“I think not, if you can content yourself with the accommodation you can have at a cottage about a mile from Mrs. Railton’s villa. The old couple it belongs to are eccentric, but thoroughly kind-hearted; and Mrs. Bick nursed me so tenderly through an attack of scarlet fever that I am always grateful to her, and have more than once spent my summer holidays beneath her roof. Do you think you can content yourself in a tiny country cottage, Miss Heriton?”
“Dear Susan, you shall see that I will put aside all my fastidious likes and dislikes. Indeed, I am more in earnest than you seem to imagine,” said Florence gravely.
“I do not doubt your earnestness; I only ask myself how you will bear with the difficulties of the career you have chosen—with the requirements of exacting mothers, the obstinacy or pettishness of their children. Can you, who have been accustomed to see yourself obeyed, learn to pay respect and obedience to persons in rank and education far your inferiors?”
“It is for papa’s sake. Surely I shall never forget that! Don’t dishearten me, Susan,” poor Florence pleaded.
“I do not wish to do so; only it is necessary that you should thoroughly comprehend what you are about to undertake.”
“Well, on the score of the cottage you may be easy,” was the reply; “for our apartments over the way are neither so elegant nor spacious that we shall have cause to regret them; besides which, Mrs. Jones daily mutters in my hearing that she can’t be bothered much longer with the trouble of sick people.”
As Susan was writing a note to Mrs. Bick, and jotting down a few hints for the journey likely to be useful to such inexperienced travelers, she suddenly looked up to inquire:
“Have you written to your aunt, Mrs. Blunden, lately? Will she not interfere to prevent the necessity of this step?”
“I think not—in fact, I scarcely wish it. I have written and thanked her for the timely assistance of the bank note, but I could not see papa subjected to her harsh speeches now that he is no longer able to defend himself,” And tears sprang into Florence’s eyes at the mere thought.
The note was finished, and the friends were parting with a grateful “Thanks, dear Susan!” and a fervent “Heaven prosper you, Miss Heriton!” when a step was heard on the stair.