“Next here?” queried Nancy, again much perplexed at Orilla’s statement.
“Yes. There’s a strip of land adjoining this. It is only a fisherman’s place and he promised to sell it to me very cheap. I had almost enough money, and the fresh-air parties were to pay me more. But I won’t need it now. This is—so—much better,” and the sick girl sighed happily.
“You were trying so hard to get money to buy land near here,” Nancy repeated, beginning to understand Orilla’s struggles.
“Yes. It’s in the little brown bag, but half of it belongs to Rosa. She must have it back,” Orilla said firmly.
“But I’m sure she won’t take it—” declared Nancy.
“Then I’ll have to give it to mother. Poor mother, she has worked so hard,” Orilla sighed. “But this, having me here again, will surely make her happy.”
Dr. Easton found Orilla highly nervous, and privately he told Margot and Mrs. Rigney that the fancied injustice had so preyed upon the girl’s mind she had been unable, for the time being at least, to control her bitterness. This would now be removed and so her health would be sure to improve.
Mrs. Rigney had been brought back in the car, as the girls arranged, and in spite of her daughter’s illness they were all almost happy.
“It is her dream come true,” said Nancy to Rosa. “And she has just given her mother the brown bag with the money. She wanted to give you half.”
“I wouldn’t take a penny,” declared Rosa sharply. “I gave her that and it’s all hers.”