Louisa May Alcott

The Mysterious Key and What it Opened Louisa May Alcott

Richard Trevlyn looked up with a smile and threw by the book, as if annoyed at beingdiscovered reading it. Drawing his wife's hand through his own, he led her back to hercouch, folded the soft shawls about her, and, sitting in a low chair beside her, said in acheerful tone, though his eyes betrayed some hidden care, "My love, that book is a historyof our family for centuries, and that old prophecy has never yet been fulfilled, except the'heir and heiress' line. I am the last Trevlyn, and as the time draws near when my child shallbe born, I naturally think of his future, and hope he will enjoy his heritage in peace."