But her hands trembled so she could scarcely take hold of the saucepan to pour it out, while the cup and saucer rattled and shook as she went across the room.
Matthew sat sulkily by, and never offered to help her.
"Well!" said he, as soon as she was gone, "it"s my belief she"d have stuck me, if she"d only laid hold of a knife instead of a spoon. How trembly she was; her hands was all of a shake. She"ll "ave spilt all that "ere stuff, whatever "tis, afore my wife tucks it down. Well, if she "aint crazed, I don"t know who is."
He lit a fresh pipe, and smoked away in contented solitariness.
Presently, he looked thoughtful, knocked the ashes out of his pipe and said, "she"s a-going to "ave the faiver, or else she "ave done som"ut bad in her day, and that"s what"s crazed her."
Matthew was right as to the fever. Not many days pa.s.sed before Jane was taken ill with it.
CHAPTER IX.
SEVERING THE CURL.
"But ever and anon of griefs subdued, There comes a token like a scorpion"s sting, Scarce seen, but with fresh bitterness imbued; And slight withal may be the things which bring Back on the heart the weight which it would fling Aside for ever: it may be a sound-- A tone of music--summer"s eve--or spring-- A flower--the wind--the ocean--which shall wound, Striking the electric chain wherewith we are darkly bound.
And how and why we know not, nor can trace Home to its cloud this lightning of the mind, But feel the shock renew"d, nor can efface The blight and blackening which it leaves behind, Which out of things familiar, undesign"d, When least we deem of such, calls up to view The spectres whom no exorcism can bind, The cold--the changed--perchance the dead----"
CHILDE HAROLD.
Can anything happen in a month? How often this question was in Amy"s mind; how often in her thoughts. What could happen? Her heart suggested many things, strive as she would to think otherwise, and ever reverted with fear to her boy, whom she so pa.s.sionately loved; old Hannah was surprised sometimes at the injunctions she received and wondered what her young mistress was so nervous about. The boy was well enough and hearty enough in all conscience: there was no occasion to make a "molly coddle" of him.
Bertie had taken a fancy to Frances, and would sit on her knee in preference to others, or hold up his little face to be kissed, when he was shy at being caressed by anyone else. Amy viewed the liking with distrust; she disliked Frances, and could not bear to see her and the boy romping together, and would have checked it, if she could have found some reason for doing so; but Robert countenanced it, and often joined in their play, while Amy alone looked grave and sorrowful.
Why had Frances come to Brampton? Had her stubborn heart at length given way, and did she regret the misery she had caused Amy and come to make atonement? To ask forgiveness and be forgiven? Were they to be reconciled at last? No. Not so. Frances came expecting to find Amy miserable, married to a man she could not love, and weeping the remembrance of the lost love. In that she would have gloried. But she came to find it otherwise; and how great was her disappointment, how bitter became her thoughts, how more than ever determined was she to pursue Amy and make her in the end utterly miserable. It wounded her to the quick to see Amy happy and contented with a husband who seemed to worship her and a child of whom she might well be proud. Was this to be the envied lot of her who had weaned the one heart away, so that harsh, bitter words had fallen on her ear as she had knelt in despair at his feet. Could she ever forget that? or his scorn? No! never! Amy"s happiness must be undermined; had she not sworn it on that terrible, never-to-be forgotten night; sworn that Amy"s sufferings should some day equal hers! There was little difficulty in accomplishing this if she went cautiously to work: haste alone could bring a failure.
Amy saw little of her husband now; of a morning he rode with Mrs.
Linchmore and Frances, or walked miles with Mr. Linchmore: there was always something to draw him from her side. Of an evening it was music and chess. At first Amy had ridden with the rest, but latterly she and Bertie had spent their mornings together; she could see no pleasure in riding by Frances" side, and Mrs. Linchmore was so timid she claimed all Robert"s attention.
Doubts fast and thick were springing up in Amy"s heart. She shunned being alone with her husband, and insensibly grew cold and constrained.
How seldom her eyes looked brightly on him, or her lips spoke loving words! while he never seemed to heed the change, or say aught of his love for her now, but grew colder too.
They were both changed, husband and wife; the one had begun to doubt his wife"s love; the other feared her husband"s love was fading away, and she without the power to stay its flight. Ah! Frances had already wrought wondrous harm, although only a week since she came to Brampton.
Amy stood at the window one morning, and watched the horses as they were being brought round, Frances"s fiery one evincing his hot temper by arching his proud neck and coming along with a quick short trot, while the more sober Lady Emily pawed the ground with impatient hoof.
Presently Frances came in ready for her ride, and then Vavasour.
"Are you not going with us, Mrs. Vavasour?" asked Frances. "I thought I heard you say you would."
Amy glanced at her husband. Would he, too, ask her? No; he stood quietly on the hearthrug, apparently indifferent as to her reply.
"Thank you; I am rather busy this morning."
"Busy? What can you find to do?"
"I and Bertie are going for a walk."
"Ah! I thought Bertie had a great deal to do with it. How fond you are of Bertie," and she laid an uncomfortable stress on the name as each time it pa.s.sed her lips.
Robert spoke at last. "Bertie is Mrs. Vavasour"s loadstar," he said, quietly.
Amy felt this to be unjust; not so would her husband have spoken to her a month ago.
"My heart is large enough to hold more than the love for my boy," she replied.
"I expect he holds by far the largest share of it," said Frances.
Amy said nothing until she met Robert"s gaze fixed inquiringly on her face. "My love for my child is a sacred love, and scarcely to be called in question, Miss Strickland," she answered.
Frances"s eyes flashed; then she laughed and struck her riding-habit with her whip. "Don"t look so much in earnest, Mrs. Vavasour. I dare say you have lots of love in your heart for everybody."
"Not for everyone," replied Amy, gravely.
"Ah! you never fall in love at first sight, then; but when once you love, your love lasts for ever. Is it so?"
"I have never asked myself the question."
"But perhaps Mr. Vavasour has. What say you, Mr. Vavasour, you who are supposed to know every thought of your wife"s heart?"
"A woman"s heart is too difficult a thing for us poor men to fathom."
"Not always. I am going to call Isabella. You can ask your wife while I"m gone."
Amy stood close by her husband, yet dared not raise her eyes to his.
Would he ask her if he knew every thought of her heart, and if she said "no," sternly demand what she had to conceal? Now, more than ever, she wished she had told him all long ago. She knew the question must come.
It came at last.
"Amy, is it so? Do I know every thought of your heart?"
"You ought to," she replied, tremblingly.
"True." He sighed, then paused, as if expecting her to say more, but Amy was silent.
"Do you love me better than all others, Amy? better than your boy?"
"Nay, what a question. You know I love you, Robert."
He strained her pa.s.sionately to his heart: had he held her there a moment longer, Amy might have told him all, for she felt strangely softened; but Frances" voice sounded; he drew away from her without a word, and was gone.
"I will ride to-morrow," thought Amy, "perhaps it will please him;" and Robert did look pleased the next day as she came out on the terrace--where he stood with Mrs. Linchmore,--in her riding habit and hat.
"You are going with us?" he cried.
"Yes, the day is so pleasant, I could not resist the temptation."