The day preceding that set for the wedding Violet was so ill--so nervous and prostrated by her increasing dread and sense of wrong as the fatal hour drew near--that she did not rise until noon, while it was nearly evening before she felt able to grant Vane an interview which he particularly requested.
He startled back appalled, when, as he entered her parlor, she turned her wan, colorless face toward him.
"You are ill! I had no idea that you were so sick!" he cried, in a voice of deep concern and surprise, for Mrs. Mencke had made light of Violet"s indisposition.
"No, not ill, only tired and a little nervous," she replied, trying to smile, rea.s.suringly.
He sat down beside her and began to tell her about the arrangements he had made for going "home," and she was touched to see how, in every detail, he had had only her comfort and pleasure in mind.
"Shall you like it?" he asked, when he had sketched the proposed journey to her.
"Yes, thank you; you are very kind," she tried to say, heartily, but, in spite of her effort, the tone sounded cold and formal.
The young man"s face fell. He had so hoped to see hers light up with antic.i.p.ation.
"Is there anything that you would like changed? Would you prefer to go another way, or to take in other places on the route?" he asked, wishing, oh, so earnestly, that she would express some preference, or even make some objection to his plans; anything would be more endurable than such apathetic acquiescence.
"No, let it stand, please, just as you have it," she answered, in a somewhat weary tone.
"Have you everything you wish? Are there no little things that you need--that have been overlooked--for--to-morrow?" he asked, wistfully, his voice dropping to a tender cadence at that last word, as he realized how nearly the one great desire of his heart was within his grasp.
Was it his imagination, or did a shiver of repulsion run over Violet"s frame at this reference to their wedding-day?
She was as white as the fleecy shawl that was thrown about her shoulders, and there was a pathetic droop about her lovely mouth that pained him exceedingly.
"No, thank you," she quietly replied; "Belle has attended to everything."
He arose, feeling disappointed. If she had made but a single request of him, no matter how simple, it would have made him so happy to execute it; but his hands were tied--he could not force favors upon her.
"I will not remain longer, dear," he said, gently; "I want you to get all the rest possible to-night, so as to be strong for our journey to-morrow."
Violet arose also, and stood pale and motionless before him. She was very lovely, and he never forgot the picture she made, with the crimson light of the setting sun flooding her white-robed form, tinging her pale face with an exquisite color, and giving a deeper, richer tint to her golden hair.
Oh, if he had but been sure of her love, how supremely happy they might be, he thought, with all the bright prospects before him.
An irrepressible wave of tenderness and longing swept over him, and, involuntarily reaching out his arms, he drew her gently within his embrace.
"My darling," he whispered, "you are all the world to me. I pray that I may be able to prove to you by and by, how wholly you occupy this heart of mine."
He lifted her face with one hand and searched it earnestly for a moment, then, bending forward, he pressed his lips to hers in a lingering caress.
It was the first time that he had kissed her, or made any outward demonstration of his great love since their betrothal.
Violet broke away from him, with a low, thrilling cry of anguish, and sank, pale and quivering in every nerve, into the chair from which she had just arisen.
That caress had recalled the last pa.s.sionate kiss of farewell that Wallace had given her just before the steamer left its pier in New York, while it had also revealed to her the fact that he would always be more to her, even though he were dead, than Lord Cameron, with all his love, his goodness, and generosity, could ever hope to be, living.
He was deeply hurt, however, by this repulse and her cry of despair. He stood for a moment looking down upon her, mingled pain and remorse for what he had done plainly written on his face. Then he said, in a repressed tone:
"Forgive me, Violet; I will try not to wound you thus again."
She threw out her hand to him with an appealing gesture, conscience-smitten, for his tone plainly told her how deeply she had hurt him.
"Forgive me," she said, contritely, a little sob pointing her words.
He took the hand and pressed it gently.
"I have nothing to forgive, dear. Now good-night, and try to sleep well," he returned kindly, and then went softly out from her presence, but looking grave and troubled.
CHAPTER XIV.
"THERE WILL BE NO WEDDING TO-DAY."
"Oh, if my mother were only alive!" burst pa.s.sionately from Violet"s lips, as the door closed after her betrothed. "My heart is broken, and there is no one in the wide, wide world to whom I can tell my trouble. I have no friends, no home, and am forced to marry a man whom I do not love, in order to find one. Belle, who ought to care for me, sympathize with, and comfort me, thinks only of the wealth and position I am to secure, and"--a bitter smile curling her lips--"is even greatly elated at the prospect of getting rid of me in such fine style. I cannot--I cannot bear it; and to-morrow--to-morrow I am to be bound for life!"
She sprang wildly to her feet, a bright spot of fever burning upon each cheek, and began pacing the floor with nervous tread. For an hour she kept this up, going mechanically from one end of the luxurious apartment to the other, apparently unconscious of what she was doing.
In the midst of this almost frantic state of mind Mrs. Mencke came sweeping in upon her.
"What ails you, Violet?" she demanded, regarding her with anxious eyes.
"You have been moving about incessantly during the last hour. You must not work yourself into such a nervous state, or you will be wholly unfitted for the ceremony to-morrow. I want you to look your best, and you will surely be pale and hollow-eyed, if not positively ill, if you keep on at this rate. Besides, Lady Isabella arrived a short time ago, and has asked to be allowed to see you for a little while."
"Oh! I cannot see her to-night, Belle. Let me alone for the few hours that remain to me," Violet moaned, as she threw herself upon the lounge and buried her hot face in the cool, silken pillow.
"The few hours that remain to you, indeed! One would think you were about to be executed, instead of married to an earl. Do not be so insufferably childish," returned her sister, impatiently. "There will be no time to-morrow for you to see Lady Cameron, and it is uncourteous, uncivil to refuse her request."
Violet made no response to this; she was too weak and wretched to a.s.sert herself, and she knew that Belle would carry her point regarding this interview as she had done in all other things of late.
Mrs. Mencke brought her some quieting drops, which she obediently swallowed, and after a few moments began to grow more composed.
"I will tell Lady Cameron that you are nervous and tired, and ask her not to stay long," Belle said, when she saw that Violet was more calm; "but you must see her for a few minutes, and I hope you will have the good taste not to offend her in any way," she concluded, significantly.
"Very well; let her come," Violet answered, resignedly, and thinking it better to have the ordeal over as soon as possible.
She had always liked and admired Lady Cameron; had always enjoyed her society, and, under other circ.u.mstances, would have been glad to see her now; but everything and every one connected with her approaching marriage seemed positively hateful to her, in her present state.
Mrs. Mencke did not wait for her to change her mind, but went immediately to tell her ladyship that Violet would see her, and a few minutes later, there came a gentle knock upon the door of the young girl"s room.
Before she could arise to admit her visitor, it was softly opened, and a lovely, sweet-faced lady of about fifty years entered.
She was clad in a simple yet elegant costume of silver-gray silk, trimmed with rich black lace. A cl.u.s.ter of pearls gleamed fair and white at her throat, and a dainty little cap of costly lace rested lightly upon her soft, brown hair, which as yet had not a visible thread of silver in it.
"Do not rise, dear," she said, as Violet attempted to do so. "Your sister has told me that you are still far from being well, and that I must not stay long. Let me sit right here beside you," she continued, drawing a low rocker close to the lounge, and then, bending down, she kissed Violet fondly upon the forehead.