day after Christmas the moving began. By the middle of the afternoon it was all accomplished; some of the family possessions were in storage, the rest were already disposed in a quite orderly manner in the neat little apartment. David, who had gone back to the house to effect a final clearance of discarded articles, had turned the key in the lock for the last time. He looked up and saw Lester Wallace entering at the gate and ran to meet him eagerly.
“Do you know my great news?”
“No. What?”
“I’m going back next term, after all.”