Then, suddenly, it came to her with a
sense of relief and protection: she was not alone; it was Dirk's
business to think of and care for her. Would he do it?
As for Dirk, no wonder that his face was deeply flushed. New thoughts
were struggling in his heart. _He_ was to decide for Mart; he was
the head of the home now. Mrs. Roberts waited anxiously. She longed
exceedingly to rouse in the boy, who was already grown to the stature of
a man, a sense of responsibility.
A moment more, and he had shaken himself free from the spell which
seemed to bind him.
"We'll do as you say." He spoke with the air of a man who had assumed
his proper place and taken up his duties. "Mart, you go along with her,
and I'll see about things to-morrow."
And Mart, for the first time in her life, received and obeyed in silence
a direction from her brother.
Possibly Mrs. Roberts may have been mistaken, but she thought that much
had been accomplished that day.
Yet none of them realized whereunto this thing would grow.
Mrs. Roberts, when she ushered Mart that evening into the pink room
again, and showed her how to manage the hot and cold water, and which
bell to ring if she needed anything, and in every imaginable way treated
her as a guest, whom it was pleasant to serve, had really no plans just
then--no hobby to ride--but simply acted out the dictates of her heart.
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