It was now near the 1st of April, and already had the forest trees put forth many a dark green leaflet, while the song birds gaily carolled of the coming summer; but Orianna did not hear them. Sadly her heart went back to her home, and what there awaited her. Weary and worn, is it not strange that for a time she yielded to the despair which had gathered about her heart? Covering her face with her hands, she wept bitterly, nor until twice repeated did she hear the words, “What makes you cry so?” uttered in the soft tones of childhood.
Looking up, she saw before her a little girl, her deep blue eyes filled with wonder and her tiny hands filled with the wild flowers of spring.
Something whispered to Orianna that it was Ella, and brushing away her tears, she answered, “Orianna is tired, for she has come a long way.”
“What have you come for?” asked the child.
“Charlie sent me. Do you know Charlie?” and Orianna looked earnestly at the little girl, whose blue eyes opened wider, and whose tiny hands dropped the flowers, as she answered, “Charlie, my cousin Charlie? Have you come from him? What word did he send me?”
“Walk with me and I will tell you,” said Orianna, rising and taking by the hand the unresisting child, who with the ready instinct of childhood, could discriminate between a friend and foe.
For more than an hour, they walked rapidly on, Ella, in her eagerness to hear from Charlie, never once thinking how fast the distance between herself and her home was increasing; nor had she a thought of her companion’s intention, until Orianna, suddenly lifting her in her arms, said, “I promised Charlie I would bring you, and for that have I come.”
Then a cry of fear burst from Ella, who struggled vainly to escape from the arms which gently, but tightly, held her. “Let me go, oh, please let me go,” she cried, us Orianna’s walk quickened into a run; but Orianna only replied, “I told Charlie I would bring you, and I promise you shall not be hurt.”
“Mother, oh, mother, who will tell my mother?” asked Ella.
“I will send some one to her in the morning,” answered Orianna; and then in order to soothe the excited child, she commenced narrating anecdotes of Charlie and the place to which they were going.