"I am neither mad nor ill. I will prove it, if you wish."
At these words every trace of sympathy or feeling vanished from her face; and she said in a low, hoa.r.s.e whisper,
"You cannot prove it. I would not believe such a thing possible."
Then with a pitiless particularity he went over all the events relating to the note, and held it out for her to examine the signature.
"Is that David Cameron"s writing?" he cried; "did you ever see such a weak imitation? The man is a fool as well as a villain."
Christine gazed blankly at the witness of her cousin"s guilt, and James, carried away with the wicked impetuosity of his pa.s.sionate accusations of Donald"s life, did not see the fair face set in white despair and the eyes close wearily, as with a piteous cry she fell prostrate at his feet.
Ah, how short was his triumph! When he saw the ruin that his words had made he shrieked aloud in his terror and agony. Help was at hand, and doctors were quickly brought, but she had received a shock from which it seemed impossible to revive her. David was brought home, and knelt in speechless distress by the side of his insensible child, but no hope lightened the long, terrible night, and when the reaction came in the morning, it came in the form of fever and delirium.
Questioned closely by David, James admitted nothing but that while talking to him about Donald McFarlane she had fallen at his feet, and Donald could only say that he had that evening told her he was going to Edinburgh in two weeks, to study law with his cousin, and that he had asked her to be his wife.
This acknowledgement bound David and Donald in a closer communion of sorrow. James and his sufferings were scarcely noticed. Yet, probably of all that unhappy company, he suffered the most. He loved Christine with a far deeper affection than Donald had ever dreamed of. He would have given his life for hers, and yet he had, perhaps, been her murderer. How he hated Donald in those days! What love and remorse tortured him! And what availed it that he had bought the power to ruin the man he hated? He was afraid to use it. If Christine lived, and he did use it, she would never forgive him; if she died, he would be her murderer.
But the business of life cannot be delayed for its sorrows. David must wait in his shop, and James must be at the bank; and in two weeks Donald had to leave for Edinburgh, though Christine was lying in a silent, broken-hearted apathy, so close to the very shoal of Time that none dared say, "She will live another day."
How James despised Donald for leaving her at all; he desired nothing beyond the permission to sit by her side, and watch and aid the slow struggle of life back from the sh.o.r.es and shades of death.
It was almost the end of summer before she was able to resume her place in the household, but long before that she had asked to see James. The interview took place one Sabbath afternoon while David was at church. Christine had been lifted to a couch, but she was unable to move, and even speech was exhausting and difficult to her. James knelt down by her side, and, weeping bitterly, said,
"O Christine, forgive me!"
She smiled faintly.
"You--have--not--used--yonder--paper,--James?"
"Oh, no, no."
"It--would--kill--me. You--would--not--kill--me?"
"I would die to make you strong again."
"Don"t--hurt--Donald. Forgive--for--Christ"s--sake,--James!"
Poor James! It was hard for him to see that still Donald was her first thought, and, looking on the wreck of Christine"s youth and beauty, it was still harder not to hate him worse than ever.
Nor did the temptation to do so grow less with time. He had to listen every evening to David"s praises of his nephew: how "he had been entered wi" Advocate Scott, and was going to be a grand lawyer," or how he had been to some great man"s house and won all hearts with his handsome face and witty tongue. Or, perhaps, he would be shown some rich token of his love that had come for Christine; or David would say, "There"s the "Edinbro" News," James; it cam fra Donald this morn; tak it hame wi" you. You"re welcome." And James feared not to take it, feared to show the slightest dislike to Donald, lest David"s anger at it should provoke him to say what was in his heart, and Christine only be the sufferer.
One cold night in early winter, James, as was his wont now, went to spend the evening in talking with David and in watching Christine.
That was really all it was; for, though she had resumed her house duties, she took little part in conversation. She had always been inclined to silence, but now a faint smile and a "Yes" or "No" were her usual response, even to her father"s remarks. This night he found David out, and he hesitated whether to trouble Christine or not. He stood for a moment in the open door and looked at her. She was sitting by the table with a little Testament open in her hand; but she was rather musing on what she had been reading than continuing her occupation.
"Christine!"
"James!"
"May I come in?"
"Yes, surely."
"I hear your father has gone to a town-meeting."
"Yes."
"And he is to be made a bailie."
"Yes."
"I am very glad. It will greatly please him, and there is no citizen more worthy of the honor."
"I think so also."
"Shall I disturb you if I wait to see him?"
"No, James; sit down."
Then Christine laid aside her book and took her sewing, and James sat thinking how he could best introduce the subject ever near his heart.
He felt that there was much to say in his own behalf, if he only knew how to begin. Christine opened the subject for him. She laid down her work and went and stood before the fire at his side. The faintest shadow of color was in her face, and her eyes were unspeakably sad and anxious. He could not bear their eager, searching gaze, and dropped his own.
"James, have you destroyed yonder paper?"
"Nay, Christine; I am too poor a man to throw away so much hard-won gold. I am keeping it until I can see Mr. McFarlane and quietly collect my own."
"You will never use it in any way against him?"
"Will you ever marry him? Tell me that."
"O sir!" she cried indignantly, "you want to make a bargain with my poor heart. Hear, then. If Donald wants me to marry him I"ll never cast him off. Do you think G.o.d will cast him off for one fault? You dare not say it."
"I do not say but what G.o.d will pardon. But we are human beings; we are not near to G.o.d yet."
"But we ought to be trying to get near him; and oh, James, you never had so grand a chance. See the pitiful face of Christ looking down on you from the cross. If that face should turn away from you, James--if it should!"
"You ask a hard thing of me, Christine."
"Yes, I do."
"But if you will only try and love me--"
"Stop, James! I will make no bargain in a matter of right and wrong.
If for Christ"s sake, who has forgiven you so much, you can forgive Donald, for Christ"s dear sake do it. If not, I will set no earthly love before it. Do your worst. G.o.d can find out a way. I"ll trust him."
"Christine! dear Christine!"
"Hush! I am Donald"s promised wife. May G.o.d speak to you for me. I am very sad and weary. Good-night."