"O God," she gasped, "teach me patience! Keep me submissive. Let
me still say, 'Thy will be done.' And yet the time is drawing near
when--oh, hush! hush! Let me not think of it---
"There, there, be still," she said more quietly with her hand upon
her side. "Hundreds of other hearts besides your own are aching.
Forget yourself in relieving them."
She bathed her face, put some brighter flowers in her hair, and
went down among the other guests, seemingly the very embodiment
of sunshine. All eyes save those of Ida Mayhew welcomed her; the
children gathered round her; Stanton and Van Berg were both eager
for her society in the dance, or better still, for a promenade; but
she saw Mr. Mayhew looking wistfully at her, and she went straight
to him.
With unerring tact she found out the subjects that were interesting
to him, and reviving his faith in his own intelligence, led his
mind through sunny, breezy ranges of thought that made the time he
spent with her like an escape from the narrow walls and stifling
air and gloom of a prison.
Chapter XXIV. A Hateful, Wretched Life.
The advent of half a score of young men from the city naturally
made dancing the order of the occasion on Saturday evening.
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