Eola intended making her confession after the servants were dismissed; but Mrs. Hulver departed quickly in their wake and defeated her purpose. She determined not to put it off and went to the housekeeper's room to inform her of the engagement without further delay.
With the packing away of the uniform Mrs. Hulver drew a breath of relief. Anxiety was at an end, a load off her mind.
"Take a chair, miss. The room is still untidy from having young William here; but the sweeper and I will soon get it straight when she comes back from her dinner."
"It looks quite neat," said Eola inconsequently; she was wondering how she was to open the subject uppermost in her mind. "Your son got away all safe yesterday morning, I suppose."
"Yes, miss!" Mrs. Hulver would not trust herself to more than the simple affirmative.
"I am afraid you are rather tired after all the nursing you have had."
"I took a good rest yesterday. After young William left I went to see my first husband's cousin, Mrs. de Silva. She was in a fine way about her girl who has refused to marry the man chosen for her. The silly child—she's only sixteen—has set her heart on a young Englishman who is out of employment. I did my best to cheer her up and to argue with the girl."
"You are always doing something for others. You must think of yourself now and rest."
"I'm happier when I am doing for somebody else, miss. As William—that was my second—used to say: 'You'll find happiness for yourself when you're hunting it for others.'"
"That's quite true."