"Where could my thoughts be!" she exclaimed in hurried accents. "Is my mother here? Ah, yes! I behold her! I did not know you, indeed I did not! But bless me; bless your daughter."
Mrs. Adair tenderly embraced Jane; and in faltering accents blessed her.
"My dearest, kindest mother, be comforted! We are parting--but to meet again! The trial will soon be over! My hope is fixed upon the promises of a merciful Redeemer! I am only going a little--a very little while before you! How joyful is the thought, that we are not separating for ever!--this is my joy," and her eyes brightened as she spoke, "that I have reverenced my G.o.d, and loved my mother. But this pain;--O, it is violent!--Mother--"...Here the voice ceased; not a sigh, not a whisper was heard.
Mrs. Adair, who had been supporting her daughter, now gently placed her head upon the pillow, and silently led Elizabeth out of the room.
At the door of her own apartment she saw Mrs. Lloyd; and desiring her to take the charge of Elizabeth, who appeared almost convulsed with anguish, instantly returned into the chamber she had so recently quitted. After indulging that grief, which the most unfeeling in some measure experience, when they behold the lifeless remains of a being they had loved, she calmly proceeded to accomplish the desire of the departed, in preparing her for that narrow spot, which confines all that was mighty, rich, n.o.ble, excellent--the despised of the world, the neglected of the world; that spot which is the boundary of ambition, and the sure refuge for the distressed.
CHAPTER XVI.
When Mrs. Adair had retired to her own chamber, on the night of her daughter"s decease, and was reflecting upon the awful event of the morning, her attention was drawn from the subject by a low whispering sound. Aware that the teachers and servants were retired to rest, she could not account for the circ.u.mstance; she now heard doors slowly opening, and was persuaded that different persons were pa.s.sing her room.
Alarmed, but at the same time collected, she cautiously opened her own door; and perceiving a glimmering light proceed from the chamber where her daughter"s remains were laid, resolved to be satisfied, and with light, slow steps, advanced to the spot. There, with surprise, she beheld several of her pupils. At the head of the bed stood Miss Arden, with eyes mournfully bent upon the face of the departed; Miss Damer stooped to kiss the corpse, and then burst into a violent flood of tears. "That smile," said Miss Cotton, "proves that the soul is rejoicing in heaven. Where shall we again behold upon earth one so amiable or so lovely?"
"O, that I may be equally prepared, when my hour comes," cried Miss Arden.
"Hush! hush!" cried Isabella Vincent, in a tone of terror, "did you not hear some one breathe? O, do hide me." She now covered her face with her frock.
Miss Grey took her pa.s.sive hand, and tried to comfort her. "Look at Miss Jane, and then you will not be frightened; now do look--it is so simple to be afraid; she appears only as if she were asleep. There is not any thing terrible in death, only to wicked people; I am sure I should not be afraid to die to-night."
"I dare not look! indeed I dare not! do take me to my own room."
"You must look at Miss Jane, or you will always be frightened at being alone. You know I am but a little girl as well as yourself; but I should not be afraid to sleep here to-night. Think how good she was! living or dead, she would never injure us."
"O, take me away: I don"t know what you are saying; why does not some one speak? O, do somebody speak, or I shall be frightened to death."
Miss Grey whispered to her companion that Mrs. Adair was come into the room.
"Is she? O how glad I am! Now I don"t mind." Saying this, she uncovered her face, and crept quietly to Mrs. Adair; who was asking why they had a.s.sembled in the chamber at so improper an hour.
"We should have been miserable, ma"am," said Miss Cotton, "unless we had seen Miss Jane to-night; and as we shall never behold her again, we thought, ma"am, you would pardon us. I could not have slept; and the other ladies declared the same."
"But wherefore did you come, Isabella?"
"O, ma"am, because I dared not to be alone."
"But why are you afraid to look at my daughter?"
"O, I am not afraid now; I will look at Miss Jane," said Isabella with a.s.sumed courage; "but do let me take hold of your hand, ma"am; then I know I shall be safe."
"You have better protection than mine, my little girl, or you would be poorly defended. He who made you, he alone can guard you: but there is not any thing to fear from the dead."
Mrs. Adair led her pupil to the head of the bed.
"Look, my dear, how happy and composed she appears; as quiet and sound as your little brother, when he is asleep."
By degrees, Isabella ventured to turn her eyes upon the corpse; "I am not afraid, I am not afraid indeed," said she, almost gasping for breath. At length her eyes were fixed upon the face of the deceased: "She can"t be dead--she must be asleep! But hush! I do not hear her breathe! Where is Miss Jane"s breath now, ma"am?" As she said this, she timidly stretched forth her hand, and lightly touched the face of the departed; then hastily starting back, cried; "must we all be so cold--as cold as marble?"
