“Jinny,” he said slowly, “Jinny, do you mean to marry Clarence?”
The suddenness of the question took her breath. But she answered steadily:
“Yes.”
“Do you love him?
“Yes,” she answered. But her lashes fell.
Still he stood, and it seemed to her that her father's gaze pierced to her secret soul.
“Come here, my dear,” he said.
He held out his arms, and she fluttered into them. The tears were come at last. It was not the first time she had cried out her troubles against that great heart which had ever been her strong refuge. From childhood she had been comforted there. Had she broken her doll, had Mammy Easter been cross, had lessons gone wrong at school, was she ill, or weary with that heaviness of spirit which is woman's inevitable lot,—this was her sanctuary. But now! This burden God Himself had sent, and none save her Heavenly Father might cure it. Through his great love for her it was given to Colonel Carvel to divine it—only vaguely.
Many times he strove to speak, and could not. But presently, as if ashamed of her tears, she drew back from him and took her old seat on the arm of his chair.
By the light of his intuition, the Colonel chose tins words well. What he had to speak of was another sorrow, yet a healing one.