“The main question is earning our living there; that is, if I can bring myself to take you away from your schools.”
“We talked that all over. There are ten acres with the house. There is also a little greenhouse, where Mr. Brook thinks we could raise early vegetables and flowers for market. Miss Brook says that you could do your embroidery there as well as here, and that if it seemed best the girls could come into the city for their lessons once or twice a week. They said we ought to keep one cow and a horse, and they had a plan by which we could make the horse pay for its keep; that is, if we were willing to work.”
“Are you, my dears? Remember it is not congenial work, nothing to do with books and music and art. But I was brought up in the country myself, and I know that the only way to get a living out of land is, as my guardian used to say, ‘dig it out.’ It seems strange for us, with our ignorance, to go back and attempt to do what the real country people have given up as a failure. I am more than doubtful about our success.”
“Mother, I never knew you to be so undecided about anything! I have always felt you knew long beforehand just what was best; don’t let us think of this thing at all if it troubles you,” said Isabelle, gently.
“There was never so much at stake before, my dear. But I will waver no longer. Let us each make the most of our last winter in the city, and in the spring we will go to New Windsor. Now, my Beatrice, if that soup of yours is ready we will have our dinner.”
They rose promptly, but soberly. Even Bonny could not shake off the influence of her mother’s thoughtful words, though she tried to jest as usual, and began to sing a gay little melody that Belle liked, till Roland interrupted her by saying: “Oh, I forgot; here is a little letter for you, from Mr. Brook,” and gave her an unsealed envelope.
“For me? How nice! But—how queer! Listen to this, all of you!”
My Dear Miss Beatrice,—The name of the place where I hope you will live, is The Lindens, from the trees which surround it. You will find your fortune in those trees if you search for it. I leave your quick wit to solve the riddle.
Faithfully Yours,
Philipse Chidly Brook.