Sitting by the window, on this the first day of her convalescing period, she saw the smoke and fog roll by; she saw the sun warming everything into life, as the time was stirring her into a loving being again. Star was sitting by her side holding one hand in hers, with faith and hope in her own dear heart. "You are getting well so fast, dear Edith," said Star, patting her delicate hand. "I feel new all over, dear Star," said Edith, smiling down upon her dearest friend. "Everything is so bright and so charming outside today, it seems it was made just for me in my recovery. How I wish I could go out upon the lawn and pluck the flowers, and listen to the birds, and even sing myself." "You may go some day, dear Edith; you may go, and I will be the first to go and lead you the way," replied the constant Star. "Oh, Star! that some day, some day, always keeps ringing in my ears--I hope it will come," said Edith, with a tear of regret coming down her brightening cheek. "Do not be despondent, dear," said Star, brushing away Edith's tears. "I am not despondent, dear," said Edith; "I am happy." "I thought tears were shed in sorrow, Edith," responded Star, in her innocence. "I have had no sorrow, dear. My life has been one of happiness; and when I am most happy, I shed tears, sometimes," said Edith. "Oh, Edith, I know," said Star, with a mischievous look. "Does he know?" asked Edith, putting her arm around the neck of her friend. "He must know," answered Star, seriously. "Tell me all about it, Star--all?" said Edith. "Since you first took ill?" asked Star. "Everything--I want to know," said Edith. "My, Edith! he did so many things, that it might make you blush, did I tell you," said Star, laughing. "Why! what did he do?" asked Edith, with an inkling that she had not been dreaming all the time. "Do? Why, Edith! the first thing he did, was to put his arm around you in the cab coming home that night," began Star. "Why, my faithful Star! Did you permit him to do that?" asked Edith, appearing to be repellent in her tone. "He couldn't help it, dear; you was as limp as a rag, and he had to hold you up. When we got home, he picked you up, and carried you into this very room, and laid you on your bed." "My! oh, my, Star! he didn't do that, did he?" exclaimed Edith. "How dreadful!" "It couldn't be helped," replied the sympathetic Star, as her only explanation. "Now, I am real mad at you, Star, for permitting such a thing. I would have been real mad at him, too--I would not have permitted it, had I been in my senses," said Edith, affecting anger. "That is the reason he did it, Edith; you couldn't help yourself; you were not in your senses," said the compromising Star. "Go on, Star," said Edith, seeing that Star was hesitating about telling her more. "You called for him every day for a week, Edith, till--" "--I am a little goose, Star; I always knew I was; now I know it. Did he come?" "He came; and brought you back to your senses, dear."