Part 59 (1/2)

”It's day!”

They were both on their feet.

”Yes, Jennie; it's day-again. Let's go out.”

They went as they were, bareheaded like children, into the purity of morning. Pansy, disturbed by the many strange auras in the house, scampered ahead of them, relieved by the escape. The street was still asleep, empty, clean, with every lawn patch and garden bed drenched with dew. Only the birds and the flowers were waking to the light.

Turning toward the cliffs and the river, their talk became more practical. Bob suggested to Jennie what his father had suggested to him.

Mr. Huntley was going to Europe in connection with some new European loan. The proposal was that Bob should go with him. The trip might last six months.

”And if I go,” he added, ”we both go. We should have a few weeks to settle things finally here-”

”Oh, but, Bob-how could I go and-and leave the two girls? They need me more than ever now. I'm not only their sister, but their mother.”

”Why shouldn't they come with us? I'd love having them. Six months over there would make a break with what they've been through here; and when we come back, Edith has things she's going to suggest-”

”That would be heavenly, Bob; but-but the money?”

”The money's all right. In my new job at the bank I've a bigger salary-five thousand; and now that dad's giving Edith ten thousand a year as allowance, he's giving me the same. That's a pretty good income to begin with, besides which, dad-you'll have to know dad, Jennie-he doesn't want me to spare any money while we're-we're pa.s.sing through this-this crisis.”

”And your mother's lovely. I know _that_.”