Every one had kept up bravely during that busy week, and they had all
been extremely cheerful. Marjorie never knew of the bitter tears shed by
mother and aunt in the solitude of their own rooms, and Mrs. Graham's
heart would have ached even more than it did had she known of the hours
Marjorie lay awake, her head buried deep in the pillow, so that Aunt
Jessie in the next room, should not hear her crying. Every one knew it
was for the best. Even Marjorie, miserable as she was sometimes at the
thought of the two thousand miles which must soon lie between herself
and the people she loved best, would have been keenly disappointed if
Uncle Henry had suddenly changed his mind, or Aunt Julia written that it
would not be convenient to have her. All through that last day she had
worked hard, trying not to think about to-morrow, but now everything was
done and everybody was resting after their labors. Marjorie had sat on
the porch for an hour with her mother and aunt, and they had all tried
to talk cheerfully as usual, but it was of no use. There was a dreadful
inclination on all their parts to drop into long silences, which nobody
seemed able to break. They were alone, for Mr. Carleton and his
brother-in-law had gone for a walk, and Undine was helping Juanita in
the kitchen.

At last, at the end of a longer silence than usual, Marjorie, feeling
sure she shouldn't be able to hold out much longer, suddenly sprang up,
explaining hurriedly:

"I'll be right back; I'm just going to the stables for a moment to say
good-by to Roland." And she was off across the lawn, biting her lip to
keep back the sobs that must not come until she was out of sight and
hearing of her dear ones.

The bidding good-by to her pony was a rather lengthy proceeding. She was
alone, for the men had all gone off to their suppers, so she had her cry
out on Roland's neck, and whispered her last loving instructions into
his faithful ears.

"You are to be a good pony, Roland, and do just as you are told till I
come home. Undine is to ride you whenever she likes, and Aunt Jessie
thinks riding is so good for her that she's going to try to let her go
out for an hour every day. You will miss me, I know, Roland dear, and I
shall miss you terribly, but I've got to have an education, and after
all one winter isn't so very long to be away."

Whether Roland understood or not I cannot pretend to say, but he rubbed
his soft nose against Marjorie's cheek, and snuggled up