Time proved that Henry, with his bitter knowledge of the weakness of human nature, was right.  Ida remained abroad.  After a year’s stay she wrote Maria, from London, that an eminent physician there said that he would not answer for her life if she returned to the scene wherein she had suffered so much.  She expressed a great deal of misery at leaving her precious Evelyn so long, but she did not feel that it was right for her to throw her life away.  In a postscript to this letter she informed Maria, as if it were an afterthought, that she had let the house in Edgham furnished.  She said it injured a house to remain unoccupied so long, and she felt that she ought to keep the place up for her poor father’s sake, he had thought so much of it.  She added that the people who rented it had no children except a grown-up daughter, so that everything would be well cared for.  When Maria read the letter to her aunt the elder woman sniffed.

“H’m,” said she.  “I ain’t surprised, not a mite.”

“It keeps us here quartered on you,” said Maria.

“So far as that goes, I am tickled to death she has rented the house,” replied Aunt Maria.  “I had made up my mind that you would feel as if you would want to go to Edgham for your summer vacation, anyway, and I thought I would go with you and keep house, though I can’t say that I hankered after it.  The older I grow the more I feel as if I was best off in my own home, but I would have gone.  So far as I am concerned I am glad she has let the house, but I must say I ain’t surprised.  You mark my words, Maria Edgham, and you see if what I say won’t come true.”

“What is it?”

“Ida Slome will stay over there, if she has a good time.  She’s got money enough with poor Harry’s life insurance, and now she will have her house rent.  It don’t cost her much to keep Evelyn here, and she’s got enough.  I don’t mean she’s got enough to traipse round with duchesses and earls and that sort, but she’s got enough.  Those folks she went with have settled down there, haven’t they?”

“Yes, I believe so,” said Maria.  “Mr. Voorhees was an Englishman, and I believe he is in some business in London.”

“Well, Ida Slome is going to stay there.  I shouldn’t be surprised if Evelyn was grown up before she saw her mother again.”

“I can’t quite believe that,” Maria said.

“When you get to be as old as I am you will believe more,” said her aunt Maria.  “You will see that folks’ selfishness hides the whole world besides.  Ida Slome is that kind.”

“I think she is selfish myself,” said Maria, “but I don’t believe she can leave Evelyn as long as that.”

“Wait and see,” said Aunt Maria, in much the same tone that her brother had used towards his wife.