Fred’s face became so blank with astonishment that she hastily went on.
“But you are not going to be left here to keep bachelor’s hall, nor to go with them. Instead, what do you say to coming to our house?”
There was no doubt of the answer. Too happy to speak, Fred dropped on the sofa, and turned his face to Bess, while a bright flush rose in his cheeks. At last he said,—
“Is it really true, Miss Bess? Can I? May I? It’s too jolly!”
“So you like the idea? Can you stand it for a year, and not get homesick?”
“Homesick?” echoed Fred in lofty scorn. “I guess not! When can I come? Did you say a year?”
“You are to come next Tuesday afternoon at four o’clock, and you are to stay about a year. And now I must run away home again, for I have ever so much to do. But, first, let me straighten out this sofa. What a muss! Get up a moment.”
And Bessie shook up the pillows, folded the afghan, took Fred by his shoulders and put
