“And are n't you come to live at home now for good?”
She shook her head with a sorrowful meaning, and said:
“I'm afraid not, Tony. My dear, dear father does not grow richer as he grows older, and he needs many a little comfort that cannot come of his own providing, and you know he has none but me.”
The intense sadness of the last few words were deepened by the swimming eyes and faltering lips of her that uttered them.
“And are you going back to these M'Gruders?”
She shook her head in negative.
“I 'm glad of that I 'm sure they were not kind.”
“Nay, Tony, they were good folk, but after their own fashion; and they always strove to be just.”
“Another word for being cruel. I 'd like to know what's to become of any of us in this world if we meet nothing better than Justice. But why did you leave them?—I mean leave them for good and all.”
She changed color hastily, and turned her head away, while in a low confused manner she said: “There were several reasons. I need n't tell you I was n't strong, Tony, and strength is the first element of governess life.”