"
The sweet sounds died away, and Paula looked smilingly at Catalina as if
asking her opinion of the song.
"What a marvelous song!" exclaimed the poor sick girl. "And, Paula, you
have a voice like an angel!"
I did not hear my little companion's reply. This time I was not mistaken;
there was someone there behind that door. Impelled by curiosity I ran to
open it At first I saw no one in the darkened passage, but finally I could
make out my father moving off down the hall. When he saw that I had
discovered him, he stopped and put a finger to his lips, and made signs to
me to keep silent, but in my surprise I cried, "Is it you, father?"
"Yes," he answered, "I came home earlier than I expected. Was that Paula
who was singing in Catalina's room?"
"I--I--don't know," I hesitated, not knowing what to say.
There was an instant of terrible silence like a calm before the storm.
"You--don't--know," my father slowly repeated. "You dare to look at me and
say you don't know when you have just this moment come out of your sister's
room?"
"Oh, father, please forgive me," I exclaimed penitently. "It was indeed
Paula that sang. But don't punish her. She didn't know that you had
forbidden our singing hymns.
Pages:
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122