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The house was so small, the furnishings so very simple.
"There is something the matter with you to-day, Aileen," observed Mamie, coming over to her
and looking in her face. "You're not like yourself at all."
"I've got something on my mind," replied Aileen--"something that's worrying me. I don't know
just what to do--that's what's the matter."
"Well, whatever can it be?" commented Mamie. "I never saw you act this way before. Can't you
tell me? What is it?"
"No, I don't think I can--not now, anyhow." Aileen paused. "Do you suppose your mother would
object," she asked, suddenly, "if I came here and stayed a little while? I want to get away from
home for a time for a certain reason."
"Why, Aileen Butler, how you talk!" exclaimed her friend. "Object! You know she'd be delighted,
and so would I. Oh, dear--can you come? But what makes you want to leave home?"
"That's just what I can't tell you--not now, anyhow. Not you, so much, but your mother. You
know, I'm afraid of what she'd think," replied Aileen. "But, you mustn't ask me yet, anyhow. I
want to think. Oh, dear! But I want to come, if you'll let me. Will you speak to your mother, or
shall I?"
"Why, I will," said Mamie, struck with wonder at this remarkable development; "but it's silly to do
it. I know what she'll say before I tell her, and so do you. You can just bring your things and
come. That's all. She'd never say anything or ask anything, either, and you know that--if you
didn't want her to." Mamie was all agog and aglow at the idea. She wanted the companionship
of Aileen so much.
Aileen looked at her solemnly, and understood well enough why she was so enthusiastic--both
she and her mother. Both wanted her presence to brighten their world. "But neither of you must
tell anybody that I'm here, do you hear? I don't want any one to know-- particularly no one of my
family. I've a reason, and a good one, but I can't tell you what it is--not now, anyhow. You'll
promise not to tell any one."
"Oh, of course," replied Mamie eagerly. "But you're not going to run away for good, are you,
Aileen?" she concluded curiously and gravely.
"Oh, I don't know; I don't know what I'll do yet. I only know that I want to get away for a while,
just now--that's all." She paused, while Mamie stood before her, agape.
"Well, of all things," replied her friend. "Wonders never cease, do they, Aileen? But it will be so
lovely to have you here. Mama will be so pleased. Of course, we won't tell anybody if you don't
want us to. Hardly any one ever comes here; and if they do, you needn't see them. You could
have this big room next to me. Oh, wouldn't that be nice? I'm perfectly delighted." The young
school-teacher's spirits rose to a decided height. "Come on, why not tell mama right now?"
Aileen hesitated because even now she was not positive whether she should do this, but finally
they went down the stairs together, Aileen lingering behind a little as they neared the bottom.
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