"I know," said Julia, tears in her eyes. "But he is a very gentle man. You will learn to love him just as I do."

"Couldn't you come with us, Mama?" pleaded Jennifer. "It's been ages since you have seen him."

"No," replied Julia. "Perhaps someday, but not just now."

"Do you think they will take us at that school?"

"I am sure they will. You are both good studentsa"and fine young ladies."

"But what abouta"our dresses?" asked Jennifer, looking down at her ill-fitting, unstylish gown.

"We have money for shopping," replied Julia.

"What do you think, Papa?" asked Jennifer, turning her eyes to John.

"I think your mama is right. You deserve a good educationa"your grandfather has been yearning to get acquainted with you. He lives all alone in that big house. This seems like a perfect opportunity."

"But what about Christmas?" whispered Jennifer.

"Ita"it will be difficult for us. But by then you will have made friendsa"and will be feeling at home with Papa. And we do have the mail. We can send our gifts," said Julia, trying hard not to let her true feelings show.

"Wella"it is exciting," declared Felicity. "I mean, we have never been Easta"never been out of our town much. Are you sure we'll know how to act?" She giggled at the thought of making some ridiculous social error.

"You are your mother's daughter," John a.s.sured her. "You would not be more of a lady had you been raised in a palace." John meant every word. He had no fear that his daughters would embarra.s.s themselves with bad manners.

Felicity knew he was right. Their mother had taught them to behave properly. The idea was becoming less frightening and more appealing.

"Oh, Jena"let's!" she cried suddenly, and threw her arms around her twin.

Jennifer allowed a slow, crooked smile to curve her lips. "All right, let's," she finally agreed, and the girls rushed to embrace their mother and father.

A letter came for John from Mr. Small. He was pleased that John had at last agreed to seek employment with him again. "I have work for you as soon as you are available," he wrote. "Just let me know the date of your arrival and the accommodation needed. If you need an advance for moving expenses, I will forward it immediately."

Mr. Small apparently a.s.sumed the whole family would be moving.

The news relieved John's tension somewhat, but he knew the solution was only temporary. He still needed to figure out a way to reunite his family.

Julia kept her mind off the coming separation by keeping herself busy. There was much to do to get the girls ready, and she had only a few days in which to do it.

John purchased the train tickets and got the luggage ready. Julia surveyed her closet and chose four gowns she could alter to fit her daughters. It left her shorta"it had been some time since she had been shopping for herselfa"but she had no place to go anyway, and the gowns were much too fancy to wear in the kitchen.

Julia sewed for two days, taking only a few hours for sleep. She remodeled, patched, made over, and made do. She had little to work with, but when she finished the girls had suitable garments to wear on the train. After that it would be up to Papa.

Julia had wired him, and his return message revealed that his excitement more than matched that of the girls.

In her previous letters, Julia had written nothing about their hardships. It would only worry him, she told herself. And he would surely send moneya"and that would nearly kill John.

Julia had told him the mill had moved. And he knew Julia was hoping to keep her lovely home by sharing it with guests, and was indeed striving to make their entire town attractive to tourists. But Julia provided no further details.

As Julia worked anxiously to prepare her daughters for a time with their grandfather, her tears often fell on the material. She hoped with all her heart that the three would fall in love. She hoped her father understood her great love for him as she sent to him her most precious possessions. She hoped too that her girls would see in him all of the goodness, kindness, and wisdom she had always found. Julia prayed and prayed as she st.i.tched. Her papa, whom she loved dearly, had not yet made his peace with G.o.d.

The time is getting short, Julia often reminded herself as she had reminded him in the past. But whenever she wrote to him of her concern, his return letters responded to every part of her letter except the paragraphs about his spiritual condition.

Perhaps Jennifera Julia thought. She shared her faith with Millicent. Perhaps she will be able to explain her faith to her grandfathera"in her own simple way. The thought made Julia pray even more diligently.

The day of the girls' departure came all too quickly for Julia. Felicity had thrown all fear and concern to the wind about five minutes after hearing of the plan. Jennifer accepted the idea more slowly. But by departure time, she too felt only excitement.

"You will write often?" Julia said as both a question and a statement. The girls had lost track of how many times she had reminded them.

"We promise," they replied in chorus.

"And to me too?" John added. He would be leaving the next day for the lumber camp.

"We promise," the girls repeated.

"I will miss you so," Julia said, her voice catching in her throat.

"We will miss you both too," they a.s.sured, but their attention had already turned to the train. They were eager to get aboard. The girls took turns embracing their mother and father.

"One more kiss," said Julia, kissing the two soft cheeks, "and one for each of you to give Grandfather from me."

And then in a flurry the girls were gone. It all happened too quickly for Julia. One minute she was holding her two daughters; the next minute the train was chugging away, leaving her empty and alone. She watched the white handkerchiefs waving from the windows until they were out of sight.

Then she turned to John and let the tears flow freely. He held her tightly, wishing with all his heart that he didn't have to leave the next day.

Julia soon straightened and looked into his eyes.

"We have done the right thing?" She worded it as a statement, but she p.r.o.nounced it as a question.

