Viola's heart gave a great bound of pain.
"You would fly away from us who love you so?" she cried.
"Only to see the dear Lord," said Eric, solemnly.
Then an inward voice spake to Viola, and said:
"Better that than off into the wide, wicked world; better that than name and fame and riches, and a despised, forgotten mother! Even so, Father, if so it seem good in Thy sight."
Laura stopped reading, folded her manuscript, and looked shyly about her.
"Oh, Laura! you don't mean that you killed that beautiful boy?" cried Belle.
"How could I help it?" asked Laura, the tears running down her cheeks. "He would die! I tried all I could to have him live, and so did his father and mother, and all of them. But the wings grew and grew, and he mounted upward, and passed through the golden gate; but he left it ajar for Viola."
"Mamma, you'll have to look out," said Frank. "Laura is catching up with you rather too fast."