"Blessed woman!" I said, "what a joy to meet her again!"
"Her home is not far away; you can often see her. She is indeed a lovely woman. Now, come, little sister, I long to give you welcome to our home," saying which, he took my hand and led me up the low steps on to the broad veranda, with its beautiful inlaid floor of rare and costly marbles, and its massive columns of gray, between which, vines covered with rich, glossy leaves of green were intermingled with flowers of exquisite color and delicate perfume hanging in heavy festoons. We paused a moment here, that I might see the charming view presented on every side.
"It is heavenly!" I said.
"It is heavenly," he answered. "It could not be otherwise."
I smiled my acknowledgment of this truth—my heart was too full for words.
"The entire house, both below and above, is surrounded by these broad verandas. But come within."
He led me through a doorway, between the marble columns, into a large reception hall, whose inlaid floor, mullioned window, and broad, low stairway at the far end, at once held my fancy. Before I could speak, my brother turned to me, and, taking both my hands, said:
"Welcome, a thousand welcomes, dearest sister, to your heavenly home!"
"Is this beautiful place indeed to be my home?" I asked, as well as my emotion would allow.
"Yes, dear," he replied. "I built it for you and my brother, and I assure you it has been a labor of love."