She could hear Mr. Logan's quiet tones, and yes, surely that voice answering him was Cathy's! Before she could free herself a sentence or two reached her ear.
"You will think over what I have said, my child? You will be good and give up this, to please me?"
"No, no," returned the girl passionately, and the low, vehement tones gave Queenie a shock, for they were broken as though with weeping; "you must let me go. I will not stay and make you wretched, as I know I should do."
"You would make me very happy, Catherine."
"No, indeed, Mr. Logan, you are too great, too high for me; I cannot reach to you. I should tire myself and you with my efforts to be good. Oh, you must let me go! I must be free! indeed, indeed, I must be free!"
"Then go, my wild bird, and take my blessing with you; only—" but here the tones were too low to be distinguished; only as Queenie moved away a figure brushed past her, and glided down the garden path.
It was Cathy.
CHAPTER XI.
NEXT DOOR TO THE EVERGREENS.
"Even her little mirror
Bore witness to the change;
For to love the face within it
Was something; new and strange.
She had looked before and seen it
So thin and hard and grey;
Looked, that her hair and collar
Were smooth and in trim array."
Isa Craig-Knox.