Watson."
"You are very good. If she proves to be the right sort of person, it
_will_ be an immense comfort. Do you know when she wants to start?"
"About the end of May,--just the right time, you see. She could join
Clover and Philip as they go through, which will work nicely for them
all."
"So it will. Well, this is quite a relief. Please write to your cousin,
Mrs. Hall, and make the arrangement. I don't want Mrs. Watson to be
burdened with any real care of the children, of course; but if she can
arrange to go along with them, and give Clover a word of advice now and
then, should she need it, I shall be easier in my mind about them."
Clover was only doubtfully grateful when she heard of this arrangement.
"Papa always will persist in thinking that I am a baby still," she said to
Katy, drawing her little figure up to look as tall as possible. "I am
twenty-two, I would have him remember. How do we know what this Mrs.
Watson is like? She may be the most disagreeable person in the world for
all papa can tell."
"I really can't find it in my heart to be sorry that it has happened, papa
looks so much relieved by it," Katy rejoined.
But all dissatisfactions and worries and misgivings took wings and flew
away when, just ten days before the travellers were to start, a new and
delightful change was made in the programme. Ned telegraphed that the
ship, instead of coming to New York, was ordered to San Francisco to
refit, and he wanted Katy to join him there early in June, prepared to
spend the summer; while almost simultaneously came a letter from Mrs.
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