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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/31869-8.txt b/31869-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..782445b --- /dev/null +++ b/31869-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16956 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lamplighter, by Maria S. Cummins + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lamplighter + +Author: Maria S. Cummins + +Release Date: April 2, 2010 [EBook #31869] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LAMPLIGHTER *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier, Mary Meehan and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + The Lamplighter + + By MARIA S. CUMMINS + + Author of "MABEL VAUGHAN," "EL FUREIDIS," "HAUNTED HEARTS." + + +A. L. BURT, PUBLISHER +52-58 DUANE STREET +NEW YORK + + + + +THE LAMPLIGHTER + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +LIGHT IN DARKNESS. + + "Good God! to think upon a child + That has no childish days, + No careless play, no frolics wild, + No words of prayer and praise." + --LANDON. + + +It was growing dark in the city. Out in the open country it would be +light for half-an-hour or more; but in the streets it was already dusk. +Upon the wooden door-step of a low-roofed, dark, and unwholesome-looking +house, sat a little girl, earnestly gazing up the street. The house-door +behind her was close to the side-walk; and the step on which she sat was +so low that her little unshod feet rested on the cold bricks. It was a +chilly evening in November, and a light fall of snow had made the narrow +streets and dark lanes dirtier and more cheerless than ever. + +Many people were passing, but no one noticed the little girl, for no one +in the world cared for her. She was clad in the poorest of garments; her +hair was long, thick, and uncombed, and her complexion was sallow, and +her whole appearance was unhealthy. She had fine dark eyes; but so large +did they seem, in contrast to her thin, puny face that they increased +its peculiarity without increasing its beauty. Had she had a mother +(which, alas! she had not), those friendly eyes would have found +something in her to praise. But the poor little thing was told, a dozen +times a-day, that she was the worst-looking child in the world, and the +worst-behaved. No one loved her, and she loved no one; no one tried to +make her happy, or cared whether she was so. She was but eight years +old, and alone in the world. + +She loved to watch for the coming of the old man who lit the street-lamp +in front of the house where she lived; to see his bright torch flicker +in the wind; and then when he so quickly ran up his ladder, lit the +lamp, and made the place cheerful, a gleam of joy was shed on a little +desolate heart, to which gladness was a stranger; and though he had +never seemed to see, and had never spoken to her, she felt, as she +watched for the old lamplighter, as if he were a friend. + +"Gerty," exclaimed a harsh voice within, "have you been for the milk?" + +The child made no answer, but gliding off the door-step, ran quickly +round the corner of the house, and hid a little out of sight. "What's +become of that child?" said the woman who spoke, and who now showed +herself at the door. + +A boy who was passing, and had seen Gerty run, and who looked upon her +as a spirit of evil, laughed aloud, pointed to the corner which +concealed her, and walking off with his head over his shoulders, to see +what would happen next, said to himself, "She'll catch it!" + +Gerty was dragged from her hiding-place, and with one blow for her +ugliness and another for her impudence (for she was making faces at Nan +Grant), was despatched down a neighbouring alley for the milk. + +She ran fast, fearing the lamplighter would come and go in her absence, +and was rejoiced, on her return, to catch a sight of him just going up +his ladder. She stood at the foot of it, and was so engaged in watching +the bright flame, that she did not observe the descent of the man; and, +as she was directly in his way, he struck against her, and she fell upon +the pavement. "Hallo, my little one!" exclaimed he, "how's this?" as he +stooped to lift her up. She was on her feet in an instant; for she was +used to hard knocks, and did not mind a few bruises. But the milk was +all spilt. + +"Well! now, I declare!" said the man, "that's too bad!--what'll mammy +say?" and looking into Gerty's face, he exclaimed, "My, what an +odd-faced child!--looks like a witch!" Then, seeing that she looked +sadly at the spilt milk, he kindly said, "She won't be hard on such a +mite as you are, will she? Cheer up, my ducky! never mind if she does +scold you a little. I'll bring you something to-morrow that you'll like; +you're such a lonely-looking thing. And if the old woman makes a row, +tell her I did it.--But didn't I hurt you? What were you doing with my +ladder?" + +"I was seeing you light the lamp," said Gerty, "and I an't hurt a bit; +but I wish I hadn't spilt the milk." + +Just then Nan Grant came to the door, saw what had happened, and pulled +the child into the house, amidst blows and profane, brutal language. The +lamplighter tried to appease her, but she shut the door in his face. +Gerty was scolded, beaten, deprived of her usual crust for her supper, +and shut up in her dark attic for the night. Poor little child! Her +mother had died in Nan Grant's house five years before; and she had been +tolerated there since, not so much because when Ben Grant went to sea he +bade his wife to keep the child until his return--he had been gone so +long that no one thought he would ever come back--but because Nan had +reasons of her own for doing so, and, though she considered Gerty a dead +weight upon her hands, she did not care to excite inquiries by trying to +dispose of her elsewhere. + +When Gerty found herself locked up for the night in the dark +garret--Gerty hated and feared the dark--she stood for a minute +perfectly still, then suddenly began to stamp and scream, tried to beat +open the door, and shouted, "I hate you, Nan Grant! Old Nan Grant, I +hate you!" But nobody came near her; and she grew more quiet, lay down +on her miserable bed, covered her face with her little thin hands, and +sobbed as if her heart would break. She wept until she was exhausted; +and then gradually she became still. By-and-by she took her hands from +her face, clasped them together convulsively, and looked up at a little +glazed window near the bed. It was but three panes of glass unevenly +stuck together. There was no moon; but as Gerty looked up, she saw +shining upon her _one_ bright star. She thought she had never seen +anything half so beautiful. She had often been out of doors when the sky +was full of stars, and had not noticed them much; but this one, all +alone, so large, so bright, and yet so soft and pleasant-looking, seemed +to speak to her; to say, "Gerty! Gerty! _poor_ little Gerty!" She +thought it seemed like a kind face, such as she had a long time ago +seen or dreamt about. Suddenly she asked herself, "Who lit it? Somebody +lit it! Some good person, I know. Oh! how could he get up so high?" And +Gerty fell asleep, wondering who lit the star. + +Poor little, untaught, benighted soul! Who shall enlighten thee? Thou +art God's child, little one! Christ died for thee. Will he not send man +or angel to light up the darkness within, to kindle a light that shall +never go out, the light that shall shine through all eternity! + +Gerty awoke the next morning, not as children wake who are roused by +merry voices, or by a parent's kiss, who have kind hands to help them +dress, and knowing that a nice breakfast awaits them; but she heard +harsh voices below; Nan's son, and two or three boarders had come in to +breakfast, and Gerty's only chance of obtaining any share of the meal +was to be on the spot when they had finished, to take that portion of +what remained which Nan might shove towards her. So she crept +downstairs, waited a little till they had all gone out, and then she +slid into the room. She met with a rough greeting from Nan, who told her +she had better drop that ugly, sour look; eat some breakfast, if she +wanted it, but keep out of her way, and not come near the fire, where +she was at work, or she'd get another dressing, worse than she had last +night. Gerty had not looked for any other treatment, so she was not +disappointed; but, glad of the miserable food left for her on the table, +she swallowed it eagerly, and she took her little old hood, threw on a +ragged shawl, which had belonged to her mother, and ran out of the +house. + +Back of Nan Grant's house was a large wood and coal-yard, and beyond +that a wharf, and the thick, muddy water of a dock. Gerty might have +found many playmates in this place. She sometimes did mingle with the +boys and girls, ragged like herself, who played in the yard; but not +often--there was a league against her among the children of the place. +Poor, ragged, and miserably cared for, as they were, they knew that +Gerty was more neglected and abused. They had often seen her beaten, and +daily heard her called an ugly, wicked child; told that she belonged to +nobody, and had no business in any one's house. Thus they felt their +advantage, and scorned the little outcast. Perhaps this would not have +been the case if Gerty had mingled freely with them, and tried to be on +friendly terms; but, while her mother lived, she did her best to keep +her little girl away from the rude herd. Perhaps that habit of +avoidance, but still more a something in the child's nature, kept her +from joining in their rough sports, after her mother's death had left +her to do as she liked. She seldom had any intercourse with them. Nor +did they abuse her except in words; for, singly, they dared not cope +with her--spirited, sudden, and violent, she had made herself feared as +well as disliked. Once a band of them had united to vex her; but, Nan +Grant coming up just when one of the girls was throwing the shoes, which +she had pulled from Gerty's feet, into the dock, had given the girl a +sound whipping, and put them all to flight. Gerty had not had a pair of +shoes since; but Nan Grant, for once, had done her a good service, and +the children now left her in peace. + +It was a sunshiny, though a cold day, when Gerty sought shelter in the +wood-yard. There was an immense pile of timber in one corner of the +yard, almost out of sight of any of the houses. Of different lengths, +the planks formed, on one side, a series of irregular steps. Near the +top was a little sheltered recess, overhung by some long planks, and +forming a miniature shed, protected by the wood on all sides but one, +and from that looking out upon the water. + +This was Gerty's haven of rest, and the only place from which she never +was expelled. Here, during the long summer days, the little lonesome +child sat brooding over her griefs, her wrongs, and her ugliness; +sometimes weeping for hours. Now and then she would get a little more +cheerful, and enjoy watching the sailors as they laboured on board their +vessels, or rowed to and fro in little boats. The warm sunshine was so +pleasant, and the men's voices so lively, that the poor little thing +sometimes forgot her woes. + +But summer was gone, and the schooner and the sailors were gone too. The +weather was cold, and for a few days had been so stormy, that Gerty had +to stay in the house. Now, however, she made the best of her way to her +little hiding-place; and, to her joy, the sunshine had dried up the +boards, so that they felt warm to her bare feet, and was still shining +so bright and pleasant, that Gerty forgot Nan Grant, forgot how cold +she had been, and how much she dreaded the long winter. Her thoughts +rambled about sometime; but, at last, fixed upon the kind look and voice +of the old lamplighter; and then, for the first time since the promise +was made, it came into her mind that he had engaged to bring her +something the next time he came. She could not believe he would remember +it; but still he might--he seemed to be so sorry for her fall. + +What would he bring? Would it be something to eat? Oh, if it were only +some shoes! Perhaps he did not notice that she had none? + +Gerty resolved to go for her milk in season to be back before it was +time to light the lamp, so that nothing should prevent her seeing him. +The day seemed very long, but darkness came at last; and with it came +True--or rather Trueman Flint, for that was the lamplighter's name. +Gerty was on the spot, though she took good care to elude Nan Grant's +observation. + +True was late about his work that night, and in a great hurry. He had +only time to speak a few words to Gerty; but they were words coming +straight from a good and honest heart. He put his great, smutty hand on +her head in the kindest way, told her how sorry he was she got hurt, and +said. "It was a plaguy shame she should have been whipped, too, and all +for a spill o' milk, that was a misfortin', and no crime." + +"But here," added he, diving into one of his huge pockets, "here's the +critter I promised you. Take good care on't; don't 'buse it; and I'm +thinking, if it's like the mother I've got at home, 'twon't be a little +ye'll be likin' it, 'fore you're done. Good-bye, my little gal;" and he +shouldered his ladder and went off, leaving in Gerty's hands a little +grey-and-white kitten. + +Gerty was so taken by surprise on finding in her arms a live kitten, +something so different from what she had anticipated, that she stood +irresolute what to do with it. There were a many cats, of all sizes and +colours, inhabitants of the neighbouring houses and yard; +frightened-looking creatures, which, like Gerty herself, ran about, and +hid themselves among the wood and coal, seeming to feel, as she did, +great doubts about their having a right to be anywhere. Gerty had often +felt a sympathy for them, but never thought of trying to catch one, and +carry it home; for she knew that food and shelter were grudgingly +accorded to herself, and would not be extended to her pets. Her first +thought, therefore, was to throw the kitten down, and let it run away. +But while she was hesitating, the little animal pleaded for itself in a +way she could not resist. Frightened by its long journey in True Flint's +pocket, it crept from Gerty's arms up to her neck, clung there, and, +with feeble cries, seemed to ask her to take care of it. Its eloquence +prevailed over all fear of Nan Grant's anger. She hugged pussy to her +bosom, and resolved to love and feed it, and keep it out of Nan's sight. + +How much she came in time to love that kitten no words can tell. Her +little, fierce, untamed, impetuous nature had hitherto expressed itself +only in angry passion, sullen obstinacy, and hatred. But there were in +her soul fountains of warm affection, a depth of tenderness never yet +called out, and a warmth and devotion of nature that wanted only an +object upon which to expend themselves. + +So she poured out such wealth of love on the poor kitten as only such a +desolate little heart has to spare. She loved the kitten all the more +for the care she was obliged to take of it, and the trouble it gave her. +She kept it, as much as possible, out among the boards, in her favourite +haunts. She found an old hat, in which she placed her hood, to make a +bed for pussy. She carried it a part of her scanty meals; she braved for +it what she would not have done for herself--for almost every day she +abstracted from the kettle, when she returned with the milk for Nan +Grant, enough for pussy's supper, at the risk of being discovered and +punished, the only risk of harm the poor ignorant child knew or thought +of, in connection with the theft; for her ideas of abstract right and +wrong were utterly undeveloped. So she would play with her kitten for +hours among the boards, talk to it, and tell it how much she loved it. +But in very cold days she was puzzled to know how to keep herself warm +out of doors, and the risk of bringing the kitten into the house was +great. She would then hide it in her bosom, and run with it into her +little garret. Once or twice, when she had been off her guard, her +little playful pet had escaped from her, and scampered through the lower +room and passage. Once Nan drove it out with a broom; but there cats and +kittens were not so uncommon as to excite inquiry. + +How was it that Gerty had leisure to spend all her time at play? Most +children of the poorer class learn to be useful while they are young. +Nan Grant had no babies; and being a very active woman, with but a poor +opinion of children's services, she never tried to find employment for +Gerty, much better satisfied for her to keep out of her sight; so that, +except her daily errand for the milk, Gerty was always idle--a fruitful +source of unhappiness and discontent. + +Nan was a Scotchwoman, not young, and with a temper which, never good, +became worse as she grew older. She had seen life's roughest side, and +had always been a hard-working woman. Her husband was a carpenter, but +she made his house so uncomfortable, that for years he had followed the +sea. She took in washing, and had a few boarders; by which she earned +what might have been an ample support for herself, had it not been for +her son, a disorderly young man, spoilt in early life by his mother's +management, and who, though a skilful workman, squandered his own and a +large part of his mother's earnings. Nan had reason for keeping Gerty, +though they were not so strong as to prevent her often being inclined to +get rid of the encumbrance. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +COMFORT AND AFFLICTION. + + "Mercy and love have met thee on thy road, + Thou wretched outcast!" --WORDSWORTH. + + +Gerty had had her kitten about a month, when she took a violent cold +from exposure to damp and rain; and Nan, fearing she should have trouble +with her if she became seriously ill, bade her stay in the house, and +keep in the warm room. Gerty's cough was fearful; and she would have sat +by the fire all day, had it not been for her anxiety about the kitten. +Towards night the men were heard coming in to supper. Just as they +entered the door of the room where Nan and Gerty were, one of them +stumbled over the kitten, which had slyly come in with them. + +"Cracky! what's this 'ere?" said the man whom they called Jemmy; "a cat, +I vow! Why, Nan, I thought you hated cats!" + +"Well, 'tan't none o' mine; drive it out," said Nan. + +Jemmy tried to do so; but puss, making a circuit round his legs, sprang +forward into the arms of Gerty. + +"Whose kitten's that, Gerty?" said Nan. + +"Mine!" said Gerty, bravely. + +"Well, how long have you kept cats?" asked Nan. "Speak! how came you by +this?" + +Gerty was afraid of the men. She did not like to confess to whom she was +indebted for the kitten; she knew it would only make matters worse, for +Nan had never forgiven True Flint's rough expostulation against her +cruelty in beating the child for spilling the milk, and Gerty could not +think of any other source to which she could ascribe the kitten's +presence, or she would not have hesitated to tell a falsehood; for her +limited education had not taught her a love or habit of truth where a +lie would better serve her turn, and save her from punishment. She was +silent, and burst into tears. + +"Come," said Jemmy, "give us some supper, Nan, and let the gal alone." +Nan complied, ominously muttering, however. + +The supper just finished, an organ-grinder began to play at the door. +The men stepped out to join the crowd, who were watching the motions of +a monkey that danced to the music. Gerty ran to the window to look out. +Delighted with the gambols of the creature, she gazed until the man and +monkey moved off--so intently, that she did not miss the kitten which +had crept down from her arms, and, springing upon the table, began to +devour the remnants of the repast. The organ-grinder was not out of +sight when Gerty saw the old lamplighter coming up the street. She +resolved to watch him light his lamp, when she was startled by a sharp +and angry exclamation from Nan, and turned just in time to see her +snatch her darling kitten from the table. Gerty sprang to the rescue, +jumped into a chair, and caught Nan by the arm; but she firmly pushed +her back, and threw the kitten half across the room. Gerty heard a +sudden splash and a piercing cry. Nan had flung the poor creature into a +large vessel of steaming hot water. The poor animal writhed an instant, +then died in torture. + +Gerty's anger was aroused. Without hesitation, she lifted a stick of +wood, and violently flung it at Nan, and it struck the woman on the +head. The blood started from the wound; but Nan hardly felt the blow, so +greatly was she excited against the child. She sprang upon her, caught +her by the shoulder, and opening the house-door, thrust her out. "Ye'll +never darken my doors again, yer imp of wickedness!" said she, leaving +the child alone in the cold night. + +When Gerty was angry, she always cried aloud--uttering a succession of +piercing shrieks, until she sometimes quite exhausted her strength. When +she found herself in the street she commenced screaming--not from fear +of being turned away from her only home, and left alone at nightfall to +wander about the city, and perhaps freeze before morning--she did not +think of herself for a moment. Horror and grief at the dreadful fate of +the only thing she loved in the world entirely filled her little soul. +So she crouched down against the side of the house, her face hid in her +hands, unconscious of the noise she was making. Suddenly she found +herself placed on Trueman Flint's ladder, which leaned against the +lamp-post. True held her high enough to bring her face opposite his, and +saw his old acquaintance, and kindly asked her what was the matter. + +But Gerty could only gasp and say, "Oh, my kitten! my kitten!" + +"What! the kitten I gave you? Well, have you lost it? Don't cry! +there--don't cry!" + +"Oh, no! not lost! Oh, poor kitty!" and Gerty cried louder and coughed +so dreadfully, that True was frightened for the child. Making every +effort to soothe her, he told her she would catch her death o' cold, and +she must go into the house. + +"Oh, she won't let me in!" said Gerty "and I wouldn't go if she would." + +"Who won't let you in?