Now that she is so well, she won't need either of us while she's up at the camp with Jack, and the money it would have taken to pay your board will buy the new clothes you need." All the color faded out of the hot little face as Mary listened, growing pale with excitement.
"Oh, mamma, is it _true_ ?" she asked, imploringly.

"I don't see how it can be.

But Joyce wouldn't fool me about anything as big as this, would she ?" She asked the question in such a quiver of eagerness that the tears sprang to her eyes.

Joyce had expected her to spin around on her toes and squeal one delighted little squeal after another, as she usually did when particularly happy.

She did not know what to expect next, when all of a sudden Mary threw herself across her mother's lap and began to sob and laugh at the same time.
"Oh, mamma, the old Vicar was right.