A silence fell between them, and when Madge spoke again it was of the Watermans. "We go to the Crossing to-morrow. I must see Flora before I go West."
The blood ran up into Becky's heart. She won
dered if George Dalton was with the Watermans. But she did not dare ask.
So she asked about California instead. "You will live out there?"
"Yes, on a ranch. There will be chickens and cows and hogs. It sounds unromantic, doesn't it? But it is really frightfully interesting. It is what I have always dreamed about. Mark says this is to be my—reincarnation."
She laughed a little as she explained what she meant. "And when I was in New York, I bought the duckiest lilac linens and ginghams, and white aprons, frilly ones. Mark says I shall look like a dairy maid in 'Robin Hood.'"
The Major, who was in front of them with the Admiral, turned and spoke.
"Tell her about Kemp."
"Oh, he is going with us. It develops that there is a girl in Scotland who is waiting for him. And he is going to send for her—and they are to have a cottage on the ranch, and come into the house to help us, and there is an old Chinese cook that Mark has had for years."
Becky spoke sharply. "You don't mean Mr.—Dalton's Kemp?"