Drusilla blushed intensely, at the bare supposition that her Alick could do anything to make her loyal heart despise him, and she answered warmly:
“But he did not do it! He would never do such a thing. If my Alick has ever erred it has been under the influence of some great passion amounting almost to madness! He would not do wrong in cold blood.”
Anna did not gainsay her. Miss Lyon had quite given up arguing with the young wife on the subject of her husband’s merits. If Drusilla had chosen to assert that Alexander was the wisest of sages, the bravest of heroes and the best of saints, Anna would not openly have differed with her. But now she turned the conversation from his merits to his movements.
“Alick sails for Europe to-morrow,” she said.
“Yes, so Mr. Kent says. But do you know what steamer he goes in, Anna? Mr. Kent did not happen to name it, and I shrank from asking him.”
“There is but one—the Erie. I suppose, of course, he goes on that. However, on Monday we shall get the New York papers, and then we can examine the list of passengers, and see if his name is among them,” said Anna.
And with that answer the young wife had to rest satisfied.
CHAPTER VII.
HALCYON DAYS.
A course of days, composing happy weeks,
And they as happy months; the day is still