"
"Well, girls," said Mr. Hastings, as he finished reading the letter,
"you must decide between yourselves which of you will go. As there seems
no immediate danger, we need not leave till to-morrow morning, so you
will have a little time for preparation; but however great a sacrifice
it is for you to go, and for us to part with you, there is no question
about it. Aunt Mary must not be left alone till she is quite herself
again, so I will telegraph to Mrs. Mobberly that one of you will go with
me by the first train to-morrow."
There was no room for disputing the point when Mr. Hastings spoke in
that decided tone; moreover, the girls themselves would have said just
the same--that someone must go; but the question was, "who?"
"Kate, it must be you," said Ella, eagerly. "I do not know anything
about nursing or housekeeping, or anything of that sort, and you know I
always say and do the wrong thing."
Mrs. Hastings looked anxious and perplexed. "I really do not know what
to do for the best," she said. "I do not see how I can spare you, Kate;
for if I have one of my bad attacks I must have you at hand; and you
see, Ella, you would have everything to learn here just as much as at
Hapsleigh, and I think you would find teaching the children very hard
work.
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