--your mother?" + +"No! Nan Grant?" + +"Who's Nan Grant?" + +"She's a horrid, wicked woman, that drowned my kitten in bilin' water." + +"But where's your mother?" + +"I ha'n't got none." + +"Who do you belong to, you poor little thing?" + +"Nobody; and I've no business anywhere!" + +"With whom do you live, and who takes care of you?" + +"Oh, I lived with Nan Grant; but I hate her. I threw a stick of wood at +her head, and I wish I had killed her!" + +"Hush! hush! you musn't say that! I'll go and speak to her." + +True moved to the door, trying to draw Gerty in; but she resisted so +forcibly that he left her outside, and, walking into the room, where Nan +was binding up her head with a handkerchief, told her she had better +call her little girl in, for she would freeze to death out there. + +"She's no child of mine," said Nan; "she's the worst little creature +that ever lived; it's a wonder I've kept her so long; and now I hope +I'll never lay eyes on her agin--and, what's more, I don't mean. She +ought to be hung for breaking my head! I believe she's got an ill spirit +in her!" + +"But what'll become of her?" said True. "It's a fearful cold night. +How'd you feel, marm, if she were found to-morrow morning all _friz_ up +on your door-step!" + +"How'd I feel! That's your business, is it? S'posen you take care on her +yourself! Yer make a mighty deal o' fuss about the brat. Carry her home, +and try how yer like her. Yer've been here a talkin' to me about her +once afore, and I won't hear a word more. Let other folks see to her, I +say; I've had more'n my share, and as to her freezin', or dyin' anyhow, +I'll risk her. Them children that comes into the world, nobody knows +how, don't go out of it in a hurry. She's the city's property--let 'em +look out for her; and you'd better go, and not meddle with what don't +consarn you." + +True did not wait to hear more. He was not used to an angry woman, who +was the most formidable thing to him in the world. Nan's flashing eyes +and menacing attitude warned him of the coming tempest, and he hastened +away. Gerty had ceased crying when he came out, and looked into his face +with the greatest interest. + +"Well," said he, "she says you shan't come back." + +"Oh, I'm so glad!" said Gerty. + +"But where'll you go to?" + +"I don't know! p'raps I'll go with you, and see you light the lamps." + +"But where'll you sleep to-night?" + +"I don't know where; I haven't got any home. I'll sleep out where I can +see the stars. But it'll be cold, won't it?" + +"My goodness! You'll freeze to death, child." + +"Well, what'll become of me, then?" + +"The Lord only knows!" + +True looked at Gerty in perfect wonder. He could not leave her there on +such a cold night; but he hardly knew what he could do with her at home, +for he lived alone, and was poor. But another violent coughing decided +him to share with her his shelter, fire, and food, for one night, at +least. "Come," said he, "with me;" and Gerty ran along by his side, +never asking whither. + +True had a dozen lamps to light before his round was finished. Gerty +watched him light each with as keen an interest as if that were the only +object for which she was in his company; and it was only after they had +walked on for some distance without stopping, that she inquired where +they were going. + +"Going home," said True. + +"Am I going to your home?" said Gerty. + +"Yes," said True, "and here it is." + +He opened a little gate leading into a small yard, which stretched along +the whole length of a two-storied house. True lived in the back part of +it; and both went in. Gerty was trembling with the cold; her little bare +feet were quite blue with walking on the pavements. There was a stove in +the room, but no fire in it. True immediately disposed of his ladder, +torch, etc., in an adjoining shed, and bringing in a handful of wood, he +lit a fire. Drawing an old wooden settle up to the fire, he threw his +great-coat over it, and lifting little Gerty up, he placed her gently +upon the seat. He then prepared supper; for True was an old bachelor, +and did everything for himself. He made tea; then, mixing a great mugful +for Gerty, with plenty of sugar and all his milk, he brought a loaf of +bread, cut her a large slice, and pressed her to eat and drink as much +as she could; for he concluded, from her looks, that she had not been +well fed; and so much pleased did he feel in her enjoyment of the best +meal she had ever had, that he forgot to partake of it himself, but sat +watching her with a tenderness which proved that he was a friend to +everybody, even to the most forlorn little girl in the world. + +Trueman Flint was born in New Hampshire; but, when fifteen years old, +being left an orphan, he had made his way to Boston, where he supported +himself by whatever employment he could obtain; having been a +newspaper-carrier, a cab-driver, a porter, a wood-cutter, indeed, a +jack-at-all-trades; and so honest, capable, and good-tempered had he +always shown himself, that he everywhere won a good name, and had +sometimes continued for years in the same employ. Previous to his +entering upon the service in which we find him, he had been a porter in +a large store, owned by a wealthy and generous merchant. Being one day +engaged in removing some casks, he was severely injured by one of them +falling upon his chest. For a long time no hope was entertained of his +recovery; and when he began to mend, his health returned so gradually +that it was a year before he was able to be at work again. This sickness +swallowed up the savings of years; but his late employer never allowed +him to want for any comforts, provided an excellent physician, and saw +that he was well taken care of. + +But True had never been the same man since. He rose from his sick-bed +debilitated, and apparently ten years older, and his strength so much +enfeebled, that he was only fit for some comparatively light employment. +It was then that his kind master obtained for him the situation of +lamplighter; and he frequently earned considerable sums by sawing wood, +shovelling snow, and other jobs. He was now between fifty and sixty +years old, a stoutly-built man, with features cut in one of nature's +rough moulds, but expressive of much good nature. He was naturally +reserved, lived much by himself, was little known, and had only one +crony, the sexton of a neighbouring church. + +But we left Gertie finishing her supper, and now she is stretched upon +the wide settle, sound asleep, covered up with a warm blanket, and her +head resting upon a pillow. True sits beside her; her little, thin hand +lies in his great palm--occasionally he draws the blanket closer around +her. She breathes hard; suddenly she gives a nervous start, then speaks +quickly; her dreams are evidently troubled. True listens intently to her +words, as she exclaims eagerly, "Oh, don't! don't drown my kitty!" and +then, again, in a voice of fear, "Oh, she'll catch me! she'll catch me!" +once more; and now her tones are touchingly plaintive and +earnest--"Dear, dear, good old man! let me stay with you; do let me +stay!" + +Tears are in Trueman Flint's eyes; he lays his great head on the pillow +and draws Gerty's little face close to his; at the same time smoothing +her long, uncombed hair with his hand. He, too, is thinking aloud--what +does _he_ say? "Catch you!--no, she _shan't_! Stay with _me_!--so you +shall, I promise you, poor little birdie! All alone in this big +world--and so am I. Please God, we'll bide together." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE LAW OF KINDNESS. + + +Little Gerty had found a friend and a protector; and it was well she +had, for neglect and suffering had well-nigh cut short her sad +existence. The morning after True took her home, she woke in a high +fever. She looked around, and found she was alone in the room; but there +was a good fire, and preparation for breakfast. For a moment or two she +was puzzled to know where she was, and what had happened to her; for the +room seemed quite strange, it now being daylight. A smile passed over +her face when she recalled the events of the previous night, and thought +of kind old True, and the new home she had found with him. She went to +the window to look out, though her head was giddy, and she could hardly +walk. The ground was covered with snow, and which dazzled Gerty's eyes, +for she suddenly found herself quite blinded--her head grew dizzy, she +staggered and fell. + +Trueman came in a moment after, and was frightened at seeing Gerty +stretched upon the floor, and was not surprised that she had fainted in +trying to walk. He placed her in bed, and soon succeeded in restoring +her to consciousness; but for three weeks she never sat up, except when +True held her in his arms. True was a rough and clumsy man about most +things; but not so in the care of his little charge. He was something of +a doctor and nurse in his simple way; and, though he had never had much +to do with children, his warm heart taught him all that was necessary +for Gerty's comfort. + +Gerty was patient; but would lie awake whole nights suffering from pain +and weariness through long confinement to a sick-bed, without uttering a +groan, lest she might waken True, who slept on the floor beside her, +when he could so far forget his anxiety about her as to sleep at all. +Sometimes, when in great pain, True carried her in his arms for hours; +but Gerty would try to appear relieved before she was so, and feign +sleep that he might put her to bed again and take some rest himself. Her +little heart was full of love and gratitude to her kind protector, and +she spent much time in thinking what she could do for him when she got +well. True was often obliged to leave her to attend to his work; and +during the first week she was much alone, though everything she could +possibly want was put within her reach. At last she became delirious, +and for some days had no knowledge how she was taken care of. One day, +after a long sleep, she woke restored to consciousness, and saw a woman +sitting by her bedside sewing. She sprang up in bed to look at the +stranger, who had not observed her open her eyes, but who started when +she heard her move, and exclaimed, "Oh, lie down, my child! lie down!" +laying her hand gently upon her. + +"I don't know you," said Gerty; "where's my Uncle True?" for that was +the name by which True had told her to call him. + +"He's gone out, dear; he'll be home soon. How do you feel--better?" + +"Oh, yes! much better. Have I been asleep long?" + +"Some time; lie down now, and I'll bring you some gruel--it will be good +for you." + +"Does Uncle True know you are here?" + +"Yes. I came in to sit with you while he was away." + +"Come in?--From where?" + +"From my room. I live in the other part of the house." + +"I think you're very good," said Gerty. "I like you. I wonder why I did +not see you when you came in." + +"You were too sick, dear, to notice; but I think you'll soon be better +now." + +The woman prepared the gruel, and, after Gerty had taken it, reseated +herself at her work. Gerty laid down in bed, with her face towards her +new friend, and, fixing her large eyes upon her, watched her while she +sat sewing. At last the woman looked up, and said, "Well, what do you +think I am making?" + +"I don't know," said Gerty; "what are you?" + +The woman held up her work, so that Gerty could see that it was a dark +calico frock for a child. + +"Oh! what a nice gown!" said Gerty. "Who it is for?--your little girl?" + +"No," said the woman, "I haven't got any little girl; I've only got one +child, my boy Willie." + +"Willie; that's a pretty name," said Gerty. "Is he a good boy?" + +"Good? He's the best boy in the world, and the handsomest!" answered the +woman. + +Gerty turned away, and a look so sad came over her countenance, that the +woman thought she was getting tired, and ought to be kept very quiet. +She told her so, and bade her to go to sleep again. Gerty lay still, and +then True came in. + +"Oh, Mrs. Sullivan," said he, "you're here still! I'm very much obleeged +to you for stayin'; I hadn't calkerlated to be gone so long. And how +does the child seem to be, marm?" + +"Much better, Mr. Flint. She's come to her reason, and I think, with +care, will do well now. Oh, she's awake," he added, seeing Gerty open +her eyes. + +True came to the bedside, stroked back her hair, now cut short, and felt +her pulse, and nodded his head satisfactorily. Gerty caught his great +hand between both of hers, and held it tight. He sat down on the side of +the bed, and said, "I shouldn't be surprised if she needed her new +clothes sooner than we thought of, marm. It's my opinion we'll have her +up and about afore many days." + +"So I was thinking," said Mrs. Sullivan; "but don't be in too great a +hurry. She's had a very severe sickness, and her recovery must be +gradual. Did you see Miss Graham to-day?" + +"Yes, I did see her, poor thing! The Lord bless her sweet face! She +axed a sight o' questions about little Gerty here, and gave me this +parcel of _arrer-root_, I think she called it. She says it's excellent +in sickness. Did you ever fix any, Mrs. Sullivan, so that you can jist +show me how, if you'll be so good; for I declare I don't remember, +though she took a deal o' pains to tell me." + +"Oh, yes; it's very easy. I'll come in and prepare some by-and-by. I +don't think Gerty'll want any at present; she's just had some gruel. But +father has come home, and I must be seeing about our tea. I'll come in +again this evening, Mr. Flint." + +"Thank you, marm, thank you; you're very kind." + +During the few following days Mrs. Sullivan came in and sat with Gerty +several times. She was a gentle woman, with a placid face, very +refreshing to a child that had long lived in fear, and suffered a great +deal of abuse. One evening, when Gerty had nearly recovered, she was +sitting in True's lap by the fire, carefully wrapped in a blanket. She +had been talking to him about her new acquaintance and friend, when +suddenly she said, "Uncle True, do you know what little girl she's +making a gown for?" + +"For a little girl," said True, "that needs a frock and a many other +things; for she hasn't got any clothes, except a few old rags. Do you +know any such little girl, Gerty?" + +"I guess I do," said Gerty, with a very knowing look. + +"Well, where is she?" + +"An't she in your lap?" + +"What, you!--Why, do you think Mrs. Sullivan would spend her time making +clothes for you?" + +"Well," said Gerty hanging her head, "I shouldn't _think_ she would, but +then you _said_----" + +"Well, what did I say?" + +"Something about new clothes for me." + +"So I did," said True; "they _are_ for you--two whole suits, with shoes +and stockings." + +Gerty opened her large eyes in amazement, and clapped her hands, and +True laughed too. + +"Did she buy them, Uncle True? Is she rich?" asked Gerty. + +"Mrs. Sullivan?--no, indeed!" said True. "Miss Graham bought 'em, and is +going to pay Mrs. Sullivan for making them." + +"Who is Miss Graham?" + +"She's a lady too good for this world--that's sartin. I'll tell you +about her some time; but better not now, for it's time you were abed and +asleep." + +One Sabbath, after Gerty was nearly well, she was so much fatigued that +she went to bed before dark, and for three hours slept soundly. On +awaking, she saw that True had company. An old man, much older than +True, was sitting on the opposite side of the stove, smoking a pipe. His +dress, though ancient and homely, was neat; and his hair was white. He +had sharp features, and Gerty thought from his looks he could say sharp +things. She rightly conjectured that he was Mrs. Sullivan's father, Mr. +Cooper; and she did not widely differ from most other people who knew +the old church-sexton. But both his own face and public opinion somewhat +wronged him. His nature was not a genial one. Domestic trials, and the +fickleness of fortune, had caused him to look on the dark side of +life--to dwell upon its sorrows, and frown upon the bright hopes of the +young and the gay. His occupation did not counteract a disposition to +melancholy; his duties in the church were solitary, and in his old age +he had little intercourse with the world, had become severe toward its +follies, and unforgiving toward its crimes. There was much that was good +and benevolent in him, however; and True Flint knew it. True liked the +old man's sincerity; and many a Sabbath evening had they sat by that +same fireside, and discussed questions of public policy, national +institutions, and individual rights. Trueman Flint was the reverse of +Paul Cooper in disposition and temper, being very sanguine, always +disposed to look upon the bright side of things, and ever averring that +it was his opinion 'twould all come out right at last. On this evening +they had been talking on several of such topics; but when Gerty awoke +she found herself the subject of conversation. + +"Where," asked Mr. Cooper, "did you say you picked her up?" + +"At Nan Grant's," said True. "Don't you remember her? she's the same +woman whose son you were called up to witness against, at the time the +church-windows were broken. You can't have forgotten her at the trial, +Cooper; for she blew you up with a vengeance, and didn't spare his +honour the judge either. Well, 'twas just such a rage she was in with +this 'ere child the first time I saw her; and the _second_ time she'd +just turned her out o' doors." + +"Ah, yes, I remember the she-bear. I shouldn't suppose she'd be any too +gentle to her own child, much less a stranger's; but what are you going +to do with the foundling, Flint?" + +"Do with her?--Keep her, to be sure, and take care on her." + +Cooper laughed rather sarcastically. + +"Well, now, I s'pose, neighbour, you think it's rather freakish in me to +be adoptin' a child at my time o' life; and pr'haps it is; but I'll +explain. She'd a died that night I tell yer on, if I hadn't brought her +home with me; and many times since, what's more, if I, with the help o' +your darter, hadn't took good care on her. Well, she took on so in her +sleep, the first night ever she came, and cried out to me all as if she +never had a friend afore (and probably she never had), that I resolved +then she should stay, at any rate, and I'd take care on her, and share +my last crust with the wee thing, come what might. The Lord's been very +marciful to me, Mr. Cooper, very marciful! He's raised me up friends in +my deep distress. I knew, when I was a little shaver, what a lonesome +thing it was to be fatherless and motherless; and when I see this little +sufferin' human bein' I felt as if, all friendless as she seemed, she +was more specially the Lord's, and as if I could not sarve Him more, and +ought not to sarve Him less, than to share with her the blessings He had +bestowed on me. You look round, neighbour, as if you thought 'twan't +much to share with any one; and 'tan't much there is here, to be sure; +but it's a _home_,--yes, a _home_; and that's a great thing to her that +never had one. I've got my hands yet, and a stout heart, and a willin' +mind. With God's help, I'll be a father to the child; and the time may +come when she'll be God's embodied blessin' to me." + +Mr. Cooper shook his head doubtfully, and muttered something about +children, even one's own, not being apt to prove blessings. + +Trueman added, "Oh, neighbour Cooper, if I had not made up my mind the +night Gerty came here, I wouldn't have sent her away after the next day; +for the Lord, I think, spoke to me by the mouth of one of his holy +angels, and bade me persevere in my resolution. You've seen Miss +Graham. She goes to your church regular, with the fine old gentleman her +father. I was at their house shovelling snow, after the great storm +three weeks since, and she sent for me to come into the kitchen. Well +may I bless her angel face, poor thing!--if the world is dark to her she +makes it light to other folks. She cannot see heaven's sunshine outside, +but she's better off than most people, for she's got it in her, I do +believe, and when she smiles it lets the glory out, and looks like God's +rainbow in the clouds. She's done me many a kindness since I got hurt so +bad in her father's store, now five years gone; and she sent for me that +day, to ask how I did, and if there was anything I wanted that she could +speak to the master about. So I told her all about little Gerty; and, I +tell you, she and I both cried 'fore I'd done. She put some money into +my hand, and told me to get Mrs. Sullivan to make some clothes for +Gerty; more than that, she promised to help me if I got into trouble +with the care of her; and when I was going away, she said, 'I'm sure +you've done quite right, True; the Lord will bless and reward your +kindness to that poor child.'" + +True was so excited that he did not notice what the Sexton had observed. +Gerty had risen from her bed and was standing beside True, her eyes +fixed upon his face, breathless with the interest she felt in his words. +She touched his shoulder; he looked round, saw her, and stretched out +his arms. She sprang into them, buried her face in his bosom, and, +bursting into tears, exclaimed, "Shall I stay with you always?" + +"Yes, just as long as I live," said True, "you shall be my child." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +FIRST STEPS TO IMPROVEMENT. + + +It was a stormy evening. Gerty was standing at the window, watching for +True's returning from his lamplighting. She was neatly dressed, her hair +smooth, her face and hands clean. She was now quite well--better than +for years before her sickness; a pale, slender-looking child, with eyes +and mouth disproportionately large to her other features; her look of +suffering had given place to a happy though rather grave expression. On +the wide window-sill in front of her sat a plump and venerable cat, +parent to Gerty's lost darling, and for that reason very dear to her; +she was quietly stroking its back, while the constant purring that the +old veteran kept up proved her satisfaction at the arrangement. + +Suddenly a rumbling, tumbling sound was heard in the wall. The house was +old, and furnished with ample accommodation for rats. One would have +thought a chimney was falling brick by brick. But it did not alarm +Gerty; she was used to rat-inhabited walls, and accustomed to hearing +such sounds all her life, when she slept in the garret at Nan Grant's. +Not so, however, with the ancient grimalkin, who pricked up her ears, +and gave every sign of a disposition to rush into battle. + +Gerty glanced round the room with an air of satisfaction; then, +clambering upon the window-sill, where she could see the lamplighter as +he entered the gate, she took the cat in her arms, smoothed her dress, +and gave a look of pride at her shoes and stockings, and strove to +become patient. But it would not do; she could not be patient; it seemed +to her that he never came so late before, and she was beginning to think +he never would come at all, when he turned into the gate. He had brought +some person with him. He did not look tall enough to be Mr. Cooper, but +she concluded it must be he, for whoever it was stopped at his door +further up the yard and went it. Impatient as Gerty had been for True's +arrival, she did not run to meet him as usual, but waited until she +heard him come in through the shed, where he was in the habit of +stopping to hang up his ladder and lantern. She then ran and hid behind +the door by which he must enter the room. She evidently had some great +surprise in store for him. The cat was more mindful of her manners, and +went to meet him, rubbing her head against his legs, which was her +customary welcome. + +"Hollo, whiskers," said True, "where's my little gal?" + +He shut the door behind him as he spoke, thus disclosing Gerty to view. +She sprang forward with a bound, laughed, and looked first at her own +clothes and then in True's face, to see what he would think of her +appearance. + +"Well, I declare!" said he, lifting her up in his arms, and carrying her +nearer to the light; "little folks do look famous! New frock, apron, +shoes! got 'em all on! And who fixed your hair? My! you an't none too +handsome, sartain, but you do look famous nice!" + +"Mrs. Sullivan dressed me all up, and brushed my hair; and _more +too_--don't you see what _else_ she has done?" + +True followed Gerty's eyes as they wandered around the room. He looked +amazed to satisfy her anticipations, great as they had been. He had been +gone since morning, and things had indeed undergone a transformation. +Woman's hands had evidently been at work clearing up and setting to +rights. + +Until Gerty came to live with True his home had never been subjected to +female intrusion. Living alone, and entertaining scarcely any visitors, +he tried to make himself comfortable in his own way, regardless of +appearances. In his humble apartment sweeping day came but seldom, and +spring-cleaning was unknown. The corners of the ceiling were festooned +with cob-webs; the mantle-piece had accumulated a curious medley of +things, while there was no end to the rubbish that had collected under +the grate. During Gerty's illness, a bed made up on the floor for True, +and the various articles required in her sick-room, had increased the +clutter to such an extent that one almost needed a pilot to conduct him +in safety through the apartment. + +Mrs. Sullivan was the soul of neatness in her rooms, in her own dress +for simplicity, and freedom from the least speck or stain. It was to +nurse Gerty, and take care of her in True's absence, that she first +entered a room the reverse of her own; the contrast was painful to her, +and it would have been a real pleasure to clear up and put it to rights; +and she resolved as soon as Gerty got well, to exert herself in the +cause of cleanliness and order, which was, in her eyes, the cause of +virtue and happiness, so completely did she identify outward neatness +and purity with inward peace. + +On the day previous to that on which the great cleaning operations took +place, Gerty was observed by Mrs. Sullivan standing in the passage near +her door, and looking wistfully in. "Come in, Gerty," said the kind +little woman; "come in and see me.