say till I have seen my wife and learned what her wishes are likely to be in regard to the subject.”
“You are very kind, sir,” returned Miss Belinda. “I have no doubt as to the goodwill of your intentions, and the child shall be prepared at once for a change.”
“And will the child ,” he exclaimed with a smile as Paula reentered the room, “be so kind as to give me her company in the walk I must now take to the cars?”
“Of course,” replied her aunt before the young girl could speak, “we owe you that much attention I am sure.”
And so it was that when he came to retrace his way through the village with its heavy memories, he had a guardian spirit at his side that robbed them of their power to sadden and oppress.
“What shall I say for you to the grim, city streets when I get back?” inquired he as they hastened on over the snow covered road.
“Say to them from me? O you may give them my greeting,” she responded half shyly, half confidingly. Evidently for her he was one of those rare persons whose presence is perfect freedom and with whom she could not only think her best but speak it also. “I should like to make their acquaintance, but indeed they would have to do well to vie in attraction with these white roads girded by their silver-limbed trees. The very rush of life must seem oppressive. So many hopes, so many fears, so many interests jostling you at every step! Yet the thought is exhilarating too; don’t you find it so?”
It was the first question she had asked him and he knew not how to reply. Her eyes were so confiding, he could not bear to shake her faith in his imagined superiority. Yet what thoughts had he ever cherished in