Mary held a letter out to Joan and passed from the room.
The moment, while Joan glanced at the letter, had power to grip Nancy's imagination and fill it with a vision.
As sure as she ever saw anything, she saw Joan going away! Going away as she had never gone before. Going to a Far Country.
"Whom is the letter from?" she faltered, and Joan tore open the envelope while her eyes drank in the words.
"It is from Sylvia Reed, Nan. Her dream has come true. She has her studio—she wants me!"
"Joan, you will not go—you must not!" All that Nancy dared to put in her plea she put in it then.
"Why not?" asked Joan impressed. "Why not, Nan?"
"Aunt Dorrie——" Nancy's words ended in a sob.
"Aunt Dorrie shall decide."
And with that Joan, her face radiant, her breath coming quick, walked from the room and on, on to the little chapel upstairs.