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At first Holly had spoken of her sometimes, but 'ladies in grey' soon fade from children's memories; and the tightening of June's lips in those first weeks after her grandfather's death whenever her former friend's name was mentioned, had discouraged allusion. Only once, indeed, had June spoken definitely: "I've forgiven her. I'm frightfully glad she's independent now...."
"You've forgotten me, June." "No, I hain't, nuther." "You said you'd be waiting for me." June's lashes went lower still. "I was." "Well, what's the matter? I'm mighty sorry I couldn't get back sooner." "Huh!" said June scornfully, and he knew Uncle Billy in his guess as to the trouble was far afield, and so he tried another tack.
She must swallow down her scruples, and June must put her feelings in her pocket. She had done so once, on the day after the news of Bosinney's death; what she had done then, she could surely do again now. Four years since that injury was inflicted on her not Christian to keep the memory of old sores alive. June's will was strong, but his was stronger, for his sands were running out.
Reed and her charges are waiting to hear from a friend of June's who was in school with her I think she is the Governor's daughter, or maybe he's an ex-governor about a long-standing invitation to visit her in her summer home, which is near here, as they compute distances in Wyoming." "And Schaefer is leaving in the morning," reflected the doctor. "That leaves but you and me unaccounted for.
The children all nine of them spent much of their time in Mammy June's room. The old colored woman had ways of keeping them interested and quiet that Mrs. Armatage proclaimed she could not understand. Mother Bunker understood the charm Mammy worked far better. Mammy June loved children, high and low, rich and poor, good and bad, just so they were children. Therefore, Mammy June could manage them.
On this particular morning the thought which gathered rapid momentum was that if he became ill, at his age not improbable, he would not see her. From this it was but a step to realisation that he would be cut off, too, when his son and June returned from Spain. How could he justify desire for the company of one who had stolen early morning does not mince words June's lover?
"Well, nobody offers more attractions in a name," said Gary; "I'll say that for you. Where did you get that song your little mistress was singing when we came down the hill? Can you sing it?" June's reply was unintelligible. "Speak louder, my friend. What did you say?" June made an effort. "If you please, sir, I can't sing," she was understood to say. "They sings it in camp meeting."
In fact his father laughed immensely at the tale. But Mother Bunker had to be assured that the stream was neither deep nor boisterous before she could laugh much. The children had all had a lovely afternoon at Mammy June's and after that day they found most of their enjoyment in running down to her cabin and playing there. This delight was shared by the Armatages too.
But when he was packing his bag he caught himself wishing that he had not the fatigue of dressing for dinner before him, and the exertion, too, of telling her about June's return. The opera that evening was 'Carmen, and he chose the last entr'acte to break the news, instinctively putting it off till the latest moment.
June would not gaze, but she looked and looked, as she could, by glances; and nearly worshipped her little mistress in her heart. She thought it almost ominous and awful to see a child read the Bible so. For Daisy looked at it with loving eyes, as at words that were a pleasure to her. It was no duty-work, that reading. At last Daisy shut the book, to June's relief.
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