d
Blanka.

"True," replied Anna, resting her head on her hand; "the wide world is
not so effective a barrier as a bewitching face that has once thrust
itself between two loving hearts. That is harder to circumnavigate than
the earth itself."

"If a pretty face were all that stood between you----" began the other
once more, sitting down beside her friend and putting her arms about
her.

"Yes, yes, I know," the poor girl interrupted; "the whole world and
heaven and hell stand between us. All the laws of honour, of faith, and
of patriotism, tear us asunder. I cannot go to him where he is, but yet
it may be that he will come back to me--some day."

"Do you think so?"

"I believe it as I believe in one God above us. Not that I think we
could now ever be happy together; but I am convinced that the road which
he took on going away from here will some day bring him back again to
our door. Broken and humbled, scorned and repulsed by all the world, he
will then seek the one remaining asylum that stands open to him, and he
will find one heart that still beats for him from whom all others have
turned away."

The speaker rose from her seat and stood erect, her face all aglow with
noble emotion. Was it an angel in love with a devil?

"See!" she continued, pointing to the little portrait, which was
encircled by a wreath of immortelles, "this picture here in my room
gives daily proof how lasting a thing love is in our family. My brothers
all hate him with a deadly hatred, and yet they spare his likeness
because they know that I still love him; they leave the little picture
hanging in my room, nor offer to offend me by proposing another marriage
for me. They know how deep is my love, and they respect my feelings. Oh,
I beg you, if you have reason to hate this man, yet suffer his portrait
to keep its place, and turn your eyes away from it if it causes you
offence."

But Blanka hated the man no longer.

"Now I must not let you see me in tears," said Anna, briskly. "I must
not make myself a killjoy in the family. I am naturally of a happy,
cheerful temperament, and interested in all that goes on around me. My
face shall never frighten people by being pale and wobegone. Just look
in the glass! I am as rosy-cheeked as you."

With that she drew Blanka to the mirror, and began to dispute with her
as to which could boast the more colour.

"You are happy," she continued, "and will be still happier. Manasseh
will turn the earth it