Two or three days afterward, he called Marion who was busy up-stairs with Eileen and Asa, who scorned the baby name of Dotty:
"Come, Marie, isn't school almost out? I am going to ride over toward Smith's Green to measure some bark, and I want your company."
"Can't I go, grandfather?" asked Asa, jumping up.
"Next time, perhaps; I want Marion to-day. Come, Marie, let them go for this time."
"The children seem to be getting on pretty well, don't they?" said Mr. Van Alstine, when they were fairly on their way and driving through the woods.
"Oh yes, very well, only I am afraid they get rather too much teaching for their good."
"Then you could manage two or three more?"
"Yes, a dozen if I had them. Why?"
"I was thinking of those little girls Duncan speaks of. Your mother and I were talking the matter over last night. You see there is abundance of room in this great old nest now so many of our brood are away scratching for themselves, and two children would help to fill it up again. Besides, I know you have always longed for missionary work."
Marion's heart beat almost too fast for speech. She had thought of the same thing more than once.