_Helen_. (_She has stood silently watching them_.) He has gone, without one parting look--he has gone! So break the myriad-tied loves, it hath taken a life to weave. This is a weary world. (_She turns to her sister, who leans weeping on the window-seat_.) Come, Annie, you and I will part in kindness, will we not? No cruel words shall there be here. Pleasant hath your love been unto me, my precious sister. Farewell, Annie. _Annie_. Shall I never hear your voice again, that hath been the music of my whole life? Is your face henceforth to be to me only a remembered thing? Helen, you must not stay here. The Indians,--it was no idle fear, the half of their bloody outrages you have not heard; they will murder you, yes, _you_. The innocence and loveliness that is holy to us, is nothing in their eyes, they would as soon sever that beautiful hair from your brow---- _Helen_. Hush, hush. There is no danger, Annie. The dark things of destiny are God's; the heart, the heart only, is ours. (_Mrs. Grey re-enters_.) _Mrs. G_. (_to Annie_.) Come, come, my child. This is foolish now. All is ready. Janette will stay with you, Helen. (_Laughing voices are heard without, and the children's faces are seen peeping in the door_.) _Willy_. Dear mother, are you not ready yet? We have been in the wagon and out a hundred times. Oh, Helen, make haste. The sun is above the trees, and the grass on the roadside is all full of diamonds. The last soldiers are winding down the hollow now. Is not Helen going, Mother? _Mrs. G_. Your sister Helen is going from us forever. Come in and kiss her once, and then make haste--you must not all be lost. (_They enter_.) _Willy_. Ah, why don't you go with us, sister?--Such a beautiful ride we shall have. You never heard such a bird-singing in all your life. _Frank_. We shall go by the Chesnut Hollow, George says we shall. Smell of these roses, Helen. Must she stay here? Hark, Willy, there's the drum. Good-bye, How sorry I am you will not go with us. _Willy_. So am I. What makes you stand so still and look at us so? Why don't you kiss me? Good-bye, Helen. _Helen_. (_Embracing them silently_.) _Annie_. Will you leave her here alone, mother? Will you? _Mrs. G_. No. There is a guard left on yonder hill, and the fort is not yet abandoned wholly. Besides, the army encamp at the creek, and Henry himself will return this afternoon. She will be gone ere then, though. _Helen_. Those merry steps and voices, those little, soft clinging hands and rosy lips, have vanished forever. For all my love I shall be to them but as the faint trace of some faded dream. This is a weary world. Come, George, farewell. How I have loved to look on that young brow. Be what my dreams have made you. Fare you well. _George_. Farewell, Helen. [_He goes out hastily_. _Helen_. Will he forget me?