--Here," added she, seeing how timid +the child felt in intruding into a strange room; "you may sit up here by +the table and see me iron. This is your little dress. I am smoothing it +out, and then your things will all be done! You'll be glad of some new +clothes, shan't you?" + +"Very glad, marm," said Gerty. "Am I to take them away, and keep them +all myself?" + +"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Sullivan. + +"I don't know where I'll put 'em all; there an't no place in our +room--at least, no very nice place," said Gerty, glancing at the open +drawer, in which Mrs. Sullivan was placing the little dress, adding it +to a pile of neatly-folded garments. + +"Why, part of them, you know, you'll be wearing," said Mrs. Sullivan; +"and we must find some good place for the rest." + +"You've got good places for things," said Gerty, looking round the room; +"this is a beautiful room." + +"Why, it isn't very different from Mr. Flint's. It's just the same size, +and two front windows like his. My cupboard is the best; yours is only a +three-cornered one; but that's all the difference." + +"Oh, but yours don't look a bit like ours. You haven't got any bed here, +and all the chairs stand in a row, and the table shines, and the floor +is so clean, and the stove is new, and the sun comes in so bright! I +wish our room was like this! I think ours is not half so big. Why, Uncle +True stumbled over the tongs this morning, and he said there wasn't room +to swing a cat." + +"Where were the tongs?" said Mrs. Sullivan. + +"About the middle of the floor, marm." + +"Well, you see I don't keep things in the middle of the floor. I think +if your room were all cleaned up, and places found for everything, it +would look almost as well as mine." + +"I wish it could be made as nice," said Gerty; "but what could be done +with those beds?" + +"I've been thinking about that. There's that little pantry--or +bathing-room, I think it must have been when this house was new, and +rich people lived in it; that's large enough to hold a small bedstead +and a chair or two; 'twould be quite a comfortable little chamber for +you. The rubbish in it might just as well be thrown away." + +"Oh, that'll be nice!" said Gerty; "then Uncle True can have his bed +back again, and I'll sleep on the floor in there." + +"No," said Mrs. Sullivan; "you shan't sleep on the floor. I've got a +very good little cross-legged bedstead that my Willie slept on when he +lived at home; and I'll lend it to you, if you'll take good care of it +and of everything else that is put into your room." + +"Oh, I will," said Gerty. "But can I?" added she, hesitating; "do you +think I can? I don't know how to do anything." + +"You never have been taught to do anything, my child; but a girl eight +years old can do many things if she is patient and tries to learn. I +could teach you to do a great deal that would be useful, and that would +help your Uncle True very much." + +"What could I do?" + +"You could sweep the room every day, you could make the beds, with a +little help in turning them; you could set the table, toast the bread, +and wash the dishes. Perhaps you would not do these things so well at +first; but you would keep improving, and get to be a nice little +housekeeper." + +"Oh, I wish I could do something for Uncle True!" said Gerty; "but how +could I ever begin?" + +"In the first place, you must have things cleaned up for you. If I +thought Mr. Flint would like it, I'd get Kate M'Carty to come in some +day and help us; and I think we could greatly improve his home." + +"Oh, I know he'd like it," said Gerty; "'twould be grand! May I help?" + +"Yes, you may do what you can; but Kate'll be the best hand; she's +strong, and knows how to do cleaning very well." + +"Who's she?" said Gerty. + +"Kate?--She's Mrs. M'Carty's daughter in the next house. Mr. Flint does +them many a good turn--saws wood, and so on. They do most of his +washing; but they can't half pay him all the kindness he's done that +family. Kate's a clever girl; she'll be glad to come and work for him +any day. I'll ask her." + +"Will she come to-morrow?" + +"Perhaps she will." + +"Uncle True's going to be gone all day to-morrow," said Gerty; "he's +going to get in Mr. Eustace's coal. Wouldn't it be a good time?" + +"Very," said Mrs. Sullivan. "I'll try and get Kate to come to-morrow." + +Kate came. The room was thoroughly cleaned and put in order. Gerty's new +clothes were delivered to her own keeping; she was neatly dressed in one +suit, the other placed in a little chest found in the pantry, and which +accommodated her small wardrobe very well. + +It was the result of Mrs. Sullivan's, Kate's, and Gerty's combined +labour which astonished True on his return from his work; and the +pleasure he manifested made the day a memorable one in Gerty's life, one +to be marked in her memory as long as she lived, as being the first in +which she had known _that_ happiness--perhaps the highest earth, +affords--of feeling that she had been instrumental in giving joy to +another. Gerty had entered heart and soul into the work, when she had +been allowed. She could say with truth, "_We_ did it--Mrs. Sullivan, +Kate, and _I_." None but a loving heart like Mrs. Sullivan's would have +sympathized in the feeling which made Gerty so eager to help. But _she_ +did, and allotted to her many little services, which the child felt +herself more blessed in being permitted to perform than she would have +done at almost any gift bestowed upon her. She led True about to show +him how cleverly Mrs. Sullivan had made the most of the room and the +furniture; how, by moving the bed into a recess, she had reserved the +whole square-area, and made a parlour of it. It was some time before he +could be made to believe that half of his property had not been spirited +away, so incomprehensible was it to him that so much additional space +and comfort could be acquired by a little system. But his astonishment +and Gerty's delight reached their climax when she took him into the +lumber-closet, now transformed into a snug and comfortable bed-room. + +"Well, I declare! Well, I declare!" was all the old man could say. He +sat down beside the stove, now polished, and made, as Gerty declared, +new, just like Mrs. Sullivan's; warmed his hands, for they were cold +with being out in the frosty evening, and then took a general view of +his reformed domicile, and of Gerty, who was about to set the table, and +toast the bread for supper. Standing on a chair, she was taking down the +cups and saucers from among the regular rows of dishes shining in +three-cornered cupboard, being deposited on the lower shelf, where she +could reach them from the floor, a plate containing some smoothly cut +slices of bread, which the thoughtful Mrs. Sullivan had prepared for +her. True watched her motions for a minute or two, and then indulged in +a short soliloquy. "Mrs. Sullivan's a clever woman, sartain, and they've +made my old house here complete, and Gerty's getting to be like the +apple of my eye, and I'm as happy a man as----" + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +WHERE IS HEAVEN? + + +Here True was interrupted by a sudden and unceremonious opening of the +door. "Here, Uncle True, here's your package. You forgot all about it, I +guess; and I forgot it, too, till mother saw it on the table, where I'd +laid it down. I was so taken up with just coming home, you know." + +"Of course--of course!" said True. "Much obleeged to you, Willie, for +fetchin' it for me. It's brittle stuff it's made of, and most likely I +should have smashed it 'fore I got it home." + +"What is it?--I've been wondering." + +"Why, it's a little knick-knack I've brought home for Gerty here, +that----" + +"Willie! Willie!" called Mrs. Sullivan from the opposite room, "have you +been to tea, dear?" + +"No, indeed, mother; have you?" + +"Why, yes; but I'll get you some." + +"No, no," said True; "Stay and take tea with us, Willie; take tea here, +my boy. My little Gerty is making some famous toast, and I'll have the +tea presently." + +"So I will," said Willie! "No matter about any supper for me, mother, +I'm going to have my tea here with Uncle True. Come, now, let's see +what's in the bundle; but first I want to see little Gerty; mother's +been telling me about her. Where is she? Has she got well? She's been +very sick, hasn't she?" + +"Oh, yes, she's nicely now," said True. "Here, Gerty, look here. Why, +where is she?" + +"There she is, hiding behind the settle," said Willie, laughing. "She +ain't afraid of me, is she?" + +"Well, I didn't know as she was shy," said True; "you silly little +girl," added he, "come out here and see Willie. This is Willie +Sullivan." + +"I don't want to see him," said Gerty. + +"Don't want to see Willie!" said True; "why, you don't know what you're +sayin'. Willie's the best boy that ever was; I 'spect you and he'll be +great friends by-and-by." + +"He won't like me," said Gerty; "I know he won't." + +"Why shan't I like you?" said Willie, approaching the corner where Gerty +had hid herself. Her face was covered with her hands. "I guess I shall +like you first-rate when I see you." + +He stooped down, and, taking her hands from her face and holding them in +his own, he fixed his eyes full upon her, and pleasantly said, "How are +you, cousin Gerty--how do you do?" + +"I an't your cousin!" said Gerty. + +"Yes, you are," said Willie; "Uncle True's your uncle, and mine too!--so +we're cousins--don't you see?--and I want to get acquainted." + +Gerty could not resist Willie's good-natured words and manner. She +suffered him to draw her out of the corner towards the lighter end of +the room. As she came near the lamp, she tried to free her hands in +order to cover her face up again; but Willie would not let her, and, +attracting her attention to the unopened package, he succeeded in +diverting her thoughts from herself, and in a few minutes she was quite +at her ease. + +"There, Uncle True says it's for you," said Willie; "and I can't think +what 'tis, can you?" + +Gerty felt, and looked wonderingly in True's face. + +"Undo it, Willie," said True. + +Willie produced a knife, cut the string, took off the paper, and +disclosed one of those white plaster images, so familiar to every one, +representing the little Samuel in an attitude of devotion. + +"Oh, how pretty!" exclaimed Gerty, full of delight. + +"Why didn't I think?" said Willie; "I might have known what 'twas by +feeling." + +"Why! did you ever see it before?" said Gerty. + +"Not this same one; but I've seen lots just like it." + +"Have you?" said Gerty. "I never did. I think it's the beautifullest +thing that ever was. Uncle True, did you say it was for me? Where did +you get it?" + +"It was by an accident I got it. A few minutes before I met you, Willie, +I was stoppin' at the corner to light my lamp, when I saw one of those +_furrin_ boys with a sight o' these things, and some black ones too, all +set up on a board, and he was walking with 'em a-top of his head. I was +just a wonderin how he kept 'em there, when he hit the board agin my +lamp-post, and the first thing I knew, whack they all went! he'd spilt +them everyone. Lucky enough for him, there was a great bank of soft snow +close to the side-walk, and the most of 'em fell into that and wasn't +hurt. Some went on to the bricks, and were smashed. Well, I kind o' +pitied the feller; for it was late, and I thought like enough he hadn't +had much luck sellin' of 'em, to have so many left on his hands----" + +"On his head, you mean," said Willie. + +"Yes, Master Willie, or on the snow," said True; "any way you've a mind +to have it." + +"And I know what you did, Uncle True, just as well as if I'd seen you," +said Willie; "you set your ladder and lantern right down, and helped him +to pick 'em all up--that's just what you'd be sure to do for anybody." + +"This feller, Willie, didn't wait for me to get into trouble; he made +return right off. When they were all set right, he bowed and scraped, +and touched his hat to me, as if I'd been the biggest gentleman in the +land; talkin,' too, he was, all the time, though I couldn't make out a +word of his lingo; and then he insisted on my takin' one o' the figurs. +I wasn't agoin' to take it, for I didn't want it; but I happened to +think little Gerty might like it." + +"Oh, I shall like it!" said Gerty. "I shall like it better than--no, not +better, but almost _as well_ as my kitten; not _quite_ as well, because +that was alive, and this isn't; but _almost_. Oh, an't he a cunning +boy?" + +True, finding that Gerty was wholly taken up with the image, walked +away and began to get the tea, leaving the two children to entertain +each other. + +"You must take care and not break it, Gerty," said Willie. "We had a +Samuel once, just like it, in the shop; and I dropped it out of my hand +on to the counter, and broke it into a million pieces." + +"What did you call it?" asked Gerty. + +"A Samuel; they're all Samuels." + +"What are _Sammles_?" inquired Gerty. + +"Why, that's the name of the child they're taken for." + +"What do you s'pose he's sittin' on his knee for?" + +Willie laughed. "Why, don't you know?" said he. + +"No," said Gerty; "what is he?" + +"He's praying," said Willie. + +"Is that what he's got his eyes turned up for, too?" + +"Yes, of course; he looks up to heaven when he prays." + +"Up to where?" + +"To heaven." + +Gerty looked up at the ceiling in the direction in which the eyes were +turned, then at the figure. She seemed very much dissatisfied and +puzzled. + +"Why, Gerty," said Willie, "I shouldn't think you knew what praying +was." + +"I don't," said Gerty; "tell me." + +"Don't you ever pray--pray to God?" + +"No, I don't.--Who is God? Where is God?" + +Willie looked inexpressibly shocked at Gerty's ignorance, and answered +reverently, "God is in heaven, Gerty." + +"I don't know where that is," said Gerty. "I believe I don't know +nothin' about it." + +"I shouldn't think you did," said Willie. "I _believe_ heaven is up in +the sky; but my Sunday-school teacher says, 'Heaven is anywhere where +goodness is,' or some such thing," he said. + +"Are the stars in heaven?" asked Gerty. + +"They look so, don't they?" said Willie. "They're in the sky, where I +always used to think heaven was." + +"I should like to go to heaven," said Gerty. + +"Perhaps, if you're good, you will go some time." + +"Can't any but good folks go?" + +"No." + +"Then I can't ever go," said Gerty, mournfully. + +"Why not?" asked Willie; "an't you good." + +"Oh no! I'm very bad." + +"What a queer child!" said Willie. "What makes you think yourself so +very bad?" + +"Oh, I _am_," said Gerty, in a very sad tone; "I'm the worst of all. I'm +the worst child in the world." + +"Who told you so?" + +"Everybody. Nan Grant says so, and she says everybody thinks so; I know +it too, myself." + +"Is Nan Grant the cross old woman you used to live with?" + +"Yes. How did you know she was cross?" + +"Oh, my mother's been telling me about her. Well, I want to know if she +didn't send you to school, or teach you anything?" + +Gerty shook her head. + +"Why, what lots you've got to learn! What did you used to do when you +lived there?" + +"Nothing." + +"Never did anything; don't know anything; my gracious!" + +"Yes, I do know one thing," said Gerty. "I know how to toast +bread;--your mother taught me;--she let me toast some by the fire." + +As she spoke, she thought of her own neglected toast, and turned towards +the stove; but she was too late--the toast was made, the supper ready, +and True was just putting it on the table. + +"Oh, Uncle True," said she, "I meant to get the tea." + +"I know it," said True, "but it's no matter; you can get it to-morrow." + +The tears came into Gerty's eyes; she looked very much disappointed, but +said nothing. They all sat down to supper. Willie put the Samuel in the +middle of the table for a centre ornament, and told so many funny +stories that Gerty laughed heartily, forgot that she did not make the +toast herself, forgot her sadness, and showed herself, for once, a merry +child. After tea, she sat beside Willie on the great settle, and, in her +peculiar way, gave him a description of her life at Nan Grant's, winding +up with a touching account of the death of her kitten. + +The two children were in a fair way to become as good friends as True +could possibly wish. True sat on the opposite side of the stove, smoking +his pipe; his elbows on his knees, his eyes bent on the children, and +his ears drinking in all their conversation. He laughed when they +laughed; took long whiffs at his pipe when they talked quietly; ceased +smoking entirely, letting his pipe rest on his knee, and secretly wiping +away a tear, when Gerty recounted her childish griefs. He often heard it +afterwards, but never _without crying_. + +After Gerty had closed her tale of sorrows, she sat for a moment without +speaking, then becoming excited, as her ungoverned and easily roused +nature dwelt upon its wrongs, she burst forth in a very different tone, +and began uttering the most bitter invectives against Nan Grant. The +child's language expressed unmitigated hatred, and even a hope of future +revenge. True looked troubled at hearing her talk so angrily. Since he +brought her home he had never witnessed such a display of temper, and +had fondly believed that she would always be as quiet and gentle as +during her illness and the few weeks subsequent to it. True's own +disposition was so amiable and forgiving, that he could not imagine that +anyone, and especially a little child, should long retain feelings of +anger and bitterness. Gerty had shown herself so mild and patient since +she had been with him, that it had never occurred to him to dread any +difficulty in the management of the child. Now, however, as he observed +her flashing eyes, and noticed the doubling of her little fist as she +menaced Nan with her future wrath, he had an undefined, half-formed +presentiment of coming trouble in the control of his little charge. For +the moment she ceased, in his eyes, to be the pet and plaything he had +hitherto considered her. He saw in her something which needed a check, +and felt himself unfit to apply it. + +He _was_ totally unfit to cope with a spirit like Gerty's. It was true +he possessed over her one mighty influence--her strong affection for +him, which he could not doubt. It was that which made her so submissive +and patient in her sickness, so grateful for his care and kindness, so +anxious to do something in return. It was that love, illumined by a +higher light, which came in time to sanctify it, that gave her, while +yet a mere girl, a woman's courage, a woman's strength of heart and +self-denial. It was that which cheered the old man's latter years, and +shed joy on his dying bed. + +Willie tried once or twice to stop the current of her abusive language; +but soon desisted, for she did not pay the least attention to him. He +could not help smiling at her childish wrath, nor could he resist +sympathising with her in a degree. But he was conscious that Gerty was +exhibiting a very hot temper, and began to understand what made +everybody think her so bad. + +After Gerty had railed about Nan a little while, she stopped of her own +accord; though an unpleasant look remained on her countenance. It soon +passed away, however; and when, a little later in the evening, Mrs. +Sullivan appeared at the door, Gerty looked bright and happy, listened +with evident delight while True uttered warm expressions of thanks for +the labour which had been undertaken in his behalf, and, when Willie +went away with his mother, said her good night, and asked him to come +again so pleasantly, and her eyes looked so bright, that Willie said, as +soon as they were out of hearing, "She's a queer little thing, an't she, +mother? But I kind o' like her." