“What’s that?” cried Valeria with a nervous start and a scared glance towards the window.
“The robin!” said Hadria, and the tears started to her eyes.
The bird had hopped in at his usual hour, in a friendly fashion. He picked up a few stray crumbs that had been left on the sill from yesterday, and then, in little capricious flights from stage to stage, finally arrived at the rail of the bed, and stood looking from side to side, with black, bright eyes, at the motionless figure. Hitherto it had been accustomed to a welcome. Why this strange silence? The robin hopped round on the rail, polished his beak meditatively, fluffed out his feathers, and then, raising his head, sang a tender requiem.
THE END.
APPENDIX
“Does Marriage Hinder a Woman’s Self-development?”
In 1899, The Ladies’ Realm asked several well-known women to write on the set topic, “Does Marriage Hinder a Woman’s Self-development?” We reprint Mona Caird’s ingenious response.