Lippincott's Magazine, Vol. 22, September, 1878, page 89 by Various Authors
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lled to her to come in. She entered, but waited a moment on the threshold, growing a little pale as she looked at me. Then rallying, "How do you do, Floyd?" she exclaimed. "You see that I have come at last?"
"I am glad to see you," I returned. "But come nearer: I want to shake hands with you."
She approached, and I clasped her hand, looking up into her face. She had grown more womanly in these last seven months, and far more beautiful; and, looking in her face, I at first forgot to speak.
"How queer you are!" said she, pouting, but laughing. "Why do you look at me so?"
I do not know whether I spoke or not, but she bent and kissed me, and thus answered my feverish longing, the gratification of which overpowered me with a sudden intoxication like that of wine.
"I only did it because you are ill," said she, putting her hands to her face and peeping out at me from between her fingers. "You look so thin and changed, Floyd! I knew you would, and I dreaded to see you: I am afraid of sick people."
"I am harmless enough. Am I very horrible?"
"You are dreadfully white, and your eyes were not so large before you were sick. Oh, how many times I have asked the boys how you were!"
"But you never came, Georgy."
"Oh, I am past sixteen now, and mamma will not let me go and see boys."
"I see," said I with an indefinable sigh, "that you are almost a woman. And Jack is eighteen."
"The boys are so full of their examinations! Do you think Jack will pass? He is such a stupid old dear! I always feel as if I knew the most, yet I know nothing--actually nothing at all."
"Jack will pass. Whatever place in the world he tries for will always be ready and waiting for him. I am more anxious about Harry: he cares so little about his chances, and trusts always to inspiration and good luck."
Georgy looked at me somewhat curiously: "Don't you feel badly, Floyd, to have the boys go to college and leave you behind?"
We three had planned years ago how we