Gerty sprang up and threw her arms around Hannah's neck.
"I do believe you love me," she sobbed, clinging to her oldest friend, "and you wont let Ned be cross now when—"
"Don't be afraid to tell your own Hannah all that's in your heart, my dear child."
"Well—well, Paul—Mr. Dudley, I mean, wants me to go and live with him in Chicago; and I'm almost sure Ned will—will say I'm too young."
"But darling there'll be time enough to talk about that, when you have finished your education. You're getting on so finely now; and Mr. Monroe is so earnest to help you along, that in a few years you'll be like your own blessed mother. Then if Mr. Dudley and you are agreed, I don't think Edward will refuse his consent."
"Chicago is so far away I should not be happy any more. He wants me to go now: he says he is sure of being successful. Oh, Hannah, I love him so dearly!"
"Well, well, child!" said the woman resolutely checking back a sob. "I'd go to bed now. Why you're nothing but a baby; old Hannah's baby. I don't see how I can give you up yet."
"I shall miss you terribly I know," urged the child impulsively. "Paul, he says I'm to call him Paul, now, thinks we had better board at first till he earns a little money; but I shall go to house keeping very quick, and then you'll come and be my dear good Hannah, wont you?"
"Oh, my pet!" cried the woman, overcome at last, "I can't give you up to a stranger. I can't! I can't! I've had the care of you sixteen years next Christmas; and I wouldn't know how to live without my darling girl."
"I've made you a great deal of trouble," murmured the child, kissing the woman's cheek. "You must think of that."