"Any other girl would have had a declaration from the young man before this time."
"If I could make the man propose, I would be his betrothed without a day's delay," Louise would reply, quite discontentedly.
Sally would turn away quickly before they had time to notice the expression on her face.
One day, in discussing the matter, Mr. Pendleton observed his younger daughter gazing fixedly at her mother and Louise.
"Love affairs do not interest you, Sally," he said, with a laugh. "My dear," he said, suddenly, "you are not at all like your mother in disposition. Could you ever love any one very much?"
"I do not know, papa," she answered. "I do not love many people. I only care for a few. In the way you mean, love would be a fire with me, not a sentiment."
How vividly the words came back to him afterward when her love proved a devastating fire!
She had turned suddenly to the window, and seemed to forget his question.
No one knew what a depth of passion there was in the heart of this girl. If any one should have asked her what she craved most on earth, she would have replied, on the spur of the moment—"Love!"