XIII.
Matt made his way home to his farm, by a tiresome series of circuitous railroad connections across country. He told his mother of the new shape the trouble of the Northwicks had taken, and asked her if she could not go to see them, and find out some way to help them.
Louise wished to go instantly to see them. She cried out over the noble action that Suzette wished to do; she knew it was all Suzette.
"Yes, it is noble," said Mrs. Hilary. "But I almost wish she wouldn't do it."
"Why, mamma?"
"It complicates matters. They could have gone on living there very well as they were; and the company doesn't need it; but now where will they go? What will become of them?"
Louise had not thought of that, and she found it shocking.
"I suppose," Matt said, "that the company would let them stay where they are, for the present, and that they won't be actually houseless. But they propose now to give up the money that their father left for their support till he could carry out the crazy schemes for retrieving himself that he speaks of in his letter; and then they will have nothing to live on."
"I knew Suzette would do that!" said Louise. "Before that letter came out she always said that her father never did what the papers said. But that cut the ground from under her feet, and such a girl could have no peace till she had given up everything—everything!"
"Something must be done," said Mrs. Hilary. "Have they—has Suzette—any plans?"