"Surely, Adelpha, one of your happy turn of mind would not borrow trouble. It will come quite soon enough without, and a philosopher would wait until it comes rather than seek it."
"You are right, Charles; let us be young again, romp in the wood, chase butterflies and forget the dark clouds that may be hovering over us." She started to her feet and asked: "Charles, who is that lovely, but shy young girl, whom I see hurrying along the path?"
He looked in the direction indicated by Adelpha's jewelled finger, and said:
"She is Cora Waters."
"And who is Cora Waters?"
"A very sweet and amiable girl tarrying here for the present. Her father was a player, and he became involved in the rebellion in England."
Charles did not care to tell all, for Cora was a disagreeable subject to discuss with Adelpha; but the companion of his childhood was not to be so easily put off.
"Charles, she is very pretty. Why have you not told me of her before?"
"I did not suppose you would be interested in her," the young man answered.
"Not interested in her, with all the romance attached to her. A child reared in old England, of which I have heard so much, the daughter of a player, perchance an actress herself. Oh, Charles, I am very anxious to see her and talk with her."