"I know you to be a noble young man, dear John. I know your people now, and I love them. I am satisfied," she whispered. "You are all that I care for, John—all. I love you, I love you," and she kissed him.
"I am satisfied, dear Edith. It was not an hallucination, after all, was it dear?" he answered.
Thus, plighting their troth, they went hand in hand up the shady wood path as happy as two young children over their mishap.
Life is beautiful, and life is sweet; but what would life be to those young people without the love between them?
Coming to the path where they left James and Star, on parting, they found them sitting there, waiting. When Star saw them coming, she instinctively comprehended, and knew that the crisis was over between Edith and John. Star was happy herself over a secret of her own. And together they returned home.
John proudly, on arriving in the old-fashioned sitting room, announced to his parents and sister his intended bride, and told them they could take her now, in her bedraggled condition, for their daughter and sister.
"Now, will you go with me, Anne, to the city?" asked Edith, after she had been costumed in some of Anne's clothing that fit her narrowly. "I will educate you, and have you for my own dear sister," hugging Anne to her breast.
"Some day, Edith; some day," answered Anne, uncertain in her mind. "When will you come after me?"
"When I am your real sister, Anne," replied Edith, stroking Anne's golden hair, and then she looked up at Anne's mother, who could not fully realize what it meant for her future life. "You will let her go, Mrs. Winthrope?"
"I may some day," answered the good old mother.