And then, to divert herself, she took out all her letters and read them over. They told her plenty of home and Holford news.
Lizzy was a delightful correspondent, and forgot nothing. Emily Sibley had gone out West to teach, and Mary McIntyre had come into her place, to her great delight. Matty McRae had gone away to boarding-school. Therese was doing admirably, and everybody liked her. They had a French club which met twice a week and talked only French, except when they talked Latin. And herewith Lizzy presented some specimens of Latin and French sentences over which Marion had a hearty laugh, which did her more good than a great many tears.
When she had finished the letters, she leaned back in her chair, absorbed in thought. Was it only a year since she had been a member of Crocker school? Her cheeks turned hot as she went back and remembered how she had wasted her time and employed her thoughts over visions of grandeur and magnificence—of the wonderful things she was to accomplish while she was letting precious time and opportunity pass by her unimproved.
"Oh dear! If I could only have them back!" she sighed. "But Cousin Helen was right. There is only just so much time, anyhow; and if we waste it, we never can find it again. And to think how I abused Aunt Baby's kindness and forbearance! I don't think I need resent Gerty's speeches when I remember how I used to speak to Aunt Baby."
"Don't you mean to come down, Marie?" called Gerty from the bottom of the stairs.
"No, I believe not," Marion answered, trying to speak exactly as usual. "I am pretty tired with my walk, and I think I will get off my things and lie down. Don't come up, Gerty; I don't want anything."
But Gerty insisted on coming up, and was exceedingly kind and solicitous that Marion should have everything comfortable, while Marion tried to accept the kindness and not to think of the tabby-cat playing with a mouse.
Gerty was certainly more trying than she had been. She was not at all well, and had been over to see the doctor at Coaltown. The doctor said Mrs. Van Alstine needed tonics, and had prescribed certain bitters to be taken before meals, and a glass of strong porter or whisky and water after dinner. Gerty was not averse to the medicine. She usually went to bed for a long nap after dinner, and often did not get up till tea-time.
Marion at first thought little of the matter, but by and by she began to be uneasy, and ventured on a remonstrance:
"Don't you think you take rather too much whisky, Gerty? I don't believe you feel as well for it. You seem to have a headache almost every morning."