"But you will let me go. My heart is quite set on it, papa."
"But, my dear, I had hoped to have you for my guest this summer," said Mrs. Winans, who happened to be present.
"I thank you, but—I would not like to disappoint Madame Hartman," Ladybird murmured, with a break in her voice.
"Then you must be my guest in Washington this winter. I should like to present you to Washington society at the time that Precious comes out. Will you consent, Mr. Conway?"
"Gladly," he answered, and Ladybird went over to kiss the lovely, gentle face, and left a tear on Mrs. Winans' cheek. She did not guess it was for her son's sake.
Bruce Conway was too much pleased with Madame Hartman's opportune offer to decline it, so it was accepted by telegraph, and her father took her to Richmond next day to join her kind teacher. The Winans family saw her go, with loving regrets and confident hopes of a meeting next fall, forgetting how adversely the winds of fate too often blow.
[CHAPTER XXVI.]
"IT IS LOVELY TO LOVE AND BE LOVED."