The Sight would not come fully to Cassie until she reached puberty, but she possessed intimations of the 'gift' from a very young age.   That had made the day dreams seem even more plausible to this young girl who often had some diffuse sense of what was coming, even if she couldn't exactly name or predict it. So her mother's announcement that she would be leaving the Masonic Home by the 1st of the year was an especial shock. Cassie was alternately excited and hopeful then fearful and sad. The staff at the orphanage recognized and understood the conflicting emotions she was experiencing and were wise enough to let her feel them. They did let her know that, because they loved her, they were excited that she was going to be able to reunite with her mother, even as they would miss her and knew she would miss them and the other children.

    Christmas Eve was a poignant time for all of them. Mrs. Hodges, Cassie's dorm mother and music teacher, had to excuse herself several times to hide her tears from Cassie and the rest. Her gift to Cassie was the rather ragged violin Cassie had been play8ng on ever since she began her instruction with Mrs. Hodge. The music teacher had included a note to Cassie, which Cassie declined to share or discuss with anyone, including Mrs. Hodges herself. Emma had written to say she would be there to get Cassie on New Year's, but she could not afford two train fares so close together and so would not be able to come to the Masonic Home on Christmas, as was her wont.