She opened it at once and there was no mark of agitation on her little oval face under its proudly carried crown of heavy braids.

She was looking very lovely in a severe black velvet gown whose texture and depth cunningly matched her eyes and threw into a relief as artful the white purity of her skin and the delicate pink of lip and cheek.
She smiled at him brilliantly.

"It can't be true that you are going with me ?" "I've reformed.

I shall go with you everywhere from this time forth.

But I thought I heard your mother's voice when I came in--" "She often comes in about dressing time to see me in a new frock.