At
first Mrs. Deane objected, when she heard Mr. Hastings's errand,
saying, with a sudden flash of pride, that "it was not necessary
for her niece to work out."
"And I assure you, it is not our intention to make a servant of
her," answered Mr. Hastings, "We could not do otherwise than treat
so near a relative of yours as an equal."
This last was well timed, and quite complacently Mrs. Deane
listened, while he told her that if Dora were allowed to stay with
them until his wife was better, she should be well cared for, and
he himself would superintend her studies, so she should lose
nothing by being out of school. "Come, Miss Eugenia," he
continued, "please intercede for me, and, I assure you, both Ella
and myself will be eternally grateful."
He had touched the right cord at last. Rumor said that Ella
Hastings would never see another summer, and if before her death
the husband was eternally grateful, what would he not be after her
death? Then, too, but the day before they had received a
remittance from Uncle Nat, and with that they could afford to hire
a servant; so, when Eugenia spoke, it was in favor of letting
"_Mr.
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