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE FIRST PRAYER. + + +It would have been difficult to find two children of the poorer class +whose situations in life had presented a greater contrast than those of +Gerty and Willie. Gerty was a neglected orphan; she had received little +of that care, and still less of that love, which Willie had enjoyed. +Mrs. Sullivan's husband was an intelligent country clergyman; but as he +died when Willie was a baby, leaving little property for the support of +his family, the widow and her child went home to her father. The old man +needed his daughter; for death had made sad inroads in his household +since she left it, and he was alone. + +From that time the three had lived together in humble comfort, for, +though poor, industry and frugality secured them from want. Willie was +his mother's pride, her hope, her constant thought. She spared no care +to provide for his physical comfort, his happiness, and his education +and virtue. + +She might well be proud of a boy whose uncommon beauty, winning +disposition, and early evidences of a noble nature, won him friends even +among strangers. It was his broad, open forehead, the clearness and +calmness of his full grey eye, the expressive mouth, so determined and +yet so mild, the well-developed figure and ruddy complexion, proclaiming +high health, which gave promise of power to the future man. No one could +have been in the boy's company half an hour without loving and admiring +him. He had a warm-hearted, affectionate disposition, which his mother's +love and the world's smiles had fostered; an unusual flow of animal +spirits, tempered by a natural politeness towards his superiors; a quick +apprehension; a ready command of language; and a sincere sympathy in +others' pleasures and pains. He was fond of study, and until his twelfth +year his mother kept him constantly at school. + +At that time he had an opportunity to enter into the service of an +apothecary, who did an extensive business, and wanted a boy to assist in +the shop. The wages offered by Mr. Bray were not great, but there was a +prospect of an increased salary; and it was not a chance to be +overlooked. Fond as he was of his books, he had long been eager to be at +work, helping to bear the burden of labour in the family. His mother and +grandfather consented to the plan, and he gladly accepted Mr. Bray's +proposals. He was sadly missed at home; for, as he slept at his +employer's during the week, he rarely could make a passing visit to his +mother, except on Saturday, when he came home at night and passed +Sunday. So Saturday night was Mrs. Sullivan's happy night, and the +Sabbath became a more blessed day than ever. + +When Willie reached his mother's room on the evening of which we have +been speaking, he sat down with her and Mr. Cooper, and for an hour +conversation was brisk with them. Willie had always much to relate +concerning the occurrences of the week. Mrs. Sullivan was interested in +everything that interested Willie, and it was easy to see that the old +grandfather was more entertained by the boy than he was willing to +appear; for though he sat with his eyes upon the floor, and did not seem +to listen, he usually heard all that was said. He seldom made comments, +but would occasionally utter an impatient or contemptuous expression +regarding individuals or the world in general; thereby evidencing want +of confidence in men's honesty and virtue, and this formed a marked +trait in his character. Willie's spirits would receive a momentary +check, for _he_ loved and trusted _everybody_. Willie did not fear his +grandfather, who had never been severe to him, or interfered with Mrs. +Sullivan's management; but he sometimes felt chilled, though he hardly +knew why, by his want of sympathy with his own warm-heartedness. On the +present occasion the conversation turned upon True Flint and his adopted +child. Mr. Cooper had been unusually bitter, and, as he took his lamp to +go to bed, declared that Gerty would never be anything but a trouble to +Flint, who was a fool not to send her to the almshouse at once. + +There was a pause after the old man left the room; then Willie +exclaimed, "Mother, what makes grandfather hate folks?" + +"Why, he don't, Willie." + +"I don't mean exactly _hate_--I don't suppose he does _that, quite_; but +he don't seem to think a great deal of anybody--do you think he does?" + +"Oh yes; he does not show it much," said Mrs. Sullivan, "but he thinks a +great deal of you, Willie, and he wouldn't have anything happen to me +for the world; and he likes Mr. Flint, and----" + +"Oh yes; but I don't mean that; he doesn't think there's much goodness +in folks, nor to think anybody's going to turn out well, and----" + +"You're thinking of what he said about little Gerty." + +"Well, she an't the only one. That's what made me speak of it now, but +I've often noticed it before, particularly since I went away from home, +and am only here once a week. Now I think everything of Mr. Bray; and +when I was telling how much good he did, and how kind he was to old Mrs. +Morris and her sick daughter, grandfather looked just as if he didn't +believe it, or didn't think much of it." + +"Oh, well, Willie, you mustn't wonder much at that. Grandpa's had many +disappointments. You know he thought everything of Uncle Richard, and +there was no end to the trouble he had with him; and there was Aunt +Sarah's husband--he seemed to be such a fine fellow when Sally married +him, but he cheated father at last, so that he had to mortgage his house +in High Street, and finally gave it up entirely. He's dead now, and I +don't want to say anything against him; but he didn't prove what we +expected, and it broke Sally's heart. That was a dreadful trial to +father, for she was the youngest, and his pet. And just after that, +mother was taken down with her death-stroke, and a quack doctor +prescribed for her, and father always thought that did her more hurt +than good. So that he has had a great deal to make him look on the dark +side now, but you mustn't mind it, Willie; you must take care and turn +out well yourself, my son, and then he'll be proud enough; he's as +pleased as he can be when he hears you praised, and expects great things +of you one of these days." + +Here the conversation ended; but Willie added another to his many +resolves, that, if his health and strength were spared, he would prove +to his grandfather that hopes were not always deceitful, and that fears +were sometimes groundless. + +Oh, what a glorious thing it is for a youth when he has ever present +with him a high, a noble, and unselfish motive! What an incentive to +exertion, perseverance, and self-denial! Fears that would otherwise +appal, discouragements that would dishearten, labours that would weary, +opposition that would crush, temptation that would overcome, all, all +lie powerless, when, with a single-hearted and worthy aim, he struggles +for the victory! Persons born in wealth and luxury seldom achieve +greatness. They were not born for labour; and, without labour, nothing +that is worth having can be won. A motive Willie had long had. His +grandfather was old, his mother weak, and both poor. He must be the +staff of their old age; must labour for their support and comfort; he +must do _more_:--they hoped great things of him; they _must_ not be +disappointed. He did not, however, while arming himself for future +conflict with the world, forget the present, but sat down and learned +his Sunday-school lessons. After which, according to custom, he read +aloud in the Bible; and then Mrs. Sullivan, laying her hand on the head +of her son, offered up a simple, heart-felt prayer for the boy--one of +those mother's prayers which the child listens to with reverence and +love, and remembers for life. + +After Willie went home that evening, and Gerty was left alone with True, +she sat beside him for some time without speaking. Her eyes were +intently fixed upon the white image which lay in her lap. True was not +the first to speak; but finding Gerty unusually quiet, he looked +inquiringly in her face, and said--"Well, Willie's a pretty clever sort +of a boy, isn't he?" + +Gerty answered "Yes" without, however, seeming to know what she was +saying. + +"You like him, don't you?" said True. + +"Very much," said Gerty, in the same absent way. It was not Willie she +was thinking of. True waited for Gerty to talk about her new +acquaintance; but she did not speak for a minute or two. Then looking up +suddenly, she said--"Uncle True, what does Samuel pray to God for?" + +True stared. "Samuel!--pray!--I guess I don't know exactly what you're +saying." + +"Why," said Gerty, holding up the image, "Willie says this little boy's +name is Samuel; and that he sits on his knees, and puts his hands on his +breast _so_, and looks up, because he's praying to God, that lives up in +the sky. I don't know what he means--_way_ up in the sky--do you?" + +True took the image and looked at it attentively; scratched his head, +and said--"Well, I s'pose he's about right. This 'ere child is prayin', +sartain, though I didn't think on it afore. But I don't jist know what +he calls it a Samuel for. We'll ask him sometime." + +"Well, what does he pray for, Uncle True?" + +"Oh, he prays to make him good: it makes folks good to pray to God." + +"Can God make folks good?" + +"Yes. God is very great; He can do anything." + +"How can He _hear_?" + +"He hears and sees everything in the world." + +"And does He live in the sky?" + +"Yes," said True--"in heaven." + +Many more questions Gerty asked, which True could not answer; many +questions that he had never asked himself. True had a humble, loving +heart, and a child-like faith; he had enjoyed but little religious +instruction, but he earnestly tried to live up to the light he had. True +had never inquired into the sources of belief, and he was not prepared +to answer the questions suggested by the inquisitive mind of little +Gerty. He answered her as well as he could, however; and, where he was +at fault, referred her to Willie, who, he told her, went to +Sunday-school, and knew a great deal about such things. All the +information that Gerty could gain amounted to the knowledge of these +facts: that God was in heaven; that His power was great; and that people +were made better by prayer. But her mind was so intent upon the subject, +that the thought even of sleeping in her new room could not efface it. +After she had gone to bed, with the white image hugged close to her +bosom, and True had taken away the lamp, she lay for a long time with +her eyes wide open. Just at the foot of the bed was the window. The sky +was bright with stars; and they revived her old wonder and curiosity as +to the Author of such distant and brilliant lights. As she gazed, there +darted through her mind the thought, "God lit them! Oh, how great He +must be! But a _child_ might pray to Him!" She rose from her little bed, +approached the window, and, falling on her knees and clasping her hands +precisely in the attitude of Samuel, she looked up to heaven. She spoke +no word, but her eyes glistened with a tear that stood in each. Was not +each tear a prayer? She breathed no petition, but she longed for God and +virtue. Was not that very wish a prayer? Her little, uplifted heart +throbbed vehemently. Was not each throb a prayer? And did not God in +heaven, without whom not a sparrow falls to the ground, hear and accept +that first homage of a little, untaught child; and did it not call a +blessing down? + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +TREASURED WRONGS. + + "Revenge, at first though sweet, + Bitter ere long back on itself recoils."--MILTON. + + +The next day was Sunday. True generally went to church half the day at +least, with the sexton's family; but Gerty having no bonnet could not +go, and True would not leave her. So they spent the morning wandering +round among the wharves and looking at the ships, Gerty wearing her old +shawl over her head. + +Willie came in the evening to say good-bye before returning to Mr. +Bray's. He was in a hurry, for his master had his doors closed early, +especially on a Sunday night. But Mr. Cooper made his usual visit; and +when he had gone, True, finding Gerty sound asleep on the settle, +thought it a pity to wake her, and laid her in bed with her clothes on. + +She did not wake until morning; and then, surprised and amused at +finding herself dressed, ran out to ask True how it happened. True was +making the fire; and Gerty having been told all about it, helped to get +the breakfast ready, and to put the room in order. She followed Mrs. +Sullivan's instructions, and in a few weeks she learned to make herself +useful in many ways, and, as Mrs. Sullivan had prophesied, gave promise +of becoming a clever little housekeeper. Her active and willing feet +saved True many steps, and she was of essential aid in keeping the rooms +neat, that being her especial ambition. Mrs. Sullivan looked in +occasionally, to praise and assist her; and nothing made Gerty happier +than learning how to do some new thing. She met with a few trials and +discouragements, to be sure. Kate M'Carty thought her the smartest child +in the world, and would oft come in and wash the floor, or do some other +work which required more strength than Gerty possessed. + +One Sunday Gerty, who had a nice little hood, bought by True, was +returning with Mr. Cooper, Mr. Flint, and Willie, from the afternoon +service at church. The two old men were engaged in discussion, and the +children talked earnestly about the church, the minister, the people, +and the music, all of which were new to Gerty, and greatly excited her +wonder. + +As they drew near home, Willie remarked how dark it was growing in the +streets; and then, looking down at Gerty, whom he held by the hand, he +said, "Gerty, do you ever go out with Uncle True, and see him light the +lamps?" + +"No, I never did," said Gerty, "since the first night I came. I've +wanted, but it's been so cold, he would not let me; he said I'd have the +fever again." + +"It won't be cold this evening," said Willie; "it'll be a beautiful +night; and, if Uncle True's willing, we will go with him. I've often +been; you can look into the windows and see folks drinking tea, and +sitting round the fire in their parlours." + +"And I like to see him light those great lamps," said Gerty; "they make +it look so bright and beautiful all around. I hope he'll let us go; I'll +ask him; come," said she, pulling him by the hand. + +"No--wait," said Willie; "he's busy talking with grandpa--we can ask him +at home." + +As soon as they reached the gate she broke away from him, and, rushing +up to True, made known her request. He readily consented, and the three +soon started on the rounds. + +For a time Gerty's attention was so engrossed by the lamplighting that +she could see and enjoy nothing else. But when they reached the corner +of the street, and came in sight of a large apothecary's shop, her +delight knew no bounds. The brilliant colours displayed in the windows +captivated her fancy; and when Willie told her that his master's shop +was similar she thought it must be a fine place to spend one's life in. +Then she wondered why this was open on Sunday, when all the other stores +were closed, and Willie, stopping to explain, they found that True was +some distance in advance. He hurried Gerty along, telling her that they +were now in the finest street they should pass through, and they must +haste, for they had nearly reached the house he most wanted her to see. +When they came up with True, he was placing his ladder against a post +opposite a fine block of buildings. Many of the front windows were +shaded, so that the children could not see in; but some had no curtains, +or they had not yet been drawn. In one parlour there was a pleasant +wood-fire, around which a group were gathered; and here Gerty would fain +have lingered. In another, a brilliant chandelier was lit, and though +the room was vacant, the furniture was so showy, and the whole so +brilliant, that the child clapped her hands in delight, and Willie could +not prevail upon her to leave the spot, until he told her that farther +down the street was another house, equally attractive, where she would +perhaps see some beautiful children. + +"How do you know there'll be children there?" said she, as they walked +along. + +"I don't know, certainly," said Willie; "but I think there will. They +used always to be up at the window when I came with Uncle True, last +winter." + +"How many?" asked Gerty. + +"Three, I believe; there was one little girl with such beautiful curls, +and such a sweet, cunning little face. She looked like a wax doll, only +a great deal prettier." + +"Oh, I hope we shall see her!" said Gerty, dancing along on the tops of +her toes. + +"There they are!" exclaimed Willie; "all three, I declare, just as they +used to be!" + +"Where?" said Gerty; "where?" + +"Over opposite, in the great stone house. Here, let's cross over. It's +muddy; I'll carry you." + +Willie lifted Gerty carefully over the mud, and they stood in front of +the house. True had not yet come up. It was he that the children were +watching for. Gerty was not the only child that loved to see the lamps +lit. + +It was now quite dark, so that persons in a light room could not see any +one out of doors; but Willie and Gerty had so much better chance to look +in. The mansion was a fine one, evidently the home of wealth. A clear +coal fire, and a bright lamp in the centre of the room, shed abroad +their cheerful blaze. Rich carpets, deeply-tinted curtains, pictures in +gilded frames, and huge mirrors, reflecting the whole on every side, +gave Gerty her first impressions of luxurious life. There was an air of +comfort combined with all this elegance, which made it still more +fascinating to the child of poverty and want. A table was bountifully +spread for tea; the cloth of snow-white damask, the shining plate, above +all, the home-like hissing tea-kettle, had a most inviting look. A +gentleman in gay slippers was in an easy chair by the fire; a lady in a +gay cap was superintending a servant-girl's arrangements at the +tea-table; and the children of the household, smiling and happy, were +crowded together on a window-seat, looking out, as we have just +narrated. + +They were sweet, lovely-looking little creatures; especially a girl, of +the same age as Gerty, the eldest of the three. Her fair hair fell in +long ringlets over a neck as white as snow; she had blue eyes, a cherub +face, and a little round plump figure. Gerty's admiration and rapture +were such, that she could find no expression for them, and directing +Willie's notice first to one thing and then another; "Oh, Willie, isn't +she a darling? and see what a beautiful fire--what a splendid lady! What +is that on the table? I guess it's good! There's a big looking-glass; +and oh, Willie! an't they dear, handsome children?" + +True now came up, and as his torch-light swept along the side-walk Gerty +and Willie became the subjects of notice and conversation. The +curly-haired girl saw them, and pointed them out to the notice of the +other two. Though Gerty could not know what they were saying, she did +not like being stared at and talked about; and hiding behind the post, +she would not move or look up, though Willie laughed at her, and told +her it was now her _turn_ to be looked at. When True moved off, she +began to run, so as to escape observation; but Willie calling to her, +and saying that the children were gone from the window, she ran back to +have one more look, and was just in time to see them taking their places +at the tea-table. Then the servant-girl drew down the window-blinds. +Gerty then took Willie's hand, and they tried to overtake True. + +"Shouldn't you like to live in such a house as that, Gerty!" said +Willie. + +"Yes, indeed," said Gerty; "an't it splendid?" + +"I wish I had just such a house," said Willie. "I mean one of these +days." + +"Where will you get it?" exclaimed Gerty, much amazed at so bold a +declaration. + +"Oh, I shall work, and grow rich, and buy it." + +"You can't; it would take a lot o' money!" + +"I know it; but I can earn a lot, and I will, too. The gentleman that +lives in that grand house was a poor boy when he first came to Boston; +and why can't one poor boy get rich as well an another?" + +"How do you suppose he got so much money?" + +"I don't know how _he_ did; there are a great many ways. Some people +think it's all luck, but I guess it's as much smartness as anything." + +"Are you smart?" + +Willie laughed. "An't I?" said he. "If I don't turn out a rich man one +of these days, you may say I an't." + +"I know what I'd do if I was rich," said Gerty. + +"What?" asked Willie. + +"First, I'd buy a great nice chair for Uncle True, with cushions all in +the inside, and bright flowers on it--just exactly like that one the +gentleman was sitting in; and next, I'd have great big lamps, ever so +many all in a bunch, so as to make the room as _light_--as _light_ as it +could be!" + +"Seems to me you're mighty fond of lights, Gerty," said Willie. + +"I be," said the child. "I hate old, dark, black places; I like stars, +and sunshine, and fires, and Uncle True's torch----" + +"And I like bright eyes!" interrupted Willie; "yours look just like +stars, they shine so to-night. An't we having a good time?" + +"Yes, real." + +And so they went on--Gerty dancing along the side-walk, Willie sharing +in her gaiety and joy, and glorying in the responsibility of +entertaining and protecting the wild little creature. They talked of how +they would spend that future wealth which they both calculated upon one +day possessing; for Gerty had caught Willie's spirit, and she, too, +meant to work and grow rich. Willie said his mother was to wear a gay +cap, like that of the lady they had seen; this made Gerty laugh. She +thought that demure little widow would be ridiculous in a flowered +headgear. Good taste is inborn, and Gerty had it in her. She felt that +Mrs. Sullivan, attired in anything that was not simple, neat, and +sober-looking, would altogether lose her identity. Willie had no selfish +schemes; the generous boy suggested nothing for his own gratification; +it was for the rest he meant to labor, and in and through them that he +looked for his reward. Happy children! What do they want of wealth? What +of anything, material or tangible, more than they now possess? They have +what is worth more than riches or fame--they are full of childhood's +faith and hope. With a fancy and imagination unchecked by +disappointment, they are building those same castles that so many +thousand children have built before, that children will always be +building to the end of time. Far off in the distance they see bright +things, and know not what myths they are. Undeceive not the little +believers, ye wise ones! Check not that God-given hopefulness, which +will, perhaps, in its airy flight, lift them in safety over many a rough +spot in life's road. It lasts not long at the best; then check it not, +for as it dies out the way grows hard. + +They had reached the last lamp-post in the street, but scarcely had they +gone a dozen steps before Gerty stopped short, and, positively refusing +to proceed any further, pulled hard at Willie's hand, and tried to +induce him to retrace his steps. + +"What's the matter, Gerty?" said he, "are you tired?" + +"No, oh no! but I can't go any further." + +"Why not?" + +"Oh, because--because--" and here Gerty putting her mouth close to +Willie's ear, whispered, "there is Nan Grant's; I see the house! I had +forgot Uncle True went there; and I am afraid!" + +"Oho!" said Willie, drawing himself up with dignity, "I should like to +know what you're afraid of, when I'm with you! Let her touch you if she +dares! And Uncle True, too!--I _should_ laugh." + +Very kindly did Willie plead with the child, telling her that Nan would +not be likely to see _them_, but they might see _her_; and that was just +what he wanted--nothing he should like better. Gerty's fears were soon +allayed. When they stood in front of the house, Gerty was rather hoping +than otherwise to catch sight of Nan. Nan was standing opposite the +window, engaged in an animated dispute with one of her neighbours. Her +countenance expressed great anger, and her face was now so sufficient an +index to her character, that no one could see her thus and afterwards +question her right to the title of vixen, virago, or scold. + +"Which is she?" said Willie; "the tall one, swinging the coffee-pot in +her hand? I guess she'll break the handle off, if she don't look out." + +"Yes," said Gerty, "that's Nan." + +"What's she doing?" + +"Oh, she's fighting with Mrs. Birch; she does always with somebody. She +don't see us, does she?" + +"No, she's too busy. Come, don't let's stop; she's an ugly-looking +woman, just as I knew she was. I've seen enough of her, and I'm sure you +have--come." + +Gerty lingered. Courageous in the knowledge that she was safe and +unseen, she was gazing at Nan, and her eyes glistened, not with the +innocent excitement of a cheerful heart, but with the fire of kindled +passion--a fire that Nan had kindled long ago, which had not yet gone +out, and which the sight of Nan had now revived in full force. Willie, +thinking it was time to be at home, and perceiving Mr. Flint and his +torch far down the street, left Gerty, and started himself, to draw her +on, saying, "Come, Gerty, I can't wait." + +Gerty turned, saw that he was going, then, quick as lightning, stooped, +and picking up a stone, flung it at the window. There was a crash of +broken glass, and an exclamation in Nan's well-known voice; but Gerty +was not there to see the result. The instant she heard the crash her +fears returned, and flying past Willie, she paused not until she was +safe by the side of True. + +Willie did not overtake them until they were nearly home, and then came +running up, exclaiming, breathlessly, "Why, Gerty, do you know what you +did?