"At first I was terrified of his mother. I know it was an awful blow to her, and I must say she has been most wonderfully forbearing and kind. And if she was taken aback by it, you can imagine what Mother was like. We had an awful scene. She said the farm would have to be given up, and that if I deserted her, she would wash her hands of the whole concern. Do you know, I didn't think Dick had it in him. He showed up most wonderfully. Told Mother that my future prospects came before the farm, that he did not intend to give it up if she did, and that he was thankful that my life of toil was going to cease. He told Mother there were plenty of land girls and labourers' daughters or wives who could take my place, and that the farm was doing so well that hired labour was now a possible thing. "Mother calmed down then, and had a wonderful talk with me afterwards. She owned up that she had driven us both, but that she was so afraid we would take after our father, who drifted through life without any idea of steady application or work! She always makes me angry when she talks about Father; but my own happiness has made me more sympathetic, I think, and I tried to see her side. She said that Dick was turning out as she had hoped for, and that if he could see his way through without my help, she would be willing to spare me, and would get some land girl or woman to help her. "She made me laugh; she said, 'I'll take care not to get one of these pretty flighty girls who will be setting their caps at Dick. I'll pick out the plainest and homeliest that I can find. Strength and cleanliness are the chief things I want in them.'" Phemie paused, then in a different tone she said: "Oh, Adrienne, when I think that I shall have leisure time! Time for the best part of me to be refreshed. When I shall be able to paint, to read, to be able to enjoy some of the beauty in the world which I had put behind me! Well, I just can't believe it. I'm so terribly afraid I may wake up and find it a dream!" "Dear Phemie, I'm so thankful, so glad!" And in her heart Adrienne was; she told herself that the life unfolding before Phemie was so gloriously full for her, that she was only thankful that she had not marred it in any way. Yet before she left Phemie, she plucked up courage and said to her: "You'll forgive me, if I ask you whether Godfrey is more to you than the life of ease and comfort which he offers you. Would you go to him if you both had to work hard for your living?" Phemie flashed an indignant look at her friend. "I'm not demonstrative by nature, Adrienne, I take after Mother in that; but do you think me so despicably mean as to take from Godfrey all his good things, and not give him my heart, my life, my all? He has always been my secret king and hero. But I naturally kept such feelings to myself."