In the tranquil early morning, the rising sun had only revealed a distorted, hazy outline above the horizon.
Wisps of smoke rose from the flues set into the walls of Hass Orphanage's newly built wing, dispersing beneath skies still shrouded in the lingering darkness of night.
"Won't you stay a few more days before leaving?"
Watching Amosta's warm smile beneath the gradually rising sun, Mrs. Reagan's face was full of reluctance.
"You've always come and gone in such a hurry these past two years, Amosta. The children all hope you can stay here a little longer."
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Reagan. I'd also like to give myself a long holiday—"
Amosta shrugged with a helpless, bitter smile.
"But the company is expanding rapidly, and the workload has increased sharply. I'm sorry, but I believe this is only temporary."
Mrs. Reagan looked sadly at the young man's lean face. She wanted to urge him to rest more and not put himself under so much pressure, but the words reached her lips before she swallowed them back down.
"Mr. Lawrence—"
Mrs. Reagan turned her gaze toward Lawrence, who wore a bowler hat and a neatly pressed charcoal-gray suit. Her expression was equally reluctant.
"It's going to be such a terrible day for the children. When they wake up and find that both you and Amosta have left, they'll be heartbroken—"
"I'm just as reluctant to leave, Mrs. Reagan—"
Lawrence spoke with heartfelt sincerity. After shooting Amosta a quick glance, he turned back and promised,
"Once this trouble is settled, I'll come back again—as long as you don't think I'm adding to your burden here."
"Oh, but you've helped us so much."
Mrs. Reagan said, both touched and flustered.
Before walking out through the orphanage's great iron gates, Lawrence looked several times at the