"I trust," said Emily, "that my being away will make but very little difference to you in those things; you know I shall not be so far off but that I can come to you, or assist you whenever it will give you the smallest pleasure."
Dora expressed her thanks, and felt how little she deserved such kindness; and Margaret hoped that she would not leave them yet. "Everything will seem a great deal worse then," she said.
"Mrs Herbert intends staying with your mamma while she continues so ill, I believe," replied Emily; "but when she is better, I heard Colonel Herbert say, he should like to go directly to the cottage."
"Do you know what Dr Bailey thinks about mamma?" asked Margaret.
"He says that she requires change, but she is not equal to the exertion of moving."
"I wish we might go somewhere before Frank returns to school," observed
Dora. "He has had such melancholy holidays."
"Should you like to go to London?" said Emily.
Margaret started at the idea. "Oh no!—not to London; any place but that."
"I thought you wished it once," said Emily.
"Yes; but things are altered since then. I shall never wish to go there."