Do come, Sara! If you go so
far away, I may never see you again; for Polly and I are getting older,
and more set in our ways, every day."
"I must go," she said to Mrs. Macon, reading part of the letter aloud,
"if only for a few days; perhaps, too, I can then make some definite
arrangement in regard to our cottage--how I do wish I could find a
purchaser for it!"
She had expected to take the stage around the long way from Norcross to
Killamet; but when she descended from the train what was her pleased
surprise to be greeted by Bertha and--of all people--Jasper! They
informed her they had rowed across the bay on purpose to take her home.
She tried not to feel embarrassed in the latter's presence, and wondered
how much he knew of her plans; but Bertha was so bright and full of talk
that there was little space for confusion or wonderings.
"How well you're looking, Bertha!" she said, as--now in the boat--
Jasper pulled out from the sleepy little wharf. "You are as brown and
rosy as any fisher-girl of us all."
As she spoke, half-idly, her glance taking in both figures before her,
she could almost have sworn that a lightning-like eye-signal passed
between them, before Bertha answered, with a conscious little laugh,--
"Well, I enjoy the life as if I had been born to it.
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