“Ah, your aunt has been here, has she?” exclaimed Mr. Abbott, quickly. “And what plan did she suggest?”
“Why, do you know about it, and is it really true, then?” asked Honor, wonderingly. “And have you come to tell us the same thing?”
“How do I know, my dear, until I hear what she has told you?” said he, with an attempt at lightness.
“The most absurd thing you ever heard of,” said Katherine. “She says we must go there to live. Just fancy us living with Aunt Sophia!”
“And that we are to go to boarding-school,” put in Sophy, who had seated herself on the arm of her guardian’s chair.
“And that we must rent the place,” continued Honor. “Rent this place where no one has ever lived but Starrs! Just imagine what father’s feelings would have been if it had ever been suggested to him that strangers should have Glen Arden!”
“Catch me going to Boston to live,” remarked Peter. “I could stand boarding-school on a pinch, but Boston, never!”
Victoria said nothing, but she watched Mr. Abbott’s face. She noticed that it had become very grave.
“And you wouldn’t like it?” said he.
“Like it! Why, Mr. Abbott, why should we do it? Of course we don’t like it. The very idea is absurd.” They were all talking together.