The familiar voice brought the life-blood back to her face. She took a step toward him, both hands outstretched,—then, suddenly, she stopped and her cheeks crimsoned. "Of course we're glad to see you—very!" she said softly but constrainedly.
"Lemme tell you the news," shouted the doctor. "You 'll mebbe save Tillie from goin' out there to her pop's farm ag'in! She's teacher at William Penn, and her pop's over there at the Board meetin' now, havin' her throwed off, and then he'll want to take her home to work herself to death for him and all them baker's dozen of children he's got out there! And Tillie she don't want to go—and waste all her nice education that there way!"
Fairchilds took her hand and looked down into her shining eyes.
"I hardly know you, Tillie, in your new way of dressing!"
"What—what brings you here?" she asked, drawing away her hand.
"I've come from the Millersville Normal School with a letter for you from Mrs. Lansing," he explained, "and I've promised to bring you back with me by way of answer.
"I am an instructor in English there now, you know, and so, of course, I have come to know your 'Miss Margaret,'" he added, in answer to Tillie's unspoken question.
The girl opened the envelop with trembling fingers and read:
"MY DEAR LITTLE MENNONITE MAID: We have rather suddenly decided to go abroad in July—my husband needs the rest and change, as do we all; and I want you to go with me as companion and friend, and to help me in the care of the children. In the meantime there is much to be done by way of preparation for such a trip; so can't you arrange to come to me at once and you can have the benefit of the spring term at the Normal. I needn't tell you, dear child, how glad I shall be to have you with me. And what such a trip ought to mean to YOU, who have struggled so bravely to live the life the Almighty meant that you should live, you only can fully realize. You're of age now and can act for yourself. Break with your present environment now, or, I'm afraid, Tillie, it will be never.
"Come to me at once, and with the bearer of this note. With love, I am, as always, your affectionate