"Yes, immediately, and tell her how grateful I am for her generosity in sparing me a portion of her pet flowers. Each word in her sweet little letter is as precious as a pearl, for it came from the very depths of her pure heart."
"Oh! what a blessed thing it is to feel that you are doing some good in the world! That little Louie says she prays for you every night before she goes to sleep! What a comfort such letters must be to you! Edna, how happy you look! But there are tears shining in your eyes, they always come when you are glad. What books will you tell her to study?"
"I will think about the subject, and let you read my answer. Give me the 'notelet'; I want to put it away securely among my treasures. How deliciously fragrant the flowers are! Only smell them, Felix! Here, my darling, I will give them to you, and write to the little Louie how happy she made two people."
She lifted the delicate bouquet so daintily fashioned by fairy child-fingers, inhaled the perfume, and, as she put it in the thin fingers of the cripple, she bent forward and kissed his fever- parched lips. At this instant Felix saw his parents standing at the door, and held up the flowers triumphantly.
"Oh, mamma! come smell this mignonette. Why can't we grow some in boxes in our window?"
Mr. Andrews leaned over his son's pillows, softly put his hand on the boy's forehead, and said: "My son, Miss Earl professes to love you very much, but I doubt whether she really means all she says; and I am determined to satisfy myself fully. Just now I can not leave my business, but mamma, intends to take you to Europe next week, and I want to know whether Miss Earl will leave all her admirers here, and go with you and help mamma to nurse you. Do you think she will?"
Mrs. Andrews stood with her hand resting on the shoulder of the governess, watching the varying expression of her child's countenance.
"I think, papa--I hope she will; I believe she--"
He paused, and, struggling up from his pillows, he stretched out his poor little arms, and exclaimed: "Oh, Edna! you will go with me? You promised you would never forsake me! Tell papa you will go."
His head was on her shoulder, his arms were clasped tightly around her neck. She laid her face on his, and was silent.
Mr. Andrews placed his hand on the orphan's bowed head.