Page:Rilla of Ingleside (1921).djvu/21

 nelia emphatically. “I hear all about the doings of the young fry.”

“I have no doubt that Mary Vance sees that you do, Mrs. Marshall Elliott,” said Susan significantly, “but I think it is a shame to talk about children making matches.”

“Children! Jem is twenty-one and Faith is nine-teen,” retorted Miss Cornelia. “You must not forget, Susan, that we old folks are not the only grownup people in the world.”

Outraged Susan, who detested any reference to her age—not from vanity but from a haunting dread that people might come to think her too old to work—returned to her “Notes.”

“‘Carl Meredith and Shirley Blythe came home last Friday evening from Queen’s Academy. We understand that Carl will be in charge of the school at Harbour Head next year and we are sure he will be a popular and successful teacher.’”

“He will teach the children all there is to know about bugs, anyhow,” said Miss Cornelia. “He is through with Queen’s now and Mr. Meredith and Rosemary wanted him to go right on to Redmond in the fall, but Carl has a very independent streak in him and means to earn part of his own way through college. He’ll be all the better for it.”

“‘Walter Blythe, who has been teaching for the past two years at Lowbridge, has resigned,’” read Susan. “‘We understand that he intends going to Redmond this fall.’”

“Is Walter quite strong enough for Redmond yet?” queried Miss Cornelia anxiously.

"We hope that he will be by the fall,” said Mrs.