“Our sojourn by the sea lasted another month for her sake, but by then I was busy once again, and working easily and well.
“Need I say that my darlings were both soon back in their old home, never to leave us again?”
“I could not refrain from smiling.
“‘Why do you laugh?’ he said.
“‘I was only thinking,’ I said, sadly, as I could not help comparing the young happy maidenhood of the two girls with my own. I did not know that I smiled.
“Oh, I see your meaning,” he said, laughing. “Well, yes, perhaps you are right: young birds will make nests elsewhere, and there may be fresh partings; for the son of our old clergyman, who called upon Hetty in Woodmount Square, spends a great deal of his spare time here.”
“Yes,” I said, “and I thought Marie blushed very vividly the other day when I saw her here with that lad Edwards.”
“Ah, yes,” he said, nodding his head thoughtfully. “I knew John Edwards’ father at school. He’s a good young fellow, and as you say, or rather as you think, we may lose our darlings after all.”
“And that was your great trouble?” I said.
“Yes,” he replied, “sunshine and rain. I had both, though I could not see clearly through the storm.”