She never showed them to anybody, and spoke little of old associations, but a word would slip out here and there to reveal that she cared more than she would give her schoolfellows to suppose.

One afternoon, shortly before the New Zealand mail was expected, Rona was working in her portion of the garden, when Mary Acton brought her a message.
"Some visitors to see you.

They're waiting in the practising-room," announced Mary.
"Visitors to see me!" exclaimed Rona, throwing down her rake.

"Whoever can they be ?" "I'm sure I don't know," replied Mary stolidly.

"They asked for Miss Mitchell, so I suppose that's you.