The tone of his voice attracted mother's regards; an intelligent glance was exchanged, and then her eyes sought mine. "It is not as you thought, mamma," I telegraphed. But Verry, not bringing her eyes back into the world, merely said, "I am here, am I not?" and went to shut herself up in her room. I found her there, looking through the wicket. "The buds are beginning to swell," she said. "I should hear small voices breaking out from the earth. I grow happy every day now." "Because the earth will be green again?" I asked, in a coaxing voice. She shut the wicket, and, looking in my face, said, "I will go down immediately." For some reason the tears came into my eyes, which she, taking up the candle, saw. "I am going to play," she said hurriedly, "come." She ran down before me, but turning, by the foot of the stairs, she pointed to the parlor door, and said, "Is he my husband?" "Answer for yourself. Go in, in God's name." Ben was chatting with father over the fire; he stretched out his hand to her, with so firm and assured an air, and looked so noble, that I felt a pang of admiration for him. She laid her hand in his a moment, passed on to the piano, and began to play divinely, drawing him to her side. Father peeled and twisted his cigar, as he contemplated them with a thoughtful countenance. CHAPTER XXVII. When we went to Boston we went to a new hotel, as Ben had advised, deserting the old Bromfield for the Tremont. It was dusk when we arrived, and tea was served immediately, in a large room full of somber mahogany furniture. Its atmosphere oppressed Veronica, who ate her supper in silence. "Charles Dickens is here, sir," said the waiter, who knew Ben. "Two models of the Curiosity Shop have just gone upstairs, sir. His room is right over here, sir." Veronica looked adoringly at the ceiling. "Then," said Ben, "our hunters are up from Belem. Anybody in from Belem, John?" "Oh yes, sir, every day." "I'll look them up," he said to us; but he returned soon, and begged us not to look at Dickens, if we had a chance. Veronica, with a sigh, gave him up, and lost a chance of being immortalized with that perpetual and imperturbable beefsteak, covered with "the blackest of all possible pepper," which was daily served to him. Father being out in pursuit of a cigar, Ben asked Veronica what she would do while he was in Belem. "Walk round this lion-clawed table." "I shall be gone from you." "Alas!" "Are we to part this way?" "Father," she cried, as he entered with a theater bill, "had I better marry this friend of Cassy's?" "Have you the courage? Do you know each other?" "Having known Cassandra so long, sir," began Ben, but was interrupted by Veronica's exclaiming, "We do not know each other at all. What is the use of making _that_ futile attempt? I am over eighteen, and do you know me, father?" "If I do not, it is because you have no shadow." "Shall I, then?" giving Ben a delicious smile. "I promise."