--You broke the window!" + +Gerty jerked her shoulders from side to side to avoid Willie, pouted, +and declared that was what she meant to do. + +True inquired what window? and Gerty acknowledged what she had done, and +avowed that she did it on purpose. True and Willie were shocked and +silent. Gerty was silent too, for the rest of the walk; there were +clouds on her face, and she felt unhappy in her little heart. + +Willie bade them good night at the house door, and as usual they saw no +more of him for a week. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A NEW FRIEND. + + +"Father," said Mrs. Sullivan, one afternoon, as he was preparing to take +a number of articles which he wanted for his Saturday's work in the +church, "why don't you get little Gerty to go with you, and carry some +of your things? You can't take them all at once; and she'd like to go, I +know." + +"She'd only be in the way," said Mr. Cooper; "I can take them myself." + +But when he had swung a lantern and an empty coal hod on one arm, taken +a little hatchet and a basket of chips in his hand, and hoisted a small +ladder over his shoulder, he was fain to acknowledge that there was no +accommodation for his hammer and a large paper of nails. Mrs. Sullivan +called Gerty, and asked her to go and help him carry his tools. Gerty +was pleased with the proposal, and started off with great alacrity. + +When they reached the church the old sexton took them from her hands, +and telling her she could play about until he went home, but to be sure +and do no mischief, he went into the vestry to commence sweeping, +dusting, and building fires. Gerty had ample amusement for some time, to +wander round among the empty aisles and pews, and examine closely what, +hitherto, she had only viewed from a corner of the gallery. Then she +ascended the pulpit, and in imagination addressed a large audience. She +was growing weary and restless, however, when the organist, who had +entered unseen, commenced playing some low, sweet music; and Gerty, +seating herself on the pulpit stairs, listened with the greatest +pleasure. He had not played long before the door opened and two visitors +entered. One was an elderly man, dressed like a clergyman, with hair +thin and grey, and features rather sharp; but remarkable for his +benignant expression of countenance. A young lady, apparently about +twenty-five years of age, was leaning on his arm. She was attired with +great simplicity, wearing a dark brown cloak, and a bonnet of the same +colour, relieved by some light-blue ribbon about the face. She was +somewhat below the middle size, but had a good figure. Her features were +small and regular; her complexion clear but pale; and her light-brown +hair was neatly arranged. She never lifted her eyes as she walked slowly +up the aisle. + +The two approached the spot where Gerty sat, but without perceiving her. +"I am glad you like the organ," said the gentleman; "I am not much of a +judge of music, but they say it is a superior instrument, and that +Hermann plays it remarkably well." + +"Nor is my opinion of any value," said the lady; "for I have little +knowledge of music, much as I love it. But that symphony sounds very +delightful to me; it is a long time since I have heard such touching +strains; or, it may be partly owing to their striking so sweetly on the +solemn quiet of the church this afternoon. I love to go into a large +church on a week-day. It was very kind of you to call for me this +afternoon. How came you to think of it?" + +"I thought you would enjoy it, my dear. I knew Hermann would be playing +about this time; and, besides, when I saw how pale you were looking I +knew the walk would do you good." + +"It has done me good. I was not feeling well, and the clear, cold air +was just what I needed; I knew it would refresh me; but Mrs. Ellis was +busy, and I could not go out alone." + +"I thought I should find the sexton here," said the gentleman. "I want +to speak to him about the light; the afternoons are so short now, and it +is dark so early, I must ask him to open more of the blinds, or I cannot +see to read my sermon to-morrow. He may be in the vestry-room; he is +always about here on Saturday; I will go and look for him." + +Just then Mr. Cooper entered the church, and, seeing the clergyman, came +up, and after receiving his directions about the light, requested him to +go with him somewhere, for the gentleman hesitated, glanced at the young +lady, and then said, "I suppose I ought to go to-day; and, as you say +you are at leisure, it is a pity I should not; but I don't know----" + +Then, turning to the lady, he said, "Emily, Mr. Cooper wants me to go to +Mrs. Glass's with him; and I shall be absent some time. Should you mind +waiting here until I return? She lives in the next street; but I may be +detained, for it's about the library-books being so mischievously +defaced, and I am afraid that her oldest boy had something to do with +it. It ought to be inquired into before to-morrow." + +"Oh, go, by all means," said Emily; "don't mind me; it will be a +pleasure to sit here and listen to the music. Mr. Hermann's playing is a +great treat to me, and I don't care how long I wait; so do not hurry on +my account, Mr. Arnold." + +Thus assured, Mr. Arnold led the lady to a chair beneath the pulpit, and +went with Mr. Cooper. + +All this time Gerty had been unnoticed, and had remained very quiet on +the upper stair, secured from sight by the pulpit. Hardly had the doors +closed, however, with a loud bang, when the child got up, and began to +descend the stairs. The moment she moved, the lady, whose seat was very +near, started, and exclaimed, "Who's that?" + +Gerty stood still, and made no reply. Strange the lady did not look up, +though she must have perceived that the movement was above her head. +There was a moment's pause, and then Gerty began again to run down the +stairs. The lady sprang up, and, stretching out her hand, said, "Who is +it?" + +"Me," said Gerty, looking up in the lady's face; "it's only me." + +"Will you stop and speak to me?" said the lady. + +Gerty not only stopped, but came close up to Emily's chair, irresistibly +attracted by the sweetest voice she had ever heard. The lady placed her +hand on Gerty's head, and said, "Who are you?" + +"Gerty." + +"Gerty who?" + +"Nothing else but Gerty." + +"Have you forgotten your other name?" + +"I haven't got any other name." + +"How came you here?" + +"I came with Mr. Cooper, to help him to bring his things." + +"And he's left you here to wait for him, and I'm left too; so we must +take care of each other, mustn't we?" + +Gerty laughed at this. + +"Where were you?--On the stairs?" + +"Yes." + +"Suppose you sit down on this step by my chair, and talk with me a +little while: I want to see if we can't find out what your other name +is. Where do you say you live?" + +"With Uncle True." + +"True?" + +"Yes. Mr. True Flint I live with now. He took me home to his house one +night, when Nan Grant put me out on the side-walk." + +"Why, are you that little girl? Then I've heard of you before. Mr. Flint +told me all about you." + +"Do you know my Uncle True?" + +"Yes, very well." + +"What's your name?" + +"My name is Emily Graham." + +"O! I know," said Gerty, springing suddenly up, and clapping her hands +together; "I know. You asked him to keep me; he said so--I _heard_ him +say so; and you gave me my clothes; and you're beautiful; and you're +good; and I love you! O! I love you ever so much!" + +As Gerty spoke with a voice full of excitement, a strange look passed +over Miss Graham's face, a most inquiring and restless look, as if the +tones of the voice had vibrated on a chord of her memory. She did not +speak, but, passing her arm around the child's waist, drew her closer to +her. As the peculiar expression passed from her face, and her features +assumed their usual calmness, Gerty, as she gazed at her with a look of +wonder, exclaimed, "Are you going to sleep?" + +"No.--Why?" + +"Because your eyes are shut." + +"They are always shut, my child." + +"Always shut!--What for?" + +"I am blind, Gerty; I can see nothing." + +"Not see!" said Gerty; "can't you see anything? Can't you see me now?" + +"No," said Miss Graham. + +"O!" exclaimed Gerty, drawing a long breath, "_I'm so glad_." + +"_Glad!_" said Miss Graham, in the saddest voice that ever was heard. + +"O yes!" said Gerty, "so glad you can't see me!--because now, perhaps, +you'll love me." + +"And shouldn't I love you if I saw you?" said Emily, passing her hand +softly and slowly over the child's features. + +"Oh, no!" answered Gerty, "I'm so ugly! I'm glad you can't see how ugly +I am." + +"But just think, Gerty," said Emily, in the same sad voice, "how would +you feel if you could not see the light, could not see anything in the +world?" + +"Can't you see the sun, and the stars, and the sky, and the church we're +in? Are you in the dark?" + +"In the dark all the time--day and night in the dark." + +Gerty burst into a paroxysm of tears. "Oh!" exclaimed she, as soon as +she could find voice amid her sobs, "It's too bad! it's too bad!" + +The child's grief was contagious; and, for the first time for years, +Emily wept bitterly for her blindness. + +It was but for a few moments, however. Quickly recovering herself, she +tried to compose the child also, saying, "Hush! hush! don't cry; and +don't say it's too bad! It's not too bad; I can bear it very well. I'm +used to it, and am quite happy." + +"I shouldn't be happy in the dark; I should _hate_ to be!" said Gerty. +"I _an't_ glad you're blind; I'm really _sorry_. I wish you could see me +and everything. Can't your eyes be opened, any way?" + +"No," said Emily; "never; but we won't talk about that any more; we will +talk about you. I want to know what makes you think yourself so very +ugly." + +"Because folks say that I am an ugly child, and that nobody loves ugly +children." + +"Yes, people do," said Emily, "love ugly children, if they are good." + +"But I an't good," said Gerty, "I'm really bad!" + +"But you _can be good_," said Emily, "and then everybody will love you." + +"Do you think I can be good?" + +"Yes, if you try." + +"I will try." + +"I _hope_ you will," said Emily. "Mr. Flint thinks a great deal of his +little girl, and she must do all she can to please him." + +She then asked concerning Gerty's former way of life, and became so +interested in the recital of the little girl's early sorrows and trials, +that she was unconscious of the flight of time, and quite unobservant of +the departure of the organist, who had ceased playing, closed his +instrument, and gone away. + +Gerty was very communicative. The sweet voice and sympathetic tones of +Emily went straight to her heart, and though her whole life had been +passed among the poorer and lowest classes of people, she felt no awe +and constraint on her encountering, for the first time, a lady of +polished mind and manners. On the contrary, Gerty clung to Emily as +affectionately, and stroked her soft boa with as much freedom, as if she +had herself been born in a palace. Once or twice she took Emily's +nicely-gloved hand between both her own, and held it tight; her +favourite mode of expressing her warmth of gratitude and admiration. +The excitable but interesting child took no less strong a hold upon Miss +Graham's feelings. The latter perceived how neglected the little one had +been, and the importance of her being educated, lest early abuse, acting +upon an impetuous disposition, should prove destructive to a nature +capable of the best attainments. The two were still entertaining each +other, when Mr. Arnold entered the church hastily. As he came up the +aisle, he called to Emily, saying, "Emily; dear, I fear you thought I +had forgotten you. I have been longer than I intended. Were you not +tired of waiting?" + +"I thought it was but a very little while. I have had company, you see." + +"What, little folks," said Mr. Arnold, good-naturedly. "Where did this +little body come from?" + +"She came to the church this afternoon with Mr. Cooper. Isn't he here +for her?" + +"Cooper?--No: he went straight home after he left me; he's probably +forgotten all about the child. What's to be done?" + +"Can't we take her home? Is it far?" + +"It is two or three streets from here, and directly out of our way; +altogether too far for you to walk." + +"Oh, no, it won't tire me; I'm quite strong now, and I would know she +was safe home." + +If Emily could but have seen Gerty's grateful face that moment, she +would indeed have felt repaid for almost any amount of weariness. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +MENTAL DARKNESS. + + +The blind girl did not forget little Gerty. Emily Graham never forgot +the sufferings, the wants, the necessities of others. She could not see +the world without, but there was a world of love and sympathy within +her, which manifested itself in abundant charity, both of heart and +deed. She loved God with her whole heart, and her neighbour as herself. +Her own great misfortunes and trials were borne without repining; but +the misfortunes and trials of others became her care, the alleviation of +them her greatest delight. Emily was never weary of doing good. But +never had she been so affected as now by any tale of sorrow. Children +were born into the world amid poverty and privation. She could not +account to herself for the interest she felt in the little stranger; but +the impulse to know more of her was irresistible, and sending for True, +she talked a long time with him about the child. + +True was highly gratified by Miss Graham's account of the meeting in the +church, and of the interest the little girl had inspired in one for whom +he felt the greatest admiration and respect. Gerty had previously told +him how she had seen Miss Graham, and had spoken in the most glowing +terms of the dear lady who was so kind to her, and brought her home when +Mr. Cooper had forgotten her, but it had not occurred to the old man +that the fancy was mutual. + +Emily asked him if he didn't intend to send her to school? + +"Well, I don't know," said he; "she's a little thing, and an't much used +to being with other children. Besides, I don't exactly like to spare +her." + +Emily suggested that it was time she was learning to read and write; and +that the sooner she went among other children, the easier it would be to +her. + +"Very true, Miss Emily, very true," said Mr. Flint. "I dare say you're +right; and if you think she'd better go, I'll ask her, and see what she +says." + +"I would," said Emily. "I think she might enjoy it, besides improving +very much; and, about her clothes, if there's any deficiency, I'll----" + +"Oh, no, no, Miss Emily!" interrupted True; "there's no necessity; she's +very well on't now, thanks to your kindness." + +"Well," said Emily, "if she should have any wants, you must apply to me. +You know we adopted her jointly, and I agreed to do anything I could for +her; so you must never hesitate--it will be a pleasure to serve either +of you. My father always feels under obligations to you, Mr. Flint, for +faithful service that cost you dear in the end." + +"Oh, Miss Emily," said True, "Mr. Graham has always been my best friend; +and as to that 'ere accident that happened when I was in his employ, it +was nobody's fault but my own; it was my own carelessness, and nobody's +else." + +"I know you say so," said Emily, "but we regretted it very much; and you +mustn't forget what I tell you, that I shall delight in doing anything +for Gerty. I should like to have her come and see me, some day, if she +would like, and you'll let her." + +"Sartain, sartain," said True, "and thank you kindly; she'd be glad to +come." + +A few days after Gerty went with True to see Miss Graham, but the +housekeeper, whom they met in the hall, told them that she was ill and +could see no one. So they went away full of disappointment and regret. + +Emily had taken a severe cold the day she sat so long in the church, and +was suffering with it when they called; but, though confined to her +room, she would have been glad to have a visit from Gerty, and was sorry +that Mrs. Ellis should have sent them away. + +On Saturday evening, when Willie was present, True broached the subject +of Gerty's going to school. Gerty was much displeased with the idea; but +it met with Willie's approbation; and when Gerty learned that Miss +Graham also wished it, she consented, though reluctantly, to begin the +next week, and try how she liked it. So next Monday Gerty went with True +to one of the primary schools, was admitted, and her education began. +When Willie came home the next Sunday, he rushed into True's room, eager +to hear how Gerty liked going to school. She was seated at the table, +with her spelling-book; and she exclaimed, "Oh, Willie! Willie! come and +hear me read!" + +Her performance could hardly be called reading. She had not got beyond +the alphabet, and a few syllables she had learned to spell; but Willie +bestowed upon her much well-merited praise, she had been very diligent. +He was astonished to hear that Gerty liked going to school, liked the +teachers and the scholars, and had a fine time at recess. He had fully +expected that she would dislike the whole business, and go into tantrums +about it--which was the expression he used to denote her fits of +ill-temper. Willie promised to assist her in her studies; and the two +children's literary plans soon became as high-flown as if one had been a +poet-laureate and the other a philosopher. + +For two or three weeks all appeared to go on smoothly. Gerty went +regularly to school, and made rapid progress. Every Saturday Willie +heard her read and spell, assisted, praised, and encouraged her. But he +had heard that, on two occasions, she had nearly had a brush with some +large girls, for whom she began to show symptoms of dislike. This soon +reached a crisis. One day, when the children were in the school-yard, +during recess, Gerty saw True in his working-dress, passing down the +street, with his ladder and lamp-filler. Shouting and laughing, she +pursued and overtook him. She came back in a few minutes, seeming much +delighted, and ran into the yard full of happy excitement. The troop of +large girls, whom Gerty had already had some reason to distrust, had +been observing her, and one of them called out saying---- + +"Who's that man?" + +"That's my Uncle True," said Gerty. + +"Your what?" + +"My Uncle, Mr. Flint, that I live with." + +"So you belong to him, do you?" said the girl, in an insolent tone of +voice. "Ha! ha! ha!" + +"What are you laughing at?" said Gerty, fiercely. + +"Ugh! Before I'd live with him!" said the girl--"Old Smutty!" + +The others caught it up, and the laugh and epithet Old Smutty circulated +freely in the corner of the yard where Gerty was standing. Gerty was +furious. Her eyes glistened, she doubled her little fist, and, without +hesitation, came down in battle upon the crowd. But they were too many +for her, and, helpless as she was with passion, they drove her out of +the yard. She started for home on a full run, screaming with all her +might. + +As she flew along the side-walk, she brushed stiffly against a tall, +stiff-looking lady, who was walking slowly in the same direction, with a +much smaller person leaning on her arm. "Bless me!" said the tall lady, +who had almost lost her equilibrium from the suddenness of the shock. +"Why, you horrid little creature!" As she spoke, she grasped Gerty by +the shoulder, and, before she could break away, gave her a slight shake. +This served to increase Gerty's anger, and, her speed gaining in +proportion, it was but a few minutes before she was crouched in a corner +of True's room behind the bed, her face to the wall, and covered with +both her hands. Here she was free to cry as loud as she pleased; for +Mrs. Sullivan was gone out, and there was no one in the house to hear +her. + +But she had not indulged long in her tantrum when the gate at the end of +the yard closed with a bang, and footsteps were heard coming towards Mr. +Flint's door. Gerty's attention was arrested, for she knew by the sound +that a stranger was approaching. With a strong effort she controlled +herself so as to keep quiet. There was a knock at the door, but Gerty +did not reply to it, remaining concealed behind the bed. The knock was +not repeated, but the stranger lifted the latch and walked in. + +"There doesn't seem to be any one at home," said a female voice, "what a +pity." + +"Isn't there? I'm sorry," replied another, in the sweet musical tones of +Miss Graham. Gerty knew the voice at once. + +"I thought you'd better not come here yourself," rejoined the first +speaker, who was no other than Mrs. Ellis, the identical lady whom Gerty +had so frightened and disconcerted. + +"Oh, I don't regret coming," said Emily. "You can leave me here while +you go to your sister's, and very likely Mr. Flint or the little girl +will come home in the meantime." + +"It don't become you, Miss Emily, to be carried round everywhere, and +left, like an express parcel, till called for. You caught a horrid cold +that you're hardly well of now, waiting there in the church for the +minister; and Mr. Graham will be finding fault next." + +"Oh, no, Mrs. Ellis; it's very comfortable here; the church must have +been damp, I think. Come, put me in Mr. Flint's arm-chair, and I can +make myself quite contented." + +"Well, at any rate," said Mrs. Ellis, "I'll make up a good fire in this +stove before I go." + +As she spoke, the energetic housekeeper seized the poker, and, after +stirring up the coals, and making free with all True's kindlewood, +waited till the fire burnt up, and then, having laid aside Emily's +cloak, went away with the same firm step with which she had come, and +which had so overpowered Emily's noiseless tread, that Gerty had only +anticipated the arrival of a single guest. As soon as Gerty knew that +Mrs. Ellis had really departed, she suspended her efforts at +self-control, and, with a deep-drawn sigh, gasped out, "O dear! O dear!" + +"Why, Gerty!" exclaimed Emily, "is that you?" + +"Yes," sobbed Gerty. + +"Come here." + +The child waited no second bidding, but, starting up, ran, threw herself +on the floor by the side of Emily, buried her face in the blind girl's +lap, and once more commenced crying aloud. Her whole frame was agitated. + +"Why, Gerty," said Emily, "what is the matter?" + +But Gerty could not reply; and Emily desisted from her inquiries until +the little one should be somewhat composed. She lifted Gerty up into her +lap, laid her head upon her shoulder, and with her handkerchief wiped +the tears from her face. Her soothing words and caresses soon quieted +the child, and when she was calm, Emily, instead of recurring at once to +the cause of her grief, questioned her upon other topics. At last, +however, she asked her if she went to school. + +"I _have been_," said Gerty, raising her head from Emily's shoulder; +"but I won't ever go again!" + +"What!