“Dismal enough!” echoed Mr Philip.
“And if you all go to Gourlay to live, as Miss Bethia seemed to think you would, what will become of us?”
“What, indeed!” said Philip. “That is the plan, is it? It is cruel of Aunt Mary, and I shall tell her so.”
“We have made no plans as yet. I hope it will be all for the best. We have been very happy here. It could not have lasted much longer for Davie. He is very glad, and so is mamma; and, I suppose, we shall all be glad, when we have time to think about it.”
Philip was not so sure of that, nor Frank either, as far as their going away to Gourlay was concerned. But mamma was glad and Davie. There was no doubt of that, Philip saw, as soon as they appeared. They were rather silent for a time, and Philip saw, what he had never seen before in all his intercourse with her, the traces of tears on Mrs Inglis’s face. He was not sure that there was not the shine of tears in David’s eyes too. His congratulations were given very quietly, and as quietly received.
“But I am afraid it is the beginning of bad days to us, Aunt Mary, if we have to say good-bye to you all.”
“It would be bad days for us, too, if that were to happen; but I hope nothing so sad as that is to follow our good fortune.”
“Good-bye!” exclaimed Frank. “That is the last thing we shall think of, Aunt Mary. But, I suppose, we shall lose Davie for awhile. Eh, Davie?”
“I shall be away for awhile, if you call that losing me; but I shall be home soon, and often.”
“It happened just at the right time, didn’t it?” said Ned. “Just as Davie is ready to go to college.”