Mrs. Parsons wrote to tell Mrs. Brown of this alteration in their plans, and also of Eliza's adventure and illness, and how highly she and the Vicar esteemed her for her brave endurance and unselfish care of their little boy. The letter concluded by asking Mrs. Brown if she would allow Eliza to stay on at the Vicarage when they returned, as they would like to have her as nursemaid to the children.
Eliza wrote as well, asking that she might be allowed to go to the Vicarage nursery, and telling her mother how kind the Vicar and everybody had been to her, and that she would be quite well and strong again by the time they came home.
When Mrs. Parsons left them to rejoin the Vicar, Nurse took care that Master Eustace did not go roaming again.
"I don't want to go and look for another cave, for fear it should make Man Friday ill," said the little boy. "We will play Robinson Crusoe without a cave this time," he added.
It was on a Saturday morning that the letter reached Mrs. Brown, telling her of Eliza's adventure, and how greatly pleased the Vicar and his wife were with her kind, unselfish ways with the children altogether.
To say that Mrs. Brown was pleased with this letter would not express a tithe of what she felt when she read it, and to have this offer for Eliza of a place in the Vicarage was more than she had anticipated to be possible, and she felt proud indeed, and looked forward to her husband's return in the afternoon, to tell him the wonderful news.
Of course, she told the two girls who were at home, and Selina danced with delight as she dusted the kitchen chairs, while the more thoughtful Minnie paused in her work of cleaning knives and forks, and said—
"Mother, God must have told her what to do to take care of Master Eustace, and that is what we shall feel proud of. Of course, if our Eliza had not tried to serve God in the little things here at home, she would not have known what to do when she was shut up in that nasty cave."
It was a view of the matter that had not occurred to Mrs. Brown herself, but Eliza had always been the little comforter at home, and was always ready to sympathize and help everybody, quite forgetful of herself and her own interests.
Selina had another way of showing her pride and pleasure in her sister's brave doings. She wanted to run out and tell all the neighbourhood what great things Eliza had done. Her mother knew this, and kept a watchful eye upon her; and when the kitchen chairs were dusted, the little girl was sent upstairs to dust the bedrooms, for Mrs. Brown did not wish the neighbours to hear the news before her husband came home.