"I understand that your father intends spending his
winter in Carolina, for his health," said Miss
Emmerson to Katherine.
"Yes," returned the other in a low tone, and
bending over her work to conceal her feelings;
"mother has persuaded him to avoid our winter."
"And you are to be left behind?"
"I am afraid so," was the modest reply.
"And your brother and sister go to Washington
together?"
"That is the arrangement, I believe."
Miss Emmerson said no more, but she turned an
expressive look on her ward, which Julia was too
much occupied with her thoughts to notice. The
illness of her father, and the prospect of a long
separation from her sister, were too much for the
fortitude of Katherine at any time, and hastily
gathering her work in her hand, she left the room
just in time to prevent the tears which streamed
down her cheeks from meeting the eyes of her
companions.
"We ought to ask Katherine to make one of our
family, in the absence of her mother and sister,"
said Miss Emmerson, as soon as the door was
closed.
"Ah! yes," cried Julia, fervently, "by all means: poor
Katherine, how solitary she would be any where
else--I will go this instant and ask her."
"But--stop a moment, my love; you will remember
that we have not room for more than one guest. If
Katherine is asked, Miss Miller cannot be invited.
Let us look at what we are about, and leave
nothing to repent of hereafter.
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