Hitherto duty had worn a smiling, loving countenance, and walked gently by her side as she crossed the flowery vales of girlhood; now, the guide was transformed into an angel of wrath, pointing with drawn sword to the gate of Eden.
As the girl's light fingers locked themselves tightly, her beautiful lips uttered mournfully:
"What hast thou done, O soul of mine
That thou tremblest so?
Hast thou wrought His task, and kept the line
He bade thee go?
Ah! the cloud is dark, and day by day
I am moving thither:
I must pass beneath it on my way—
God pity me! Whither?"
When Mrs. Murray went to her own room later than usual that night, she found Edna sitting by the table, with her Bible lying open on her lap, and her eyes fixed on the floor.
"I thought you were fast asleep before this. I sat up waiting for St.
Elmo, as I wished to speak to him about some engagements for to-morrow."
The lady of the house threw herself wearily upon the lounge, and sighed as she unclasped her bracelets and took off the diamond cross that fastened her collar.
"Edna, ring for Hagar."
"Will you not let me take her place to-night? I want to talk to you before I go to sleep."
"Well, then, unlace my gaiters and take down my hair. Child, what makes you look so very serious?"
"Because what I am about to say saddens me very much. My dear Mrs. Murray, I have been in this house five peaceful, happy, blessed years; I have become warmly attached to everything about the home where I have been so kindly sheltered during my girlhood, and the thought of leaving it is exceedingly painful to me."