At Alice's request, Adah and Sam stayed altogether at Spring Bank, but
Alice was the ruling power--Alice, the one whom Chloe and Claib
consulted; one concerning the farm, and the other concerning the
kitchen--Alice, to whom Aunt Eunice looked for counsel, and Densie for
comfort--Alice, who remembered all the doctor's directions, taking the
entire charge of Hugh's medicines herself--and Alice, who wrote to Mrs.
Worthington, apprising her of Hugh's serious illness. They hoped he was
not dangerous, she said, but he was very sick, and Mrs. Worthington
would do well to come at once. She did not mention 'Lina, but the idea
never crossed her mind that a sister could stay away from choice when a
brother was so ill; and it was with unfeigned surprise that she one
morning saw Mrs. Worthington and Lulu alighting at the gate, but no
'Lina with them.
"She was so happy at Saratoga," Mrs. Worthington said, when a little
over the first flurry of her arrival. "So happy, too, with Mrs. Richards
that she could not tear herself away, unless her mother should find Hugh
positively dangerous, in which case she should, of course, come at
once."
This was the mother's charitable explanation, made with a bitter sigh as
she recalled 'Lina's heartless anger when the letter was received, as if
Hugh were to blame, as, indeed, 'Lina seemed to think he was.
Meantime Alice, in her own room, was reading 'Lina's note, containing a
most glowing description of the delightful time she was having at
Saratoga, and how hard it would be to leave.
"I know dear Hugh is in good hands," she wrote, "and it is so pleasant
here that I really do want to stay a little longer. Pray write to me
just how Hugh is, and if I must come home. What a delightful lady that
Mrs. Richards is--not one bit stiff as I can see. I don't know what
people mean to call her proud. She has promised, if mamma will leave me
here, to be my chaperon, and it's possible we may visit New York
together, so as to be there when the prince arrives. Won't that be
grand? She talks so much of you that sometimes I'm really jealous.
Perhaps I may go to Terrace Hill before I return, but rather hope not,
it makes me fidgety to think of meeting the Misses Richards, though, of
course, I know I shall like them, particularly Anna. Oh, I most forgot!
Irving is here yet, and has a sister, Mrs. Ellsworth, with him now. She
is very elegant, and very much admired. Tell Adah I heard Mrs. Ellsworth
say she wished she could find some young person as governess for her
little girl, and kind of companion for her. I did not speak of Adah, but
I thought of her, knowing she desired some such situation. She might
write to Mrs. Ellsworth here, but I'd rather she should not refer to me
as having known her. You see Mrs. Ellsworth would directly inquire about
her antecedents, and to a stranger it would not sound well that she came
to us one stormy night with that child, whose father we know nothing
about, and if I told the truth, as I always try to do, I should have to
tell this. So it will be better for Adah not to know us, even if she
should come to Mrs. Ellsworth. You will understand me, I am sure, and
believe that I am actuated by the kindest of motives. She can direct to
Mrs. Julia Ellsworth, Union Hall, Saratoga Springs. By the way, tell
mother not to forget that dress. She'll know what you mean.