“Then go and get ready for your journey at once, David Lindsay. I will sit here and wait for you. But what will Granny Lindsay say to your sudden departure? And, oh, what will she do, here by herself? I never thought of that before,” said the girl, compunctiously.
“Do not distress yourself, lady. All things work together for your will to-day; for this morning my grandmother left home for the first time in many years, and for an absence of some days,” replied the young man.
“Granny Lindsay from home!” exclaimed Gloria, in surprise, not unmixed with a feeling of relief.
“Yes, she is gone to St. Inigoes to keep house for the brethren until they can procure another housekeeper in place of the one recently deceased. You know they will not take one under sixty years of age,” added David, gravely.
“Oh, I am so glad she will not be left alone here!” exclaimed Gloria.
“Come up to the house, then, will you not, and rest in granny’s room, while I go in my roost and make ready?”
Gloria silently arose and followed him.
When they entered the neat room, David placed a chair for his young guest, then put the brands of fire together on the hearth, kindled them to a blaze, and hung the tea-kettle over it.
“Why do you take that trouble?” she inquired.
“You must have a cup of tea before you go. It will not take any extra time, since the kettle will come to a boil while I am getting ready,” he replied, as he went up the ladder stairs that led through the trap-door to his own loft.