She
revolved the subject in the course of a morning walk on the day they
were to visit the club, and returned to the shelter of her aunts' home
with something of her old confidence restored.
Despite their goodness--Claudia could not question that--how poor, she
thought, looked their simple ways! Aunt Jane sat, as aforetime, at one
side of the fireplace, Aunt Ruth at the other. Aunt Jane was knitting
with red wool, as she had always knitted since Claudia had known her.
Aunt Ruth, with an equal devotion to habit, was working her way through
a piece of embroidery. Molossus, the toy terrier, was asleep in Aunt
Jane's lap; Scipio reposed luxuriously at Aunt Ruth's feet.
[Sidenote: Mild Excitement]
It was a peaceful scene; yet it had its mild excitements. The two aunts
began at once to explain.
"We are so glad you are come in," said Aunt Jane.
"Because old Rooker has been," said Aunt Ruth.
"And with such good news! He has heard from his boy----"
"His boy, you know, who ran away," continued Aunt Ruth.
"He is coming home in a month or two, just to see his father, and is
then going back again----"
"Back again to America, you know----"
"Where he is doing well----"
"And he sends his father five pounds----"
"And now the old man says he will not need our half-a-crown a week any
longer----"
"So we can give it to old Mrs. Wimple, his neighbour----"
"A great sufferer, you know, and oh, so patient.
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