going away so soon.I'm not going away from you yet--perhaps not till Sybil's near as oldas I was when Aunt Stroud married."
Nobody expressed a desire that Florence should give up her new prospectsto undertake the responsibility.
"No, Martha Jane," said Mrs Stroud, "that would never do. I grant thatFlorrie's a much better girl than I ever thought to see her. Butnothing ever will eradicate the snap and the bounce of her altogether.It's very well for Henery that he has his hands full, and I hope he'llfill up hers. She'll do a turn of work in her day. But young peopleshould be managed quiet and peaceable, and as for the girls--George maymarry or Mary Whittaker, your cousin, might want a home. Or, at anyrate, there'll be my eye and your eye on them, to keep them straight."
But on the evening before she was to start--she was to go to Ashcroftfor a day, and meet her escort in London afterwards--Florrie, as shestood in her little room for the last time, felt the awe of a greatchange coming over her. If he came back after long years as Harry haddone, perhaps the younger ones wouldn't know her; perhaps she would feelstrange and uncomfortable as he did.
Florrie went downstairs and back into the sitting-room, acting at once,as was her way, on the thought that came into her mind. "Father," shesaid, "I'm very sorry I was such a naughty girl. Harry and Mr Alwyncame home to say they were sorry--but--but--I'd rather say it before Igo. And please, father, don't forget what I'm like. I'll have my phototook every year and send you."
"My dear, I didn't forget Harry," said her father; "you mistake--andcertainly I'm not going to forget you."
"Oh, Florrie dear," said Mattie, taking her in her arms and crying, "Ithought you didn't care a bit about leaving us all."
"Oh yes, I do," said Florrie, sobbing; "I never said I didn't care. Butwhen things have got to be done they've got to be gone through withwhether people care or not!"
And with this sentiment, which no one could say was not a turning of herbold spirit to the use for which it was given to her, Maud FlorenceNellie Whittaker went out to her new life.
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