"
He threw her a kiss and was gone, galloping so rapidly away that in a
minute or two he was out of sight; all the more speedily to her because
her eyes were blinded with tears as she stood motionless, gazing after
him.
It was their first parting, and there came over her a feeling that, should
he never come back, the world would be a desert, nothing left worth living
for.
"Never mind, dear child, it is for only a few hours, if all goes well,"
said a kind sweet voice at her side.
"Yes, mamma, but--oh, I wish he never had to go away without me! And why
couldn't I have gone with him this time?" she sobbed, beginning to feel
herself quite aggrieved, though the idea of going with Edward had but just
occurred to her.
"Well, dear, there really was not time to arrange that," Elsie said,
embracing her with motherly affection. "But come now and get some
breakfast. You must be hungry after your ride."
"Is Grandpa vexed because I was not here in season?" Zoe asked, following
her mother-in-law on her way to the breakfast-room.
"He has not shown any vexation," Elsie answered lightly; "and you are not
much behind time; they are all still at the table.
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