“Oh, the great aching and longing that came upon me! the yearning for one touch of that dear hand, for a glimpse of that ‘blue sea’ which shut him out from me! It was so sore that I could scarce keep from sobbing. But I could not ask if he were well. I could not trust my voice, and he must have taken my silence for indifference, as presently, he began to speak of something else, and we went floating on with that hungering in my heart for more tidings of dear papa in his tower.
“I thought of him as looking out upon the white mountain with the glory of the sunset on it, and the sea dancing, and I wondered if his heart ached for me as mine did for him; and then the dreary time of our separation stretched out and lengthened till it seemed unending, and I had almost cried out in the anguish of my longing. The tears were dropping one by one into the water, and the dreamy talk of the others went on till we reached the shore. Mr. Percy took no further notice of me, as I saw with much pain; he thought I did not care for papa, and so I walked up to the house, listening feverishly for one word more of Italy.
CHAPTER XI.
“The evening passed away; I lingered for a word; but though there was much talk, I still remained unsatisfied. I was restless, impatient.
“‘Come, Mary, we’re going to play in the dark dining-room,’ said Robbie, after tea, and while the elders were all gathered in the parlor.
“‘No, don’t trouble me,’ I answered shortly, afraid of losing a word of the conversation.
“‘You need not take my head off for asking you,’ said Robbie, running off in anger, and my face flushed as I saw both Willie and the stranger glance towards me. I was very sorry; I liked Robbie; though sensitive, he was kind to me, and we had never quarrelled. My first impulse was to run after him and tell him I did not mean to be cross, when the fear that the coveted news might be told in my absence, restrained me. I waited and listened and grew weary with hoping. My nerves had been so excited all day, that the slightest sound which might prevent my catching every word, caused me to start and flush. The children were boisterous, the noise of their play came through the hall. I closed the door quickly and impatiently and hastened back to my station.