All voices and footsteps had been subdued to
harmonize with the grief of the mistress of this mausoleum. Now she heard
the sharp tread of this man unafraid, and saw the alert vitality of his
confident bearing. It was like a breath of the hills to a parched traveler.
"I told you I would come."
"Yes. I've been looking for you every day. I've checked each one off on my
calendar. It's been three weeks and five days since I saw you."
"I thought it was a year," he laughed, and the sound of his uncurbed voice
rang strangely in this room given to murmurs.
"Tell me about everything. How is Virginia, and Mrs. Mott, and Mr. Yesler?
And is he really engaged to that sweet little school-teacher? And how does
Mr. Hobart like being senator?"
"Not more than a dozen questions permitted at a time. Begin again, please."
"First, then, when did you reach the city?"
He consulted his watch. "Just two hours and twenty-seven minutes ago."
"And how long are you going to stay?"
"That depends."
"On what?"
"For one thing, on whether you treat me well," he smiled.
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