But the proud face did not relax; the mother shook her head, disengaged her dress, and left the room.
An hour after Felix came in, and approaching the sofa where his governess rested, said vehemently:
"Is it true, Edna? Are you going South with Mrs. Murray?"
"Yes; I am going to see a dear friend who is probably dying."
"Oh, Edna! what will become of me?"
"I shall be absent only a few weeks--"
"I have a horrible dread that if you go you will never come back!
Don"t leave me! n.o.body needs you half as much as I do. Edna, you said once you would never forsake me. Remember your promise!"
"My dear little boy, I am not forsaking you; I shall only be separated from you for a month or two; and it is my duty to go to my sick friend. Do not look so wretched! for just so surely as I live, I shall come back to you."
"You think so now; but your old friends will persuade you to stay, and you will forget me, and--and--"
He turned around and hid his face on the back of his chair.
It was in vain that she endeavored, by promises and caresses, to reconcile him to her temporary absence. He would not be comforted; and his tear-stained, woe-begone, sallow face, as she saw it on the evening of her departure, pursued her on her journey South.
CHAPTER x.x.xII.
The mocking-bird sang as of old in the myrtle-boughs that shaded the study-window, and within the parsonage reigned the peaceful repose which seemed ever to rest like a benediction upon it. A ray of sunshine stealing through the myrtle-leaves made golden ripples on the wall; a bright wood-fire blazed in the wide, deep, old-fashioned chimney; the white cat slept on the rug, with her pink paws turned toward the crackling flames; and blue and white hyacinths hung their fragrant bells over the gilded edge of the vases on the mantelpiece.
Huldah sat on one side of the hearth peeling a red apple; and, snugly wrapped in his palm-leaf cashmere dressing-gown, Mr. Hammond rested in his cushioned easy-chair, with his head thrown far back, and his fingers clasping a large bunch of his favorite violets, His snowy hair drifted away from a face thin and pale, but serene and happy, and in his bright blue eyes there was a humorous twinkle, and on his lips a half-smothered smile, as he listened to the witticisms of his Scotch countrymen in "Noctes Ambrosianae."
Close to his chair sat Edna, reading aloud from the quaint and inimitable book he loved so well, and pausing now and then to explain some word which Huldah did not understand, or to watch for symptoms of weariness in the countenance of the invalid.
The three faces contrasted vividly in the ruddy glow of the fire.
That of the little girl, round, rosy, red-lipped, dimpled, merry- eyed; the aged pastor"s wrinkled cheeks and furrowed brow and streaming silver beard; and the carved-ivory features of the governess, borrowing no color from the soft folds of her rich merino dress. As daylight ebbed, the ripple danced up to the ceiling and vanished, like the p.r.i.c.ked bubble of a human hope; the mocking-bird hushed his vesper-hymn; and Edna closed the book and replaced it on the shelf.
Huldah tied on her scarlet-lined hood, kissed her friends good-bye, and went back to Le Bocage; and the old man and the orphan sat looking at the grotesque flicker of the flames on the burnished andirons.
"Edna, are you tired, or can you sing some for me?"
"Reading aloud rarely fatigues me. What shall I sing?"
"That solemn, weird thing in the "Prophet," which suits your voice so well."
She sang "Ah, mon fils!" and then, without waiting for the request which she knew would follow, gave him some of his favorite Scotch songs.
As the last sweet strains of "Mary of Argyle" echoed through the study, the pastor shut his eyes, and memory flew back to the early years when his own wife Mary had sung those words in that room, and his dead darlings cl.u.s.tered eagerly around the piano to listen to their mother"s music. Five fair-browed, innocent young faces circling about the idolized wife, and baby Annie nestling in her cradle beside the hearth, playing with her waxen fingers and crowing softly. Death had stolen his household jewels; but recollection robbed the grave, and music"s magic touch unsealed "memory"s golden urn."
"Oh! death in life, the days that are no more!"
Edna thought he had fallen asleep, he was so still, his face was so placid; and she came softly back to her chair and looked at the ruby temples and towers, the glittering domes and ash-gray ruined arcades built by the oak coals.
A month had elapsed since her arrival at the parsonage, and during that short period Mr. Hammond had rallied and recovered his strength so unexpectedly that hopes were entertained of his entire restoration; and he spoke confidently of being able to reenter his pulpit on Easter Sunday.
The society of his favorite pupil seemed to render him completely happy, and his countenance shone in the blessed light that gladdened his heart. After a long, dark, stormy day, the sun of his life was preparing to set in cloudless peace and glory.
Into all of Edna"s literary schemes he entered eagerly. She read to him the MS. of her new book as far as it was written, and was gratified by his perfect satisfaction with the style, plot, and aim.
