Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/217

 after him. I endeavored, after a while, to re-open the conversation upon the subject that lay nearest my heart; but Ialma diverted the conversation after a brief explanation.

"I have already said more than I ought, perhaps," said she. "But you really looked so unhappy, that I could not help saying something. I may say, however, what everybody has a right to know. Hulmar and Anvar's father are friends of long standing, and I have no doubt that Hulmar would be pleased to have Anvar as son-in-law. Who, indeed, would not? But—I have strong doubts that he ever will."

After this, to me, comforting assurance, she turned our conversation into other channels. This was the easier to do, since it was her task to introduce me to the country through which we were gliding on our noiseless chariot. There was not a house of which she could not both relate the history and define the exact relationship of its inmates to myself.

Presently we came in sight of our destination. The home of Semna Diotha-Nuval was prettily situated on a rising ground overlooking the Hudson, not far from where Peekskill now stands. My anticipations in regard to my venerable relative proved entirely wrong. Instead of an invalid confined to her chair, I found an energetic little lady, whose age I should have placed about midway between sixty and seventy. She had an abundance of lovely white hair, and her keen gray eyes were full of expression.

She sat like a queen surrounded by her court,—in this case her full-grown descendants of three generations;