Previously emotionless, an emotion was started in Rhoda's bosom by the command, and it was gladness. She ran up and knocked, and found herself crying out: "He is here—Edward."
But there came no answer.
"Edward is here. Come, come and see him."
Still not one faint reply.
"Dahlia! Dahlia!"
The call of Dahlia's name seemed to travel endlessly on. Rhoda knelt, and putting her mouth to the door, said,—
"My darling, I know you will reply to me. I know you do not doubt me now. Listen. You are to come down to happiness."
The silence grew heavier; and now a doubt came shrieking through her soul.
"Father!" rang her outcry.
The father came; and then the lover came, and neither to father nor to lover was there any word from Dahlia's voice.