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Updated: June 5, 2025
The weeks of her absence had emphasized every tragic detail of the room and the man. He had probably missed her terribly from his bare life, but he had made no sign, given no call. "Uncle William!" Truedale turned his head and fixed his deep-sunk, brilliant eyes upon her. "Oh! So you've thought better of it?" was all that he said. "Yes, I've thought better of it. Will you let me stay to dinner?"
The girl turned, as if on a pivot, but spoke no word. She had the most wonderful eyes innocent and pleading; she was a mere child and, although she looked awed now, was evidently a forward young native who deserved a good lesson. Truedale determined to give her one! "If you don't mind," he said, "I'll come in and sit down." This he did while the big, solemn eyes followed him alertly.
Then turning suddenly from the trail, Truedale saw Nella-Rose sitting on a rock waiting! She had on a rough, mannish-looking coat, and a coarse, red hood covered her bright head. Nella-Rose was garbed in winter attire. She had worn this outfit for five years and it looked it. Never again was Truedale to see a face of such radiant joy and trust as the girl turned upon him.
To-night shut away from all else, the strain of the past weeks ignored, the long stories deliberately pushed aside Truedale spoke of the books he had been reading; Lynda, of her work. "I have two wonderful houses to do," she said, poising a morsel of food gracefully. "One is for a couple recently made rich; they do not dare to move for fear of going wrong. I have that place from garret to cellar.
Had she been her old, self-contained self he could have depended upon her to bear her part while he eased his soul by burdening hers; but now he caught in her the appealing tenderness that had always awakened in old William Truedale the effort to save her from herself from the cares others laid upon her.
Her kindness did not desert her, nor her merciful justice, but she meant to shield Truedale with her life hers and Nella-Rose's, if necessary. "Why have you come?" she asked again, and Nella-Rose, taking for granted that this pale, strange woman did know all about her knew everything and every one pertaining to her fixed her sweet eyes, tear-filled but not overflowing, upon her face.
And now she thought that this must be one of the private and pet dependents of Con's with whom she would deal very gently and tactfully. "I wonder if you won't tell me all about it and I will either tell Mr. Truedale or set a time for you to see him." Glad of any help in this hour of extremity, the stranger said: "I'm I'm Nella-Rose. Do you know about me?" Know about her?
She was her old, bright self again; she sang in her home, transfigured Brace by her happiness, and undertook her old interests and duties with genuine delight. But for Lynda and Truedale the steady gleam was necessary. They never questioned never doubted after the night when they came home from the little house in the woods.
While not a robust child she was generally well and as time passed she gained in vigour. Once, and once only, was she seriously ill, and that was when she had been with Truedale and Lynda about two years.
Ann opened her eyes and smiled up at him, weakly. "Make a light, father," she whispered, and with a fear-filled heart Truedale touched the electric button. The room was already filled with sunlight, for it faced the west; but for Ann it was cold and dark. Then, as if setting the last pitiful scene for her own departure, she turned to Lynda: "Make a mother-lap for Ann," she said.
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