“I’ll do anything in the world for you—that I can.”
“When Miss Howland took you into the Home, she called you Allegra. When she partly adopted you, she gave you her own name—Howland. So while you were at the Orphanage your name was Allegra Howland. But now that you’ve left that life behind you, your last name is Theddon, like my own.”
“Yes’m.”
“I don’t like the name Allegra. I want you to let me change that too. I’ve picked out a name I’d planned to call a little girl of my own, if one ever came.”
“What is it, mother dear? I’m sure I’ll like it if you picked it out.”
“It’s—Madelaine!”
“It’s an awful pretty name,” said the child, after a moment’s silence. “It’s so soft-sounding and pleasant, like all the rooms here in your house—and your eyes and your voice—since I’ve been here and you started to love me.”
“God help me!” whispered the rich woman. “Maybe You knew best, dear God. It’s worth the dreary wait, after all!”
And so Madelaine Theddon came into existence. So she too started her journey—a daintier, softer journey—toward Life’s Hilltop and the lambent stars and the Amethyst Moment.