"Yes, indeed. _I_ say so, most decidedly," broke forth Donald. "And I am very glad you have told us, Uncle. Aren't you, Dorry?"
Dorry could not speak, but she kissed Uncle George and tried to feel brave.
"Mamma and Aunt Kate were great friends, weren't they?" Donald asked.
"Yes, indeed. Though they became acquainted only a few months before your parents married and departed for Europe, they soon became very fond of each other."
"Then, Uncle," pursued Donald, "why didn't _you_ know mother too? I should think she would have come here to visit Aunt Kate sometimes."
"As your mother was an only child, living alone with her invalid father, she was unwilling to leave him, and so Aunt Kate visited her instead. I wish it had been different, and that I could speak to you and Dorothy more fully of your mother, whom I rarely saw. We all know that she was good and lovely, but I should like to be able to bring her familiarly to your minds. This old home would be all the dearer, if it could be associated with thoughts of your mother and happy days which she had passed here with Aunt Kate."
At this point Mr. Reed was summoned to his study. A gentleman from town had called to see him on business.
"Keep up a good heart, my girl," he said, tenderly, to Dorry, as he left her, "and as soon as you feel like it, take a run out-of-doors with Donald. The bracing air will drive all sad thoughts away."
Dorry tried to smile pleasantly, as she promised to follow his advice. She even begged Don not to wait any longer, assuring him that she would go out and join him very soon.
"That's a good old Dot," said Don, proudly. "I'll wait for you. Where's your hat?"
"No, you go first, Don. I'll be out soon. I really will."
"All right. Ed's out there again by this time. You'll find us in the gymnasium." And off he ran, well knowing that Dorry's heart was heavy, but believing that the truest kindness and sympathy lay in making as light as possible of Uncle George's revelation; which, in his boyish logic, he felt wasn't so serious a thing after all, if looked at in the right spirit.
Dorothy waited until he was out of sight, and then sat down to think it all over.
The result was that when Liddy chanced to pass through the hall, a few moments later, she was startled by hearing half-suppressed sobs.