And
straightway Miss Sarah's illuminated countenance became a glorification
of her spirit. Silently she leaned over and folded the kneeling one
round.
Later she found it possible to speak.
"You have convinced me forever of the futility of all snap judgments,"
said she, and she marveled at the shyness in her own voice, "but you
could never convince me of that. You may go home now, Barbara, for you
have worn yourself out. But to-morrow I would suggest that you--ask
him for corroboration, if you still hold to such an opinion."
Instantly Barbara rose and bobbed her head. She had always been a slim
creature of moods mercurial; she would always be that. And now her
violet eyes radiated anticipation, perverse and impish and far, far
different from the sullen dullness which had filled them an hour
before. Miss Sarah had spoken with well-seasoned wisdom, as was her
wont: there are sometimes big moments which are the bigger for lack of
analysis. The girl did not know why, all in one breath, she no longer
feared nor doubted--but she _knew_! And that was a world and all of
joy. She bobbed her head.
"Ask him?" she echoed, demurely confused. "Ask--_him_! To-morrow I am
going to dare him to ask _me_--again!"
But she did not obey Miss Sarah's suggestion that she return home and
rest. On winged feet she flew back through the hedge-gap and ordered
Ragtime saddled once more; yet when she touched that splendid beast
with the crop and sent him at a gallop down the drive, there was no
longer any sting in the lash.
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