Part 49 (2/2)
”What did he say?” asked Edith, gazing vacantly into the water.
”About all he said was asking about your health. It is mean in him, I repeat, that he said no more. He said, though, that when your father was in New York, he told him you were fast improving.”
”What was your answer, Star?”
”Oh, goodness! I wrote six pages, about everything, almost, and informed him that--”
”Now, Star; you didn't write anything that would be indiscreet, did you?”
”Why, deary, no, of course not; I only told him that you--”
”Star, don't tell me that you have violated my confidence?”
”I will not say what I wrote, Edith, if your are not more attentive. I said that--”
”Star! Star!” said Edith, with tears glistening in her eyes; ”do not tell me that you have broken your pledge; if you do, I shall never--no--go on; what did you tell him?”
”That you--that you are getting better very slowly, and that your father will take you to the mountains for the summer. I told him everything else, Edith, but that which you forbade me telling.”
”You are very prudent, Star. Will he write again, do you suppose?”
”I wound up my letter with a P. S.: 'Don't forget to write!'”
”You bad girl! I suppose he will be coming to see you sometime?”
”Wish he would,” said Star, hopefully, with a teasing expression in her face.
”Really, Star?”
”Yes; I do--I'd turn him over to you,” she responded, with a laugh.
”You are a tease, now! If he comes, it must be of his own free will.”
”You are not looking well, Edith; we had better go in the house,” said Star, seeing the pallor of weakness coming over her face.
”a.s.sist me in,” responded Edith, willingly submitting to Star's admonition. As they were nearing the steps leading up to the great piazza, Edith remarked that she would go to the mountains next day, if able, with her father, and, of course, Star was to be her companion.
”I was never out of the city,” replied Star, ”and I am wondering what mountains look like. Can you tell me?”
”Oh, they are only big hills.”
”Do people live there?”
”Yes. Many people live in them. He came from up there somewhere.”
”From the mountains?”
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