John patted her shoulder. "We have done the right thing," he declared, and Julia found comfort in his reply.

The next morning it was even more difficult for Julia to let John go, but she tried not to cling to him. She did not want him to sense her great reluctance.

"I will try to get home for a weekend just as soon as I can," he promised.

"I have Hettie and Tom," Julia a.s.sured him. "I won't be alone."

"And the two guests," John reminded her. "They will keep you busy."

He was right about that. If Miss Priscilla had her way she would certainly keep Julia busy. Although the guests meant more work, Julia was grateful to have additional people in her house. It would not seem quite as empty.

"I will write," John promised, "every day," and he kissed her tenderly.

Julia could not answer.

"And you will be in my prayersa"constantly," he continued.

Julia blinked hard to keep tears from spilling. She nodded her head and hoped John understood the depth of meaning in her silent communication.

"And remembera"if you need me you can send a wire."

Julia nodded again, still unable to speak.

The train whistled, and Julia knew she had to let him go.

"I love you," she managed to whisper as he kissed her one last time. Then he too was gone.

Julia walked home alone. She did not hurry. She wanted to be in control of her emotions by the time she reached her kitchen. Hettie would have a strong, hot cup of tea waiting. Although the tea wouldn't do much for her emptiness, Hettie's company would help some.

Chapter Twenty-three.

Deceived Julia burst into the kitchen, tray in hand, cheeks flushed and her eyes snapping. She stopped at the kitchen table and set down her tray, fearing she would drop it in her agitation. But even after setting it down, she still gripped its edges.

Hettie waited for Julia to say something, but she just stared at the wall, her lips tightly drawn.

"What is it?" Hettie finally asked.

Julia lowered herself into a chair as if her legs would not hold her a moment longer.

"Missa"Miss Prissy!" exclaimed Julia, using the unflattering name for the first time. "She'sa"she's with child," said Julia, her eyes flashing.

Hettie nodded.

"You knew?" cried Julia.

"I suspected," said Hettie as she continued to peel potatoes.

"Wella"well, I never! Who would have thought of sucha"The very ideaa"using my housea"my Christian homea"as aa"as a hideaway."

Julia put her head in her hands, her shoulders trembling.

Hettie went on removing potato peels.

"Well, I won't have it!" Julia declared suddenly. "Not in my house. I will not hide a woman whoa"who lived immorally and came sneaking off to me to hide her sin."

Hettie said nothing.

"Shea"shea"oh, I'm so thankful the girls aren't here to see this," Julia wailed.

Hettie still made no reply.

"Why did she pick us? Why did she come here? There must be other places. But no. She had to choose us." Julia waved a shaking hand to show her disdain.

Hettie shifted her position, easing her weight from one foot to the other. Without lifting her eyes from the task before her, and without raising her voice, she responded, "Maybe she didn't choose us."

Julia's head came up. "Wella"I meana"I know her mother chose us. Her mother runs everything in the family. If she spent more time training her daughters and less time being aa"a social leader thisa"thisa"disgrace might not have beset her family."

"I didn't mean her mother," said Hettie slowly.

Julia looked puzzled. "Well, it certainly wasn't the father," she said. "I doubt he's ever made a family decision in his entire life."

Silence hung about them for a minute. Julia's face showed more and more impatience. "What are you trying to say, Hettie?" she asked at last.

"The woman is a sinnera"just like you said," Hettie answered softly.

Julia's face flushed again. She was about to begin another discourse denouncing evil when she noticed a flicker in Hettie's eyes. "So what are you trying to say," Julia again demanded.

"How did our Lord feel about sinners?" asked Hettie, dropping the peeled potato in the pot. She picked up another and rinsed it in a pan of water.

Julia's eyes grew big. Her head dropped. Her trembling hands fluttered to her breast. "Oh, Hettie," she repented, "I just never thoughta"

There was silence again while Julia did some soul searching. At last she lifted her head, her eyes tear-filled, her voice low.

"Do you think G.o.d sent her here for us toa"to helpa"to love?" she asked.

"Could be."

After another long silence Julia nodded. "Yes, Hettie. It could be. And I nearly failed. Miserably."

"You would have gotten to ita"sooner or later," Hettie comforted.

"I was about to send her away," Julia admitted.

"You might have thought of sending her away, but I doubt you could have done it."

"Oh, Hettie. I'm ashamed. So ashamed of mya"my quick response. I was so angry. I felt soa"so used."

"And so you were," said Hettie.

"Well, if G.o.d sent her to us, then we must do our best not to let Him down. We must somehowa"somehow convince her that G.o.d can forgivea"even this."

"It won't be easy," said Hettie, rinsing the pot of potatoes.

"You don't think she will be able to understand that G.o.d can forgive such sin?"

"No. I think it won't be easy to make her see that anything she takes a fancy to do, G.o.d would dare oppose," said Hettie. "She's a selfish, headstrong young woman if I ever saw one."

Hettie's thought was new to Julia. She paused to reflect on it. The a.s.signment ahead would not be an easy one.