"Oh, I am so glad! I always believed Miss Wilkins used her horribly."
"Indeed she did. Eliza got sick at last—so sick that the old woman was scared and called in Doctor Gates, and by questioning and examination, he got at the truth. Such overwork and under-feeding! The poor thing fairly suffered from cold and hunger."
"Didn't the doctor fly out? I should like to have heard him."
"Indeed he did, then, especially when Miss Wilkins tried to buy his silence. He went straight to the poor-master and had Eliza taken away and her indenture cancelled, and there was such an excitement that Miss Wilkins had to leave town for a while."
"And must you really go home next week?" asked Marion.
"I think so, my dear. You see it is very hard for Uncle Alick to be there alone, or at least with nobody but Donald and his wife, and I can see that grandfather is growing impatient, though he has enjoyed his visit very much. We have been here two weeks already."
"I am afraid you will have a hard, dull winter," said Marion; "I think you should have some one to help you."
"I was thinking of taking that same Eliza Bridgeman. The poor thing has no home, and she needs some one to care for her."
The next week grandfather and Aunt Baby went home, greatly regretted by all the children. Doctor and Mrs. Campbell were to stay some time longer. Christian was glad of rest and quiet after all the visiting she had gone through, and the doctor wished to write up his book and to observe Marion's case more closely. He was established in Marion's former room, and shut himself up for several hours daily, walking and riding with the boys and girls the rest of the time.
Betsy's eyesight improved so far that she was able to take up her music again in moderation. She still did her Latin and French with Marion, however, and they were both gainers by the arrangement. As Marion's health improved so that she could sit up, she began to work at her drawing a little, and to find great pleasure in it. The little ones, among whom Betsy classed Hector and Rob, to the great indignation of the clansmen, were regularly in school five hours a day. Frank began reading medicine with Doctor Duncan, and Bram worked diligently at Greek with Harry, who was not to go back to college till spring.