And Mrs. Hargrave wrote from the country a letter full of praise for
both little girls and for Minnie.
Mrs. Horton received all three letters the same day. She slipped them
away in her portfolio, thinking as she did so, with a smile, of Cousin
Hendy's trunks full of letters.
One thing troubled her a little. It seemed as though she could see in
all the letters evidences that little Rosanna was undergoing some slight
changes in her way of thinking and acting. And Mrs. Horton did not care
to have Rosanna change in the least. She was perfectly satisfied the way
she was. It had not occurred to Mrs. Horton to wonder if poor little
motherless Rosanna was satisfied with her pampered, lonely life.
Mrs. Horton had Rosanna's life all mapped out. However, she remembered
the high stone wall and reflected that the child could see very little
of the outside world if she was kept behind that.
CHAPTER XI
How the time did fly! The days were not long enough for all the two
girls crowded into them.
In a few weeks Helen would be going away to a Scout camp where dozens of
girls would live in tents and row and swim and fish and cook and listen
to wise and sympathetic talks from their leaders. Helen knew all about
it from past trips, and she spent hours while they sat working on their
presents for Mrs. Hargrave, whose birthday was rapidly approaching,
telling Rosanna all about their good times. Rosanna felt that she never
could bear it if she couldn't be a Girl Scout. Helen, not knowing Mrs.
Horton, did not see how any grown person could refuse such a request and
she told Rosanna so.
They had made a great many plans for Mrs. Hargrave's birthday. She was
coming to take dinner with them.
Mrs. Hargrave never looked more beautiful nor more imposing than when
she arrived. The two girls were overcome with pride as they saw their
guest descend from her little carriage and, laying her hand on the arm
of the old colored man who attended her, walk slowly up the steps.
When dinner was served, it was perfectly splendid to hear Mrs. Hargrave
exclaim over the flowers and the favors and everything.
During the meal the children told Mrs. Hargrave what they hoped to be.
Rosanna wanted to be an artist. Helen said she intended to grow up and
marry and be the mother of a family.
"Bless my soul!" said Mrs. Hargrave, staring at her. "What put that in
your head?"
"Something mother learned in college," said Helen simply. "She b
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