"
"And as it shall be," said Quincy. "It won't cost much to fix it up,
all but the moss, and that will come on it in time. You get a man,
Tom, find out the cost of renovating the house, and I'll pay the
bill. So will the sense of untruthfulness be removed from our
sensitive feelings." This was quickly arranged, for work, with the
pay in advance, was a delectable possession in those parts.
When they reached Fernborough Hall, and Quincy was told of the search
on which his mother had started out, he pretended to agree with his
aunt that it was useless, and the height of folly, but from that
moment hope sprang up within him, that, by some miracle, his father
was still alive. He did not confide his hopes to Aunt Ella, and gave
her no inkling of the real reason for his trip to Europe.
"It would make me very happy to know that my father was living," he
said, "but after so long a time it seems foolish to think it, does it
not? When do you expect mother home, Aunt Ella?"
"The letter was written a month ago from Vienna, but, unfortunately,
she did not give her address. If she were well, she should have been
here before this. I have an idea that she may have gone to
Switzerland on her way home, and charmed by its scenery, or forced by
her weak condition, has remained there. Stay here for a week with
your friend, and perhaps some word will come.
Pages:
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229