'She would not cut me now—not quite,' he added, in the old tone.
CHAPTER XIV.
Did she love him? My heart aches when I ask the question.
Miss Burns stood for several minutes on the piazza after Hiram went away. Presently her father came up.
'Why, my daughter, are you here? Has Meeker left? It is early yet.'
'Yes, he went some little time ago. I got the whole story out of him; and when he finished he ran off, because I made him talk so much, I fear.'
Mr. Burns observed that his daughter was somewhat excited; but there was good reason, and he did not feel in any mood for scrutiny.
For perhaps the first time in her life, however, she felt conscious of something like heart vacancy—of some void her father's presence did not fill. This made her very unhappy. She strove to conceal it, and probably succeeded.