“I shall have to wait—I expect an increase of salary. I am not sure that she thinks of me otherwise than as a grown-up brother—but I will bide my time. I know this—at least I think I do—that she does not care for any one else.”
“I am sure of that,” said her father’s voice. “You do not know how you have taken a burden from me, my son! I have hoped for this.” Startled little Dinah arose and fled.
She would never tell, no, not even Tessa; but how could she behave towards him as if she did not know?
“Tessa, did you ever have a secret to keep?”
“Yes. Laura told me once that she had a gold dollar and I’ve never told until this minute.”
“But this is a wonderful, beautiful, happy secret; the wonderfulest and beautifulest thing in the world. And I shall never, never tell. You will never know until you discover it yourself.”
“I want to know something to be glad of.”
“You will be glad of this. As glad as glad can be. It is rather funny that neither of us ever guessed; and you are quick to see things, too.”
“Perhaps I do know, pretty sister.”
“No, you don’t. I should have seen in your manner. Perhaps I dreamed it; or perhaps an angel came and told me. It is good enough for an angel to tell.”