“Something must be done—now what shall it be?” was Aunt Ella's declaration and inquiry. Then Alice remembered what Maude had said in one of her letters—that young Quincy should be brought up as an American. She spoke to Aunt Ella about the matter, repeating what Maude had written.
“Where could we send him?”
“The where is not so important” Aunt Ella remarked, “as the to whom. Florence and Maude are both out of the question for they have young children of their own who might, or might not, take to an outsider. Quincy's mother would be delighted to have him for he is her son's son, but Boston, with its east winds would be no better than here. Besides, his grandfather would say that he'd raised one family of disobedient children and he wanted a quiet life.”
The question remained unsettled that day, but the next morning Aunt Ella burst into Alice's room with a loud cry—
“Eureka! I have it! Why didn't we think of it before?”
“You say you have it,” said Alice, “but what is it? That pattern that you were looking for?”
“No, a happy home for this youngster,” as she patted his curly head lovingly.
“Now, can't you guess?”
Alice shook her head.
“Well, I must say, you are not a very thoughtful sister,” and the last word was strongly emphasized.