“My dear, you know better than that.”
“Eunice did not go away when—Oh, Dr Everett, I am so miserable! She is all I have—all I have!”
The tears came now in a flood.
“That is better,” said the doctor to himself. To Fidelia he said nothing for awhile, but let her tears have way. There was no time for more words, for Jabez had come.
Strange to say, there was not a word spoken between Fidelia and the lad till they reached home. Jabez had “thought over” a good many things he meant to ask about, as to his recent reading, but he had caught a glimpse of her face by the light of the doctor’s lamp, and the questions were kept for another time.
“Miss Eunice is not worse, is she, Fidelia?” said he as they entered the gate.
“No, Jabez; but—good-night.”
One word of Dr Everett’s stayed with Fidelia. Eunice must not be excited or troubled. Still many days must not pass before her decision to stay at home was made known to her. Would it grieve and trouble her very much?
In her perplexity Fidelia spoke first to Mrs Stone, who listened in silence to all she had to say.
“Is it that which has been troubling you all these days?” said she, with the air of one relieved. “Let’s talk it over and find out what is best, before we say a word to Eunice about it. Is it of her you are thinking, or yourself? Before we go further you must settle that.”