When shown into the library, she took a seat in a great chair in an alcove which commanded a view of the street, and while waiting sat thinking how many times John might have sat in that place and perhaps in that very chair. Mrs. Allen came to the door, where she stood looking at Jeannette a moment or two, until she turned her [pg 38] head and saw her; then she stepped forward and took Jeannette’s hands and stood looking her in the face.
“You are just as John said you looked; a serene and beautiful face; eyes that make even an old mule trust you.” Then she put her arms about her and kissed her; and led her back to the chair in which she had been sitting.
“Mrs. Allen, I believe I would have known you anywhere. John had your nose and eyes and the same general expression. I am glad I look as John said I did. If you had shown surprise at my appearance I would have been disappointed.”
“I do not understand how John could have described you so accurately. I could have picked you out among the hundreds of girls in the University. There are many things we will never be able to understand.”
Mrs. Allen did most of the talking; telling Jeannette all about John from the first hour she held him in her arms, until he died with her arms about him. They shed no tears, feeling that he was with them and wished they should be happy when together.
When Jeannette rose to go Mrs. Allen said: “No! You must remain for dinner. My husband will be home soon and he is anxious to see you. Only the other night he said: ‘I am sorry John did not marry Jeannette before he died. She would be here as our daughter and we would have something to live for. It would be nice to have the young people coming to our home again; and we could find a good husband for her; such as our boy would have made. When she comes do not let her go until I see her’.”
Jeannette sat down again.
A little later they heard a step in the hall; the door was opened and a man stood in the doorway. Just such [pg 39] a looking person as John would have been at his age, only slightly larger.
“Mary you need not introduce us. It is Jeannette. We are glad to have you in our home; would be glad to have you make it your own.” He came forward as she arose and took her hand; and as he held it looking into her face his eyes slowly filled with tears.
From then until after dinner, which was almost immediately announced, the conversation was general. When they returned to the library Jeannette had to relate her past life in detail and disclose all her plans for the future. When they finally let her go it was late, and though she told them she did not mind walking home alone, they accompanied her to the dormitory.