“O Allison! To think you have come to it that you’re willing to give up our lovely home, and have Cloudy go off, and we go the dear knows where, and have to board at the college or something.”
“Some day we’ll be getting married, too, I suppose,” said Allison speculatively.
His sister flashed a wise, curious look up at him, and studied his face a minute. Then a shade came over her own once more.
“Yes, I s’pose you will, pretty soon. You’re almost done college. But poor me! I’ll have to board for two whole years more, and I’m not sure I’ll ever get married. The man I like might not like me. And you may be very sure I’m not going to live on any sister-in-law, no matter how much I love her, so there!”
Allison smiled, and put his arm protectingly around his sister.
“There, kid, you needn’t get excited yet awhile. It’s me and thee always, no matter how many wives I have; and you won’t ever have to board. But, kid, I’m not willing to give up our house and Cloudy and all; I’m just thinking that maybe we ought to, you know. I guess we’re not pigs, are we? Cloudy has had a mighty hard life, and missed a lot of things out of it.”
“Well, isn’t she having ’em now, I’d like to know? I think Cloudy likes us, and wants to stay with us. I think she’s just loved the house and everything about it.”
“Yes, I think so, too; but this is something bigger than anything else in the world if she really cares. Don’t you think we ought to give her the chance?”
“I s’pose so, if she really wants it; but how can we find out?”