But, as it happened, before to-morrow came, she found what it was she could do next, and it came about in this wise. When Patsey came home from school that afternoon he brought with him a letter for Gertrude, which filled her with consternation.
It was from her deputy at the Bratley depot, who wrote that she could hold the post for only two weeks longer, as she had been offered a clerkship in Nelson, a permanent post with a good salary.
“Oh, mother, do you think I could get strong enough in a fortnight to go back to work?” cried Gertrude, dismayed at the thought of losing her position at Bratley.
“I don’t think anything about it, for I know you can’t,” Mrs. Lorimer replied gloomily.
“Oh dear, what shall I do? Every one says the Bratley clerks are sure of promotion, and I had such a clean record, too; now I shall have to resign, and all my previous work and waiting will go for nothing.”
Nell, who was busy at the stove with preparations for supper, turned quickly with an eager question—
“Could I fill the place for you, do you think?”
“But you don’t know anything about telegraphy,” interposed Mrs. Lorimer.
“I do, a little. For four months before father died, after he was too ill to preach, we boarded with Mrs. Chapman, at Poll’s End. Their daughter Sally was the depot operator, and she taught me a lot; I could send and receive messages for her, and I often used to be in her office for hours alone, while she went walking with her friends,” Nell said, a little breathlessly, while she looked from Mrs. Lorimer to Gertrude, and then back again.
“Oh, mother, if only it could be done, how happy I should be!” exclaimed Gertrude, with clasped hands, and an eager look in her eyes.