That morning Ida came down-stairs singing, not loudly, but in the soft

undertone which a girl uses when she is supremely happy and she has

hopes of seeing the cause of her happiness very soon. All through

breakfast, while Mr. Heron read his letters, opening them and reading

them stealthily as usual, her heart was singing its love-song to her,

and she was wondering whether she would meet Stafford by the stream or

among the hills. That she should meet him she felt quite sure, for he

had never failed to leave the gay party at the Villa to come over to

her every day.

Perhaps he had spoken to his father, and, in the wonderful way men

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have, had swept aside all the obstacles which stood against their

union. He was so strong, so self-reliant, so masterful--though so

gentle with her--that surely no obstacles could stand against him. She

was so absorbed in her thoughts that she almost started when Jason

appeared and, looking from her to Mr. Heron, announced that Mr.

Wordley, the family lawyer, was in the library.

Mr. Heron flushed and scrambled his letters and papers together as he

rose.

"Won't Mr. Wordley come in and have some breakfast?" suggested Ida. But

her father, shaking his head impatiently, said that Mr. Wordley was

sure to have had his breakfast, and shuffled out of the room.

A few minutes after he had gone, Jessie came in for the day's orders,

and Ida dragged her thoughts away from the all-absorbing subject and

plunged into housekeeping. It was not a lengthy or a very elaborate

business, alas! but when it was over Jessie lingered and began

collecting the breakfast things, glancing shyly at Ida, as she always

did when she wanted to gossip.

"There was fine doings up at the Villa last night, Miss Ida!" she

began, rather timidly, for Ida seldom encouraged her chatter. "There

was a ball there. Such a tremendous grand affair! There hasn't been

anything like it ever known in this country. Williams was up there this

morning, and Susie told him that it was like fairyland, what with the

beautiful rooms and the music and the ladies' rich dresses and jewels.

She got a peep through one of the open doors, and she says it quite

took her breath away."

Ida smiled. She was not envious; for would not Stafford come over

presently and tell her all about it: who was there, with whom he had

danced, and how all the time he had been longing to be by her side?

"Susie says that the ladies was beautiful, Miss Ida, and that the most

beautiful of them all was Miss Falconer. Susie says she had the most

lovely dress, like a cloud of smoke, with diamonds sparkling all over

it like stars."




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