“I’m thankful that my mother lived as long as she did, because I would not have been taught anything but what is rough and unkind by my stepmother. I helped my mother with everything and studied with her till she grew too ill. Then I did all the housework till my father married again. We haven’t a big house, though, and there was only Father except when there were men to help on the ranch. Then we hired somebody to help me.”
“How old were you then?”
“Past fifteen.”
“You seemed like such a little thing last year when you first came.”
“I was sixteen, though, a whole year older than you. I’ve grown a good deal since last year. My clothes all had to be let out and down, you know.”
“I suppose it was because you were so thin, and then your hair was skinned back so tight——”
“And my clothes were so funny.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. But really I am not so far from seventeen now. The ages I gave you were our last birthdays.”
Isabel and Virginia had been talking to each other all the way to Greycliff Village. Now they waked up to their surroundings enough to say goodbye to other girls, received their through tickets from the chaperoning teacher, and waited a short time for the train. This took them west instead of east, and was to land them in the little town at about eleven o’clock. As Virgie wanted to be as saving as possible, they did not even take a Pullman. “And what was the use?” said Isabel. “We had no need of a sleeper—why go to bed for a few hours? And they always make up the berths about nine or ten o’clock. I’d rather be in the ordinary coach, even if it is for nine or ten hours.” This was very good of Isabel, and the girls were so happy that nothing made much difference. Fortified with some magazines and a box of candy, they managed to put in the rest of the day very comfortably, taking their meals in the dining car. The wintry landscape was not unpleasing, and they were almost surprised when they found the end of the journey at hand.
“Who will meet us?” asked Virginia.