"Yes, I know it," she said, averting her face.
"And that Richmond has searched for tidings of you everywhere?"
"Yes."
"Well, Georgia," he said, anxiously, "what do you intend to do? You should return to your husband."
"I intend to," she said, looking up with a sudden bright smile, "but not just yet. And you--how little I ever expected to see you a clergyman--you, who, if your reverence will excuse my saying it, used to be such a rattlepate."
He laughed, the happy, careless laugh that reminded her of the Charley of other days, and shook back, with the old familiar motion, his thick, cl.u.s.tering, chestnut hair.
"Time works wonders, Georgia. Thank G.o.d for what it has done for me," he said, reverentially. "Did you know I was a clergyman?"
"Not until to-night. They never would tell me what became of you. They said you disgraced the family, committed some awful crime, but what it was I never could learn. Surely they did not mean that by becoming a clergyman you had disgraced your family?"
"They meant that, and nothing else," he said, emphatically.
"Ah, how much you gave up for the dictates of conscience--friends and family, wealth and worldly honors, and all that makes life dear; and yet you look happy," said Georgia, in a sort of wonder.
He laid his hand on hers and pointed up, while he said, in a low voice:
""Amen, I say to you, there is no man that hath left home, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of G.o.d"s sake, who shall not receive much more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.""
She lifted her eyes in a sort of awe at the inspired tones. And his face was as the face of an angel.
A silence fell on them both, broken first by him.
"You must come to see me again, Georgia. I have a good deal to say to you that I have no time to say now. Here is my address while I remain in the city, which will not be long. You have suffered wrong, Georgia, but "forgive that you be likewise forgiven." I must go now. Good-night, and Heaven bless you!"
In her unworthiness she felt as if she could have sunk at his feet and kissed the hem of his garment. She bowed her once haughty head to receive his parting benediction, and hurried out.
Sitting in her room that night, she sank down to pray for the first time in years--almost for the first time in her life. Fervently, earnestly was that prayer offered; and a calmness, a peace hitherto unknown, stole into her heart. In the sighing of the wind she seemed to hear an angel voice softly saying, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest;" and dropping her forehead in her clasped hands, she sank down in the calm light of high, bright, solemn stars, and meekly murmured:
"Hear me, oh, Lord!"
CHAPTER XXII.
THE SUN RISES.
"Radiant daughter of the sun, Now thy living wreath is won, Crowned with fame! Oh! art thou not Happy in that glorious lot?
Happier, happier far than thou, With the laurel on thy brow, She that makes the humblest Lovely but to one on earth."
MRS. HEMANS.
The wise counsel and impressive instructions of her old acquaintance, the now calm, dignified, and subdued Rev. Mr. Wildair, soon brought forth good fruit. Georgia began to find the "peace which pa.s.seth all understanding." Now she looked forward with calm, patient expectation to her meeting with her husband, with the sweet promise ever in her mind, "seek first the kingdom of G.o.d, and all else shall be added unto you."
With a sad heart Georgia noticed her old companion"s thin, wasted face and form, the striking brilliancy of his eyes, the hectic flush of his pale cheek, and the short, hacking cough that impeded his speech, and felt that the inspired young missionary"s days were numbered.
The day came at last when the decision regarding Georgia"s picture was to be announced.
She tried to be calm and patient, but notwithstanding all her efforts in this direction, when Mr. Leonard started off to hear the decision that was to condemn or accept her picture, she was in a perfect fever of anxiety. She could not sit still, she could not taste breakfast; she walked up and down her room in irrepressible impatience, with two hot spots, all unusual there, burning on either cheek, and a wild, feverish light streaming from her eyes.
Noon came--twelve o"clock--Georgia looked at her watch unceasingly. He had promised to return between twelve and one, but one pa.s.sed and he came not; two, and he was absent still; three, and in her burning impatience she was about to throw on her hat and shawl and hasten out in search of news, when the door was flung open, and Mr. Leonard, flushed, and panting, and perspiring, rushed in.
"Hurrah! you"ve done it! you"ve done it! you"ve got the prize, Miss Randall! Hagar"s electrifying the whole of "em and got herself to the top of the tree. If Abraham was around he"d feel pretty cheap just now, to see the fuss they"re making about her. I knew you would get it, Miss Randall! Let me congratulate you! Hurrah!"
And Mr. Leonard, in his delight, waved his hat and gave a cheer that sent the widow shrieking into the room to see what was the matter. And there she found Mr. Leonard grasping Georgia by both hands, and shaking them with a zeal and vehemence quite startling, while Georgia herself, forgetting everything, even her success, in her sense of the ludicrous, was laughing until her cheeks were crimson.
Georgia smiled, but her cheek was flushed and her eye flashing with triumph. Never had she looked so beautiful before, and the old gentleman gazed at her with profound admiration as she stood like a triumphant young queen before him.
"You are right, Mr. Leonard, wonders never _will_ cease. Some day, very shortly, I intend to give you a still greater surprise."
"Eh--how--what is it?" said the old man, puzzled by her radiant face.
"Never mind, sir. You shall know in good time. To-morrow I will go with you to "receive my reward of merit." I have never got one since I left school, but I don"t know but that I rather like the idea after all."
As she spoke the door was opened, and the widow re-entered.
"Well?" said Georgia, inquiringly.
"There are two gentlemen in the next room who want to see you, if you please," she said.
"To see me!" said Georgia, in surprise.
"Yes"m; they asked for Miss Randall."
Georgia"s heart throbbed, and her color came and went. A sudden faintness seized her, and she sank into a chair.
"Why, bless my heart! what"s the matter?" said Mr. Leonard, in surprise; "it can"t be the artists, you know, because they don"t know your name or address. What _does_ ail you, Miss Randall?"
"Show them in here. I will see them," said Georgia, faintly, raising her head and laying her hand on her heart to still its tumultuous throbbings.
Georgia"s hour had come.
The door opened, and Georgia rose to her feet, deadly pale, with many emotions, as d.i.c.k Curtis and Mr. Randall entered.
"I was right--it _is_ she!" cried Mr. Curtis, joyfully, as he sprang forward and caught both her hands in his. "Huzza! Oh, Mrs. Wildair, Mrs.
Wildair! to think I should ever see you again!" said d.i.c.k, fairly ready to cry.
"_Mrs. Wildair!_ Why, what the----"
Mr. Leonard, in his astonishment, made use of an improper word, reader, so you will excuse me for not repeating it.