"I would not trouble you needlessly, dear child;" he said, passing his hand over her dark locks; "else I would tell you how dear you were to us, before you lived with us;--how doubly dear you are now. If personal feeling were the arbiter in this case, I would never have made the statement you have heard to-night; and Jenny has not spoken, because foreseeing that her affection might outrun her discretion, I exacted a promise of non-interference. Your home is here, dear Ida, as long as you choose to make us happy by your presence. I repeat--the decision rests with you." "I do not know what to say. Determine for me, dear Mr. Dana." "I may not, my child." "Carry! Charley! what ought I to do?" Charley shook his head; but Carry was not so prudent. "Oh! Ida! your going will break sister's heart; a year cannot make much difference." "If it is my duty at all, it is now, as much as then--is it not?" asked Ida, of Charley. "I am afraid so;" said he, seriously. "Charley! how can you!" exclaimed Carry. "One would think you were willing to lose her! You are young, Ida--there is no necessity for burying yourself alive, yet." "Have a care, Carry! John is right--_she_ must decide;" cautioned Arthur. "One question, Ida," said Charley, kindly. "You have revolved this issue often in your mind, even since you have been with us--have you not?" "Yes." "You said, a year ago, you felt bound to fulfil your mother's wishes, and that your inclinations leaned the same way--how is it now? There is the case in a nut-shell." "One hard to crack, nevertheless;" said Ida, with glistening eyes. "I love Sunnybank, and I have had misgivings that the indulgence I meet here, may spoil me for the active, self-denying life I must lead;--for I have always looked forward to a residence there, some time or other;--but I am so happy here. Still, Mr. Dana, I have a vast deal of surplus energy which ought to be employed. I am not working with all my might. Does this sound ungrateful?" "Not a bit of it!" struck in Charley's assuring tones. "It is not that you love Caesar less, but Rome more." "But it is so far!" objected Carry,--"and so out-of-the-way. Suppose you fall sick! O, brother John! it is heartless to send her off by herself!" "She shall not go by herself, Carry. If she concludes to leave us, it must not be before Spring; then Jenny and I will go with her. If she is convinced, upon trial, that she is inadequate to the enterprise, or dislikes it, we shall be too glad to have her back. Grant is a respectable man, and an intelligent farmer; and she must secure a companion. You mentioned his sister-in-law, I think, Ida?" "As to the distance," said Charley, "If those snail-like fellows continue the railroad, as they say they will--it will pass within six miles of Sunnybank." This was a ray of comfort; yet Mrs. Dana burst into tears, and Carry threw her arms around Ida, sobbing bitterly, as she "feared she ought to go."