The Blue Birds had written her because they promised to do so, but there had not been time for anything of importance to happen, so Ruth laid aside their short note and took up her mother’s letter. The first sentence made her gasp, and at the second, she giggled outright. Aunt Selina waited patiently to hear the news.
“Just think, Flutey, I didn’t miss father, anyway—and just see all we have accomplished by my coming here to you! Mother writes that she had a telegram from father late Saturday night, saying the steamer was detained at quarantine on account of some suspects in the steerage who seemed to have symptoms of yellow fever. He is not sure when they will get off, but he will wire mother each day they are detained.”
Aunt Selina nodded understandingly, and Ruth continued: “Wish you and I could be there to welcome father when he comes! Flutey, you are so well this morning, don’t you think you could go with me in our automobile, if we traveled very carefully?”
Her aunt was so aghast at the proposition that she failed to answer, and Ruth continued, believing that she was thinking it over.
“You see, Flutey, we really need to get to the Blue Birds and mother to talk over this fine farm plan, and I am sure the visit will do you a heap of good, for I have heard folks say that a change is a great thing when you have been sick and tired of the same things about you.”
Still Aunt Selina said not a word, so Ruth returned to her letter to read it aloud. As she did so, her aunt sent a covert glance at Sally’s direction to see what effect Ruth’s invitation had had upon the old servant. But Sally, the wise, appeared not to have overheard a word.
Later, as Ruth stood beside her aunt’s rocker on the veranda, she again broached the subject.
“Flutey, the air is so warm and balmy like it always is in Indian summer, and our car is so comfy, you wouldn’t know but what you were in an easy chair. I don’t see why you can’t come home with me.”
“Fluff, do you know, that I could almost say ‘Yes, I will go,’ for I think I would like to see all of your little friends, but I really wouldn’t know what to do with the house if I went away on a visit,” said Aunt Selina.
“Goodness me! The house won’t run away. What does it do when you are sick in bed and can’t walk about to look after it? It can go on just the same when you are in Oakdale as when you are in bed,” replied practical Ruth.