and every time it catches her eye it
brings to her mind more or less distinctly that she has in her own way
tested religion and found it true, because the particular boon which she
had demanded at this time was granted.

It was a happy morn of May; the snow had just receded from the land,
leaving it very wet, and Spring was pushing on all the business she had
to do with almost visible speed. The early train came in from Montreal
as usual, and who should step out of it but Gilby himself! He was a
little stouter, a little more bald, but he skipped down upon the
platform, radiant as to smile and the breadth of his gold watch-chain,
and attired in a check coat which Zilda thought was the most perfect
thing in costume which she had ever beheld.

In a flash of thought it came to Zilda that there would be more than a
momentary happiness for her. 'Ah, Monsieur Geelby, do you know that the
river has cut into the line three miles away, and that this train can go
no farther till it is mended.'

Gilby was distinctly annoyed; he had indeed left town by the earlier of
the two morning trains in order to stop an hour and take breakfast at
St. Armand; he had been glad of the chance of doing that, of seeing
Chaplot and his daughter and the others; but to be stopped at St. Armand
a whole day--he made exhibition of his anger, which Zilda took very
meekly. Why had the affair not been telegraphed? Why were busy men like
himself brought out of the city when they could not get on to do their
work?

There were other voices besides Gilby's to rail; there were other voices
besides Zilda's to explain the disaster. In the midst of the babel Zilda
slipped away to make muffins hastily for Gilby's breakfast. Her heart
was singing within her, but it was a tremulous song, half dazed with
delight, half frightened, fearing that with his great cleverness he
would see some way to proceed on his journey although she saw none.

When she came out of the kitchen with the muffins in her hand her
sunshine suddenly clouded. Gilby, unconscious that a special breakfast
was preparing for him, had hastily swallowed coffee and walked on to the
site of the breakdown to see for himself how long the mending would
take.

It was as if one, looking through long hours for the ending of night,
had seen the sunrise, only to see the light go out suddenly again in
darkness. Zilda felt that her heart was broken. Her disappointment grew
upon her for an hour, then she could