Page:The Great Secret.djvu/132

116 "Welcome, friends, to the new state," this queen-like woman said in a sweet, thrilling voice, as she passed, with the fairy-like child beside her, in front of the company, while the lamp and provision-bearers ranged themselves round in a circle, shutting out the shrinking Anarchists, and ignoring them.

Then the child came forward to Adela and, holding out her little arms, she said,—

"Mother!"

Philip started and looked at Adela, who had dropped his arm and was now kneeling before the child and staring at her with incredulous looks.

"Do you not know me, mother?" asked the child with a disappointed expression on her fair face, her little mouth quivering.

"Alas! no, my child," answered Adela, piteously; "I once had a baby girl, but I only held her in my arms for one day."

"I was that baby girl, but I have grown since, mother. Ah! now you know me."

Adela had opened her arms, and the little one was once more against her throbbing bosom.

"I have been with you often when you could not see me, mother, dear, so that it was easy to find you at the last."

"My darling, my darling," murmured the kneeling woman, hiding her face amongst the mass of golden hair.

"I have been growing ever since you lost sight of me," continued the child.

"All children keep on growing until they are women and men, only here they never grow old. You will be happy here, for we have everything we like when we have learned how to get it. I shall teach you some things, and Hesperia here will tell