"That you--that you are getting better very slowly, and that your father will take you to the mountains for the summer. I told him everything else, Edith, but that which you forbade me telling." "You are very prudent, Star. Will he write again, do you suppose?" "I wound up my letter with a P. S.: 'Don't forget to write!'" "You bad girl! I suppose he will be coming to see you sometime?" "Wish he would," said Star, hopefully, with a teasing expression in her face. "Really, Star?" "Yes; I do--I'd turn him over to you," she responded, with a laugh. "You are a tease, now! If he comes, it must be of his own free will." "You are not looking well, Edith; we had better go in the house," said Star, seeing the pallor of weakness coming over her face. "Assist me in," responded Edith, willingly submitting to Star's admonition. As they were nearing the steps leading up to the great piazza, Edith remarked that she would go to the mountains next day, if able, with her father, and, of course, Star was to be her companion. "I was never out of the city," replied Star, "and I am wondering what mountains look like. Can you tell me?" "Oh, they are only big hills." "Do people live there?" "Yes. Many people live in them. He came from up there somewhere." "From the mountains?" "Yes; from the mountains." "Then, we may see his home," said Star, suggestively. "We may; but the mountains are very large, Star--miles long and miles wide, with dense woods everywhere and with but few roads through them, and homes of farmers scattered about." "Oo-oo!" exclaimed Star. "We would not want to go far into them; we might get lost. Do people live there?" "Yes. There are bears there, Star, and deer and owls; and many birds live in the gloomy depths of the forests." "My!" exclaimed Star, alarmed. "I would not want to go out after night. Where will we live when we go up there?" "In a big hotel on top of the mountains." "How fine! I can hardly wait till I see it all!" "Our trunks should be packed today, Star, for a two months' stay. Father says I will be benefitted when I get out of the smoke of this city." "Is your father going with us?" "Oh, yes; but for a short stay only. He will visit us once a week thereafter." "Won't that be fine, Edith; and we will get to see the mountaineers, and maybe his home," said Star, with all that fullness of anticipation that comes to one emancipated from a round of daily worry and abject commonplaceness, as they reached the top of the flight of steps, up which Star had been assisting Edith. Edith looked up into the face of Star with a smile, showing neither hope nor doubt, but full of that wearying pain that leaves a sore upon the heart.