--Why not!" + +"Because," said Gerty, angrily, "I hate those girls; yes, I hate 'em! +ugly things!" + +"Gerty," said Emily, "don't say that; you shouldn't hate anybody." + +"Why shouldn't I?" said Gerty. + +"Because it's wrong." + +"No, it's not _wrong_; I say it _isn't_!" said Gerty; "and I do hate +'em; and I hate Nan Grant, and I always shall! Don't _you_ hate +anybody?" + +"No," answered Emily, "_I don't._" + +"Did anybody ever drown your kitten? Did anybody ever call your father +Old Smutty?" said Gerty. "If they had, I know you'd hate 'em just as I +do." + +"Gerty," said Emily, solemnly, "didn't you tell me, the other day, that +you were a naughty child, but that you wished to be good, and would +try!" + +"Yes," said Gerty. + +"If you wish to become good and be forgiven, you must forgive others." +Gerty said nothing. + +"Do you not wish God to forgive and love you?" + +"God, who lives in heaven--who made the stars?" said Gerty. + +"Yes." + +"Will he love me, and let me some time go to heaven?" + +"Yes, if you try to be good and love everybody." + +"Miss Emily," said Gerty, after a moment's pause, "I can't do it, so I +s'pose I can't go." + +Just at this moment a tear fell upon Gerty's forehead. She looked +thoughtfully up into Emily's face, then said-- + +"Dear Miss Emily, are you going there?" + +"I am trying." + +"I should like to go with you," said Gerty. + +Still Emily did not speak. She left the child to the working of her own +thoughts. + +"Miss Emily," said Gerty, at last, in the lowest whisper, "I mean to +_try_, but I don't think I _can_." + +"God bless you, and help you, my child!" said Emily, laying her hand +upon Gerty's head. + +For fifteen minutes or more not a word was spoken by either. Gerty lay +perfectly still in Emily's lap. By-and-by the latter perceived, by the +child's breathing, that, worn out with the fever and excitement of all +she had gone through, she had dropped into a quiet sleep. When Mrs. +Ellis returned, Emily pointed to the sleeping child, and asked her to +place her on the bed. She did so, and turning to Emily, exclaimed, "My +word, Miss Emily, that's the same rude, bawling little creature that +came so near being the death of us!" Emily smiled at the idea of a child +eight years old overthrowing a woman of Mrs. Ellis' inches, but said +nothing. + +Why did Emily weep long that night, as she recalled the scene of the +morning? Why did she, on bended knees, wrestle so vehemently with a +mighty sorrow? Why did she pray so earnestly for new strength and +heavenly aid? Why did she so beseechingly ask of God His blessing on the +little child? Because she had felt, in many a year of darkness and +bereavement, in many an hour of fearful struggle, in many a pang of +despair, how a temper like that of Gerty's might, in one moment of its +fearful reign, cast a blight upon a lifetime, and write in fearful lines +the mournful requiem of early joy. And so she prayed to heaven for +strength to keep her firm resolve, and aid in fulfilling her undying +purpose, to cure that child of her dark infirmity. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AN EARTHLY MESSENGER OF PEACE. + + +The next Sabbath afternoon found Gerty seated on a stool in Emily's +room. Her large eyes were fixed on Emily's face, which always seemed to +fascinate the little girl; so attentively did she watch her features, +the charm of which many an older person than Gerty had felt, but could +not describe. It was not beauty; though once her face was illumined by +beautiful hazel eyes: nor was it fascination of manner, for Emily's +manner and voice were so soft and unassuming that they never took the +fancy by storm. It was not compassion for her blindness, though that +might well excite sympathy. But it was hard to realise that Emily was +blind. It was a fact never forced upon her friend's recollection by any +repining or selfish indulgence on the part of the sufferer; and, as +there was nothing painful in the appearance of her closed lids, shaded +and fringed as they were by her long eyelashes, it was not unusual for +persons to converse upon things which could only be evident to the sense +of sight, and even direct her attention to one object and another, quite +forgetting, for the moment, her sad deprivation: and Emily never sighed, +never seemed hurt at their want of consideration, or showed any lack of +interest in objects thus shut from her gaze, but quite satisfied with +the pictures which she formed in her imagination, would talk pleasantly +upon whatever was uppermost in the minds of her companions. Some said +that Emily had the sweetest mouth in the world, and they loved to watch +its ever varying expression. But true Christians knew the source whence +she derived that power by which her face and voice stole into the hearts +of young and old, and won their love--_they_ would have said the +same as Gerty did, when she sat gazing so earnestly at Emily on the +very Sunday afternoon of which we speak, "Miss Emily, I know you've been +with God." + +Gerty was a strange child; but she had felt Emily's superiority to any +being she had ever seen; and she reposed confidence in what she told +her, allowed herself to be guided by one whom she felt loved her and +sought her good; and, as she sat at her feet, and listened to her gentle +voice while she gave her first lesson upon the distinction between right +and wrong, Emily, though she could not see the little thoughtful face, +knew, by her earnest attention, and by the little hand which had sought +hers, and held it tight, that one great point was won. + +Gerty had not been to school since the day of her battle with the girls. +True's persuasions had failed; she would not go. But Emily understood +the child's nature better than True did, and urged upon her more +forcible motives than the old man had thought of employing, that _she_ +succeeded where _he_ had failed. Gerty considered that her old friend +had been insulted, and that was the chief cause of her indignation with +her schoolmates; but Emily placed the matter in a different light, and +convincing her at last that, if she loved Uncle True, she would show it +much better by obeying his wishes than by retaining her foolish anger, +she finally obtained Gerty's promise that she would go to school the +next morning. + +The next morning True, much pleased, went with her, and inquiring for +the teacher, stated the case to her in his blunt, honest way, and then +left Gerty in her special charge. Miss Browne, who was a young woman of +good sense and good feelings, saw the matter in the right light; and +taking an opportunity to speak privately to the girls who had excited +Gerty's temper by their rudeness, made them so ashamed of their conduct, +that they ceased to molest the child. + +The winter passed away, and spring days came, when Gerty could sit at +the open window, when birds sang in the morning among the trees, and the +sun at evening threw bright rays across True's great room, and Gerty +could see to read almost until bed-time. She had been to school steadily +all winter, and had improved rapidly. She was healthy and well; her +clothes were clean and neat, for her wardrobe was well stocked by Emily, +and the care of it superintended by Mrs. Sullivan. She was bright and +happy too, and tripped round the house so joyously, that True declared +his birdie knew not what it was to touch her heel to the ground, but +flew about on the tips of her toes. + +The old man could not have loved her better had she been his own child; +and he sat by her side on the wide settle, which, in warm weather, was +moved outside the door, and listened patiently and attentively while she +read various pleasing stories. The old man's interest in the story-books +was as keen as if he had been a child himself. + +Emily, who gave these books, knew their influence on the hearts of +children, and most judiciously did she select them. Gerty's life was now +as happy as it had been wretched and miserable. All the days in the week +were joyous; but Saturday and Sunday were marked days; for Saturday +brought Willie home to hear her recite her lessons, walk, laugh, and +play with her. He had so many pleasant things to tell, was so full of +life, so ready to enter into all her plans, and promote her amusement, +that on Monday morning she began to count the days until Saturday would +come again. + +Sunday afternoon Gerty always spent with Emily, listening to her sweet +voice, and imbibing a portion of her sweet spirit. Emily preached no +sermons, nor did she weary the child with precepts. It did not occur to +Gerty that she went there to be _taught_ anything; but gradually the +blind girl imparted light to the child's dark soul, and the lessons that +are divine were implanted in her so naturally, that she realized not the +work that was going on, but long after--when goodness had grown strong +within her, and her first feeble resistance of evil, her first attempts +to keep her childish resolves, had matured into deeply-rooted +principles--she felt, as she looked back, that on those blessed +Sabbaths, sitting at Emily's knee, she had received into her heart the +first beams of that immortal light that never could be quenched. + +It was a grievous trial to Gerty to learn that the Graham's were about +to go into the country for the summer. Mr. Graham had a pleasant +residence about six miles from Boston, to which he resorted as soon as +the planting season commenced; for though devoted to business during the +winter, he had of late years allowed himself much relaxation during the +summer; and ledgers and day-books were to be supplanted by the delights +of gardening. Emily promised Gerty that she should pass a day with her +when the weather was fine; a visit which Gerty enjoyed three months in +anticipation, and more than three in retrospection. + +It was some compensation for Emily's absence that, as the days got long, +Willie was often able to leave the shop and come home for an hour or two +in the evening; and Willie's visits always tended to comfort Gerty. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +PROGRESS OF KNOWLEDGE. + + +It was one pleasant evening in April that Gerty, who had been to see +Miss Graham and bid her good-bye, before her departure for the country, +stood at the back part of the yard, weeping bitterly. She held in her +hand a book and a new slate, Emily's parting gifts; but she had not +removed the wrapper from the one, and the other was bedewed with tears. +She was so full of grief that she did not hear any one approach, until a +hand was placed upon each of her shoulders; and, as she turned round, +she found herself encircled by Willie's arms, and face to face with +Willie's sunny countenance. "Why, Gerty!" said he, "this is no welcome, +when I've come home on a week-night to stay with you all the evening. +Mother and grandfather are gone out, and when I come to look for you, +you're crying so I can't see your face for tears. Come, come! _do_ leave +off; you don't know how you look!" + +"Willie!", sobbed she, "do you know Miss Emily's gone?" + +"Gone where?" + +"Way off, six miles, to stay all summer!" + +But Willie only laughed. "Six miles!" said he; "that's a terrible way, +certainly!" + +"But I can't see her any more!" said Gerty. + +"You can see her next winter," rejoined Willie. + +"Oh, but that's so long!" said the child. + +"What makes you think so much of her?" + +"She thinks much of me; she can't see me, and she likes me better than +anybody, but Uncle True." + +"I don't believe it; I don't believe she likes you half as well as I do. +I _know_ she don't! How can she, when she's blind, and never saw you in +her life, and I see you all the time, and love you better than I do +anybody in the world, except my mother." + +"Do you _really_, Willie?" + +"Yes, I do. I always think, when I come home--Now I'm going to see +Gerty; and everything that happens all the week, I think to myself--I +shall tell Gerty that." + +"I shouldn't think you'd like me so well." + +"Why not?" + +"Oh, because you're so handsome, and I an't handsome a bit. I heard +Ellen Chase tell Lucretia Davis, the other day, that she thought Gerty +Flint was the worst-looking girl in the school." + +"Then she ought to be ashamed of herself," said Willie, "I guess she +an't very good-looking. I should hate the looks of _her_ or any _other_ +girl that said that." + +"Oh, Willie!" exclaimed Gerty, "it's true." + +"No, it an't _true_," said Willie. "To be sure, you haven't got long +curls, and a round face, and blue eyes, like Belle Clinton's, and +nobody'd think of setting you up for a beauty; but when you've been +running, and have rosy cheeks, and your great black eyes shine, and you +laugh so heartily, I often think you're the brightest-looking girl I +ever saw in my life: and I don't care what other folks think, as long as +I like your looks. I feel just as bad when you cry, or anything's the +matter with you, as if it were myself, and worse." + +Such professions of affection by Willie were frequent, and always +responded to by a like declaration from Gerty. Nor were they mere +professions. The two children loved each other dearly. That they loved +_each other_ there could be no doubt; and if in the spring the bond +between them was already strong, autumn found it cemented by still +firmer ties; for, during Emily's absence, Willie filled her place, and +his own too; and though Gerty did not forget her blind friend, she +passed a most happy summer, and made such progress in her studies at +school that, when Emily returned in October, she could hardly understand +how so much had been accomplished in so short a time. + +Miss Graham's kindly feeling towards her little _protégé_ had increased +by time and absence, and Gerty's visits to Emily became more frequent +than ever. The profit derived from these visits was not all on Gerty's +part. Emily had, during the previous winter, heard her read +occasionally, that she might judge of her proficiency; now she had +discovered that the little girl had attained to a much greater degree of +excellence. She read understandingly, and her accent and intonations +were so admirable that Emily found rare pleasure in listening to her. + +For the child's benefit, and for her own gratification, she proposed +that Gerty should come every day and read to her for an hour. Gerty was +only too happy to oblige her dear Miss Emily, who, in making the +proposal, represented it as a personal favour to herself, and a plan by +which Gerty's eyes could serve for them both. It was agreed that when +True started on his lamplighting expeditions he should take Gerty to Mr. +Graham's, and call for her on his return. Thus Gerty was punctual in her +attendance at the appointed time; and none but those who have tried it +are aware what a large amount of reading may be effected in six months, +if an hour is devoted to it each day. Emily, in her choice of books, did +not confine herself to such as came strictly within a child's +comprehension. She judged that a girl of such keen intelligence as Gerty +was naturally endowed with would be benefited by what was beyond her +comprehension; but that, in the effort she would be called upon to make, +would enlarge her capacity, and be an incentive to her genius. So +history, biography, and books of travels were perused by Gerty at an age +when most children's literary pursuits are confined to stories and +pictures. The child gave the preference to this comparatively solid +reading; and, aided by Emily's explanations, she stored up in her mind +much useful information. + +From the time Gerty was first admitted until she was twelve years old, +she attended the public schools, and was rapidly promoted; but what she +learned with Miss Graham, and acquired by study with Willie at home, +formed nearly as important a part of her education. Willie was very fond +of study, and was delighted at Gerty's participation in his favourite +pursuit. They were a great advantage to each other, for each found +encouragement in the other's sympathy and co-operation. After the first +year or two of their acquaintance, Willie was in his fifteenth year, +and beginning to look quite manly. But Gerty's eagerness for knowledge +had all the more influence upon him; for if the little girl of ten years +was patient and willing to labour at her books until after nine o'clock, +the youth of fifteen must not rub his eyes and plead weariness. When +they had reached these ages, they began to study French together. +Willie's former teacher continued to feel a kindly interest in the boy +who had long been his best scholar, and who would certainly have borne +away from his class the first prizes, had not a higher duty called him +to inferior labours previous to the public exhibition. Finding that +Willie had much spare time, he advised him to learn the French language, +which would prove useful to him--and offered to lend him such books as +he would need at the commencement. + +Willie availed himself of his teacher's advice and his kind offer, and +began to study in good earnest. When he was at home in the evening, he +came into True's room, partly for the sake of quiet and partly for the +sake of being with Gerty, who was at the time occupied with her books. +Gerty had a strong desire to learn French too. Willie wished her to try, +but thought she would not persevere. But to his surprise, she discovered +a wonderful determination, and a decided talent for language; and as +Emily furnished her with books like Willie's, she kept pace with him, +oftentimes translating more during the week than he could find time to +do. On Saturday evening, when they had always had a fine study-time +together, True would sit on his old settle watching Willie and Gerty +side by side, at the table, with their eyes bent on the page, which to +him seemed a labyrinth. Gerty looked out the words with great skill, +her bright eyes diving, as if by magic, into the dictionary, and +transfixing the right word at a glance, while Willie's province was to +make sense. Almost the only occasion when True disturbed them was when +he heard Willie talk about making sense. "Making sense, Willie!" said +the old man; "is that what ye're after? Well, you couldn't do a better +business. I'll warrant you a market for it; there's want enough on't in +the world!" + +It was but natural that, with Emily to advise and direct, and Willie to +aid and encourage, her intellect should rapidly expand and strengthen. +But how is it with that little heart of hers, that, at once warm and +affectionate, impulsive, sensitive, and passionate, now throbs with love +and gratitude, and now again burns as vehemently with the consuming fire +that a sense of wrong, a consciousness of injury to herself or her +friends, would at any moment enkindle? Has she, in two years of happy +childhood, learned self-control? Has she also attained to an enlightened +sense of the distinction between right and wrong, truth and falsehood? +In short, has Emily been true to her self-imposed trust, her high +resolve, to soften the heart and instruct the soul of the little +ignorant one? Has Gerty learned religion? Has she found out God, and +begun to walk patiently in that path which is lit by a holy light and +leads to rest? + +She has _begun_; and though her footsteps often falter, though she +sometimes turns aside, and, impatient of the narrow way, gives the rein +to her old irritability, she is yet but a child, and there is a +foundation for hopefulness in the sincerity of her good intentions, and +the depth of her contrition when wrong has had the mastery. Emily has +taught her where to place her strong reliance, and Gerty looks to higher +aid than Emily's, and she leans on a mightier arm. + +How much Gerty had improved in the two years that had passed since she +first began to be so carefully instructed and provided for, the course +of our story must develop. We cannot pause to dwell upon the trials and +struggles, the failures and victories, that she experienced. It is +sufficient to say that Miss Graham was satisfied and hopeful, True proud +and over-joyed, while Mrs. Sullivan, and even old Mr. Cooper, declared +she had improved wonderfully in her behaviour and her looks. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +AN ADVENTURE AND A MISFORTUNE. + + +One Saturday evening in December Willie came in with his French books +under his arm, and, after the first salutations, exclaimed, as he put +the grammar and dictionary on the table, "Oh, Gerty! before we begin to +study, I _must_ tell you and Uncle True the funniest thing that happened +to-day; I have been laughing so at home, as I was telling mother about +it!" + +"I heard you laugh," said Gerty. "If I had not been so busy, I should +have come in to hear what it was that was so very droll. But do tell +us!" + +"Why, you will not think it's anything like a joke when I begin, and I +should not be much amused, if she hadn't been the very queerest old +woman that ever I saw in my life." + +"Old woman!--You haven't told us about one!" + +"But I'm going to," said Willie. "You noticed how everything was covered +with ice this morning. How splendidly it looked, didn't it? I declare, +when the sun shone on that great elm-tree in front of our shop, I +thought I never saw anything so handsome in my life. But, there, that's +nothing to do with my old woman--only that the side-walks were just like +everything else, a perfect glare." + +"I want to hear about your old woman," said Gerty. + +"I was standing at the shop-door, about eleven o'clock, looking out, +when I saw the strangest-looking figure coming down the street. She had +on some kind of a black silk or satin gown, made very scant, and trimmed +all round with some brownish-looking lace--black it had been once, but +it isn't now--then she had a grey cloak, of silk material, that you +certainly would have said came out of the Ark, if it hadn't been for a +little cape, of a different colour, that she wore outside of it, and +which must have been dated a generation further back. Her bonnet! Oh +dear! it was twice as big as anybody's else, and she had a figured lace +veil thrown over one side, that reached nearly to her feet. But her +goggles crowned all; such immense horrid-looking things I never saw. She +had a work-bag made of black silk, with pieces of cloth of all the +colours in the rainbow sewed on to it, zigzag: then her +pocket-handkerchief was pinned to her bag, and a great feather fan--at +this season of the year!--that was pinned on somewhere--by a string, I +suppose--and a bundle-handkerchief, and a newspaper! Oh, gracious! I +can't think of half the things; but they were all pinned together with +great brass pins, and hung in a body on her left arm. Her dress, though, +wasn't the strangest thing about her. What made it funny was her way of +walking: she looked quite old and infirm, and it was evident she could +hardly keep her footing on the ice; and yet she walked with such a +consequential little air! Oh, Gerty, it's lucky you didn't see her! +you'd have laughed from then till this time." + +"Some poor, crazy crittur, wasn't she?" asked True. + +"Oh, no!" said Willie, "I don't think she was; though queer enough, but +not crazy. Just as she got opposite the shop door her feet slipped, and +she fell flat on the pavement. I rushed out, for I thought the fall +might have killed the poor little thing; and Mr. Bray, and a gentleman +whom he was waiting upon, followed me. She did appear stunned at first; +but we carried her into the shop and she came to her senses in a minute +or two. Crazy you asked if she were, Uncle True! No, not she! She's as +bright as you are! As soon as she opened her eyes, and seemed to know +what she was about, she felt for her work-bag and all its appendages; +counted them up, to see if the number were right, and then nodded her +head very satisfactorily. Mr. Bray poured out a glass of cordial and +offered it to her. By this time she had got her airs and graces back +again; so when he recommended her to swallow the cordial, she retreated +with a little old-fashioned curtsey, and put up both her hands to +express her horror at the idea of such a thing. The gentleman standing +by smiled, and advised her to take it, as it would do her no harm. She +turned round, made another curtsey to him, and asked, in a little +cracked voice, 'Can you assure me, sir, as a gentleman of candour and +gallantry, that it is not an exhilarating potion?' The gentleman could +hardly keep from laughing; but he told her it was nothing that would +hurt her. 