The flowers were all gone; but the Little Swan sang as ever its many-voiced song, as it flowed in pools and eddies and cascades, with here and there a golden leaf upon its black waters.Ah! how often in weary, dusty days these sights and sounds and silences have come to me and brought my heart rest!
As we began to climb up into the open, I glanced at my companion's face.The canyon had done its work with her as with all who loved it.The touch of pride that was the habit of her face was gone, and in its place rested the earnest wonder of a little child, while in her eyes lay the canyon's tender glow.And with this face she looked in upon Gwen.
And Gwen, who had been waiting for her, forgot all her nervous fear, and with hands outstretched, cried out in welcome:
"Oh, I'm so glad! You've seen it and I know you love it! My canyon, you know!" she went on, answering Lady Charlotte's mystified look.
"Yes, dear child," said Lady Charlotte, bending over the pale face with its halo of golden hair, "I love it." But she could get no further, for her eyes were full of tears.Gwen gazed up into the beautiful face, wondering at her silence, and then said gently:
"Tell me how it looks to-day! The Pilot always shows it to me.Do you know," she added, thoughtfully, "The Pilot looks like it himself.He makes me think of it, and--and--" she went on shyly, "you do, too."By this time Lady Charlotte was kneeling by the couch, smoothing the beautiful hair and gently touching the face so pale and lined with pain.
"That is a great honor, truly," she said brightly through her tears--"to be like your canyon and like your Pilot, too."Gwen nodded, but she was not to be denied.
"Tell me how it looks to-day," she said."I want to see it.Oh, Iwant to see it!"
Lady Charlotte was greatly moved by the yearning in the voice, but, controlling herself, she said gaily:
"Oh, I can't show it to you as your Pilot can, but I'll tell you what I saw.""Turn me where I can see," said Gwen to me, and I wheeled her toward the window and raised her up so that she could look down the trail toward the canyon's mouth.
"Now," she said, after the pain of the lifting had passed, "tell me, please."Then Lady Charlotte set the canyon before her in rich and radiant coloring, while Gwen listened, gazing down upon the trail to where the elm tops could be seen, rusty and sere.
"Oh, it is lovely!" said Gwen, "and I see it so well.It is all there before me when I look through my window."But Lady Charlotte looked at her, wondering to see her bright smile, and at last she could not help the question:
"But don't you weary to see it with your own eyes?""Yes," said Gwen gently, "often I want and want it, oh, so much!""And then, Gwen, dear, how can you bear it?" Her voice was eager and earnest."Tell me, Gwen.I have heard all about your canyon flowers, but I can't understand how the fretting and the pain went away."Gwen looked at her first in amazement, and then in dawning understanding.
"Have you a canyon, too?" she asked, gravely.
Lady Charlotte paused a moment, then nodded.It did appear strange to me that she should break down her proud reserve and open her heart to this child.
"And there are no flowers, Gwen, not one," she said rather bitterly, "nor sun nor seeds nor soil, I fear.""Oh, if The Pilot were here, he would tell you."At this point, feeling that they would rather be alone, I excused myself on the pretext of looking after the horses.
