"
Alan stole away to tell his mother where Katharine was, and then
went back to her side. All the morning he remained there,
saying little, but keeping near her with a simple, boyish
devotion of which, in after years, she never lost the memory.
[Illustration: "THERE LAY KATHARINE ON THE SHABBY OLD SOFA,
SOBBING AS IF HER HEART MUST BREAK."--Page 350.]
When Katharine went down-stairs again, she appeared to have grown
years older during that one morning. It was not that she was less
beautiful than she had been; but she seemed to have gained a new,
gentle dignity which suddenly changed her from a child into a
woman. As she entered the room, with her hand on Alan's shoulder,
she met them with a perfect composure which gave no hint of her
trouble; but they all felt instinctively that it was as she had
said to her aunt, her call had come, and she had answered "ready."
The day wore slowly away. They were to start on their journey,
late the next afternoon, accompanied by Mrs. Hapgood, who had made
up her mind to go to her sister for a few weeks, to help her
through the sad changes which must inevitably follow. Late in the
day, Mrs. Adams and Polly came in, for Molly had told them of the
letter.
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