Susan Warner's reply was sincerely given. "Mr. Gale," she said, her ruddy face beaming, "I reckon there's three of us in this old farmhouse as wishes your sister Lenora was goin' to stay all summer. Jenny, here," how fondly the faded blue eyes turned toward her girl, "has allays had a hankering for an own sister, and since it's too late now for that, next best is to adopt one, and Lenora is her choice and mine, too, and Si's as well, I reckon."
The young man's relief and appreciation were warmly expressed. Then he said, "Father will want us to stay under the circumstances. I will remain at the hotel----" Grandma Sue interrupted with, "I do wish we had another bedroom here. It's a powerful way from the farm to town and Lenora will want to see you every day."
Harold had been thoughtfully gazing at the floor. He now spoke. "Charles," then with his half whimsical, wholly friendly smile he digressed, "you won't mind if I call you that, will you, since we are merely boys of a larger growth," then continued with, "Don't decide where you will bunk, please, until I have had an opportunity to talk the matter over with my invalid mother. I'd like bully well to have you for my guest. I have a plan, a keen one if I can carry it out. I'll not reveal it until I know." Harold stood up, suddenly recalling that he had a duty to fulfill which was being neglected for his own pleasure. That had always been his way, he feared, when he had to choose between Gwynette and someone who really interested him.
To Mrs. Warner he said, "I'm on my way over to the seminary to see my sister. Poor kid! There are two more days of prison life for her, or so she considers it. Mother requested that she remain at the seminary until the term is over and it's being hard for her." Then to the taller lad, "Charles, you want to stay here with your sister until evening anyway, don't you?"
The girl quickly put out a detaining hand, as she said, "O please do stay. I haven't asked you a single question yet. It will take you until dark to answer half that I want to know." The big brown hand closed over the frail one. To Harold he replied, "Yes, I'll be here if I can get a bus to town in the evening."
"You won't need the bus, not if my little gray bug is in working order." They had all risen except Lenora, and Susan Warner said hospitably, "Harry-lad, if your ma don't need you over to the big house, come back in time for supper. I'll make the corn bread you set such a store by."