'Then,' said she, 'I will venture to sip the beverage; it has +most aromatic fragrance.' She seemed to like the taste as well as the +smell, for she drank every drop of it; she turned to me and said, +'Except upon this gentleman's assurance of the harmlessness of the +liquid, I would not have swallowed it in your presence, my young master, +if it were only for the _example_. I have set my seal to no temperance +pledge, but I am abstemious because it becomes a lady; it is with me a +matter of choice, a matter of _taste_.' She now seemed quite restored, +and talked of starting again on her walk; but it was not safe for her to +go alone on the ice, and Mr. Bray thought so, for he asked her where +she was going? She told him, in her roundabout way, that she was going +to pass the day with mistress somebody, that lived near the Common. I +touched Mr. Bray's arm, and said, in a low voice, that if he could spare +me, I'd go with her. He said he shouldn't want me for an hour; so I +offered her my arm and told her I should be happy to wait upon her. You +ought to have seen her then. If I had been a grownup man, and she a +young lady, she couldn't have tossed her head or giggled more. But she +took my arm and we started off. I knew Mr. Bray and the gentleman were +laughing to see us, but I didn't care; I pitied the old lady, and I did +not mean she should get another tumble. + +"Every person we met stared at us; we were such a grotesque looking +couple. She accepted my proffered arm, and clasped her hands together +round it, making a complete handle of her two arms; and so she hung on +with all her might. But I ought not to laugh at the poor thing, for she +needed somebody to help her along, and I'm sure she wasn't heavy enough +to tire me out, if she did make the most of herself. I wonder who she +belongs to. I shouldn't think her friends would let her go about the +streets so, especially such walking as it is to-day." + +"What's her name?" inquired Gerty. "Didn't you find out?" + +"No," answered Willie; "she wouldn't tell me. I asked her, but she only +said, in her little cracked voice (and here Willie began to laugh +immoderately), that she was the _incognito_, and that it was the part of +a true and gallant knight to discover the name of his fair lady. Oh, I +promise you she was a case! Why, you never heard anyone talk so +ridiculously as she did! I asked her how old she was. Mother said that +was very impolite, but it's the only uncivil thing I did or said, as the +old lady would testify herself if she were here." + +"How old is she?" said Gerty. + +"Sixteen." + +"Why, Willie, what do you mean?" + +"That's what she told me," said Willie; "and a true and gallant knight +must believe his fair lady." + +"Poor body!" said True; "she's childish!" + +"No, she isn't Uncle True," said Willie; "you'd think so part of the +time, to hear her run on with her nonsense; and then, the next minute, +she'd speak as sensible as anybody, and say how much obliged she was to +me for being willing to put myself to so much trouble for the sake of an +old woman like her. Just as we turned into Beacon Street we met a school +of girls, blooming beauties, handsome enough to kill, my old lady called +them; and when they came in sight, she seemed to take it for granted I +should get away from her, and run after some of them. But she held on +with a vengeance! It's lucky I had no idea of forsaking her, for it +would have been impossible! Some of them stopped and stared at us--of +course I didn't care how much they stared; but she seemed to think I +should be terribly mortified; and when we had passed them all, she +complimented me again and again on my spirit of conformity, her +favourite expression." + +Here Willie was out of breath. True clapped him upon the shoulder. "Good +boy, Willie?" said he, "clever boy! You always look out for the old +folks, and that's right. Respect for the aged is a good thing; though +your grandfather says it's very much out of fashion." + +"I don't know much about fashion, Uncle True; but I should think it was +a pretty mean sort of a boy that would see an old lady get one fall on +the ice, and not save her from another by seeing her safe home." + +"Willie's always kind to everybody," said Gerty. + +"Willie's either a hero," said the boy, "or else he has got two pretty +good friends--I rather think it's the latter. But, come, Gerty, Charles +the Twelfth is waiting for us, and we must study as much as we can +to-night. We may not have another chance very soon, for Mr. Bray isn't +well this evening; he seems threatened with a fever, and I promised to +go back to the shop after dinner to-morrow. If he should be sick, I +shall have plenty to do without coming home at all." + +"Oh, I hope Mr. Bray is not going to have a fever," said True and Gerty, +in the same breath. + +"He's such a clever man!" said True. + +"He's so good to you, Willie!" added Gerty. + +Willie hoped not, too; but his hopes gave way to his fears, when he +found on the following day that his kind master was not able to leave +his bed, and the doctor pronounced his symptoms alarming. A typhoid +fever set in, which in a few days terminated the life of the excellent +apothecary. + +The death of Mr. Bray was a dreadful blow to Willie. The shop was +closed, the widow having decided to dispose of the stock, and remove +into the country. Willie was thus left without employment, and deprived +of Mr. Bray's valuable assistance. His earnings had promoted the comfort +of his mother and grandfather, who had thus been enabled to relax their +own labours. The thought of being a burden to them was intolerable to +the independent spirit of the boy; and he tried to obtain another place. +He applied to the different apothecaries in the city, but none of them +wanted a youth of his age. He returned home at night, disappointed, but +not discouraged. If he could not obtain employment with an apothecary, +he would do something else. But what should he do? That was the +question. He had long talks with his mother about it. She felt that his +talents and education entitled him to fill a position equal to that he +had already occupied; and could not endure the thought of his descending +to more menial service. Willie, without pride, thought so too. He knew +he could give satisfaction in a station which required more business +talent than his situation at Mr. Bray's had ever given scope to. So he +had made every possible inquiry, but he had no one to speak a good word +for him, and so he met with no success, and day after day returned home +silent and depressed. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +BRIGHTENING PROSPECTS. + + +This was altogether a new experience to Willie, and a very trying one. +But he bore it bravely; kept all his worst struggles from his anxious +mother and desponding grandfather, and resolved to hope against hope. +Gerty was now his chief comforter. He told her all his troubles, and, +young as she was, she was a wonderful consoler. Always looking on the +bright side, she did much towards keeping up his hopes and strengthening +his resolutions. She knew more than most children of the various ways, +in which she sometimes made valuable suggestions to Willie, of which he +gladly availed himself. Among others, she one day asked him if he had +applied at the agency offices. He had never thought of it--wondered he +had not, but would try. He did so, and for a time was buoyed up with +hopes held out to him; but they proved fleeting, and he was now almost +in despair, when his eye fell upon an advertisement in a newspaper, +which seemed to afford another chance. He showed it to Gerty. It was +just the thing. + +Gerty was so sanguine, that Willie presented himself the next day at the +place specified with a more eager countenance than he had ever yet worn. +The gentleman talked with him some time; asked a great many questions, +hinted his doubts about his capability, and finally declared he was not +eligible. He returned with such a heavy heart that he could not meet his +mother, and so he went to True's room. It was the night before +Christmas. True had gone out, and Gerty was alone. She was preparing a +cake for tea--one of the few branches of the cooking department in which +she had acquired some skill. She was just coming from the pantry, with a +scoop-full of meal in her hand, when Willie entered. He tossed his cap +upon the settle, and leaned his head upon his hands, and this betrayed +the defeat the poor boy had met with. It was so unlike Willie to come in +without speaking--it was such a strange thing to see his bright young +head bowed down with care, and his elastic figure looking tired and old, +that Gerty knew at once his brave heart had given way. She laid down the +scoop, and walking up to him, touched his arm with her hand, and looked +up anxiously into his face. Her sympathetic look was more than he could +bear. He laid his head on the table, and in a minute more Gerty heard +great heavy sobs, each one of which sank deep into her soul. She often +cried herself--it seemed only natural; but Willie--the laughing, happy, +light-hearted Willie--she had never seen _him_ cry; she didn't know he +_could_. She crept up on the rounds of his chair, and putting her arm +round his neck, whispered, "I shouldn't mind, Willie, if I didn't get +the place; I don't believe it's a _good_ place." + +"I don't believe it is, either," said Willie, lifting up his head; "but +what shall I do? I can't get any place, and I can't stay here doing +nothing." + +"We like to have you at home," said Gerty. + +"It's pleasant enough to be at home. I was always glad enough to come +when I lived at Mr. Bray's and was earning something, and could feel as +if anybody was glad to see me." + +"_Everybody_ is glad to see you _now_." + +"But not as they were _then_," said Willie; "mother always looks as if +she expected to hear I'd got something to do; and grandfather, I +believe, never thought I should be good for much; and now, as I was +beginning to earn something, and be a help to them, I've lost my +chance!" + +"But that an't your fault, Willie; you couldn't help Mr. Bray's dying. I +shouldn't think Mr. Cooper would blame you for not having anything to do +_now_." + +"He don't _blame_ me; but if you were in my place you'd feel just as I +do, to see him sit in his arm-chair in the evening, and groan and look +up at me, as much as to say, 'It's _you_ I'm groaning about.'" + +"Have heart," said Gerty; "I think you'll be rich, some time--and _then_ +won't he be astonished!" + +"Oh, Gerty! you're a nice child, and I think I can do anything. If ever +I am rich, I promise to go shares with you; but 'tan't so easy. I used +to think I could make money when I grew up; but it's pretty slow +business." + +Here he was on the point of leaning down upon the table again, and +giving himself up to melancholy; but Gerty caught hold of his hands. +"Come," said she, "Willie, don't think any more about it. People have +troubles always, but they get over 'em; perhaps next week you'll be in a +better shop than Mr. Bray's, and we shall be as happy as ever. Do you +know," said she, changing the subject, "it's just two years to-night +since I came here?" + +"Is it?" said Willie. "Did Uncle True bring you home with him the night +before Christmas?" + +"Yes." + +"Why, that was Santa Claus carrying you to good things, instead of +bringing good things to you, wasn't it?" + +Gerty did not know anything about Santa Claus, that special friend of +children; and Willie, who had only lately read about him in some book, +undertook to tell her what he knew of the veteran toy-dealer. Finding +the interest of the subject had engaged his thoughts, Gerty returned to +her cooking, listening attentively to his story. When he had finished, +she was kneeling by the stove; her eyes twinkled with such a merry look, +that Willie exclaimed, "What are you thinking of, Gerty, that makes you +look so sly?" + +"I was thinking that perhaps Santa Clans would come for you to-night. If +he comes for folks that need something, I expect he'll come for you, and +carry you to some place where you'll have a chance to grow rich." + +"Very likely," said Willie; "he'll clap me into his bag and trudge off +with me as a present to somebody--some old Cr[oe]sus, that will give me +a fortune for the asking. I do hope he will; for, if I don't get +something to do soon, I shall despair." + +True now came in, and interrupted the conversation by the display of a +fine turkey, a Christmas present from Mr. Graham. He had also a book for +Gerty, a gift from Emily. + +"Isn't that queer," exclaimed Gerty. "Willie was just saying you were my +Santa Clans, Uncle True; and I do believe you are." As she spoke she +opened the book, and in the frontispiece was a portrait of that +individual. "It looks like him, Willie, I declare it does!" shouted she; +"a fur cap, a pipe, and just such a pleasant face; oh, Uncle True, if +you only had a sack full of toys over your shoulder, instead of your +lantern and that great turkey, you would be a complete Santa Claus. +Haven't you got anything for Willie, Uncle True?" + +"Yes, I've got a little something; but I'm afeared he won't think much +on't. It's only a bit of a note." + +"A note for me?" inquired Willie. "Who can it be from?" + +"Can't say," said True, fumbling in his pockets; "only just round the +corner I met a man who stopped me to inquire where Mrs. Sullivan lived. +I told him she lived jist here, and I'd show him the house. When he saw +I lived here too, he gave me this little scrap o' paper, and asked me to +hand it to Master William Sullivan. I s'pose that's you, an't it?" He +handed Willie the slip of paper; and the boy, taking True's lantern in +his hand, and holding the note up to the light, read aloud:--"R. H. +Clinton would like to see William Sullivan on Thursday morning, between +ten and eleven o'clock, at No. 13 ---- Wharf." + +Willie looked up in amazement. "What does it mean?"? said he; "I don't +know any such person." + +"I know who he is," said True; "why, it's he that lives in the great +stone house in ---- street. He's a rich man, and that's the number of +his store--his counting-room rather--on ---- Wharf!" + +"What! father to those pretty children we used to see in the window?" + +"The very same." + +"What can he want of me?" + +"Very likely he wants your sarvices," suggested True. + +"Then it's a place!" cried Gerty, "a real good one, and Santa Claus came +and brought it: I said he would! Oh, Willie, I'm so glad!" + +Willie did not know whether to be glad or not. He could not but hope, as +Gerty and True did, that it might prove the dawning of some good +fortune; but he had reasons for believing that no offer from this +quarter could be available to him, and therefore made them both promise +to give no hint of the matter to his mother or Mr. Cooper. + +On Thursday Willie presented himself at the appointed time and place. +Mr. Clinton, a gentlemanly man, received him kindly, asked but few +questions, and telling him that he was in want of a young man to fill +the place of junior clerk in his counting-room, offered him the +situation. Willie hesitated; for, though the offer was most encouraging, +Mr. Clinton made no mention of any salary; and that was a thing the +youth could not dispense with. Seeing that he was undecided, Mr. Clinton +said, "Perhaps you do not like my proposal, or have made some other +engagement?" + +"No, indeed," answered Willie, quickly. "You are very kind to feel so +much confidence in a stranger as to be willing to receive me, and your +offer is a most welcome one; but I have been in a retail store, where I +obtained regular earnings, which were very important to my mother and +grandfather. I had far rather be in a counting-room like yours, sir, and +I think I might learn to be of use; but I think there are numbers of +boys, sons of rich men, who would be glad to be employed by you, and +would ask no compensation for their services, so that I could not expect +any salary, at least for some years. I should indeed, be well repaid, at +the end of that time, by the knowledge I might gain of mercantile +affairs; but, unfortunately, sir, I can no more afford it than I could +afford to go to college." + +The gentleman smiled. "How did you know so much of these matters, my +young friend?" + +"I have heard, sir, from boys who were at school with me, and are now +clerks in mercantile houses, that they received no pay, and I always +considered it a perfectly fair arrangement; but it was the reason why I +felt bound to content myself with the position I held in an apothecary's +shop, which, though it was not suited to my taste, enabled me to support +myself, and to relieve my mother, who is a widow, and my grandfather, +who is old and poor." + +"Your grandfather is----" + +"Mr. Cooper, sexton of Mr. Arnold's church." + +"Aha!" said Mr. Clinton, "I know him. What you say, William, is true. We +do not pay any salary to our young clerks, and are overrun with +applications at that rate; but I have heard good accounts of you, my boy +(I shan't tell you where I had my information, though I see you look +very curious), and, moreover, I like your countenance, and believe you +will serve me faithfully. So, if you will tell me what you received from +Mr. Bray, I will pay you the same next year, and after that increase +your salary, if I find you deserve it; and you may commence with me on +the first of January." + +Willie thanked Mr. Clinton and departed. The merchant was reminded of +the time when he too, the only son of his mother, and she a widow, had +come alone to the city, sought long for employment, and finding it at +last, had sat down to write and tell her how he hoped soon to earn +enough for himself and her. And the spirits of those mothers who have +wept, prayed, and thanked God over similar communications from +much-loved sons, may know how to sympathise with good Mrs. Sullivan, +when she heard from Willie the joyful tidings. True exclaimed, "Ah! +Master Willie, they needn't have worried about yon, need they? I've told +your grandfather more than once, that I was of the 'pinion 'twould all +come out right at last." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE MINISTERING ANGEL. + + +"I wonder," said Miss Peekout, as she leaned on the sill of the front +window, and looked up and down the street--"I wonder who that slender +girl is that walks by here every morning, with that feeble-looking old +man leaning on her arm? I always see them at just about this time, when +the weather permits. She's a nice child, and seems to be very fond of +the old man--probably her grandfather. I notice she's careful to leave +the best side of the walk for him, and she watches every step he takes; +she needs to do so, for he totters sadly. Poor little thing! she looks +pale and anxious; I wonder if she takes all the care of the old man!" +But they are now quite out of sight. + +"I _wonder_," said old Mrs. Grumble, as she sat at her window, a little +further down the street, "if I should live to be old and infirm--(Mrs. +Grumble was over seventy, but as yet suffered from no infirmity but that +of a very irritable temper)--I _wonder_ if anybody would wait upon me, +and take care of me as that little girl does of her grandfather! No, +I'll warrant not! Who can she be?" + +"There, look, Belle!" said one young girl to another, on their way to +school; "there's the girl that we meet every day with the old man. How +can you say you don't think she's pretty? I admire her looks!" + +"You always do manage, Kitty, to _admire_ people that everybody else +thinks are horrid-looking." + +"Horrid-looking!" replied Kitty; "she's anything but _horrid-looking_! +Do notice, now, Belle, when we meet them, she has the _sweetest_ way of +looking up in the old man's face, and talking to him. I _wonder_ what is +the matter with him! Do see how his arm shakes--the one that's passed +through hers!" + +The two couples are now close to each other, and they pass in silence. + +"_Don't you_ think that she has an interesting face?" said Kitty, +eagerly, as soon as they were out of hearing. + +"She's got handsome eyes," answered Belle. "I don't see anything else +that looks interesting about her. I _wonder_ if she don't hate to walk +in the street with that old grandfather; trudging along so slow, with +the sun shining in her face, and he leaning on her arm, and shaking so +that he can hardly keep on his feet! Catch me doing it." + +"Why, Belle!" exclaimed Kitty, "how can you talk so? I'm sure I pity +that old man dreadfully." + +"Lor!" said Belle, "what's the use of pitying? If you are going to begin +to pity, you'll have to do it all the time. Look,"--Belle touched her +companion's elbow--"there's Willie Sullivan, father's clerk: an't he a +beauty? I want to speak to him." + +But before she could address a word to him, Willie, who was walking very +fast, passed her with a bow, and a pleasant "Good morning, Miss Isabel;" +and ere she had recovered from the surprise and disappointment, was some +rods down the street. + +"Polite!" muttered the pretty Isabel. + +"Why, Belle! do see," said Kitty, who was looking back over her +shoulder, "he's overtaken the old man and my interesting little girl. +Look--look! He's put the old man's other arm through his, and they are +all three walking off together. Isn't that quite a coincidence?" + +"Nothing very remarkable," replied Belle, who seemed a little annoyed. +"I suppose they are persons he's acquainted with. Come, make haste; we +shall be late at school." + +Reader! Do _you wonder_ who they are, the girl and the old man? or have +you already conjectured that they are Gerty and Trueman Flint? True is +no longer the brave, strong, sturdy protector of the lonely child. True +has had a paralytic stroke. His strength is gone, his power even to walk +alone. He sits all day in his arm-chair, or on the old settle, when he +is not out walking with Gerty. The blow suddenly struck down the robust +man, and left him feeble as a child. And the little orphan girl who, in +her weakness, her loneliness, and her poverty, found in him a father and +a mother, she now is all the world to him--his staff, his comfort, and +his hope. During four or five years that he has cherished the frail +blossom, she has been gaining strength for the time when _he_ should be +the leaning, _she_ the sustaining power; and when the time came, she was +ready to respond to the call. With the simplicity of a child, but a +woman's firmness; with the stature of a child, but a woman's capacity; +the earnestness of a child, but a woman's perseverance--from morning +till night, the faithful little nurse and housekeeper labours untiringly +in the service of her first, her best friend. Ever at his side, ever +attending to his wants, and yet most wonderfully accomplishing many +things which he never sees her do, she seems, indeed, to the fond old +man, what he once prophesied she would become--God's embodied blessing +to his latter years, cheering his pathway to the grave. + +Though disease had robbed True's limbs of their power, the blast had +spared his mind, which was clear and tranquil as ever; while his pious +heart was fixed in humble trust on that God whose presence and love he +had ever acknowledged, and on whom he so fully relied, that even in this +bitter trial he was able to say, in perfect submission, "Thy will, not +mine, be done!" + +Only about two months previous to the morning of which we have been +speaking had True been stricken down. He had been in failing health, but +had still been able to attend to his duties until one day in June, when +Gerty went into his room, and found, to her surprise, that he had not +risen, although it was much later than his usual hour. On going to the +bedside and speaking to him, she saw that he looked strangely, and had +lost the power of speech. Bewildered and frightened, she ran to call +Mrs. Sullivan. A physician was summoned, the case pronounced one of +paralysis, and for a time it was feared that it would prove fatal. He +soon, however, began to amend, recovered his speech, and in a week or +two was well enough to walk about with Gerty's assistance. + +The doctor had recommended as much gentle exercise as possible, and +every pleasant morning, before the day grew warm, Gerty presented +herself equipped for those walks, which excited so much observation. At +the same time she made such little household purchases as were +necessary, that she might not go out again and leave True alone. + +On the occasion alluded to, Willie accompanied them as far as the +provision shop; and, having seen True comfortably seated, proceeded to +the Wharf, while Gerty stepped up to the counter to bargain for the +dinner. She purchased a bit of veal suitable for broth, gazed wistfully +at some tempting summer vegetables, turned away and sighed. She held in +her hand the wallet which contained all their money; it had now been in +her keeping for some weeks, and was growing light; it was no use to +think about the vegetables; and she sighed, for she remembered how True +enjoyed the green peas last year. "How much is the meat?" asked she of +the butcher, who named the sum. It was _so little_ that it almost seemed +to Gerty as if he had seen into her purse, and her thoughts too, and +knew how glad she would be that it did not cost any more. As he handed +her the change, he leaned over the counter, and asked, in an undertone, +what kind of nourishment Mr. Flint was able to take. + +"The doctor said any wholesome food." + +"Don't you think he'd relish some green peas? I've got some first-rate +ones, fresh from the country; and, if you'd think he'd eat 'em, I should +like to send you some. My boy shall take round half-a-peck or so, and +I'll put the meat right in the same basket." + +"Thank you," said Gerty; "he likes green peas." + +"Very well! Then I'll send him some beauties;" and he turned away to +wait upon another customer, so quick that Gerty thought he did not see +how the colour came into her face and the tears into her eyes. But he +_did_ see, and that was the _reason_ he turned away so quickly. + +True had an excellent appetite, enjoyed and praised the dinner +exceedingly, and, after eating heartily of it, fell asleep in his chair. +The moment he awoke, Gerty sprung to his side, exclaiming, "Uncle True, +here's Miss Emily!