A momentary shadow had passed over her face, but Fidelia forgot it in seeing the brightness that followed it; and she sat thinking about it in silence, till the gate opened, and Susie Everett came in. But as they sat the next morning in the back porch, looking out on the large garden, the subject of Mrs Stone’s relations to them was renewed.
“I don’t suppose that Ruby will be away long, and before she comes I want you to understand how it is with her, and just what she would like to do. Of course you are going back to the seminary next year?”
“Of course I would like to go, if ways and means will permit I would like to graduate with my class.”
“I am afraid you have worked too hard, dear.”
“No, not too hard; but I don’t think I worked in the best way. I should do differently next year. At least I should try.”
“Tell me about it, dear.”
Fidelia sat silent a minute or two, then she said:—
“Some time I will tell you about it—not to-day. But about ‘ways and means.’ Perhaps I had better teach this year, as I meant to do at first.”
But Eunice had a plan to unfold, by which, should Fidelia approve, all would be made easy for them both. Mrs Stone wished to stay in Halsey for a time. The place was more like home than any other place could ever be to her, and she would like to share the home of the sisters for a time.
“Would you like it, Eunice?” asked Fidelia a little anxiously.