Anna Lombard, page 189 by Victoria Cross
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y other; but a fortnight hence I think would be a reasonable date. Don't you? I feel a little anxious now about delaying it as long as that; but, perhaps, as you say, it must be so."
"Yes, I should think a fortnight from the ball yesterday, when I was supposed to have recovered, would be about what they would expect," she answered in a low tone.
"That shall be so," I said. "And now you are here, Anna, come and see the house, and tell me what you think of all I have been doing. I forbid you absolutely to think of the future any more just now, or what it may have for you. The anticipation of everything in life is the keenest part, both in pleasures and trials. Things are smaller when we actually come to face them. Each day brings its own strength with it."
Anna got up from the chair, and, in obedience to my wishes, gave a little, faint smile; and we went out of the dining-room together through the different rooms of the house on the ground floor; then up the staircase to the upper rooms and verandas; and, last, I brought her to the bedroom at the end, which covered the whole width of that part of the bungalow. She sunk in one of the chairs, and I went over the windows to open them and let in the light and air.
There was a long pier-glass at the end of the room, and as I walked toward it I caught her reflection. She was sitting contemplating the bed with such a look of hopeless misery on her face that I left off what I was saying about the flowers on the veranda and went back to her.
"What is the matter? Don't you like it?" I said, gently.
Her eyes filled with great tears which rolled slowly down her cheeks.
"Oh, yes, it is beautiful, too beautiful," she said at once, taking my hand, as I stood beside her. "And I see you have put there Parvati. She is suitable for me."
"Why, dear?" I asked, disturbed at the bitterness in her tone. "What are you thinking of?"
"Don't you know the legend of Parvati?" Anna answered, gazing at the little, silver figure, absen