His eyes opened once more and smiled upon her, full of loving concern.
"Venna child, be brave," he whispered. "I'm going home-to your dear mother. Be brave. Be—good, Petty. Always—be—good, for—Daddy's sake. See Venna! There is your mother now. Look! She comes! O beautiful wife!"
He said no more. His eyes, lit with a holy joy, looked beyond Venna.
Suddenly he raised both arms outstretched in welcome. Then they fell. His eyes dimmed.
"Daddy!" cried Venna in anguish.
But there was no answer. Venna was alone.
CHAPTER IV.
Life is measured, not by time, but by experience.
Her father's sudden death left Venna an heiress, but never having known anything but luxury, she did not value her wealth. In fact, it might have been a considerable burden to both Venna and her aunt, both of whom were entirely ignorant of business, but Mr. Hadly took everything in hand, attending to details, and leaving as little as possible to the lawyers. This, he assured them, was the only safe way, and gratefully they accepted his services.
Both Venna and Emily Hastings were almost inconsolable in their grief. The latter found some consolation in Dr. Hansom's visits, but to Venna these were no comfort. She naturally turned to him, but his faith was the kind that handled the world's troubles en masse, and in personal grief, he had few words to say.