"To leave her with Miss Ashton, if she will take charge of her, as I think she will. I shall go and see her this evening after I have taken Belle home. She will be well cared for there, I am sure."
"Yes," said Mrs. Bradford; "but I fear she will be very lonely after school-hours are over. There are only Miss Ashton and her mother; and, though I do not doubt she would receive every kindness, it will be dull for the little thing. Suppose you let her come to us: she will bear your absence better if she is with our children whom she is fond of."
Mr. Powers' melancholy face lighted up with pleasure; but the next moment he shook his head doubtfully.
"It would be the very thing for her," he said, "but quite too much to ask from you. You are not strong yet, and it would not be right to give you the charge of another child."
But Mrs. Bradford would not listen to this, as long as Mr. Powers was satisfied to have his child with her. Belle was not much trouble, she said; and nurse and Jane would readily do for her as for the others. So, after a little more talk, it was settled, greatly to the father's satisfaction. Mrs. Bradford said it would be well to tell Belle now, while she had the other children at hand to console her, and make her feel she might enjoy herself even though her father and nurse were away; and the little girls were called in.
"Belle," said Mrs. Bradford, "how would you like to come and stay with Maggie and Bessie for a while?"
"What! do you mean to stay all night and sleep here?" said Belle, with wide-open eyes.
"Yes, dear, for several nights, for three or four weeks. Would you not have pleasant times?"
"Yes, if papa comes too," said Belle, drawing herself from Mrs. Bradford's arm, and springing to her father's knee, where she clung to him, as if she feared she were to be parted from him by force.
"But papa cannot come too, my precious one," said her father. "I have to go on a journey; and Mrs. Bradford has kindly said you may stay here with her little girls till I come back."