"No—no. That is,—not the way you mean." Then as the truth came to her, she went unsteadily to a bench, sat, and leaned her head on a hand. Now she understood why her mother was willing to leave her behind!
Hattie came tearing across the grass to her. "Oh, Sue! Oh, you're crying! Oh, dear Sue, you're crying!" She knelt, her arms about the elder woman.
"Of course I'm crying," answered Sue. "That's what I always do when
I—I see that someone is happy."
"Oh, Sue! Sue!" The girl clung to her. "Don't think too badly of me. It came out last night—when Alan and I were talking. I told him I didn't love Wallace the way I should—oh, Sue, you know I never have—and that it was because I loved someone else. And, oh, he grew so—so white—he was so hurt—and I told him—I had to. It just poured out of my soul, Sue. It had been kept in so long."
"You darling girl!" They clung to each other, murmuring.
"Now you know why I was so—so broken up yesterday," explained Farvel.
"It wasn't—Laura. It was Hattie."
"Oh, we've cared for each other from the first!" confessed Hattie. "And we've settled how it is all going to be. I'll stay in New York, where we can be near each other, and see each other now and then—oh, we shall be only friends, Sue. But I'd rather have his friendship than the love of any other man I've ever known. And we'll be patient. And if we can't ever be more than friends, we'll be glad just for that. See how happy you've been, Sue, with no one—all these years. And here I shall have Alan."
"Ah, my dear girl!" exclaimed Sue. She stroked the bright hair. "Ah, my dear girl!"
"Oh, Sue, you mean you haven't been happy? Why don't you marry?"
Sue laughed. "I? What an idea! Why, I don't think I've ever even had the thought. Anyhow, the years have gone—the inclination is gone, if it ever was there. I'm too old." Then with sudden and passionate earnestness, "But you two." She rose and took each by a hand, and led them to the dial. "Read! Read what is written in the stone!—Tempus Fugit—time flies! Oh, take your happiness while you can! Don't wait. Oh, don't!—We must find a way somehow. The Church—we must see the proper authorities—oh, it isn't right that you two should be punished——"