With Vivian she renewed her earlier influence to a great degree.
With some inquiry and more intuition she discovered what it was that had chilled the girl's affection for her.
"I don't wonder, my dear child," she said; "I never told you of that—I never speak of it to anyone.... It was one of the—" she shivered slightly—"darkest griefs of a very dark time.... He was a beautiful boy.... I never dreamed——"
The slow tears rose in her beautiful eyes till they shone like shimmering stars.
"Heaven send no such tragedy may ever come into your life, dear!"
She reached a tender hand to clasp the girl's. "I am so glad of your happiness!"
Vivian was silent. As a matter of fact, she was not happy enough to honestly accept sympathy. Mrs. St. Cloud mistook her attitude, or seemed to.
"I suppose you still blame me. Many people did. I often blame myself. One cannot be too careful. It's a terrible responsibility, Vivian—to have a man love you."
The girl's face grew even more somber. That was one thing which was troubling her.
"But your life is all before you," pursued the older woman. "Your dream has come true! How happy—how wonderfully happy you must be!"