Two days before, her pleasure and pride in the manly fellow, who was almost as dear to her as an own son could be, would have been greatly shocked, but Miss Prince’s heart began to beat quickly.  It would be such a blessed solution of all the puzzles and troubles of her life if she could have both the young people near her through the years that remained, and when she died, or even before, they could live here in the old house, and begin a new and better order of things in the place of her own failures and shortcomings.  It was all so distinct and possible in Miss Prince’s mind that only time seemed necessary, and even the time could be made short.  She would not put any hindrances between them and their blessed decision.  As she went by them to seek Priscilla, she smoothed the cushion which Nan had leaned upon before she moved a little nearer George Gerry in some sudden excitement of the conversation, which had begun while the captain was still there, and there was a needless distance between them.  Then Miss Prince let her hand rest for a minute on the girl’s soft hair.  “You must ask Mr. Gerry to excuse you for a few minutes, my dear, you have been quite blown about in the garden.  I meant to join you there.”

“It is a dear old garden,” said Nan.  “I can’t help being almost as fond of it already as I am of ours at home;” but though Aunt Nancy’s unwonted caress had been so unlike her conduct in general, this reference to Oldfields called her to her senses, and she went quickly away.  She did not like to hear Nan speak in such loving fashion of a house where she had no real right.

But when Mr. George Gerry was left alone, he had pleasant thoughts come flocking in to keep him company in the ladies’ stead.  He had not dreamed of such a pleasure as this; who could have? and what could Aunt Nancy think of herself!

“It is such a holiday,” said Nan, when tea was fairly begun, and her new friend was acknowledging an uncommon attack of hunger, and they were all merry in a sedate way to suit Miss Prince’s ideas and preferences.  “I have been quite the drudge this winter over my studies, and I feel young and idle again, now that I am making all these pleasant plans.”  For Mr. Gerry had been talking enthusiastically about some excursions he should arrange to certain charming places in the region of Dunport.  Both he and Miss Prince smiled when Nan announced that she was young and idle, and a moment afterward the aunt asked doubtfully about her niece’s studies; she supposed that Anna was done with schools.

Nan stopped her hand as it reached for the cup which Miss Prince had just filled.  “School; yes,” she answered, somewhat bewildered; “but you know I am studying medicine.”  This most important of all facts had been so present to her own mind, even in the excitement and novelty of her new surroundings, that she could not understand that her aunt was still entirely ignorant of the great purpose of her life.