Graeme closed the letter, saying nothing.
“It is not just very clear, I think,” said Mrs Snow.
“Is it not?” said Graeme. “I did not notice. Of course, it is all nonsense about Harry coming to take us home.”
“And who is little Miss Amy, that she speaks of? Is she a friend of your brother Harry? Or is she Mr Millar’s friend? Mrs Arthur doesna seem to make it clear?”
“Miss Amy Roxbury,” said Graeme, opening her letter again. “Does she not make it plain? Oh, well! we shall hear more about it, she says. I suppose Harry has got back to his old fancy, that we are to go and live with him if Mr Millar goes elsewhere. Indeed, I don’t understand it myself; but we shall hear more soon I daresay. Ah! here is Rosie.”
“And here is Dandy,” said Rose, coming in with her habit on. “And here is wee Rosie come to keep you company while I am away. And here is Mr Snow, on old Major. Don’t expect us home till night. We shall have a day of it, shall we not?”
They had a very quiet day at home. Wee Rosie came and went, and told her little tales to the content of her grandmother and Graeme, who made much of the little girl, as may well be supposed. She was a bonny little creature, with her father’s blue eyes and fair curls, and showing already some of the quaint, grave ways that Graeme remembered in her mother as a child.
In the afternoon, Emily came with her baby, and they were all happy and busy, and had no time for anxious or troubled thoughts. At least, they never spoke a word that had reference to anything sad. But, when Graeme read the letters again to Emily, Mrs Snow noticed that she did not read the part about their going West, or about little Amy, or about Harry’s coming to take them home. But her eye lingered on the words, and her thoughts went back to some old trouble, she saw by her grave look, and by the silence that fell upon her, even in the midst of her pretty child’s play with the little ones. But never a word was spoken about anything sad. And, by and by, visitors came, and Mrs Snow, being tired, went to lie down to rest for a while. But when Rose and Mr Snow came home, they found her standing at the gate, ready to receive them.