Violet returned her greeting with what composure she could, but the observing lady could easily see that it required a great effort, although she imagined that embarra.s.sment was the cause.
"I knew that I could not see you to-morrow," she resumed, "and I felt as if I must have just a few minutes" chat with you on this last evening of your maiden life. You have no mother, dear, and though I am sure your sister has tried to do everything that was wise and kind, yet she cannot quite take the place of a mother at such a time as this, and my heart yearned to come to you."
Violet was deeply moved by these kind words, and she clasped more closely the hand that had sought hers in such fond sympathy. Still her heart ached more keenly, if that were possible, than before, while a feeling of guilt stole over her--a consciousness of wrong toward this loving mother in the injury she felt she was about to do her son.
"I was wishing for my mother just as you came," she murmured, a little sob bursting from her lips.
Lady Isabel leaned forward and wound her arms about the slight form of the girl.
"Then, dear child, let me take her place, as far as I can," she said, in a low, winning tone; "and to-morrow you will have the right to call me by that sacred name, while I shall have a dear daughter. Ah, Violet, I cannot tell you how much I have always wanted a daughter--one who would be a companion and a confidante. But I have had only my son until now.
My dear, I know we shall love each other, and I am looking forward, with more delight than I can express, to the future when you will belong to us and brighten our home with your fresh young life. I have been drawn toward you from the first day of our meeting in London, and if Vane had asked me to select a bride for him, I could not have chosen one more to my mind. I know that you will make him a very loving and faithful wife."
How Violet cringed beneath those words, which so plainly told her that Vane had not confided to his mother the doubtful relations that existed between them! "He is a n.o.ble fellow," the fond woman went on; "he was always a good and dutiful boy, and has been such a comfort to me. Better than all, Violet, he is a true Christian, and it is delightful to hear him talk of his plans regarding the welfare of his tenants, and of the improvements he hopes to make in the condition of the poor upon his estates. Do you know," she continued, with a sweet seriousness that was very charming, "that I think it is a great thing--a wonderful thing for an earl to be such a Christian, and one who wishes so earnestly to carry his Christianity into his every-day life? There is so much responsibility in such a position, and such an opportunity for doing good. You are a Christian also, are you not, Violet? and you will sympathize with and help Vane carry out all his plans? What is it, dear?"
This last anxious question was drawn forth by the violent start which Violet had given, as a new and solemn thought suddenly burst upon her at these probing questions.
"Am I wearying you--are you feeling ill?" she added, regarding her with deep concern.
With a great effort Violet controlled the trembling that had seized her, and strove to reply calmly:
"No, I am not ill, dear Lady Cameron, but your asking me if I am a Christian made me suddenly remember something that I had not thought of before."
"What was that, dear?" Lady Isabel questioned. "Unburden yourself just as you would to your own mother on this last night of your single life."
An expression of pain clouded Violet"s brow, but after a moment she said, gravely:
"Yes, I have called myself a Christian for more than a year, and I believe my strongest desire is to do what is right always; but life has so many temptations that I know I have often failed. I will try--to do right in the future," she went on, but seemingly strangely agitated, her companion thought. "I will do what I can to--to make Lord Cameron--at least, I will try not to hinder him in any good work. I would like to make him happy and you--dear Lady Cameron, I truly wish that I might make you happy also," Violet concluded, raising her head from her pillow and looking eagerly, wistfully into the beautiful face beside her.
The lady bent and kissed her again, though she wondered a little at the undertone of pain and pa.s.sion that rang through her words.
"With such a spirit I am sure you cannot fail to be a help to Vane, and I know we shall all be very happy," she said fondly.
Still Violet continued to regard her with that earnest, wistful look, while the nervous trembling, which she strove so hard to conceal, began to be apparent in spite of her efforts.
"I hope," she said, timidly, appealingly, "that you will always believe in me. I am liable to be mistaken in my view of what is right--promise me, oh, promise me, that, whatever I may do, you will trust me--you will believe that I want to be true, and that you will never cease to think kindly of me."
She clung to her companion with pa.s.sionate longing, her hot little hands grasping hers with a painful, trembling clasp, while she seemed so completely unstrung by some inward emotion that Lady Cameron was alarmed.
"My dear child, this will never do," she said, regarding her anxiously, "you must not allow yourself to become so excited, and I blame myself for directing our conversation into such a serious channel. I must run away at once and leave you to get calm. Of course, my love, I shall always trust you, while you already have such a firm hold upon my heart that I do not believe I could cease to love you if I would. There, you shall not talk any more," as Violet opened her lips as if to speak; "good-night, pleasant dreams, and a refreshing slumber. This," with a light laugh, "is the last kiss I shall ever give Violet Huntington; when next my lips touch yours you will be somebody"s dear wife."
