It was almost a relief at last both to Oscar and Sheila to say their final farewells, and feel they had left the old life behind them. As the train bore them away from the familiar country in which they had been born and brought up, Sheila was able to dry her wet eyes and look at her uncle with a brave little smile.
“I’m not going to cry any more, Uncle Tom,” she said; “I’m going to try and be happy and useful and good. I’ve made lots and lots of good resolutions. Don’t you think it’s a good plan when one is beginning a different sort of life? And it’s so nice of you to take me in at your house for a few days—just till I get used to being away! It won’t seem quite so strange if I am with you and Oscar for a little while.”
“Yes, yes, my dear; you shall stay with us the first night or two; and we shall always be pleased to see you down in River Street whenever you have a mind to come. But you’ll like Cossart Place when you get there. It’s a fine house, and has been made a good deal finer by my brother. It used to be called The Grange, and a lot of it is quite old and rambling and queer; but the new wing has made a different place of it, and it’s got a new name too. Very few people call it The Grange now.”
“I think the old name is nicer than the new,” said Sheila boldly, “and I like old houses better than new ones. I hope they will give me a room in the old part. I shall ask Aunt Cossart for one. And I shall call the house The Grange.”
Uncle Tom laughed and muttered something about “a wilful young puss,” but Sheila laughed and shook her head at him. She was not a bit afraid of her uncle now, though she still felt that she would not like to arouse his displeasure.
He presently folded up his paper and put his head out of the window.
“We are getting very near now. That is the river which runs through the works a little farther on. You will see the chimneys of the town very soon. It looks a dirty sort of place as we come in by rail; but you’ll not find it such a bad one to live in.”
Sheila’s heart beat rather fast as she looked out over the level flats dotted with houses. It was not pretty; but it was the new home, and on that account it was interesting—even exciting.
“I mean to like everything!” she said to herself bravely.
(To be continued.)