Her failing appetite he managed as adroitly as he did her wonderful heart; every day some tempting little bit would find its way to her room—where, owing to her health, she took her meals—just at dinner-time. It was never much at a time, just enough, and served so attractively as to make her taste, and tasting was followed by a desire to eat the whole, and then she involuntarily found herself wishing he had sent a little more.
In this way she was not surfeited with anything, but a natural craving for food was gradually created, until she found herself able to eat quite a respectable meal.
One day they went, as they often did, to Truro Park. Mr. Tressalia had found a cozy, retired rock, where they could sit, and talk, and read without fear of being disturbed, and see without being seen.
The day was delightful, and had tempted many people abroad, and the park was filled with gay visitors.
Editha, reclining on a soft shawl which Mr. Tressalia had spread over a moss-covered rock, was the picture of comfort as she listened to her companion’s rich voice as he read from a new and interesting book, while her face involuntarily lighted as she caught the sound of merry laughter and children’s happy voices in the distance.
She found herself wondering if she could be the same miserable creature that she had been three weeks before.
A feeling of peace was stealing over her, a sense of care and protection surrounded her, and she knew that health and strength were gradually returning to her.
Her heart was still wounded and sore—it could not be otherwise; but there was not quite the intolerable burden crushing her that there had been before the coming of her kind friend.
Mr. Tressalia closed his book at last, and a look of satisfaction stole into his eye as he marked her look of interest, and the faint tinge of color that for the first time he saw in her cheek.
He drew from his pocket a silver fruit-knife, and, reaching for a tiny basket that he had brought with him, but had kept tantalizingly covered all the time, he exposed to view two of the largest and most luscious peaches imaginable.