What should she do?
A very little reflection convinced her that her best and wisest course, indeed her only course, was to confide in her venerable pastor.
This she determined to do without delay, as there was no time to be lost.
She rang her hand bell, and brought Pompous once more to her presence.
“Go,” she said, “and tell Puck to saddle a horse, and come around here to take a letter from me to Dr. Shaw.”
Pompous bowed, and strutted off to do his errand.
Roma sat down to her writing-desk and wrote a note to her old friend and pastor, asking him to come out and see her on the following morning, if convenient, as she was in imminent need of his counsel on a very pressing matter.
When her messenger presented himself she gave him the note, and told him to take it to the rectory and wait for an answer.
When the boy had gone Roma sent the children out to play, and took up her knitting and seated herself in her easy-chair to try to compose herself. But even her “contemplative” knitting work failed of its usual sedative effect.
The day passed heavily.