CHAPTER VI.
LEAVING MEADENHAM.
"Switzerland! O Auntie, that is such a long way off! You don't mean really that you are going all that way from me," and Lena as she spoke these words burst into tears, and clung tightly to her Aunt, as if to prevent her leaving her.
"I am not going away to-day, dear," said Miss Somerville, trying to speak cheerfully and brightly as she fondly stroked the little head that was buried on her shoulder. "And, my child," she went on more gravely, "this is no new thought to you; we both knew this parting must come."
"But not so soon, and such a long way."
"You have Papa and Mama and your sisters, and will be so happy with them, and will often write to me. And I shall hope for such good accounts of my pet."
"You won't get them," said Lena in a most doleful tone; "I shan't be able to be good without you, I know I shan't."
"Lena, dear, that is not a right way to speak. I shall think that I have taught you what is wrong if you say such things."
"No, no, I did not mean that; but why can't you always live with us? What do you want to go to that horrid place for?"
"It is not at all a horrid place, but a very nice one. Why I am going is this"——