"Oh no; I must make my visit out. But you must all write and come over and see me when you can. I dare say I shall be dreadfully homesick. Bram, do you think Asahel looks well?"
"Not a bit. He's being worried out of his life about this iron business, I know. She never gives up any notion she once takes into her head."
"You won't go before breakfast?"
"Oh no; I have no notion of being driven that way. Besides, she doesn't mean half of it. It is only that she has fallen into that provoking way of talking. I hope you won't be sick, that's all. Why didn't you tell me you were growing tired?"
"But I am not so very tired. It is all nonsense. I shall be all right in the morning."
Gerty herself took Marion up to her room, and was hospitably anxious about her accommodation:
"I hope you will find everything comfortable here. This room was all furnished new this spring. I don't pretend to be so very literary or accomplished as some people, but I do hope I am a good housekeeper. You see the windows all have mosquito-netting nailed over the outside. I tried to make Mother Van Alstine do that, but I never could. I can't bear to have my house overrun with flies."
"Mother always has frames to put in the windows," said Marion.
"Oh yes, I know, but some one is sure to forget; and then there are the flies. I saw as many as half a dozen the last time I was at mother's, early as it is. Don't you think this furniture is in better taste than that Father Van Alstine bought in New York last year?"
"It is very pretty," said Marion.