Joshua was inexpressibly pained.
"I must be content, I suppose," he said, sighing; "but I am deeply grieved. Something seems to have come between us lately, and shall go away leaving a mystery behind. I wonder sometimes if am the cause of this estrangement. If I am, I hope all will be set right when I am out of the way."
"I hope so," said Susan, with a singularly earnest look.
"You hope so! Then I am the cause, and you believe it. Take care, Susan that you are not assisting in bringing unhappiness among us."
"It is for you to take care," said Susan, with bitter emphasis, "that you do not do so."
"What do you mean?" asked Joshua, in amazement. "Tell me. I have a right to ask, Susan, for you will one day be my sister."
Joshua had taken her hand as he spoke, but she snatched it from him angrily.
"I can tell you nothing that you do not know," she said hurriedly. "If I am to be your sister, I have only one thing to say to you."
"Well?" he inquired, in an offended tone, for he was angered by Susan's manner.
"Be true to Ellen," she said, with quivering lips and in a softer voice.