Then her voice was very cheerful. "Why, you will be quite close to Ned,
Aunt Mary. And the country air will be so good for the boys. I think it is
a splendid plan."

Mrs. M'Alister gave her a piteous glance. "If only you could go too, Rhoda
darling. But James says"--

"How could I get work in the country, Aunt Mary? And Miss Merivale has
promised that she will get me plenty of work." Rhoda's lips quivered a
little as she thought of her day-dreams as she came home--how if she got
plenty of work they might take a little house and have a little garden of
their own. But she went bravely on. "It would be foolish of me to think of
leaving London, Aunt Mary. And of course you must go with Ned. Is he
pleased about it? They must think a good deal of him to promote him like
this."

"Yes, it is a promotion," said the mother eagerly. She was very fond of
Rhoda, but her eldest boy was her heart's darling. "James said Mr. Howard
spoke so highly of him. And James is very anxious I should go to Coombe.
His old housekeeper is leaving him, and he wants me. If only"--

But Rhoda again interrupted her. She knew perfectly well how reasonably
and firmly the shrewd, hard-headed farmer had spoken that afternoon. He
was both anxious and willing that his sister and her boys should make
their home with him, but he did not want her. He considered her old enough
to fight the battle of life for herself. And she was determined that her
aunt should not guess how hard the parting would be to her.

"It is a delightful plan, Aunt Mary. You would not have come to London if
Ned wasn't here. I know how you have hated it. And you must not trouble