She remembered that her mother had spoken of her brother before they had parted, and her interest and curiosity were awakened by Robert's story.

While he slept, she closely scrutinized Robert's features, and detected a striking resemblance between him and her mother.
"Oh, I _do_ wonder if he can be my mother's brother, from whom she has been separated so many years!" Anxious as she was to ascertain if there was any relationship between Robert and her mother, she forebore to question him on the subject which lay so near her heart.

But one day, when he was so far recovered as to be able to walk around, he met Iola on the hospital grounds, and said to her:-- "Miss Iola, you remind me so much of my mother and sister that I cannot help wondering if you are the daughter of my long-lost sister." "Do you think," asked Iola, "if you saw the likeness of your sister you would recognize her ?" "I am afraid not.

But there is one thing I can remember about her: she used to have a mole on her cheek, which mother used to tell her was her beauty spot." "Look at this," said Iola, handing him a locket which contained her mother's picture.
Robert grasped the locket eagerly, scanned the features attentively, then, handing it back, said: "I have only a faint remembrance of my sister's features; but I never could recognize in that beautiful woman the dear little sister with whom I used to play.

Oh, the cruelty of slavery! How it wrenched and tore us apart! Where is _your_ mother now ?" "Oh, I cannot tell," answered Iola.