"We must all be so, indeed! There is no warmth, my little girl, when the soul is fled."
"But what is the soul, ma"am? and where is it?" asked Miss Bruce.
"Your question is beyond my power to answer. The vital spirit, which we call the soul, is given by G.o.d, to direct us to do that which is right; and, from childhood to the grave, is our faithful friend. My daughter, whose lifeless remains you are now contemplating, was in all her ways actuated by this spirit, to obedience, and to goodness; and in a state of glory she will again exist, with a mind purified and exalted. What would be the use of life, and of the wonderful powers with which we are gifted, were we to lie down in the grave, as the beasts that perish?"
"But how will Miss Jane rise again, ma"am?" asked Miss Bruce. "It is in the Bible, that at the last day we shall be "raised in the twinkling of an eye." O, that I could behold Miss Jane rise now; then I should never die!"
"We read," said Mrs. Adair, "that the seed is cast into the earth, and rises up wheat, or any other grain: but we do not know how this comes to pa.s.s. The seed, that looks so insignificant in our eyes, after it has been in the earth the appointed time, gradually breaks forth in all its glory. We likewise shall be put into the earth; no longer valued, but by the remembrance of our worth; there we shall moulder and decay, and in time be forgotten by all the inhabitants upon earth. But the season of the resurrection will come: the soul will resume her influence; we shall burst the fetters of the tomb, and appear before the Judge of nations, to answer for our deeds upon earth. Be good, then, my dear young friends; and, you will then neither have cause to fear death, or future judgment. And now take your leave--your final leave of one, who was in all things worthy of imitation; and learn with equal ease, to sleep or die."
CHAPTER XVII.
The Sunday after the funeral, the young ladies appeared at church, with very serious and sorrowful countenances; and afterwards, with Miss Arden and Miss Damer, Jane was often a subject of conversation: they loved to recall her to remembrance; and the proofs she had left of her regard were particularly prized by them.
But serious impressions seldom remain long upon the minds of very young people. Miss Bruce was almost the first to return to her old pursuits with gaiety of heart.
One evening, unknown to the teacher, she had strolled to the front garden gate, apparently on the watch for mischief. Isabella, who was intent upon learning her lessons for the following day, had likewise pa.s.sed the boundary of the play-ground, and had sauntered the same way.
Miss Bruce in a moment caught her hand, opened the gate, and ran with her into the lane.
"Where are you taking me to?" exclaimed Isabella; "you have frightened me so!"
"Nonsense! I only want you to go with me to the cake shop: we shan"t be five minutes away."
"But I have no business at the cake shop. And don"t you see that I am learning my lessons! You will make me forget all! "Five times nine, forty-five." O, dear, I shall forget every thing!"
"What a dunce!" cried Miss Bruce; "only at forty-five! I will teach you ten times further; and to add, and to subtract, if you will come with me. I do believe Miss Wilkins is there! Come along, or we shall be finely punished!" Saying this, Miss Bruce dragged Isabella down the lane, whilst she struggled to make her escape.
"I will not go, Miss Bruce! you have no right to take me! I declare you have made me drop my questions!"
"Never mind; I will give you question and answer too. Don"t you see that stile? and that nice white cottage by that large pool of water, where those children are throwing stones? We have only to turn down by those tall trees, and we shall be there in a moment."
"I dare not go: I know Mrs. Adair will be so angry!"
"I am determined you shall come! you are the most stupid little thing in England!" As Miss Bruce said this, she took firm hold of her companion"s frock and arm, and drew her towards the water. Isabella in vain tried to escape. By this time, they had almost reach the pool; a boy, who had been amusing two children, making circles with stones in the water, stepped from the edge of the pond, and marching boldly up to Miss Bruce, as boldly asked her, "what business she had to tease the little lady?"
"Do you think, Sir, I shall answer a rude, vulgar boy like you?"
The boy looked at her with contempt, and stooping to Isabella, said, "Do, little lady, tell me what this great girl is holding your frock for?"
"She wants me to go with her for cakes, and I want to learn my lessons."
"O, you are the ladies, then, from the great school! I thought I had seen you before. I see how it is; this great girl is like Jack Ranger; she wants to get you into a sc.r.a.pe, that you may be marked as well as herself! But I"ll defend you, never fear! It is not a crab-stick that can frighten me! Come with me, and see who dares to hinder us!" He now caught her hand, and tried to draw her from her companion.