"That would be nice, Tom, ever so nice, but I am afraid you will never earn the money. It will take a heap. Carrie is going away to boarding school now, and I want to go with her, but Dad won't let me."
"So you know?" The relief in Tom's voice made Tabitha look up.
"Know what?"
"Have you seen Dad yet?"
"No, but then I know he never would let me go and there is no use in asking."
"Oh!"
"Tom, has he said anything to you about it?" asked Tabitha, for she could read this brother's face like a book, and understood now that there was more behind his words than he had told her.
"No, Puss, not a word," he declared.
But she wasn't deceived, and after a moment of silence said, "Then Mr. Carson has."
"No, Mr. Carson hasn't mentioned it—to me."