Making the orphan happy had not been a part of Mrs. Green’s scheme. She merely wanted a maid and companion for Susetta, and so she replied rather coldly, “I guess any girl would consider it an honor to live in an elegant house like ours after this here orphanage. I will send for her to-morrow.” Then the woman was gone, Susetta meekly following her.
Mrs. Friend watched them go with a heavy heart. How she dreaded telling poor Eva! Then suddenly her face brightened. That very afternoon there was to be a meeting of the directors of the orphanage. Perhaps they would decide that Eva need not go after all. At least, she would not tell the little girl whom she so dearly loved, until the matter was definitely settled.
Meanwhile, Eva and Amanda, hand in hand, had wandered over to the woods. “It’s such a lovely day,” Eva declared, “I feel as though I wanted to dance and sing, don’t you, Amanda?”
The other girl shook her head. “No, I don’t!” she said. “I feel just as though some terrible thing was going to happen. It’s that dreadful woman makes me feel that way, I guess.”
Eva laughed gayly. “Well, Mandy,” she replied merrily, “if a dreadful calamity does come, you and I must try to look on the sunny side of it.”
Whether or not the calamity came, you shall soon know.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
EVA BEGINS A NEW LIFE
The board of directors met at the appointed hour, and as soon as the regular business was disposed of, Mrs. Friend told the story of Mrs. Green’s visit, and ended by asking permission to refuse to permit Eva to leave the orphanage.
The matter was discussed, but it was finally decided that it would be very unwise to offend so wealthy a possible patron as Mrs. Cyrus Green. “Let the child go for a while,” said one, “and perhaps later a way will be found to recall her.”
And with that decision Mrs. Friend had to be content. Late that afternoon, as Eva and Amanda were walking arm in arm about the garden, a little girl ran out to them and called, “Eva Dearman, Mrs. Friend wants to see you in the office right away quick. I guess something awful has happened, she looks so sad.”