“I have been waiting for Edith to make some kind of announcement, but she sings ‘mum.’”
“Hilda!”
“Edith! I am not afraid, sister mine. You know you met a very interesting gentleman last year in our rambles on the mountains.”
“Yes! but child, you also know that we have not seen him since, and as we had just received a call to come home immediately we left without a word of farewell;—then again we did not get a deep enough insight into the views of Paul Arthur to enable us to ascertain whether or not he is a free lover.”
“O, but I heard him express himself very clearly at one time on the subject of marriage. ‘It is the grave of love,’ he said, ‘the altar upon which the holiest emotions are sacrificed.’”
“It may all be true,” Edith replied, “but as I remarked before, we may never see or hear from him again.”
“But,” Hilda said, kissing Cora’s pale cheek, “have you no contribution to make in the shape of a lover?” slowly the rich color swept over the pale face; involuntarily her eye sought Imelda’s. Was there a meaning in the glance? She smiled.
“Can you see the rising sun?” Imelda asked, but for answer the pearly drops filled the sad eyes. “O, if I dared hope.” To the inquiring looks of the sisters Imelda replied:
“When Cora is stronger I am sure she will tell you her story in all its details, as you have proved yourself so trustworthy. A cloud at present overcasts the heaven of her love; but don’t clouds always in the course of nature move on, and are not the heavens always so much clearer and more beautiful after their removal? So hope, little sister. I expect ere long to look into the sunny laughing eyes of your Owen. The world is large but not so large but that the divine magnet of love will attract and direct each one to his or her affinity.”
Thus bringing hope and cheer to the weary aching heart of the girl, the days, one by one passed by.