With a lingering caress the beautiful woman released her from her arms, and then stole softly from the room, thinking what a sweet, lovable wife Vane would have on the morrow.
But if she could have seen Violet as she lay there on her couch after she had gone, she would have marveled more than she had done over her previous excitement.
She clasped her hands across her eyes as if to shut out some dreadful vision, and seemed to cower and shrink as if some one was smiting her with a stinging lash.
"Oh, what have I done!" she moaned. "A Christian, and on the point of perjuring myself before G.o.d"s altar! A Christian, and weakly yielding to what I know would be a sin of deepest dye! A Christian, and consenting to take the poison of my wretchedness--of a heart that is filled with a hopeless love for another--into a good man"s life and home! No--a thousand times no! I have been blind, wicked, reckless. Vane Cameron is too good a man to have his life hampered and ruined thus, and I honor him far too much to do him such wrong, now that I see it in its true light. Oh, if he were but my brother, with his n.o.ble principles, his strong, true heart and boundless sympathy, I could stand by him, help him to carry out the good that he has planned, and devote my whole life to him; but as his wife--never!" and she broke into a perfect tempest of tears and sobs as she arrived at this crisis.
Daylight faded; the last crimson flush died out of the western sky; darkness settled upon the mountain-tops that overlooked the beautiful bay, and gradually wrapping itself about them like a mantle, finally dropped like a pall upon the gay watering-place and the adjacent village, which all day long had been in a fever of excitement and expectation over the prospect of the grand wedding that was to occur on the morrow.
Nothing else had been talked of for a week, and everybody was anxious to see the beautiful girl whom the distinguished English earl had won, but who had so resolutely secluded herself that but very few had had even a glimpse of her face; but on the morrow everybody would have an opportunity to judge for themselves, whether she was one who would honor the high position which had been offered her.
About nine o"clock Mrs. Mencke went up to her sister"s room to see if she needed anything before retiring.
She tried the door and found it locked.
"Are you in bed, Violet?" she called, in a low tone, with her lips at the key-hole.
"No, Belle, but I am busy with a little writing which I wish to do,"
Violet answered, in calm, even tones. "But never mind me--go back to your dancing; I can take care of myself and would rather not be disturbed by any one again to-night."
"I will come up again in half an hour," Mrs. Mencke returned, not satisfied to leave her thus for the night.
"No, do not, Belle, please--I prefer that you should not," pleaded her sister.
"Will you be sure to take your drops? You will need all the strength that you can get for to-morrow," persisted Mrs. Mencke.
"Yes, I will take them; I know that I shall need strength," was the grave reply.
"All right; good-night, then, and a good rest to you," said Mrs. Mencke, and the rustle of her silken garments on the stairs, a moment later, told Violet that she had gone back to the gay company below which she enjoyed so much.
Two hours later, when she came up to bed, she stopped again before Violet"s door, as she was pa.s.sing to her own room, and bent her head to listen.
All was quiet within, except for the ticking of the clock which stood on a bracket near the door, and which, somehow, sounded strangely clear, and almost seemed to give an ominous click with each motion of its pendulum.
She did not try to enter; she thought if Violet was sleeping quietly it would be unwise to disturb her, and so she moved on to her own chamber, yet with a somewhat anxious and unsatisfied feeling at her heart.
She slept very soundly, and did not awake until nearly eight o"clock the next morning. Her husband had gone to Nice a couple of days previous, and was to return on the first train that day, so there had been no movement in her room to disturb her.
When she realized how late it was, and how much there was to be done, for the wedding had been set for eleven o"clock, she sprang from her bed, and hastily throwing on her clothing, went immediately to Violet"s apartments.
The door yielded to her touch, and she entered the parlor, to find no one there.
She pa.s.sed on to Violet"s chamber, and rapped upon the door.
There was no answer, and entering, she was surprised to see that it was empty, and somewhat startled, also, to see that the bed was nicely made, and the room in perfect order.
"What can this mean?" she muttered, and then rang the bell a vigorous peal.
A servant answered it immediately.
"Have you been called to attend Miss Huntington this morning?" she demanded.
"No, madame."
"Have you seen her anywhere about the house?" Mrs. Mencke questioned, greatly perplexed by her sister"s strange movements.
"No, madam."
"What! did you not put her room in order this morning?" she asked, sharply.