I repeat it—she could love forever and hope forever, but she could not grieve forever—not with her beautiful bright boy before her eyes.
It was delightful to see the young mother at this time of her life. She was the sunshine of that sweet old home. All the joyousness, hopefulness and truthfulness of childhood seemed to have returned to her; or, rather, as her own childhood had not been a particularly happy one, to have come to her for the first time with her child.
She sang in her nursing chair, or at her needle-work, all the morning; she sang at the piano, or the harp, or sang duets with Anna or Dick in the evening. She had a clear, sweet, elastic voice, a pure soprano, perfectly adapted to the bird-like carols that she most favored.
General Lyon, whose passion for music had survived all other enthusiasms, and had even increased with his declining years, seemed never to grow weary of her delicious notes.
This pleased Anna.
“Dear grandpa,” she would often repeat, “I am so glad you have her here; and will have her with you when Dick takes me away. It will be such a comfort to me to feel you are not lonesome.”
“I don’t know how that may be, my dear. The more I see of our darling, the more inclined I am to think that fellow will come to his senses and claim her from us before we are willing to resign her. And then what shall I do?” the old man once inquired, with a sigh.
And then Drusilla put her hand in his, and looked up in his eyes with all a daughter’s devotion, and answered:
“Dear uncle, you sheltered me when I had not a friend in the world. You saved my life and my boy’s life. You gave him your name, and gave us both a home. And I will never leave you alone, never—not even for him will I leave you, until Anna and Dick come home from their bridal tour to leave you no more.”
“I know it, my child, I know it; I need no assurance from you to teach me how unselfish you are. But, my dear girl, do you think I would permit you to sacrifice your happiness for my sake? No, dear Drusilla, when our prodigal comes to himself and seeks your love again, you will be ready and eager to be reunited to him and you must go with him, although I should be left alone. And this for your happiness, which must not be sacrificed for me.”