Her uncle’s voice at the foot of the stairs confirmed her guess that he would presently be searching for her.
“Coming!” she called back, fastening the last snapper of her Jersey waist as she went.
And on her way down she composed an excuse for her aunt’s certain questions as to where she had been while Hazel was in the room.
“Poor little Aunt Hattie!” she was thinking, “I wonder was my own mother like her?”
CHAPTER XIV
AT CRYSTAL SPRINGS
Gloria was much impressed with the scene she sensed, rather than viewed from her seclusion in the closet.
“I wonder if my mother would have been like that—to me?” she asked herself again next morning.
Strange what channels of inspiration affection can open up. Gloria was now resolved to agree with her aunt, and not to obstruct any further her peculiarities in humoring Hazel.
“She’s all she’s got and dad would do as much for me, just as I would do as much for dad.” This was not exactly a choice way of expressing her sentiments, but no critic could object to the sentiments thus expressed.