"Heaven grant it, my child! Heaven grant it! Oh, those Le Noirs! those Le Noirs! Were there ever in the world before such ruthless villains and accomplished hypocrites?" said Marah Rocke, clasping her hands in the strength of her emotions.
A long time yet they talked together, and then they retired to bed, and still talked until they fell asleep in each other"s arms.
The next morning the widow arose early, gazed a little while with delight upon the sleeping daughter of her heart, pressed a kiss upon her cheek so softly as not to disturb her rest, and then, leaving her still in the deep, sweet sleep of wearied youth, she went down-stairs to get a nice breakfast.
Luckily a farmer"s cart was just pa.s.sing the road before the cottage on its way to market.
Marah took out her little purse from her pocket, hailed the driver and expended half her little store in purchasing two young chickens, some eggs and some dried peaches, saying to herself:
"Dear Clara always had a good appet.i.te, and healthy young human nature must live substantially in spite of all its little heart-aches."
While Marah was preparing the chicken for the gridiron the door at the foot of the stairs opened and Clara came in, looking, after her night"s rest, as fresh as a rosebud.
"What! up with the sun, my darling?" said Marah, going to meet her.
"Yes, mamma! Oh! it is so good to be here with you in this nice, quiet place, with no one to make me shudder! But you must let me help you, mamma! See! I will set the table and make the toast!"
"Oh, Miss Clara--"
"Yes, I will! I have been ill used and made miserable, and now you must pet me, mamma, and let me have my own way and help you to cook our little meals and to make the house tidy and afterward to work those b.u.t.tonholes in the shirts you were spoiling your gentle eyes over last night. Oh! if they will only let me stay here with you and be at peace, we shall be very happy together, you and I!" said Clara, as she drew out the little table and laid the cloth.
"My dear child, may the Lord make you as happy as your sweet affection would make me!" said Marah.
"We can work for our living together," continued Clara, as she gaily flitted about from the dresser to the table, placing the cups and saucers and plates. "You can sew the seams and do the plain hemming, and I can work the b.u.t.tonholes and st.i.tch the bosoms, collars and wristbands! And "if the worst comes to the worst," we can hang out our little shingle before the cottage gate, inscribed with:"
MRS. ROCKE AND DAUGHTER.
Shirt Makers.
Orders executed with neatness and dispatch.
"We"d drive a thriving business, mamma, I a.s.sure you," said Clara, as she sat down on a low stool at the hearth and began to toast the bread.
"I trust in heaven that it will never come to that with you, my dear!"
"Why? Why, mamma? Why should I not taste of toil and care as well as others a thousand times better than myself? Why should not I work as well as you and Traverse, mamma? I stand upon the broad platform of human rights, and I say I have just as good a right to work as others!"
said Clara, with a pretty a.s.sumption of obstinacy, as she placed the plate of toast upon the board.
"Doubtless, dear Clara, you may play at work just as much as you please; but heaven forbid you should ever have to work at work!"
replied Mrs. Rocke as she placed the coffee pot and the dish of broiled chicken on the table.
"Why, mamma, I do not think that is a good prayer at all! That is a wicked, proud prayer, Mrs. Marah Rocke! Why shouldn"t your daughter really toil as well as other people"s daughters, I"d like to be informed?" said Clara, mockingly, as they both took their seats at the table.
"I think, dear Clara, that you must have contracted some of your eccentric little friend Capitola"s ways, from putting on her habit! I never before saw you in such gay spirits!" said Mrs. Rocke, as she poured out the coffee.
"Oh, mamma; it is but the glad rebound of the freed bird! I am so glad to have escaped from that dark prison of the Hidden House and to be here with you. But tell me, mamma, is my old home occupied?"
"No, my dear; no tenant has been found for it. The property is in the hands of an agent to let, but the house remains quite vacant and deserted."
"Why is that?" asked Clara.
"Why, my love, for the strangest reason! The foolish country people say that since the doctor"s death the place has been haunted!"
"Haunted!"
"Yes, my dear, so the foolish people say, and they get wiser ones to believe them."
"What exactly do they say? I hope--I hope they do not trifle with my dear father"s honored name and memory?"
"Oh, no, my darling! no! but they say that although the house is quite empty and deserted by the living strange sights and sounds are heard and seen by pa.s.sers-by at night. Lights appear at the upper windows from which pale faces look out."
"How very strange!" said Clara.
"Yes, my dear, and these stories have gained such credence that no one can be found to take the house."
"So much the better, dear mamma, for if the new judge of the Orphans"
Court should give a decision in our favor, as he must, when he hears the evidence, old and new, you and I can move right into it and need not then enter the shirt-making line of business!"
"Heaven grant it, my dear! But now, Clara, my love, we must lose no time in seeing Doctor Williams, lest your guardian should pursue you here and give you fresh trouble."
Clara a.s.sented to this, and they immediately arose from the table, cleared away the service, put the room in order and went up-stairs to put on their bonnets, Mrs. Rocke lending Clara her own best bonnet and shawl. When they were quite ready they locked up the house and set out for the town.
It was a bright, frosty, invigorating winter"s morning, and the two friends walked rapidly until they reached Doctor Williams" house.
The kind old man was at home, and was much surprised and pleased to see his visitors. He invited them into his parlor, and when he had heard their story, he said: "This is a much more serious affair than the other. We must employ counsel. Witnesses must be brought from the neighborhood of the Hidden House. You are aware that the late judge of the Orphans" Court has been appointed to a high office under the government at Washington. The man that has taken his place is a person of sound integrity, who will do his duty. It remains only for us to prove the justice of our cause to his satisfaction, and all will be well."
"Oh, I trust in heaven that it will be," said Marah, fervently.
"You two must stay in my house until the affair is decided. You might possibly be safe from real injury; but you could not be free from molestation in your unprotected condition at the cottage," said Doctor Williams.
Clara warmly expressed her thanks.
"You had better go home now and pack up what you wish to bring, and put out the fire and close up the house and come here immediately. In the mean time I will see your dear father"s solicitor and be ready with my report by the time you get back," said Doctor Williams, promptly taking his hat to go.
Mrs. Rocke and Clara set out for the cottage, which they soon reached.
Throwing off her bonnet and shawl, Clara said:
"Now, mamma, the very first thing I shall do will be to write to Traverse, so that we can send the letter by to-day"s mail and set his mind at rest. I shall simply tell him that our mutual letters have failed to reach their destination, but that I am now on a visit to you, and that while I remain here nothing can interrupt our correspondence.
I shall not speak of the coming suit until we see how it will end."
Mrs. Rocke approved this plan, and placed writing materials on the table. And while the matron employed herself in closing up the rooms, packing up what was needful to take with them to the doctor"s and putting out the fire, Clara wrote and sealed her letter. They then put on their bonnets, locked up the house, and set out. They called at the post-office just in time to mail their letter, and they reached the doctor"s house just as he himself walked up to the door, accompanied by the lawyer. The latter greeted the daughter of his old client and her friend, and they all went into the house together.
In the doctor"s study the whole subject of Clara"s flight and its occasion was talked over, and the lawyer agreed to commence proceedings immediately.
CHAPTER XII.