“Had you heard of this grave before?” Gertie asked, puzzled a little at the lady’s manner; and Edith replied:
“Yes; Godfrey told me of it in England, and Colonel Schuyler too, and on our bridal tour we went to see Mr. Lyle’s mother;” and in a low voice Edith told the listening child of the white-haired old woman knitting in the sunshine by the door of that thatched cottage among the heather hills. “I promised to write to her,” she added, “and tell her about the grave, and perhaps you will press me some flowers which grew here and I’ll send them in the letter?”
“Oh, I’d like to do that,” Gertie said; and in a moment her nimble fingers had gathered the few flowers still in blossom, and which were destined for that home beyond the sea where Abelard once lived.
“I pity that old lady so much, and like her too; she seems so much like my grandma, though I don’t know where she is. Auntie never told me.”
“You have one, then?” Edith asked, and Gertie told her all she knew of herself, not forgetting the forty pounds a year which was to pay for her education, for she meant to be a teacher like Miss Armstrong, and play the organ, maybe, when Miss Armstrong was too old.
How interested Edith was in this little girl who puzzled, and confused, and bewildered her so; they were getting acquainted with each other rapidly, when a man’s step sounded in the distance, and turning quickly, while a look of eager joy lighted up her face, Gertie cried:
“It is Mr. Godfrey, I guess.”
But Mr. Godfrey was still doing duty at Alice’s side, and the newcomer was Robert Macpherson, who was coming directly toward the cemetery, which he reached before he discovered its occupants. Then, with a start and a blush, as if detected in something he would hide, he lifted his hat to Mrs. Schuyler and went forward to greet her.
“And here is Gertie too,” he said, as he offered her his hand; then turning again to Edith he explained that he had just come from New York in the train which passed a few moments ago.
“Came from New York to-day! Why, Mr. Macpherson, it’s Sunday!” Gertie exclaimed, while Edith smiled, and Mr. Macpherson looked amused as he replied to the child, who believed in the fourth commandment.