"I’m just as well able to work as you are, Harvey," she said earnestly. "I certainly will not give up the store."
"But I’m sure of a position on the newspaper I was telling you about, Jessie," Harvey urged—"and I can at least help; I can always spare a little," he assured her confidently, "and there’s one thing you must do before very long," he went on eagerly; "you’ve really got to come and stay a while with Miss Farringall. She practically made me promise for you. Couldn’t somebody mind the store while you’re away?"
"I suppose so," Jessie relented enough to say; "Miss Adair could manage it well enough, of course. And I’d love to have a long visit with you, brother," she added fondly. "We’re all alone in the world now, Harvey," her voice trembling as the tired eyes filled to overflowing—"we haven’t anybody else but each other now."
Harvey looked her full in the face. "There’s another," he said in a whisper after a long silence.
Jessie started violently; then her demand for more light came swift and urgent.
As gently as he could, he broke to her the wonderful news. The girl was trembling from head to foot.
But her first thought seemed to be of her mother. "And that was it," she cried amid her sobs; "that was the sorrow mother carried about with her all the time. Oh, Harvey, I always knew there was something—I always felt mother had some burden she wouldn’t let us share with her—I always felt her heart was hungry for something she hoped she’d get before she died. Poor, poor mother—our dear, brave mother!"
Harvey staunched the tide of grief as best he could. Their talk turned, and naturally enough, to the hope of their father’s return some day, both promising the fulfillment of their mother’s dying wish.
"We’ll do just as mother would have done," the girl said in sweet simplicity; "and we’ll wait together, Harvey—we’ll watch and wait together."
"And you’ll help me, won’t you, sister?" Harvey asked suddenly.
"Just help me," he answered, his voice faltering. "Will you promise me that, Jessie; you don’t know yet all it means—just always to stick to me, and help me, and believe in me—till—till father comes?" he concluded, looking steadfastly into her wondering eyes. "Come with me, sister—come."