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Momsey and Papa Sherwood had sent her to bed early. There had been no time to tell them about the accident on the ice and her part in it. Her parents had much to discuss, much to decide upon. The Scotch lawyer urged their presence before the court having jurisdiction in the matter of the late Mr. Hugh Blake's will, and that as soon as they could cross the ocean.
"It, it is a great disappointment, Robert." "Well, well!" replied Mr. Sherwood, perhaps not without some secret relief. "It will all come out right. At least, your cousin hasn't refused his assistance. We shall be established somewhere before he returns from his Mexican trip." "I, I did depend so much upon Adair's good will and advice," signed Momsey. "But, dear me suz!" gasped Nan impatiently.
She don't go 'round blowing about her deeds of valor, I bet!" and the big man went off into a gale of laughter that seemed to shake the little cottage. Papa Sherwood and Momsey had to learn all the particulars then, and both glowed with pride over their little daughter's action.
Dad has always believed in not restricting individuality, and that girls have just as much right to live their own lives as boys which is a fortunate thing, for, counting Momsey, there are four of us. We never had any system about anything at home, thank goodness! We just had atmosphere.
They were an especially warmly attached trio and probably, if a most wonderful and startling thing had not happened, Nan and Momsey and Papa Sherwood would never have been separated, or been fairly shaken out of their family existence, as they had been just about a year before this present story opens. The Sherwoods lived in a little cottage on Amity Street in Tillbury.
My regards to your husband and little girl whom I have never seen; Alice and John join me in expressing our good wishes for your happy future. I remain, with the old love I always had for you, Your cousin, Adair MacKenzie." "Now, Robert, what have you to say?" cried Momsey triumphantly, while Nan danced a fandango about the room. "This much," replied her husband, smiling.
"You, you might as well put me in an orphan asylum," choked Nan. "I'll be an orphan till you get back." "Oh, honey!" cried her mother. "There now!" said Nan, jumping up quickly and going around the table to her mother's side. "You poor dear! I won't say anything more to hurt and trouble you. I'm a selfish thing, that's what I am." Momsey wound her arms about her. Papa Sherwood still looked grave.
You know, we have had good offers for it." "True," admitted Mr. Sherwood. "Oh, dear!" sighed Nan, but below her breath so that Momsey and Papa Sherwood did not hear the sigh. "I am going to write to Cousin Adair MacKenzie, in Memphis. He is quite prominent in business there," pursued Mrs. Sherwood. "We might find a footing in Memphis." Mr. Sherwood looked grave, but said nothing.
Nan, in her little white bed, had no idea that she was the greatest difficulty her parents found in this present event. It never entered her busy mind that Papa Sherwood and Momsey would dream of going to Scotland without her. "What shall we do with Nan?" Momsey said over and over again. She realized as well as did Mr. Sherwood that to take the child was an utter impossibility.
Sherwood laughed grimly at that; but his wife continued confidently: "I am sure nobody needs it more than we do." "Why!" her daughter said, just as excitedly, "we'll be as rich as Bess Harley's folks. Oh, Momsey! Oh, Papa Sherwood! Can I go to Lakewood Hall?" The earnestness of her cry showed the depths to which that desire had plumbed during these last weeks of privation and uncertainty.
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