Seven years had not changed Marian much—­a little less vivid, perhaps, the bloom on cheeks and lips, a shade paler the angel brow, a shade darker the rich and lustrous auburn tresses, softer and calmer, fuller of thought and love the clear blue eyes—­sweeter her tones, and gentler all her motions—­that was all.  Her dress was insignificant in material, make and color, yet the wearer unconsciously imparted a classic and regal grace to every fold and fall of the drapery.  No splendor of apparel could have given such effect to her individual beauty as this quiet costume; I would I were an artist that I might reproduce her image as she was—­the glorious face and head, the queenly form, in its plain but graceful robe of I know not what—­gray serge, perhaps.

Her whole presence—­her countenance, manner and tone revealed the richness, strength and serenity of a faithful, loving, self-denying, God-reliant soul—­of one who could recall the past, endure the present, and anticipate the future without regret, complaint or fear.

Sometimes the lady’s soft eyes would lift themselves from her work to rest with tenderness upon the form of a little child, so small and still that you would not have noticed her presence but in following the lady’s loving glance.  She sat in a tiny rocking chair, nursing a little white rabbit on her lap.  She was not a beautiful child—­she was too diminutive and pale, with hazy blue eyes and faded yellow hair; yet her little face was so demure and sweet, so meek and loving, that it would haunt and soften you more than that of a beautiful child could.  The child had been orphaned from her birth, and when but a few days old had been received into the “Children’s Home.”

Marian never had a favorite among her children, but this little waif was so completely orphaned, so desolate and destitute, and withal so puny, fragile and lifeless that Marian took her to her own heart day and night, imparting from her own fine vital temperament the warmth and vigor that nourished the perishing little human blossom to life and health.  If ever a mother’s heart lived in a maiden’s bosom, it was in Marian’s.  As she had cherished Miriam, she now cherished Angel, and she was as fondly loved by the one as she had been by the other.  And so for five years past Angel had been Marian’s inseparable companion.  She sat with her little lesson, or her sewing, or her pet rabbit, at Marian’s feet while she worked; held her hand when she walked out, sat by her side at the table or in the carriage, and slept nestled in her arms at night.  She was the one earthly blossom that bloomed in Marian’s solitary path.

Angel now sat with her rabbit on her knees, waiting demurely till Marian should have time to notice her.

And the lady still worked on, stopping once in a while to smile upon the child.  There was a file of the evening papers lying near at hand upon the table where she wrote, but Marian had not yet had time to look at them.  Soon, however, she had occasion to refer to one of them for the names of the members of the Committee on Public Lands.  In casting her eyes over the paper, her glance suddenly lighted upon a paragraph that sent all the blood from her cheeks to her heart.  She dropped the paper, sank back in her chair, and covered her blanched face with both hands, and strove for self-control.