Page 170 - Adventures in shadow-land

“ 'Tis the hour 1

Aster's flower
Here shall bloom I"

And oh ! what a sweet smile curved Aster's lips
as he heard these words! Yet, when Eva would

have spoken, he laid his hand gently upon her
mouth, as though to command silence ; and the

child, feeling that their positions, somehow, were
strangely reversed,—that it was now Aster’s turn

to command and hers to obey,—was silent.
The two stood, looking into the dear water of
the spring. Then Aster seated himself on the

moss, in silence, and beckoned to Eva to do the
same, and without hesitating she followed his

example.
They sat, not a word passing between themT

and on each fair face was a different expression.
. On Aster's was all joyous expectation, all smiles
and happiness; on Eva’s there was a serious look,

almost amounting to mournful ness. It pained
her, more than she was willing to confess, to

think that, afte) xll she had borne and done for
Aster, he should welcome their separation so
gladly ; for, however much they might wish to