"But
honestly, Aunt Frances, WON'T it be a bother ... ?"
Aunt Frances ventured another step to meet her, "But dear little girls
must be SOMEWHERE ..."
And Betsy almost forgot her caution and burst out, "But I could stay
here! I know they would keep me!"
Even Aunt Frances's two veils could not hide the gleam of relief and
hope that came into her pretty, thin, sweet face. She summoned all her
courage and stepped out into the clearing in the middle of the thicket,
asking right out, boldly, "Why, do you like it here, Betsy? Would you
like to stay?"
And Betsy--she never could remember afterward if she had been careful
enough not to shout too loudly and joyfully--Betsy cried out, "Oh, I
LOVE it here!" There they stood, face to face, looking at each other
with honest and very happy eyes. Aunt Prances threw her arm around Betsy
and asked again, "Are you SURE, dear?" and didn't try to hide her
relief. And neither did Betsy.
"I could visit you once in a while, when you are somewhere near here,"
suggested Betsy, beaming.
"Oh, YES, I must have SOME of the time with my darling!" said Aunt
Frances. And this time there was nothing in their hearts that
contradicted their lips.
They clung to each other in speechless satisfaction as Uncle Henry
guided the surrey up to the marble stepping-stone. Betsy jumped out
first, and while Uncle Henry was helping Aunt Frances out, she was
dashing up the walk like a crazy thing.
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