Mrs. Baker looked up curiously.
“I am thinking of going down to Philadelphia for a day,” explained Mrs. Hartwell-Jones. “There are certain records that my lawyer wishes to look up, concerning Letty’s baptism and the exact date of her father’s death. I should like, too, to call on the minister, if we can find him, in whose parish Mrs. Grey lived at that time.
“And I thought possibly it might interest Letty to revisit some of the places where she used to live. Or do you think it might rouse sad memories in the child’s heart and make her unhappy? Do you think it would be a hard experience?”
“It might sadden the dear child a bit for the moment,” answered grandmother; “but the sadness cannot last long, remembering what the future holds for her, and I think it would be very good for her, Mrs. Hartwell-Jones, to go over the old scenes and impress them upon her mind, since her life from now on is to be so very different.”
“I am glad you agree with me, Mrs. Baker. Then, since that is settled, will it interfere with your plans in any way to have us go tomorrow?”
Mrs. Baker smiled.
“Not with me, dear Mrs. Hartwell-Jones. Choose your own time and convenience. But I am afraid the children will raise a very dreadful outcry.”
Mrs. Hartwell-Jones smiled too, in recollection of all the mysterious whisperings and private interviews that had been going on among the children.
“I think they can spare Letty for two days,” she laughed. “We shall be back the day after, you know.”
Letty received the news of the proposed journey with mingled feelings. How odd it would seem to go back to Philadelphia, to revive the scenes and memories of the old life, which seemed gone forever.