How for the last fortnight Mrs. Pole had been halting between two opinions, divided between the affections for Cleve and Palma and their children, that drew to go with them, and her dread of the long voyage and love of quiet that bound her to her home. Therefore, she wished them to make the decision for her that she was incapable of making for herself. And they would not. But within a day or two it had been “borne in” upon the mind of Poley that, although Mr. and Mrs. Stuart really wished her to do as she pleased in this matter of going or staying, yet that they would be better satisfied that she should please to stay at Wolfscliff to take care of the house than to go to Europe with them. Mrs. Pole and her young friends were really secretly of one mind in this matter. So when Palma sat down beside her she was prepared to meet the question. Palma said: “Poley, dear, it is really time now that you should make up your mind as to what you are going to do about going to Europe with us or staying here. Because, if you should decide to go with us, Poley, dear, we must begin at once to look out for some good and reliable woman to come and take care of the house while we are away.” “Oh, my dear child, you needn’t trouble yourself to look out for nobody. If it is all the same to you, I will my own self stay here and look after the place while you are gone. Will that suit you, ma’am?” “Perfectly, Poley, dear. We would rather leave you in charge of our home than any one else, if you are satisfied to stay.” “Yes, I am, dearie. I’m over elderly to be sailing on the high seas, and nothing but my love for you all would ever a-made me think of such a thing. And now, as I find I can serve you better by staying here than going ’long o’ you, why, ’deed, I’d heap liefer stay here.” “Then it is all right, Poley. And now tell me, when did you hear from your niece?” “Jane Morgan, you mean, ma’am?” “Of course, Jane Morgan. I did not know you had any other niece.” “No more I hadn’t, ma’am. Well, I heard from her ’bout two weeks ago. He have been out of work near all the latter part o’ the winter, and they’ve been a-having of a very hard time, ma’am, and that is a fact, with all the mouves they’ve got to feed, too.” “How many children have they, Poley?” “Six, ma’am. The oldest nine years old, and the youngest nine months. And he out of work so long, poor fellow!” “You should have told me, Poley.” “What for, ma’am? You couldn’t have helped it. I sent ’em a good part of my wages, and that kept ’em a-going.” “Poley, do you remember that I told you your niece should come here and bring all her babies this summer to see you and to get the benefit of this pure mountain air?” “Oh, yes, ma’am, indeed I do remember!” exclaimed Mrs. Pole, brightening up. “And have you written to your niece about it?” “Oh, no, ma’am. As you never mentioned the subject again after that first time, I didn’t know but what you had forgotten it or changed your mind.”