Mrs. Murray came every day to the parsonage, but Edna had not visited Le Bocage; and though Mr. Murray spent two mornings of each week with Mr. Hammond, he called at stated hours, and she had not yet met him. Twice she had heard his voice in earnest conversation, and several times she had seen his tall figure coming up the walk, but of his features she caught not even a glimpse. St. Elmo"s name had never been mentioned in her presence by either his mother or the pastor, but Huldah talked ceaselessly of his kindness to her.
Knowing the days on which he came to the parsonage, Edna always absented herself from the invalid"s room until the visit was over.
One afternoon she went to the church to play on the organ; and after an hour of mournful enjoyment in the gallery so fraught with precious reminiscences, she left the church and found Tamerlane tied to the iron gate, but his master was not visible. She knew that he was somewhere in the building or yard, and denied herself the pleasure of going there a second time.
Neither glance nor word had been exchanged since they parted at the railroad station, eighteen months before. She longed to know his opinion of her book, for many pa.s.sages had been written with special reference to his perusal; but she would not ask; and it was a sore trial to sit in one room, hearing the low, indistinct murmur of his voice in the next, and yet never to see him.
Few women could have withstood the temptation; but the orphan dreaded his singular power over her heart, and dared not trust herself in his presence.
This evening, as she sat with the firelight shining on her face, thinking of the past, she could not realize that only two years had elapsed since she came daily to this quiet room to recite her lessons; for during that time she had suffered so keenly in mind and body that it seemed as if weary ages had gone over her young head.
Involuntarily she sighed, and pa.s.sed her hand across her forehead. A low tap at the door diverted her thoughts, and a servant entered and gave her a package of letters from New York. Every mail brought one from Felix; and now opening his first, a tender smile parted her lips as she read his pa.s.sionate, importunate appeal for her speedy return, and saw that the closing lines were blotted with tears. The remaining eight letters were from persons unknown to her, and contained requests for autographs and photographs, for short sketches for papers in different sections of the country, and also various inquiries concerning the time when her new book would probably be ready for press. All were kind, friendly, gratifying, and one was eloquent with thanks for the good effect produced by a magazine article on a dissipated, irreligious husband and father, who, after its perusal, had resolved to reform, and wished her to know the beneficial influence which she exerted. At the foot of the page was a line penned by the rejoicing wife, invoking heaven"s choicest blessings on the author"s head.
"Is not the laborer worthy of his hire?" Edna felt that her wages were munificent indeed; that her coffers were filling, and though the "Thank G.o.d!" was not audible, the great joy in her uplifted eyes attracted the attention of the pastor, who had been silently watching her, and he laid his hand on hers.
"What is it, my dear?"
"The reward G.o.d has given me!"
She read aloud the contents of the letter, and there was a brief silence, broken at last by Mr. Hammond.
"Edna, my child, are you really happy?"
"So happy that I believe the wealth of California could not buy this sheet of paper, which a.s.sures me that I have been instrumental in bringing sunshine to a darkened household; in calling the head of a family from haunts of vice and midnight orgies back to his wife and children; back to the shrine of prayer at his own hearthstone! I have not lived in vain, for through my work a human soul has been brought to Jesus, and I thank G.o.d that I am accounted worthy to labor in my Lord"s vineyard! Oh! I will wear that happy wife"s blessing in my inmost heart, and like those old bells in Cambridgeshire, inscribed, "Pestem fungo! Sabbata pango!" it shall ring a silvery chime, exorcising all gloom, and loneliness, and sorrow."
The old man"s eyes filled as he noted the radiance of the woman"s lovely face.
"You have indeed cause for grat.i.tude and great joy, as you realize all the good you are destined to accomplish, and I know the rapture of saving souls, for, through G.o.d"s grace, I believe I have s.n.a.t.c.hed some from the brink of ruin. But, Edna, can the triumph of your genius, the applause of the world, the approval of conscience, even the a.s.surance that you are laboring successfully for the cause of Christ--can all these things satisfy your womanly heart--your loving, tender heart? My child, there is a dreary look sometimes in your eyes, that reveals loneliness, almost weariness of life. I have studied your countenance closely when it was in repose; I read it I think without errors; and as often as I hear your writings praised, I recall those lines, written by one of the n.o.blest of your own s.e.x:
"To have our books Appraised by love, a.s.sociated with love, While we sit loveless! is it hard, you think?
At least, "tis mournful."
Edna, are you perfectly contented with your lot?"
A shadow drifted slowly over the marble face, and though it settled on no feature, the whole countenance was changed.
"I can not say that I am perfectly content, and yet I would not exchange places with any woman I know."
"Do you never regret a step which you took one evening, yonder in my church?"
"No, sir, I do not regret it. I often thank G.o.d that I was able to obey my conscience and take that step."