"He did not want to go at all!"
"No. But that was foolish of him!"
"I think he did not like the thought of leaving you, mother. He feared you might be ill whilst he was away."
"Oh, I am not likely to be ill again," Mrs. Fowler declared sanguinely. "I mean to throw off my invalid-ish ways now, and surprise your father on his return. Send Ross to me, Margaret, to help me dress."
"Shall I help you, mother? Do let me. I am sure I can do your hair as well as Ross."
Mrs. Fowler hesitated, but finally decided in favour of Ross; so Margaret went in search of her. Ross was a well-mannered, good-tempered young woman who waited upon Mrs. Fowler, and did the mending and sewing of the household. She expressed surprise and pleasure on hearing that her mistress intended getting up and joining the family breakfast-table.
"It shows how much stronger she feels, Miss Margaret," she said. "I've often thought if she would bestir herself more she would be better in health and spirits."
Gerald grumbled loudly when he discovered that he was to do lessons whilst his sister was to have a holiday. Why should Margaret be allowed nice drives with their mother when he was obliged to stay at home and work. It was most unfair, he declared; and it may be imagined that poor Miss Conway had rather a trying experience with her younger pupil on the first day of his father's absence, when, in the afternoon, Mrs. Fowler and Margaret drove to N—, and left him at home.
The road to N— lay through some most beautiful scenery, and Margaret thoroughly enjoyed the drive. Now they were on an open common where the few trees to be seen were stunted and grown one-sided, a fact which puzzled the little girl until it was explained to her that the keen breeze blowing across the Atlantic was accountable for it, then she remarked that the bare side of the trees was the one which faced the sea; now they had left the common and were going down bill into a sheltered, wooded coomb, and by-and-by the road led upwards again till the town of N— was reached, situated almost at the top of the hill.
At the entrance to the town, Mrs. Fowler and Margaret got out of the carriage, and walked up the main street—Fore Street it was called—looking into the shop windows. They had paused outside a small china shop in which was some pretty pottery, when a familiar voice addressed them in accents of pleasure and surprise.