Page:Anna Chapin--Half a dozen boys.djvu/119

Rh “It is from Mr. Allen,” answered her mother. “I will give it to you as soon as I finish it.”

“From Mr. Allen? How queer! Go on, Rob, it is your turn.”

“See what you think,” said Mrs. Carter, giving Bess the letter.

Bess read it hastily, looked at her mother, and then read it again, slowly and thoughtfully.

“Well?” asked her mother.

“Why, I’m not the one to decide,” said Bess.

“What’s up?” inquired Rob.

“Mr. Allen is going abroad for a year, and takes his wife with him,” explained Mrs. Carter,  “and he wants”—

“Cousin Bess to go too?” interrupted Rob so disconsolately that they all laughed.

“Console yourself, my dear little cousin,” said Bess. “He only wants us to take Fred to board.”

In his secret heart, Rob thought that was almost as bad. With Fred here all the time, good-by to his pleasant walks and games with  his cousin. He was silent, but Bess read his thought.