An indignant growl at being thus aroused from her first sleep was
Chloe's only response, but Hugh knew that his orders were being obeyed.
The change of atmosphere and restoratives applied had done their work,
and Mrs. Worthington saw that the long eyelashes began to tremble, while
a faint color stole into the hitherto colorless cheeks, and at last the
large, brown eyes unclosed and looked into hers with an expression so
mournful, so beseeching, that a thrill of yearning tenderness for the
desolate young creature shot through her heart, and bending down she
said, "Are you better now?"
"Yes, thank you. Where is Willie?" was the low response, the tone
thrilling Mrs. Worthington again with emotion.
Even 'Lina started, it was so musical, and coming near she answered: "If
it's the baby you mean, he is here, playing with Rover."
There was a look of gratitude in the brown eyes, which closed again
wearily. With her eyes thus closed, 'Lina had a fair opportunity to scan
the beautiful face, with its delicately-chiseled features, and the
wealth of lustrous brown hair, sweeping back from the open forehead, on
which there was perceptible a faint line, which 'Lina stooped down to
examine.
"Mother, mother," she whispered, drawing back, "look, is not that a mark
just like mine?"
Thus appealed to, Mrs. Worthington, too, bent down, but, upon a closer
scrutiny, the mark seemed only a small, blue vein.
"She's pretty," she said. "I wonder why I feel so drawn toward her?"
'Lina was about to reply, when again the brown eyes looked up, and the
stranger asked hesitatingly: "Where am I? And is he here! Is this his house?"
"Whose house?" Mrs. Worthington asked.
The girl did not answer at once, and when she did her mind seemed
wandering.
"I waited so long," she said, "but he never came again, only the letter
which broke my heart. Willie was a baby then, and I almost hated him for
a while, but he wasn't to blame. I wasn't to blame. I'm glad God gave me
Willie now, even if he did take his father from me."
Mrs. Worthington and her daughter exchanged glances, and the latter
abruptly asked: "Where is Willie's father?"
"I don't know," came in a wailing sob from the depths of the pillow.
"Where did you come from?" was the next question. The young girl looked
up in some alarm, and answered meekly: "From New York. I thought I'd never get here, but everybody was so kind
to me and Willie, and the driver said if 'twan't so late, and he so many
passengers, he'd drive across the fields. He pointed out the way and I
came on alone."
The color had faded from Mrs. Worthington's face, and very timidly she
asked again: "Whom are you looking for? Whom did you hope to find?"