She did not look at Rhoda as she spoke, but kept fingering the tablecloth nervously, with her eyes cast down. For a few seconds Rhoda was silent. Then her voice was very cheerful. “Why, you will be quite close to Ned, Aunt Mary. And the country air will be so good for the boys. I think it is a splendid plan.”
Mrs. M’Alister gave her a piteous glance. “If only you could go too, Rhoda darling. But James says”—
“How could I get work in the country, Aunt Mary? And Miss Merivale has promised that she will get me plenty of work.” Rhoda’s lips quivered a little as she thought of her day-dreams as she came home—how if she got plenty of work they might take a little house and have a little garden of their own. But she went bravely on. “It would be foolish of me to think of leaving London, Aunt Mary. And of course you must go with Ned. Is he pleased about it? They must think a good deal of him to promote him like this.”
“Yes, it is a promotion,” said the mother eagerly. She was very fond of Rhoda, but her eldest boy was her heart’s darling. “James said Mr. Howard spoke so highly of him. And James is very anxious I should go to Coombe. His old housekeeper is leaving him, and he wants me. If only”—
But Rhoda again interrupted her. She knew perfectly well how reasonably and firmly the shrewd, hard-headed farmer had spoken that afternoon. He was both anxious and willing that his sister and her boys should make their home with him, but he did not want her. He considered her old enough to fight the battle of life for herself. And she was determined that her aunt should not guess how hard the parting would be to her.
“It is a delightful plan, Aunt Mary. You would not have come to London if Ned wasn’t here. I know how you have hated it. And you must not trouble about me. There are heaps of places now where girls can live comfortably for very little. I will ask Miss Desborough to-morrow. And if I can pass the Post Office examination, I might get appointed to Plymouth. Aunt Mary, don’t cry. I can’t bear it.”
“You don’t feel it as I shall,” sobbed Mrs. M’Alister, without looking up. “But I couldn’t let Ned go to Plymouth alone, Rhoda. I couldn’t be parted from him.”
“Of course not,” Rhoda answered cheerily. She was glad her aunt did not look up, for she knew her face had turned very white, and slow hot tears had forced themselves into her eyes. But her voice was cheery. “And you will be quite close to him at Coombe.”
“He will be able to live with us. There is a station quite close,” said Mrs. M’Alister, drying her tears. Now that Rhoda seemed to bear the news so well, she was able to think of the bright side of things. “And you must spend a long month with us in the summer, Rhoda darling. James means to insist on that. He does mean to be kind, dear.”
“I am sure he does. And when he hears about Miss Merivale he will make you see that it would be foolish of me to think of leaving London. But here comes the tea at last. I will run up and wash my hands first. Don’t wait for me, Aunt Mary.”