"And do you pray for Mark?"
"Surely."
"And you know that my prayers will be answered?"
"I know it—in God's good time."
"I will pray, Paula."
They kissed one another, as though sealing a compact. No doubt Paula breathed a petition for her who, still in darkness, craved for light. Natalie prayed for the happiness of Mark Claghorn, and that she might forget him and resign him to the saint whose lips she pressed.
Then she went home. In the hall of the White House she met Tabitha. "Come!" she exclaimed, seizing that elderly damsel about the waist. "Dansons, Tabitha; hop, skip! Sur le pont d'Avignon on y danse, on y danse!" and she trilled her lay and whirled the astonished spinster around until both were breathless.
"My sakes! Have you gone crazy?" exclaimed Tabitha.
"Come to my senses!" replied Natalie, laughing merrily.
"I never saw you so French before," was Tabitha's comment.