"
"What had we better do?" said Cosmo, trying to hide his exhaustion.
"I am going to take you to the Jermyns'. They are the only friends
I have. Julia will be kind to you for my sake. I will tell them all
about it. Young Dr. Jermyn knows already."
Alas, it was like being let down out of paradise into purgatory!
But when we cannot stay longer in paradise, we must, like our first
parents, make the best of our purgatory.
"You will be able to come and see me, will you not, Joan," he said
sadly.
"Yes, indeed!" she answered. "It will be easier in some ways than
before. At home I never could get rid of the dread of being found
out. As soon as I get you safe in, I must hurry home. Oh, dear! how
shall I keep clear of stories! Only, when you are safe, I shall not
care so much."
In truth, although she had seemed to fear all for herself, her
great dread had been to hear Cosmo abused.
"What you must have gone through for me!" said Cosmo. "It makes me
ache to think of it!"
"It will be only pleasant to look back upon, Cosmo," returned Joan
with a sad smile. "But oh for such days again as we used to have on
the frozen hills! There are the hills again every winter, but will
the old days ever come again, Cosmo?"
"The old days never come again," answered Cosmo. "But do you know
why, Joan?"
"No," murmured Joan, very sadly.
"Because they would be getting in the way of the new better days,
whose turn it is," replied Cosmo.
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