In such high esteem was this good woman held by the young Stuarts that they regarded her almost as a mother.
When the question of going to England that summer was first mooted, the alternative was placed before Mrs. Pole, and the choice given, her to accompany the young pair on their voyage and foreign tour or to remain at Wolfscliff in charge of the house.
And the woman, on her part, had entreated Mr. and Mrs. Stuart to tell her which they would prefer to have her do.
To which they replied that they wished her to do just as she pleased.
This morning Palma came into the nursery, where Mrs. Pole sat beside the cradle, watching the sleeping babies, while she sewed on some plain needlework.
How for the last fortnight Mrs. Pole had been halting between two opinions, divided between the affections for Cleve and Palma and their children, that drew to go with them, and her dread of the long voyage and love of quiet that bound her to her home. Therefore, she wished them to make the decision for her that she was incapable of making for herself. And they would not.
But within a day or two it had been “borne in” upon the mind of Poley that, although Mr. and Mrs. Stuart really wished her to do as she pleased in this matter of going or staying, yet that they would be better satisfied that she should please to stay at Wolfscliff to take care of the house than to go to Europe with them. Mrs. Pole and her young friends were really secretly of one mind in this matter.
So when Palma sat down beside her she was prepared to meet the question.
Palma said:
“Poley, dear, it is really time now that you should make up your mind as to what you are going to do about going to Europe with us or staying here. Because, if you should decide to go with us, Poley, dear, we must begin at once to look out for some good and reliable woman to come and take care of the house while we are away.”