A great laugh would break from the station loungers.

'Encore,' they cried, and Zilda gave the encore.
There was only one other relief she found from the horrible silence which had settled down upon her life concerning the object of her affection.

At times when she lay awake in the quiet night, or at such times as she found herself within the big stone church of St.Armand, she prayed that the good St.Anne would intercede for her, that she might see 'Monsieur Geelby' once more.
This big church of St.Armand has a great pointed roof of shining tin.
It is a bright and conspicuous object always in that landscape; under summer and winter sun it glistens like some huge lighthouse reflector.
Ever since, whenever Zilda goes out on the station platform, for a breath of air, for a moment's rest and refreshing, or, on business intent, to chide the loungers there, the roof of this church, at a half-mile's distance, twinkles brightly before her eyes, set in green fields or in a snow-buried world; and every time it catches her eye it brings to her mind more or less distinctly that she has in her own way tested religion and found it true, because the particular boon which she had demanded at this time was granted.
It was a happy morn of May; the snow had just receded from the land, leaving it very wet, and Spring was pushing on all the business she had to do with almost visible speed.

The early train came in from Montreal as usual, and who should step out of it but Gilby himself! He was a little stouter, a little more bald, but he skipped down upon the platform, radiant as to smile and the breadth of his gold watch-chain, and attired in a check coat which Zilda thought was the most perfect thing in costume which she had ever beheld.
In a flash of thought it came to Zilda that there would be more than a momentary happiness for her.

'Ah, Monsieur Geelby, do you know that the river has cut into the line three miles away, and that this train can go no farther till it is mended.' Gilby was distinctly annoyed; he had indeed left town by the earlier of the two morning trains in order to stop an hour and take breakfast at St.Armand; he had been glad of the chance of doing that, of seeing Chaplot and his daughter and the others; but to be stopped at St.Armand a whole day--he made exhibition of his anger, which Zilda took very meekly.