The girl"s eyes were fixed upon the distant mountain-tops where, through a rift in the clouds the sun shone suddenly out for a moment. ""I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills whence cometh my help,"" she murmured softly to herself. Then from a full heart went up a strong cry, "O G.o.d, my Father, save me, I beseech thee, from this bitter trial that I so dread!
Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Oh, help me to be content with whatsoever thou shalt send!"
"Sally, you"re standing there a long time." It was the mother"s querulous voice again.
The girl turned toward her, answering in a patient tone. "Yes, mother, it rests my eyes to look at the sky and the mountains or any distant object."
"You"d better get yourself something to eat. It must be six or eight hours at least since breakfast."
An hour later Sally, again busied with her sewing, by the window, lifted her head at the sound of wheels and exclaimed in a low tone, "There is the same carriage again! It has stopped and a lady is getting out of it."
But turning her head she perceived that her mother, who was now lying on the bed, had fallen asleep. Dropping her work, she stepped quickly to the door in time to prevent a rap.
She recognized the lady at once from her likeness to her namesake daughter, and holding out her hand with a joyful admiring smile said, "Mrs. Travilla, is it not? Thank you for coming. I am so glad, and mother will be so delighted to see you; but she is sleeping just now."
She had spoken softly, and Elsie answered in the same subdued tone, as she took the offered hand, then stepped in and sat down in a chair the girl hastened to set for her, "That is well; we must not wake her."
A long talk followed in which Elsie by her ready tact and sweet sympathy, free from the slightest approach to patronage, drew from the girl the story of their sorrows, privations and fears for the future.
Her mother had been gradually failing for some time, though she really did not know what was the nature of the disease. For a while they had contrived by their united efforts to make the two ends meet, but now that all depended upon her, with her poor sight, it was no longer possible.
"How are your eyes affected?" asked Elsie.
"The sight is dim; I can scarcely see to set my st.i.tches: I have great difficulty in threading a needle: I always had. I could never read fine print, never read through a long sentence without shutting my eyes for an instant or looking off the book. It has always been an effort to see, and now I am forced to use my eyes so constantly they grow worse and pain me very much. At times a mist comes over them so that I cannot see at all until I rest them a little. Indeed I often seem to be going blind and I"m afraid I shall," she added, with a tremble in her tones, a tear rolling down her cheek. But she hastily wiped it away.
"My poor child, I hope not," Elsie said, laying a hand softly on hers; "there have been wonderful cures of diseased eyes. You must go to an oculist."
"The expense would be far beyond our means."
"You must let me a.s.sume that. No, don"t shake your head. I have abundant means. The Lord has given me far more of this world"s goods than I ought to use for myself or my family and I know it is because he would have me be his almoner."
The girl wept for joy and thankfulness.
"Oh, how kind you are!" she cried. "I believe the Lord sent you and that my sight will be spared; for I have prayed so that it might;--that he would send me help somehow. But mother, how can she do without me?"
"I will see that she has medical advice, nursing, everything she needs."
Sally tried to speak her thanks but tears and sobs came instead.
The sound woke Mrs. Gibson. "Elsie Dinsmore!" she cried in feeble but excited tones, with difficulty raising herself to a sitting posture. "I should have known you anywhere."
"I cannot say the same; you are much changed," Elsie said, going to the bedside and taking the thin feverish hand in hers.
"Yes, I"ve grown an old woman, while you are fresh and young; and no wonder, for your life has been all prosperity; mine nothing but trouble and trial from beginning to end."
"O, mother dear, we have had a great many mercies," said Sally; "and your life is not ended. I hope your good times are yet to come."
"Well, maybe so, if Mrs. Travilla can help us to the medical aid we need, and put us in the way of earning a good living afterward."
"I shall do my best for you in both respects," Elsie said kindly, accepting a chair Sally set for her near the bed.
"I knew you would; you were always generous," remarked her ci-devant governess; "prompt too in bestowing your favors. But it is easy to be generous with a large and well-filled purse."
"Very true," Elsie answered with a smile. "And now what can I do for you?
Ah I had forgotten. Mrs. Ross, hearing you were ill, and knowing that to the sick something sent by a neighbor was often more relished than home food, however nice, put a basket of dainties into the phaeton."
Stepping to the door, she signed to the servant, who immediately brought in a hamper of provisions such as had not been seen under that roof for many months. Mrs. Gibson"s eyes glistened at sight of a basket of fine fresh fruit and a bowl of delicious custard.
"I will go now and call again to-morrow," Elsie said, as the man carried away the empty hamper.
Grasping Sally"s hand cordially in parting, she left something in it.
"Mother!" cried the girl, breathlessly, holding it up to view, "it"s a check for a hundred dollars!"
""Tisn"t possible! let me see!" cried Mrs. Gibson laying down the spoon with which she was eating raspberries and custard, and holding out her hand for the check.
"Yes, so it is! what a G.o.dsend! I didn"t think even she was so generous.
But dear me, she"s rolling in wealth, and it"s no more to her, or even as much as ten cents would be to you or me."
"Oh, mother!" said Sally, reproachfully, "we have no claim on her; and if she has a good deal of money, she must have hundreds of calls for it."
"No claim on her? why people take care of old servants, and a governess ought to be considered of a good deal more account."
"Tom mustn"t know about this, mother."
"No, indeed! the greater part of it would soon go for liquor or at the gambling table, if he did. Here give it to me, and I"ll hide it under my pillow."
The saucer of berries was scarcely disposed of, before a second visitor arrived.
Dr. Morton was considered the most skilful pract.i.tioner in the neighborhood. Mrs. Travilla meeting him on the way in returning to the Crags, had begged him to take charge of Mrs. Gibson"s case, and also to look at Sally"s eyes; engaging to settle his bill herself.
On his way home he called at the Crags with his report. The mother, he said, was very much out of health, but not incurable; he had promised to send her some medicine. A month or two at the seash.o.r.e would do her good; perhaps restore her entirely."
"Then she must go," said Elsie, "I will at once see what arrangements can be made. But now, what of the girl, doctor?"
"She seems in pretty good health."
"But her eyes?"
"The nerve is affected; there is no help for her."
"Are you quite sure?"
"Quite. I have paid a good deal of attention to the eye, and I a.s.sure you a case like hers is incurable."
"Then you decline to attempt to do anything for her?"
"I do, Mrs. Travilla, because there is absolutely nothing to be done."
"Poor girl, how sorry I am for her! blindness must be so terrible," Lucy remarked to her friend after the doctor had gone.