Eunice

A bright spring morning unfolds along the Connecticut River, where a troupe of seminary schoolgirls gathers at a quiet wayside station beneath the looming silhouettes of Mount Tom and Mount Holyoke. The landscape shimmers with melting snow, budding elms, and golden‑green meadows, framing their patient wait for the ferry that will carry them home. Their soft chatter mixes with the rustle of willow catkins, creating a gentle portrait of youthful anticipation set against a timeless New England backdrop.

Among the girls, a tender exchange reveals a deeper thread: Faithful, returning from a brief trip, hesitates because her dear friend Eunice is ill. Their bond hints at both the comfort of shared devotion and the looming uncertainty of illness, setting the stage for a journey that will test loyalty and hope. As the train’s “cars” arrive, the girls prepare for a fortnight of rest, carrying with them the promise of spring and the quiet resolve to face whatever lies ahead.