"Yes, Prissie," answered Katie, speaking in a broken, half-sobbing
voice, "only I am so lonely."

"But you're not going to be selfish, darling. By and by I'll come back
to you all. Once every year, at least, I'll come back. And then, after
I've gone through my course of study, I'll get a situation of some
sort-- a good situation-- and you three shall come and live with me.
There, what do you say to that? Only three years, and then such a
jolly time. Why, Katie will be only eleven then."

Priscilla spoke in a remarkably cheerful voice, but the appalling
magnitude of three years could not be diminished, and the three little
sisters who were to stay behind with Aunt Raby were still disposed to
view things dismally.

"If she wasn't just what she is----" began Hattie.

"If she didn't think the least tiny morsel of a lark wrong----"
continued Rose.

"Why, then we could pull along somehow," sighed Hattie.

"Oh, you'll pull along as it is," said Priscilla "I'll write to you as
often as ever I can. If possible I'll keep a sort of journal and send
it to you. And perhaps there'll be stories and larks in it. Now you
really must go to sleep, for I have to get up so early in the morning.
Katie, darling, I'll make a corner for you in my bed to-night. Won't
that be a treat?"

"Oh, yes, Prissie."