The voice ceased and for a moment there was silence, and then it came again, in an aching wail, almost like that of the old woman:
Again rose the wail of the old woman in her shadowy corner, high-pitched, grief-laden: "Auwe! Auwe! Evalani, auwe!"
Dick leaned forward and laid his hand upon the small clenched one on the arm of the chair. "Dear," he said, "won't you let her come home?"
For a moment the wide dark eyes stared into his face and then, with a cry, she buried her face in her cushions and began to sob heavily, great tearing sobs, while her form shook as they were torn from her.
Dick dropped upon his knees beside the chair and drew her into his arms, holding her close and whispering tenderly and smoothing the soft, dark hair; and after a time the sobs eased a little and she relaxed, exhausted, in his arms; but for a long time he held her and soothed her as he would a little child.
At last she drew herself away and sat up, brushing the damp hair from her face and then dropping her hands limply into her lap and sitting with closed eyes, great tears still slipping from beneath her lashes. And then, finally, she opened her eyes and turned toward him, kneeling there beside her.
