Mrs. Noah did know it, and pleased that her boy, as she called Guy, had shown some signs of penitence and amendment, she said she did not think it necessary to send Maddy home; she did not advise it either. She liked the girl, and what she advised was this, that Guy should send Maddy and Jessie both to boarding-school. Agnes, she knew, would be willing, and it was the best thing he could do. Maddy would thus learn what was expected of a teacher, and as soon as she graduated, she could procure some eligible situation, or if Lucy were there, and desired it, she could come and stay forever for all she cared.
“And during the vacations, where must she go?” Guy asked.
“Go where she pleases, of course. As Jessie is so fond of her, and they are so much like sisters, it will not be improper for her to come here, as I see, provided Agnes is here. Her presence, of course, would make a difference,” Mrs. Noah replied; while Guy continued:
“I know you are right; that is, I do not wish to do Maddy a harm by placing temptation in her way, neither will I have anybody meddling with my business. I tell you I won’t. I don’t mean you, for you have a right to say what no one else has,” and he glanced half angrily at Mrs. Noah. “Pity if I can’t take an interest in a girl, because I once wronged her, without every old woman in Christendom thinking she must needs fall in love with me, and so be ruined for life. Maddy Clyde has too good sense for that, or will have when I tell her about Lucy.”
“And you will do so?” Mrs. Noah said, coaxingly.
“Of course I will, and write to Lucy, too, telling her how you talked, and how I care no more for Maddy than I do for Jessie.”
“And will that be true?” Mrs. Noah asked.
Guy could not look her fully in the face then, so he kicked the grate until the concussion sent the red-hot coals out upon the carpet, as he replied:
“True? Yes, every word of it.”
Mrs. Noah noted all this, and thought: