Searle
began negotiations for buying the place, Sara felt, for a moment, very
loath to sell. But she quickly conquered the feeling, knowing its
uselessness; and as the purchaser was in real earnest, and no haggler,
while the seller had not an idea how to drive a hard bargain, they soon
came to terms satisfactory to both.
As Mrs. Searle held out her feeble hand from her invalid chair to bid
Sara farewell, she retained the young girl's a moment to say,--
"You will not mind an old woman's congratulating you upon your future,
will you? I knew Robert Glendenning's father in my youth; and if the son
is like him in character, you may well be congratulated."
Sara blushingly murmured her acknowledgments, and the lady continued,--
"I want to thank you for sending me Bertha, also; she's a real little
treasure."
"I'm so glad you like each other, Mrs. Searle! Do you know, that whole
affair has always seemed providential to me? I was a passive instrument
in wiser hands." "As we all are, more often than we think---well, good-
by, and when you long for a sight of the old home, and the sea, you will
always be welcome here."
It was Sara's only visit to the cottage, for her stay in Killamet was
necessarily short. She spent all the time possible with her dear old
friend, who she could plainly see, was losing in vigor daily.
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