"I am glad you came, Violet. I do not believe it will hurt you one bit in any way."
"Can I see father? I want to see for myself, and to kiss him, and tell him how sorry I am; and I want to help to nurse him. Say, can I see him?"
"Not just now, dear. None of us have seen him since he was put to bed last evening except the doctor and the nurse; but in the course of the day you may. You will spend the day with us?" Cora inquired.
"I will spend the day and the night, and to-morrow and to-morrow night, and this week and next week, and just as long as I can be helpful and useful to father, if you and mamma there will permit me. And, by the way, I have not kissed mamma yet. Only shaken hands with her." And so saying, Violet put down her untasted cup of coffee, went around the table, put her arms round Rose"s neck, and kissed her fondly, saying:
"You are very sweet and lovely, mamma, and I know I shall love you. I wanted to come and see you before this, but the doctor there wouldn"t allow it. But now I have come to stay as long as I may be wanted."
"I should want you forever, sweet wood violet," cooed Rose, returning her caresses.
Mr. Fabian turned away, half in wrath, half in mirth. He was much too good humored to be seriously offended as he said to the doctor:
"Ah! these dove-eyed darlings! How mistaken we are in them! You are an old bachelor, c.u.mmins; but if you should ever take it into your head to repent of celibacy, don"t marry a dove-eyed darling, if you don"t want to be defied all the days of your life."
"I won"t," said the doctor; "but now I must go and see how Mr. Rockharrt is getting on, and take leave to look after my other patients."
And he left the breakfast room, followed by Mr. Fabian.
"You and Sylvan will not leave Rockhold for some time," said Violet, with a little air of triumph.
"Sylvan must leave this morning. I shall remain until grandfather gets well," said Cora--"or dies," she added, mentally.
In a few minutes Dr. c.u.mmins returned and said that Mr. Rockharrt would see Lieutenant Haught first, and afterward the other members of his family.
Then the physician bade the family good morning, and left the house.
Sylvan went up stairs to their grandfather"s room.
There they found Mr. Fabian seated by the bedside.
Old Martha had gone to her garret to lie down and rest. The windows were all open, and the summer sun and air lighted and cooled the room.
"Come here, Sylvan," said the Iron King, and his voice, though hoa.r.s.e and feeble, was peremptory.
"The young lieutenant went up to the bedside and said:
"I hope you are feeling better this morning, sir."
"I hope so, too; but don"t let us waste words in compliments. c.u.mmins tells me that you wished to bid me good-by."
"Yes, sir."
"Well, bid good-by, then."
"Grandfather, have you anything to say to me before I go?" respectfully inquired the young man.
"If I had, don"t you suppose that I could say it? Well, if you wish advice, I will give it you very briefly: You are an "officer and a gentleman"--that is the phrase, I believe?"
"I hope so, sir."
"Then behave as one under all circ.u.mstances. Never lie--even to women; never cheat--even the government. That is all. I cannot bless you if that is what you want. No man can bless another--not even the Pope of Rome or the Archbishop of Canterbury. No one under heaven can bless you.
You can only bless yourself by doing your whole duty under all circ.u.mstances. You will have men in authority over you. Obey them. You will have authority over other men. Make them obey you. There, good-by!" said old Aaron Rockharrt, holding out his hand to his grandson.
Sylvan noticed how that hand shook as its aged owner held it up. He took it, lifted it to his lips, and pressed it to his heart.
"There, there; don"t be foolish, Sylvan! Good-by! Good-by! And you, Fabian! What are you loitering here for, when you should be looking after the works?" impatiently demanded the Iron King.
"The carriage stands at the door, sir, waiting to take Sylvan to his train. I shall go with him as far as North End and try to do your work there in addition to my own."
"Quite right. Where is Clarence?"
"At North End, sir, where he went directly after he saw you safe in bed under the doctor"s care," said Mr. Fabian, lying as fast as a horse could trot.
"Very well. Send the two women here."
"There happen to be three women below at present, sir. Violet has come to see you."
In the morning sitting room below stairs Sylvan and Fabian found the three ladies with Clarence, all in a state of anxiety to hear from the injured man.
Sylvan was more agitated in leaving his sister than any young soldier should have been. At the last, the very last instant of parting, when Mr. Fabian had left the parlor and was on his way to the carriage, Sylvan turned back and for the third time clasped Cora in his arms.
"Never mind, Sylvan, as soon as I possibly can, without violating my duty to the only one on earth to whom I owe any duty, I shall go out to you. I can see now, now in this hour of parting, how very right I was in deciding to go with you. My journey is not abandoned, it is only postponed. G.o.d bless you, my dear."
After standing at the front door until they had watched the carriage out of sight, the three went up stairs and softly entered the room of the injured man, so softly that he did not hear their entrance. They stood in a silent group, believing him to be asleep, and afraid to sit down, lest a chair should creak and wake him up.
In a few seconds, however, they heard him clear his throat, knew that he was awake, and went up to his bedside.
Rose spoke, gently, for all.
"You sent for us, Mr. Rockharrt. We are all here, and we hope that you are much better," she said.
"Oh, you do! Stand there--all three of you at the foot of the bed, so that I can see you without turning."
The three women obeyed, placing themselves in line as he had directed, and perceived that he lay upon the flat of his back, looking straight before him, because he could not turn on either side without great pain.
He scanned them and then said:
"Ah, Violet, you are there! You have a proper sense of duty, my girl. So you have come to see how it is with me yourself, eh?"
"Yes, father; and also to stay and help to nurse you, it I may be permitted to do so."
"Rubbish! My wife can nurse me. It is her place. I don"t want a lot of other women around me! I won"t have more than one in the room with me at a time! Violet, get into your carriage and return to your home."
"Oh, papa, how have I offended you?"
"Not in any way as yet; but you will offend me if you disobey me. You must go home at once. You are not in a condition to be of any service here. You would only injure your own health, and distract the attention of these women from me. Wherever there is a lot of women, there is sure to be more talk than duty. So you must go. When I get well, and you get strong again, you may come and stay as long as you like. So, now, bid me good-by and be off with yourself."