The Miranda Trilogy by Grace Livingston Hill

Author:Grace Livingston Hill [Hill, Grace Livingston]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 4057664556912
Publisher: e-artnow
Published: 2019-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XI

Table of Contents

Phoebe’s heart, as she stepped out into the moonlight with the young man, fluttered so she scarcely could speak without letting her voice shake. It seemed so wonderful that she, of all the girls in the village, should be going home with this bright, handsome, noble man. There was nothing foolish or vain in her thought about it. He was not to be anything more to her for this walk, for his life was set otherwhere, and he belonged to others—notably, in all likelihood, to his cousin Janet. Nevertheless she felt highly honored that he should take the trouble to see her home, and she knew in her heart that the memory of this walk, her first alone with a young man who was not her brother, would remain long a pleasant spot in her life.

He seemed to enjoy her company as much as he had done David's, for he talked on about the things that had interested them in the evening. He told more college stories, and even spoke of his literary society, so that Phoebe, remembering Albert's words, asked if it was true that he had once been president of the Philomatheans, and he modestly acknowledged it, as though the office gave him honor, not he the office. She asked him shyly of the meetings and what they did and he gave her reminiscences of his college days. Their voices rang out now and then in a merry laugh, whereat all the little cornshuck ladies huddled in the moonlight seemed to wave sinister arms and shake their heads mournfully to hear mirth at so unseemly an hour. Out in the quiet country road the young man suddenly asked her:

" Tell me, Miss Deane, suppose I knew of some people who were oppressed, suffering, and wanted their freedom; suppose they needed help to set them free, what do you think I ought to do? Think of myself and my career, or go and help set them free ? "

Phoebe raised her sweet eyes to his earnest face in the moonlight and tried to understand.

" I am not wise," she said, " and perhaps I would not know what you ought to do, but I think I can tell what you would do. I think you would forget all about yourself and go to set those people free."

He looked down into her face, and thought what it meant to a man to have a girl like this one believe in him.

" Thank you!" he said gravely. " I am honored by your opinion of me. You have told me where duty lies. I will remember your words when the time comes."

In the quiet of her chamber a few minutes later Phoebe remembered the words of the young people that day upon the hill-side, and wondered if it were the people of Texas whom he meant needed to be set free.

He had bade her good-night with a pleasant ring in his voice, saying he was glad to know her, and hoped to see her again before he left for New York, which would be in a few days.

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