I shall do
for myself very nicely, thank you, sir; and maybe I could lodge with
grandfather at Mrs. Thompson's.'
'No,' said Miss Anne, in her gentle voice, the sweetest voice in the
world to Stephen, now little Nan's was silent; 'Stephen is my dear
friend, and he must let me act the part of a friend towards him. I wish
to send him to live with a good man whom I know, the manager of one of
the great works at Netley, where he may learn everything that will be
necessary to become my bailiff. I shall want a true, trustworthy agent
to look after my interests here, and in a few years Stephen will be old
enough to do this for me. He shall attend a good school for a few hours
daily, to gain a fitting education; and then what servant could I find
more faithful, more true, and more loving than my dear friend Stephen?
He can come back here then, if he chooses, and perhaps have Martha for
his housekeeper, in their old home at Fern's Hollow.'
'Oh, Miss Anne!' cried Stephen, 'I cannot bear it! May I really be your
servant all my life?' and the boy's voice was lost in sobs.
'Come, Stephen,' said the lord of the manor, 'I want you to show us some
of your old haunts on the hills.
Pages:
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197