"You look better this evening," said Doctor Campbell, when he came in to see Therese.
"I am better," answered Therese.
[CHAPTER IX.]
"FRESH FIELDS AND PASTURES NEW."
FROM this time a great change was observed in Therese; her health improved rapidly; she was able to go about the house, and she soon began to help here and there in household matters, and to wait not only on herself but on other people.
Mrs. Tremaine had been suddenly called to New York on important business, and she had closed her house, leaving Kitty with Mrs. Parmalee, as she did not wish to take her out of school. Grandfather Beaubien or old Madame Duval would gladly have taken Therese home, for both the old people were fond and proud of their grandchild in their different ways, but Doctor Campbell thought it would hardly be prudent to expose Therese to the excitement of talking over family matters and meeting family friends, and Miss Baby had invited her to remain till Mrs. Tremaine's return.
Kitty came up to see her every few days, and the two girls had many long talks together, sitting under the great elm tree, or walking by the side of the brook in the meadow, or over the big wheel on which Therese was a skilful and rapid performer, and which Kitty, was learning to manage almost as well as herself. To Kitty, and to her alone, Therese repeated her conversation with old Hector and its effect on her own mind, and Kitty sympathized with and understood her.
The girls took some pains to include Marion in their walks and talks, but without success. In truth, Marion was jealous. She had always coveted an intimacy with Kitty, but Kitty did not respond. Kind and obliging and ready to help Marion on all occasions, she did not however care for those long, whispered conversations in which Marion delighted, and she did not sympathize with Marion's grievances in school. Kitty adored Miss Oliver, and thought the school perfect, and she rather resented Marion's complaints as imputations on her friends.
Therese had much the same feeling for Kitty that Kitty had for Miss Oliver, and moreover regarded the lot of a Crocker school-girl as one of the most enviable which this world afforded. Then Kitty had done a great deal for Therese, and naturally liked her on that account.
Marion was walking home from school in anything but a comfortable mood. For a while, after Miss Oliver's warning, she had done much better, greatly to the satisfaction of the teacher. But she had latterly become careless again. The heiress of the McGregors was once more suffered to intrude herself into the school-room, and her society was not favourable to lessons. She had latterly come out in a new character.