“I am sure you are right,” she said. “Some time you will marry Elsie?”
Frank felt the blood rush to his cheeks and his heart gave a leap.
“Perhaps so,” he said, softly.
“I know you will,” came from her lips. “I hope you may always be happy, Frank. I hope no shadows may come between you and Elsie.”
“My dear little friend, why have you been thinking so much of this?”
“Oh, I don’t know—I couldn’t help it. It was the way you described Elsie. You told me how beautiful Inza was, but you told how much like a dear little saint Elsie was, and then I knew you cared for her the more. Perhaps, Frank—perhaps I may be able to see when you are married, and perhaps I may be a bridesmaid at the wedding.”
“You shall!” he exclaimed, laughing and kissing her forehead. “What a dear little bridesmaid you will make!”
There was a faint quivering of her chin, and he wondered what it meant. He stared at her in surprise.
“Why, you appear so strange!” he said. “At one moment you are happy, and the next you look sad.”
“Do I? Don’t notice that, Frank. I am not sad; I am very gay because I think you should be. Elsie must have inspired you to be good and brave and noble.”