"Why, Venna, how troubled you look! What is the matter, child?"
Venna was startled. Calm and pale, she faced her aunt.
"Nothing much, auntie dear. My head bothers me to-day, and there are some business details that need attending to."
"Business? Why, don't worry over that. Will will attend to everything when he returns."
"Yes, of course, it's foolish of me to bother," returned Venna. Her aunt's complete trust seemed to make her feel surer ground.
Emily Hastings, putting both arms around her niece, kissed her fondly.
"Girlie dear, I have a great secret to tell you," she said, gently smiling, her mild face flushed.
"At last?" asked Venna, smiling back knowingly.
One month after John Hastings' death. Dr. Hansom had lost his faithful little wife. It was a real sorrow to the great preacher, for not many women were to be found with a character so suited to meet all his requirements in a wife. After her death, he was a very frequent visitor at the old Hastings house. Gradually it dawned upon him that the mild, gentle Emily Hastings had a temperament most wonderfully like the dear woman he had lost. She was so unaggressive, so gentle, so adoringly submissive to whomsoever she loved. She would make a fine minister's wife.
It didn't take Dr. Hansom long to make up his mind. He doubled his attentions and visits, keeping silence, however, until the proper time had elapsed.