Nan would return to Campden on the special train , and she was going back west in three days . It was hard to give the picnic up , but Cecilia was used to giving things up . Nobody ever expected Frances to give things up ; she was so brilliant and popular that the good things of life came her way naturally . It never seemed to matter so much about quiet Cecilia . * * * * * Cecilia cried herself to sleep that night . She felt that it was horribly selfish of her to do so , but she could n't help it . She awoke in the morning with a confused idea that it was very late . Why had n't Mary called her , as she had been told to do ? Through the open door between her room and Frances 's she could see that the latter 's bed was empty . Then she saw a little note , addressed to her , pinned on the pillow . Dear Saint Cecilia -LSB- it ran -RSB- , when you read this I shall be on the train to Ashland to spend the day with Grandmother Newbury . You 've been giving up things so often and so long that I suppose you think you have a monopoly of it ; but you see you have n't . I did n't tell you this last night because I had n't quite made up my mind . But after you went upstairs , I fought it out to a finish and came to a decision . Sara Beaumont would keep , but Nan Harris would n't , so you must go to the picnic . I told Mary to call me instead of you this morning , and now I 'm off . You need n't spoil your fun pitying me . Now that the wrench is over , I feel a most delightful glow of virtuous satisfaction ! Fran . If by running after Frances Cecilia could have brought her back , Cecilia would have run .
But a glance at her watch told her that Frances must already be halfway to XXXXX .
Ashland Beaumont Campden Cecilia Frances Harris Mary Nan days morning