“The happy can afford to wait,” he answered. “Now I will go and tell them everything.” “Must this be?” asked Mrs. Lambert, with a touch of shrinking pride. “Five persons _must_ know the truth, Elizabeth. Beyond them, our unhappy past need never be known.” “And those five?” “My sister, her husband, Ruth Laurence, Ivon, and our child.” “Be it so. We can trust them; for all have been kinder to her than her own mother.” “Beyond them we will have no explanations. There must be a public wedding, and that will silence all questions.” A soft, rosy color came into the woman’s face, and for a moment her eyes sunk. “When the young people are married, Eva will be your daughter, of course. Chance has arranged everything for us,” Ross went on. “But she has refused Ivon.” “I tell you she loves him.” “I am sure that he loves her.” “And where love is, what power can keep two souls apart! I tell you, Elizabeth, it will be a double wedding, and after that a double household.” “Go—go and bring Eva!” CHAPTER LXXI. A DOUBLE WEDDING. Mrs. Carter and Eva still remained in the reception-room. The passionate words of Herman Ross had filled them with amazement if not alarm. They could not believe the thing he had so wildly stated. “If it should be now,” said Mrs. Carter, “if you really are his daughter and my niece, I shall just believe a special Providence sent you under this roof. Only to think how I took to you from the very first.” “I cannot understand, it all seems so unreal. Not Ruthy’s sister—not related to little James. It is impossible!” answered Eva, in sad perplexity. “Still there was something from the first that made me turn to him. Love, yet not love; such tenderness as brings tears into one’s eyes. Is that the way a child feels towards its father?” “Well, as I never had a father since I was six years old,” answered Mrs. Carter, “perhaps you’d better ask some one else, but that is a good deal like my own feelings toward brother Herman; for I just worship him.” “When will he come back? I am so restless,” said Eva going to the window. “So am I. It’s of no use to attempt anything; my heart jumps into my mouth at every noise. What if it should prove true? Come and kiss me, child!” Eva threw her arms around the good woman’s neck, but she was so nervously restless that her very kisses were tremulous. “I am so anxious,” she exclaimed. “He is coming! that is his step!” It was Herman Ross, walking up to the door with the light tread of a boy. His face was radiant when he entered the room. He advanced to Eva and took her tenderly in his arms. “It is true, my child; my own, own child!” Eva looked at him wonderingly; the whole thing seemed so marvellous, that she could not at once return his caress. “But how? tell me more!” she faltered. Ross sat down on the couch, and drew Eva to his side. Mrs. Carter moved her chair closer.