When Averil awoke it was already morning, and Cora was standing by her bed, with her eyes smiling with congratulation, like veronicas on a sunny day.
'Cora, is it true?' she said, looking up.
Cora bent down and kissed her, and whispered, 'I wish you joy, my dear.'
'Then it is,' she said; 'it is not all a dream?'
'No dream, dearest.'
'Who said it?' she asked. 'O, Cora, that could not be true!' and the colour rose in her cheek.
'That! yes, Averil, if you mean that we had a visitor last evening. I took him for Leonard, do you know! Only I thought his eyes and hair did not quite answer the description.'
'He is a very gentleman-like person. Did you not think so?' said Averil.
'Ah! Ave, I've heard a great deal. Don't you think you had better tell me some more?'
'No, no!' exclaimed Averil; 'you are not to think of folly,' as coughing cut her short.