He would not let Janice drive the car on the steep roads yet, but brought it safely himself into the Day premises. Mrs. Day insisted upon Frank’s stopping for a “snack,” as she called it, setting a pitcher of cool milk and her best pound cake before the visitor.
“I wanted Mr. Haley to stop and have some with you,” said the good lady, swinging to and fro in the porch rocker, her weight making both it and the boards of the floor creak, “but he ’peared to be in a hurry.”
“Did he come for anything in particular?” asked Janice, trying to speak casually.
“Mebbe he was looking for a ride in your new ortermobile,” her Aunt Almira said placidly. “I’m jest all of a tickle myself, waitin’ for my first go at it. Mr. Haley asked all about it, and I told him how kind Mr. Bowman was to show you how to run it.”
Janice felt self-conscious whenever Nelson’s name was mentioned in company. She had written Daddy all about the school teacher—she never could have kept such a secret as that from him—and Mr. Broxton Day had advised her to have no decided understanding with the young man, save the understanding that they were good friends.
“When I can leave the mine and come to Polktown and meet personally my little Janice’s friend,” wrote Daddy, “it will be time enough for us to decide this momentous question of what he is to be to you.
“I think my little Janice is much too young to have more than a friendly interest in any young man. I hope, however, if Nelson is worthy of your confidence, that you will be a real friend to him. The greatest inspiration a young man can have at the outset of his career is the interest of a good girl.
“You say Nelson has no sister; and you have no brother. Your sisterly interest in his welfare, and his companionship will benefit you both. Always keep his respect and admiration; and I hope, my dear, by the time I can come to you for a visit, you will have learned Nelson’s character thoroughly.”
Daddy always did write such dear letters! Janice was sure no mother, even, could be as wise and kindly as her father. She liked Nelson Haley very much; but Mr. Day’s advice was right in line with her own feelings. Even an engagement between the school teacher and herself was only to be thought of as a possibility of the future.
She knew that she had been Nelson’s inspiration since he had come to Polktown; and she was proud that he had made a success of the new school. She was glad, too, that he had been called by the board of the small college, whether he finally accepted the position as instructor there or not.