--SCOTT.
The summer sun was sinking and a red glow was on the wall above Aurelia's
head when she moved again, upon the shutting of the door, while supper
was being taken by the gentlemen in the outer room.
Presently her lips moved, and she said, "Sister," not in surprise,
but as if she thought herself at home, and as Betty gently answered,
"Yes, my darling child," the same voice added, "I have had such a
dream; I thought I was a chrysalis, and that I could not break my
shell nor spread my wings."
"You can now, my sweet," said Betty, venturing to kiss her.
Recollection came. "Sister Betty, is it you indeed?" and she threw
her arms round Betty's neck, clinging tight to her in delicious
silence, till she raised her head and said: "No, this is not home.
Oh, is it all true?"
"True that I have you again, my dear, dearest, sweetest child," said
Betty. "Oh, thank God for it."
"Thank God," repeated Aurelia. "Now I have you nothing will be
dreadful. But where am I? I thought once I was in a boat with you
and Eugene, and some one else. Was it a dream? I can't remember
anything since that terrible old woman made me drink the coffee.
You have not come there, have you?"
"No, dear child, it was no dream that you were in a boat. We had
been searching everywhere for you, and we were bringing you back
sound, sound asleep," said Betty, in her tenderness speaking as it
to a little child.
Pages:
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412