Part 14 (1/2)

”Aunt Sarah, how thin you are!” she cried, incautiously. ”Why, you have been sick.”

”Of course I have. You didn't suppose I was pretending, did you?”

retorted Mrs. Martin.

”No,” said Flora, ”I did not, nor did I know you were so ill. And now tell me, can I do anything to render you more comfortable?”

”No, I think not,” she replied. ”Yes, you might bring me some toast and a cup of tea,” she added a moment later.

As she turned at once to leave the room, Flora wondered in her own mind, whether Mrs. Martin really wished for something to eat. The truth was, Mrs. Martin, now that Flora was here in the house, even in her very room, wished to decide how she could broach the subject which had lain on her heart so long. She was thinking deeply, and did not notice Flora's entrance until she heard:

”Here they are, Aunt Sarah, nice and hot.”

”What?” the invalid returned, in a surprised way.

”The toast and tea,” replied Flora.

”Oh yes, put them on the table.”

Flora did so, daintily arranging them so as to be inviting to the eye as well as the palate, and inwardly wondering what new caprice her aunt would develop next. However, she had decided to yield to all her peculiarities, and to bear with her whims, and so with unruffled face, she turned to arrange the room, as only a woman's hand can. The grace and care were not lost upon her aunt, whose eyes closely followed every motion as she moved silently about the room.

”Sit down,” said Mrs. Martin, after a few moments' silence.

Flora did so; and after a slight hesitation, Mrs. Martin began, having concluded to open the subject at once, for nothing was to be gained by delay.

”Niece Flora,” she said, looking in the young girl's face, ”I sent for you to tell you I feel that I have done what I had no business to do.”

”What have you done, Aunt Sarah?” asked Flora, half suspecting what she wished to say to her.

”I mean in sending you away from here as I did,” was the blunt reply.

”You had a right to do whatever you wanted to,” stammered Flora. She could stand unmoved before the cold, hard Aunt Sarah; Aunt Sarah repentant, she did not know how to meet.

”No, I had no right to do it,” continued Mrs. Martin. It was plain she did not intend to spare herself in the least. ”I had no right to do it.

Sister Bertha wanted you to stay, and I know she did. I had no right to take her money, and live in her home, and use her things when I knew she only left them to me because she trusted me to do what she wanted.”

”Never mind, Aunt Sarah; I knew nothing about it, so do not worry. It is all right.” And Flora moved nearer the bed, and took her hand in her own and tenderly held it.

Instead of complying, Mrs. Martin seemed to gain strength, and she went on:

”No; you knew nothing about her wishes, but I did. And, Flora, I have not been happy in this house. In fact, I did not deserve to be.”

”You can talk about that when you get well.”

”I will never be well unless I make right what I have made wrong,”

returned Mrs. Martin. ”I want to know, Flora, if you can forgive your selfish old aunt for driving--yes, driving is the word,” as Flora started to speak--”you from the home which was intended for you? Will you not come back to it?” And the tears began to gather in the eyes that had long been strangers to such an expression of emotion.

Flora felt very helpless now in the face of all these different moods.