human
Aunt Sarah has written to mother, said Jack,
gpt
Jack gave further enlightenment.
human
I see Nan every day,
gpt
I am sure that makes Nan happier, returned Miss Helen.
human
Which of the twins are you? Jack, I suppose.
gpt
Yes, I am Jack. Jean is over to Cousin Mag's. We sleep there now while Nan is sick. Nan won't be able to write for ever so long, for her right arm is all wrapped up in something and she can't move it. It is funny that it is her right arm and her writing arm, too, isn't it? I must go now.
human
I wish you could stay, said Miss Helen wistfully.
gpt
I will write to Nan, and you must give her my love. Can't you stay and see your grandmother? She is asleep now, for she is very tired, but she will waken soon.
human
I'm afraid I can't stay, said Jack who had no great desire to see a grandmother of whom she had heard from Mary Lee and Unc' Landy only ill reports.
gpt
I saw the red cloth. Nan told me about it, Jack went on.
human
I came over to tell you about her. She doesn't know I came but she'll be glad.
gpt
You love Nan very much, don't you?
human
Yes. I love Jean 'cause she's my twin, but Nan always takes up for me and helps me out of scrapes. I get into a great many, sighed Jack.
gpt
Maybe I'm in one now,
human
Oh, dear, I hope not, Miss Helen hastened to say.
gpt
I must not keep you if you ought not to stay. You must not be disobedient if any one has forbidden your coming here.
human
Nobody did 'zackly, but--I reckon I'd better not stay.
gpt
I hope to see you soon again, she said,
human
I feel now, dear Aunt Sarah, that I did wrong in harboring any ill-will toward Helen. I am sure my dear husband would wish me to meet any advances from her with an equally forgiving spirit and I do want my children to see and love their Aunt Helen, the only sister of their father. So Nan has my permission to go to Uplands when she receives an invitation. When one feels that the waves from the dark river may perhaps soon be touching her feet, quarrels and dissensions seem very petty things. I realized this when I first knew of the danger threatening me. Now that I feel that I am permitted a longer lease of life the bitterness of the past is something to be forgotten. I view life with a new understanding and I would encourage peace, forgiveness and forbearance.