about me. There are heaps of places now where girls can live comfortably
for very little. I will ask Miss Desborough to-morrow. And if I can pass
the Post Office examination, I might get appointed to Plymouth. Aunt Mary,
don't cry. I can't bear it."

"You don't feel it as I shall," sobbed Mrs. M'Alister, without looking up.
"But I couldn't let Ned go to Plymouth alone, Rhoda. I couldn't be parted
from him."

"Of course not," Rhoda answered cheerily. She was glad her aunt did not
look up, for she knew her face had turned very white, and slow hot tears
had forced themselves into her eyes. But her voice was cheery. "And you
will be quite close to him at Coombe."

"He will be able to live with us. There is a station quite close," said
Mrs. M'Alister, drying her tears. Now that Rhoda seemed to bear the news
so well, she was able to think of the bright side of things. "And you must
spend a long month with us in the summer, Rhoda darling. James means to
insist on that. He does mean to be kind, dear."

"I am sure he does. And when he hears about Miss Merivale he will make you
see that it would be foolish of me to think of leaving London. But here
comes the tea at last. I will run up and wash my hands first. Don't wait
for me, Aunt Mary."

No one could have guessed, when Rhoda came down, with her hair freshly
done, and a new pink ribbon round the neck of her brown dress, what bitter
tears she had been shedding upstairs. And when Mr. Price came in, he was
pleasantly surprised at the sensible view she took of things, and his
invitation to her to spend the August holidays at Coombe was far heartier