"I am the happiest man in New York to-night," he said, as he bade them good-night, leaving them to their sweet, girlish confidences.
[CHAPTER XX.]
"LOVE IS THE BEST OF ALL."
This golden ring, love, take,
And wear it for my sake
When I am far away;
And nightly we will pray
The dear God's pity on our pain,
That we may meet again,
Our partings o'er, our sorrows past,
You mine, I yours, at last!
Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
How much the two happy girls had to say to each other, when Hawthorne was gone!
It was long past midnight when they retired, and the joyous Christmas sounds were already filling the air. Even then they could not sleep, they had so many things to tell of all that had happened since they were parted from each other.
"I am quite cured of my passion for the stage. It seems to me that all actors must be deceitful villains!" cried Geraldine, and Cissy agreed with her, glad of her disillusionment.
"Do you think, Cissy," pursued Geraldine, "that I could get back my place at O'Neill's with you? Oh, I would be so glad to get back again!"