"I guess you know why," rejoined Eliza briefly.
"The idea of letting anybody rob you of your happiness," said Mrs. Wright. "I shall have to put Marcus Aurelius side of your bed so you can read him before you go to sleep. I thought you were more of a philosopher, Eliza."
"You ain't half through your disappointments in me yet," returned Eliza drily.
"Ho!" exclaimed Mrs. Wright, resting her hand on the shoulder of her companion as she stood a step below her. "I haven't begun on them yet."
"Just s'posin'," said Eliza, looking about at the fair prospect, "that Mrs. Ballard could be with us to see the summer comin'. How comfortable we'd make her!"
"I don't believe she'd come," said Mrs. Wright gently, "as much as she loves us."
"That's what he said," returned Eliza musingly. "He said we hadn't ought to believe we could make her happier than she is."
"He? Who?"
"Mr. Sidney."