"You must teach me a new song," she said. "I want one to surprise my friends with."
"Then you are so sure of reaching them?"
"Positive. All America will seem small to me when I am free," and she patted the hand of the queen.
"Free!" repeated the other. "I had never thought this captivity until you came; then I felt the power of a civilized world, and I felt the bondage of this."
The girls were speaking in subdued tones. A single word might betray them if overheard. Yet they were too nervous to remain silent, and Helka seemed so impressed, so agitated, at the thought of leaving, forever, her strange life.
"Do you think it is safe about Lena?" she asked. "I would not like to get that faithful child into trouble."
"It would be much safer to take her than to leave her here," Cora reasoned, "for when they found us gone they would surely blame her."
"Yes, that is so. Well, I have never prayed, that has always seemed a weak sort of way to struggle," said the queen, "but it seems to me now that I must seek strength from some One more powerful than those of earth. There must be such a power."
"Indeed there is," replied Cora. "But now let us be happy. See the stars, how they glitter," and she turned back the drapery from the window. "And see, we shall have a great, big, bright moon to show us our way."
"Hush!" whispered Helka. "I heard a step. Listen!"