Mildred’s were from her mother and father and Barbara had received three from Dick in this same mail, and another which looked as if it might be the long-expected letter from Mrs. Thornton.
After ten minutes of conversation, it was Captain Castaigne who proposed that their guests might be allowed to read their letters without waiting to return home. It was not difficult to guess at their impatience, since it must have been a long time since they had heard from home.
Then he and Eugenia crossed over to the other side of the room and stood by the fireplace. Le Duc went with them and Eugenia kept one hand on the dog’s head.
Now and then she smiled over something Captain Castaigne said to her, then again she looked at him with the anxious gravity that was a part of Eugenia’s character. The war had made the young French officer older, love and marriage had apparently taken ten years from Eugenia’s age. Plainly a beautiful understanding existed between the husband and wife, in spite of the differences in their natures, which would survive to the end.
For when Captain Castaigne suddenly lifted his wife’s hand and kissed it, it was like Eugenia to blush and whisper a protest, at which the young officer only laughed.
Over by the window Barbara and Mildred were really too busy with their letters to notice what was taking place. Madame Castaigne had gone out of the room for the instant to speak to Fran¸ois.
Of course, Barbara had read Dick’s letters first. She could only read them hastily, for Dick had written to say that he had a fine position with a big real estate office in New York City, and enough salary for two persons to live upon, in a tiny apartment on the west side. Barbara was to come home at once, else Dick would probably lose his job by deserting to fetch her. Also the letter from Mrs. Thornton was cheering. Whatever it may have been, something had occurred to change that lady’s state of mind. Perhaps it was her anxiety about Mildred in the days when she knew nothing of her daughter’s fate except that Mildred had stayed behind at Grovno until the hour of the final surrender of the Russian fort.
For Mrs. Thornton had written to Barbara to say that she would be most happy to welcome her as Dick’s wife, and the dearest wish of her heart was to have her two daughters safe at home in New York City as soon as they were able to return.
Mildred’s letters were much of the same character, and the two girls had only barely finished them when Fran¸ois appeared bearing coffee and cakes.
Then the little party talked on until nearly dusk.