Astra (Musaicum Romance Classics). Grace Livingston Hill

Astra did that night, because there were still so many details of her hasty journey not yet thought out. But she was awake early the next morning and at the telephone, calling for some men to take her box and trunks to the station and calling the station to find out train schedules. When she went down to breakfast, she had everything well in hand, and her heart was filled with a great relief.

      After breakfast she told the maids.

      "I am going back to my old home, Hannah," she said. "I've been planning to do that for some time, and now I think it will be pleasant to be with my old friends at Christmastime."

      Hannah eyed her in amazement.

      "Does Mrs. Lester know?" she asked coldly. "She didn't say anything to me about it."

      "No, she doesn't know. I decided since she left. But I've written her all about it, so I suppose you will hear from her soon as to any directions she may have, since I am not to be here. I think you said she usually left you here in charge of the house before I came, didn't she?"

      "Oh yes," said Hannah loftily. "Every summer when they go away to the mountains. I and Nannie stays and cleans house."

      "Well, then I guess you won't miss me. And here are two little packages I got for you for Christmas. I sure hope you will have a very happy time."

      The two prim maids eyed the prettily wrapped boxes that Astra handed out to them, and then the doorbell rang and Nannie hurried away to answer it.

      "That must be the men I sent for," said Astra. "They said they would come early."

      So there was little time for further talk. Astra had taken things firmly in hand, and the two maids felt relieved that they were not called upon to be always staying at home to be company for her.

      Soon Astra was riding away to the station in a taxi, and the two maids stood at the door and waved good-bye, all the while fingering the crisp bills that Astra had given each. She had felt she could ill afford to spare them, but yet she knew she must. It was her idea of what was right.

      But in spite of the fact that she was really glad to get away, she yet felt she was going into the world with no one behind to wish her Merry Christmas and no one ahead waiting to bid her welcome and make a happy holiday for her.

      So that was what Astra was going over as she finished her breakfast and sat forlornly staring out through the lace filigree of frost on the windowpane, into a wide white world that seemed so strange and unfriendly now after her experiences of the night before and the uncertainties of what the morning was to bring forth.