against the shadow, and then, because it was so "natural-like" and he knew it was right, he held out his arms to Celeste. The call from the very bottom of his heart was answered. The message read: "Not Hong Kong!"
By and by they looked toward The Laurels; the evening shadows had crept up beyond the house, but father and mother, they knew, were sitting on the piazza waiting for them. There was a light in Eletheer's room and anon they caught glimpses of her as she flitted to and fro packing for her long journey. Margaret's voice resounded in a familiar hymn from the kitchen and there, with his lantern, came dear old Reuben from the barn. How well they knew that no beast, bird nor living thing could ever look reproachfully into that black face! They saw him stop, turn, and with the deliberation that characterized everything he did, look at the new moon over his right shoulder.
"What did you wish?" Celeste asked, and her voice was as sweet as the robin's good-night.
"I wish," replied Hernando, "that we may
