'Directly!' repeated Marion.

'Why, perhaps not what your impatience calls "directly,"' returned
the doctor; 'but pretty soon too. Let us see. Let us see. To-day
is Thursday, is it not? Then he promises to be here, this day
month.'

'This day month!' repeated Marion, softly.

'A gay day and a holiday for us,' said the cheerful voice of her
sister Grace, kissing her in congratulation. 'Long looked forward
to, dearest, and come at last.'

She answered with a smile; a mournful smile, but full of sisterly
affection. As she looked in her sister's face, and listened to the
quiet music of her voice, picturing the happiness of this return,
her own face glowed with hope and joy.

And with a something else; a something shining more and more
through all the rest of its expression; for which I have no name.
It was not exultation, triumph, proud enthusiasm. They are not so
calmly shown. It was not love and gratitude alone, though love and
gratitude were part of it. It emanated from no sordid thought, for
sordid thoughts do not light up the brow, and hover on the lips,
and move the spirit like a fluttered light, until the sympathetic
figure trembles.

Dr. Jeddler, in spite of his system of philosophy - which he was
continually contradicting and denying in practice, but more famous