and I know it will be a hard struggle for mother to go; but in a little
while she will be glad she went. It's only for her sake I am doing it;
it ain't an easy or a pleasant thing for me to do, either ----"
As Tilly stopped her voice was unsteady, and the rare tears shone
in her eyes.

"What's best for her is the only question, of course," said Alma,
helping Harry off the field.

In a few days Tilly received a long letter from her mother.
Mr. Ferguson was doing wonders for the Russians; the family
were all very kind to her and "nice folks" and easily pleased.
("Of COURSE they're pleased with mother's cooking;
what would they be made of if they weren't!" cried Tilly.)
It was wonderful how much help Mrs. Higbee was about the house,
and how happy it made her. Mrs. Ferguson had seemed real
glad to see her, and that made her happy. And then, maybe it
helped a little, her (Jane Louder's) telling Mrs. Ferguson
("accidental like") how Tilly treated her, never trying to boss her,
and letting her travel alone. Perhaps, if Mrs. Ferguson
kept on improving, they might let her come home next week.
And the letter ended:


"I will be so glad if they do, for I want to see you so bad,
dear daughter, and I want to see the old home once more before we leave.
I guess the house you tell me about will be very nice and convenient.
I do thank you, dear daughter, for being so nice and considerate
about the Russians. Give my love to Mrs. Carleton and all of them;
and if little Bobby Green hasn't missed school since I left,