By the time Eveline had finished this speech, Eunice had finished her letter. It was in these few words:
“Dear Eunice:—I saw your father to-day, and he gives a free consent to our union. I am now the happiest man in the world. This evening I will see you.
Albertson.”
After handing this open letter to her mother, Eunice arose up quickly, and left the room where they were sitting.
Of their surprise and pleasure, and of her joy, we will not write.
A few days subsequently, Eveline, who was reading a newspaper, while her sister was engaged in some domestic office in the same room where she was sitting, suddenly exclaimed, while the paper fell from her hands,
“Oh! what have I not escaped! Thank God! thank God! for every thing that has occurred! The evil has been good!”
Then, covering her face, she sobbed for some time passionately.
Eunice lifted the paper hastily, and almost the first thing that met her eyes, was an account of shameless and criminal infidelity on the part of Henry Pascal, toward a young and lovely bride, led by him to the altar not a year before. The whole affair had, as is often the case, led to judicial interference, and thus made its way into the newspapers. As soon as Eunice comprehended the cause of her sister’s agitation, she drew her arms tenderly about her, and said,
“Yes, dear Evie, thank God for every thing!”