--here's dear Miss Emily come to visit you." + +"The Lord bless you, my dear, dear young lady!" said True, trying to +rise from his chair and go towards her. + +"Don't rise, Mr. Flint; I beg you will not," said Emily, whose quick ear +perceived the motion. "From what Gerty tells me, I fear you are not +able. Please give me a chair, Gerty, nearer to Mr. Flint." + +She drew near, took True's hand, but looked inexpressibly shocked as she +observed how tremulous it had become. + +"Ah, Miss Emily," said he, "I'm not the same man as when I saw you last; +the Lord has given me a warning, and I shan't be here long." + +"I am so sorry I did not know of this!" said Emily. "I should have come +to see you before, but I never heard of your illness until to-day. +George, my father's man, saw you and Gertrude at a shop this morning, +and he told me. Gertrude should have sent me word." + +Gerty was standing by True's chair, smoothing his grey locks with her +slender fingers. As Emily mentioned her name, he turned and looked at +her. O what a look of love he gave her! Gerty never forgot it. + +"Miss Emily," said he, "'twas no need for anybody to be troubled. The +Lord provided for me His own self. All the doctors and nurses in the +land couldn't have done half so much for me as this little gal o' mine. +It wa'nt at all in my mind, some four or five years gone--when I brought +the little barefoot mite of a thing to my home, and when she was sick +and e'en a'most dyin' in this very room, and I carried her in my arms +night and day--that her turn would come so soon. Ah! I little thought +then, Miss Emily, how the Lord would lay me low--how those same feet +would run about in my service, how her bit of a hand would come in the +dark nights to smooth my pillow, and I'd go about daytimes leaning on +her little arm. Truly God's ways are not like our ways, nor his thoughts +like our thoughts." + +"Oh, Uncle True!" said Gerty, "I don't do much for you, I wish I could +do a great deal more. I wish I could make you strong again." + +"I dare say you do, my darlin', but that can't be in this world; you've +given me what's far better than strength o' body. Yes, Miss Emily," +added he, "it's you we have to thank for all the comfort we enjoy. I +loved my little birdie; but I was a foolish man, and I should ha' spiled +her. You knew better what was for her good, and mine too. You made her +what she is now, one of the lambs of Christ, a handmaiden of the Lord. +If anybody'd told me, six months ago, that I should become a poor +cripple, and sit in my chair all day, and not know who was going to +furnish a living for me or birdie either, I should ha' said I never +could bear my lot with patience, or keep up any heart at all. But I've +learned a lesson from this little one. When I first got so I could +speak, after the shock, and tell what was in my mind, I was so troubled +a' thinkin' of my sad case, and Gerty with nobody to work or do anything +for her, that I said, 'What shall we do now?--what shall we do now?' And +then she whispered in my ear, 'God will take care of us, Uncle True!' +And when I forgot the sayin', and asked, 'Who will feed and clothe us +now!' she said again, 'The Lord will provide.' And, in my deepest +distress, when one night I was full of anxiety about my child, I said +aloud, 'If I die, who will take care of Gerty?' the little thing that I +supposed was sound asleep in her bed, laid her head down beside me, and +said, 'Uncle True, when I was turned out into the dark street all alone, +and had no friends nor any home, my heavenly Father sent you to me; and +now, if He wants you to come to Him, and is not ready to take me too, He +will send somebody else to take care of me the rest of my life.' After +that, Miss Emily, I gave up worryin' any more. Her words, and the +blessed teachin's of the Holy Book that she reads every day, have sunk +deep into my heart, and I'm at peace. + +"I used to think that, if I lived and had my strength spared me, Gerty +would be able to go to school and get a sight o' larnin', for she has a +nateral liking for it, and it comes easy to her. She's but a slender +child, and I never could bear the thought of her bein' driv to hard work +for a livin'; she don't seem made for it, somehow. I hoped, when she +grew up, to see her a school-mistress, like Miss Browne, or somethin' in +that line; but I've done bein' vexed about it now. I know, as she says, +it's all for the best, or it wouldn't be." + +Gerty, whose face had been hid against his shoulder, looked up, and said +bravely, "Oh, Uncle True, I'm sure I can do almost any kind of work. +Mrs. Sullivan says I sew very well, and I can learn to be a milliner or +a dressmaker; that isn't hard work." + +"Mr. Flint," said Emily, "would you be willing to trust your child with +me? If you should die, would you feel as if she were safe in my charge?" + +"Miss Emily," said True, "would I think her safe in angel-keepin'? I +should believe her in little short o' that, if she could have you to +watch over her." + +"Oh, do not say that," said Miss Emily, "or I shall fear to undertake so +solemn a trust. I know that my want of sight, my ill-health, and my +inexperience, almost unfit me for the care of a child like Gerty. But, +since you approve of the teaching I have already given her, and are so +kind as to think a great deal better of me than I deserve, I know you +will at least believe in the sincerity of my wish to be of use to her; +and if it will be any comfort to you to know that in case of your death +I will gladly take Gerty to my home, see that she is well educated, and, +as long as I live, provide for and take care of her, you have my solemn +assurance (and here she laid her hand on his) that it shall be done, and +that to the best of my ability I will try to make her happy." + +Gerty's first impulse was to rush towards Emily, and fling her arms +around her neck; but she was arrested in the act, for she observed that +True was weeping like an infant. In an instant his feeble head was +resting upon her bosom; her hand was wiping away the great tears that +had rushed to his eyes. It was an easy task, for they were tears of +joy--of a joy that had quite unnerved him in his present state of +prostration and weakness. + +The proposal was so utterly foreign to his thoughts or expectations, +that it seemed to him a hope too bright to be relied upon; and, after a +moment's pause, an idea occurring to him which seemed to increase his +doubts, he gave utterance to it in the words--"But your father, Miss +Emily!--Mr. Graham!--he's partickler, and not over-young now. I'm afeard +he wouldn't like a little gal in the house." + +"My father if indulgent to _me_," replied Emily; "he would not object to +any plan I had at heart, and I have become so much attached to Gertrude +that she would be of great use and comfort to me. I trust, Mr. Flint, +that you will recover a portion, at least, of your health and strength, +and be spared to her for many a year yet; but, in order that you may in +no case feel any anxiety on her account, I take this opportunity to tell +you that, if I should outlive you, she will be sure of a home with me." + +"Ah, Miss Emily!" said the old man, "my time's about out, I feel right +sure o' that; and, since you're willin', you'll soon be called to take +charge on her. I haven't forgot how tossed I was in my mind the day +after I brought her home with me, with thinkin' that p'raps I wasn't fit +to undertake the care of such a little thing, and hadn't ways to make +her comfortable; and then, Miss Emily, do you remember you said to +me, 'You've done quite right; the Lord will bless and reward you?' I've +thought many a time since that you was a true prophet, and that your +words were, what I thought 'em then, a whisper right from heaven! And +now you talk o' doing the same thing yourself; and I, that am just goin' +home to God, and feel as if I read his ways clearer than ever afore, _I +tell you_, Miss Emily, that you're doin' right, too; and, if the Lord +rewards you as he has done me, there'll come a time when this child will +pay you back in love and care all you ever do for her.--Gerty?" + +"She's not here," said Emily; "I heard her run into her own room." + +"Poor birdie!" said True, "she doesn't like to hear o' my leavin' her; +I'm sad to think how some day soon she'll almost sob her heart away over +her old uncle. Never mind now! I was goin' to bid her be a good child to +you; but I think she will, without biddin'; and I can say my say to her +another time. Good-bye, my dear young lady;"--for Emily had risen to go, +and George, the man-servant, was waiting at the door for her--"if I +never see you again, remember that you made an old man so happy that +he's nothing in this world left to wish for; and that you carry with you +a dyin' man's best blessin', and his prayer that God may grant such +perfect peace to your last days as now He does to mine." + +That evening, when True had already retired to rest, and Gerty had +finished reading aloud in her little Bible, as she always did at +bed-time, True called her to him, and asked her, as he had often done of +late, to repeat his favourite prayer for the sick. She knelt at his +bedside, and with a solemn and touching earnestness fulfilled his +request. + +"Now, darlin', the prayer for the dyin';--isn't there such a one in your +little book?" + +Gerty trembled. There _was_ such a prayer, a beautiful one; and the +thoughtful child, to whom the idea of death was familiar, knew it by +heart--but could she repeat the words? Could she command her voice? Her +whole frame shook with agitation; but Uncle True wished to hear it, it +would be a comfort to him, and she would try. Concentrating all her +energy and self-command, she began; and, gaining strength as she +proceeded, went on to the end. Once or twice her voice faltered, but +with new effort she succeeded, in spite of the great bunches in her +throat; and her voice sounded so clear and calm, that Uncle True's +devotional spirit was not once disturbed by the thought of the girl's +sufferings; for, fortunately, he could not hear how her heart beat and +throbbed, and threatened to burst. + +She did not rise at the conclusion of the prayer--she could not--but +remained kneeling, her head buried in the bedclothes. For a few moments +there was a solemn stillness in the room; then the old man laid his hand +upon her head. + +She looked up. + +"You love Miss Emily, don't you, birdie?" + +"Yes, indeed." + +"You'll be a good child to her when I'm gone?" + +"O, Uncle True!" sobbed Gerty, "you mustn't leave me! I can't live +without you, _dear_ Uncle True!" + +"It is God's will to take me, Gerty; He has always been good to us, and +we mustn't doubt Him now. Miss Emily can do more for you than I could, +and you'll be very happy with her." + +"No, I shan't--I shan't ever be happy again in this world! I never was +happy until I came to you; and now, if you die, I wish I could die too!" + +"You mustn't wish that, darlin'; you are young, and must try to do good +in the world, and bide your time. I'm an old man, and only a trouble +now." + +"No, no, Uncle True!" said Gerty, earnestly; "you are not a trouble--you +never could be a trouble! I wish _I'd_ never been so much trouble to +_you_." + +"So far from that, birdie, God knows you've long been my heart's +delight! It only pains me now to think that you're a spendin' all your +time, and slavin' here at home, instead of goin' to school, as you used +to; but, O! we all depend on each other so!--first on God, and then on +each other! And that 'minds me, Gerty, of what I was goin' to say. I +feel as if the Lord would call me soon, sooner than you think for now; +and, at first, you'll cry, and be sore vexed, no doubt; but Miss Emily +will take you with her, and she'll tell you blessed things to comfort +you;--how we shall all meet again and be happy in that world where +there's no partin's; and Willie'll do everything he can to help you in +your sorrer; and in time you'll be able to smile again. At first, and +p'raps for a long time, Gerty, you'll be a care to Miss Emily, and +she'll have to do a deal for you in the way o' schoolin', clothin', and +so on; and what I want to tell you is, that Uncle True expects you'll be +as good as can be, and do just what Miss Emily says; and, by-and-by, may +be, when you're bigger and older, you'll be able to do somethin' for +her. She's blind, you know, and you must be eyes for her; and she's not +over strong, and you must lend a helpin' hand to her weakness, just as +you do to mine; and, if you're good and patient, God will make your +heart light at last, while you're only tryin' to make other folks happy; +and when you're sad troubled (for everybody is sometimes), then think of +old Uncle True, and how he used to say, 'Cheer up, birdie, for I'm of +the 'pinion 'twill all come out right at last.' There, don't feel bad +about it; go to bed, darlin', and to-morrow we'll have a nice walk--and +Willie's goin' with us, you know." + +Gerty tried to cheer up, for True's sake, and went to bed. She did not +sleep for some hours; but when, at last, she did fall into a quiet +slumber, it continued unbroken until morning. + +She dreamed that morning was already come; that she and Uncle True and +Willie were taking a pleasant walk; that Uncle True was strong and well +again--his eye bright, his step firm, and Willie and herself laughing +and happy. + +And, while she dreamed the beautiful dream, little thinking that her +first friend and she should no longer tread life's paths together, the +messenger came--a gentle, noiseless messenger--and, in the still night, +while the world was asleep, took the soul of good old True, and carried +it home to God! + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A NEW HOME. + + +Two months have passed since Trueman Flint's death, and Gertrude has for +a week been domesticated in Mr. Graham's family. It was through the +newspaper that Emily first heard of the little girl's sudden loss, and, +acquainting her father with her plans concerning the child, she found no +opposition to fear from him. He reminded her, however, of the +inconvenience that would attend Gertrude's coming to them at once, as +they were soon to start on a visit to some distant relatives, and would +not return until near the time to remove to the city for the winter. +Emily felt the force of this objection; for, although Mrs. Ellis would +be at home during their absence, she knew that she would be a very unfit +person to console Gertrude in her time of sorrow. + +This thought troubled Emily; and she regretted much that this unusual +journey should take place so inopportunely. But there was no help for +it; for Mr. Graham's plans were arranged, unless she would make +Gertrude's coming, at the very outset, disagreeable. She started for +town, therefore, the next morning, quite undecided what course to +pursue. + +The day was Sunday, but Emily's errand was one of charity and love, and +would not admit of delay; and an hour before the time for morning +service Mrs. Sullivan saw Mr. Graham's carriage stop at the door. She +ran to meet Emily, and guided her into her neat parlour to a comfortable +seat, placed in her hand a fan (for the weather was very warm), and then +told her how thankful she was to see her, and how sorry she felt that +Gertrude was not at home. Emily wonderingly asked where Gertrude was, +and learned that she was out walking with Willie. A succession of +inquiries followed, and a touching story was told by Mrs. Sullivan of +Gertrude's agony of grief, and the fears she had entertained lest the +girl would die of sorrow. + +"I couldn't do anything with her myself," said she. "There she sat, day +after day, last week, on her little stool, by Uncle True's easy-chair, +with her head on the cushion, and I couldn't get her to move or eat a +thing. She didn't appear to hear me when I spoke to her; and if I tried +to move her, she didn't struggle, but she seemed just like a dead weight +in my hands: and I couldn't bear to make her come away into my room, +though I knew it would change the scene, and be better for her. If it +hadn't been for Willie, I don't know what I should have done, I was +getting so worried about the poor child; but he knows how to manage her +better than I do. When he is at home we get along very well, for he +takes her right up in his arms (he's very strong, and she's as light as +a feather), and either carries her into some other room, or out in the +yard; and he contrives to cheer her wonderfully. He persuades her to +eat, and in the evenings, when he comes home from the store, takes long +walks with her. Last evening they went over Chelsea Bridge, where it was +cool and pleasant; and I suppose he diverted her attention and amused +her, for she came home brighter than I've seen her, and quite tired. I +got her to go to bed in my room, and she slept soundly all night, so +that she really looks like herself to-day. They've gone out again this +morning, and, being Sunday, and Willie at home all day, I've no doubt +he'll keep her spirits up, if anybody can." + +"Willie shows very good judgment," said Emily, "in trying to change the +scene for her, and divert her thoughts. I'm thankful she has had such +kind friends. I promised Mr. Flint she should have a home with me when +he was taken away, and not knowing of his death until now, I consider it +a great favour to myself, as well as her, that you have taken such +excellent care of her. I felt sure you have been all goodness, or it +would have given me great regret that I had not heard of True's death +before." + +"O, Miss Emily!" said Mrs. Sullivan, "Gertrude is so dear to us, and we +have suffered so much in seeing her suffer, that it was a kindness to +ourselves to do all we could to comfort her. Why, I think she and Willie +could not love each other better if they were own brother and sister: +and Willie and uncle True were great friends! indeed, we shall all miss +him very much. My old father doesn't say much about it, but I can see +he's very downhearted." + +Mrs. Sullivan now informed Emily that a cousin of hers, a farmer's wife, +living about twenty miles from Boston, had invited them all to pass a +week or two with her at the farm; and, as Willie was now to enjoy his +usual summer vacation, they proposed accepting the invitation. She spoke +of Gertrude's accompanying them, and enlarged upon the advantage it +would be to her to breathe the country air, and ramble about the fields +and woods, after all the fatigue and confinement she had endured. + +Emily, finding that Gertrude would be a welcome guest, cordially +approved of the visit, and also arranged with Mrs. Sullivan that she +should remain under her care until Mr. Graham removed to Boston for the +winter. She was then obliged to leave, without waiting for Gertrude's +return, though she left many a kind message for her, and placed in Mrs. +Sullivan's hands a sufficient sum of money to provide for all her +wants. + +Gertrude went into the country, and abundance of novelty, country fare, +healthful exercise, and kindness and sympathy, brought the colour into +her cheek, and calmness and happiness into her heart. Soon after the +Sullivan's return from their excursion, the Grahams removed to the city, +and Gertrude had now been with them about a week. "Are you still +standing at the window, Gertrude. What are you doing, dear?" + +"I'm watching to see the lamps lit, Miss Emily." + +"But they will not be lit at all. The moon will rise at eight o'clock, +and light the streets sufficiently for the rest of the night." + +"I don't mean the street-lamps." + +"What do you mean, my child?" said Emily, coming towards the window, and +lightly resting a hand on Gertrude's shoulders. + +"I mean the stars, dear Miss Emily. Oh, how I wish you could see them, +too!" + +"Are they very bright?" + +"O, they are beautiful! and there are so many! The sky is as full as it +can be." + +"How well I remember when I used to stand at this very window, and look +at them as you are doing now! It seems to me as if I saw them this +moment, I know so well how they look." + +"I love the stars--all of them," said Gertrude; "but my own star I love +the best." + +"Which do you call yours?" + +"That splendid one over the church-steeple; it shines into my room every +night, and looks me in the face. Miss Emily (and she spoke in a +whisper), it seems to me as if that star were lit on purpose for me. I +think Uncle True lights it every night. I always feel as if he were +smiling up there, and saying, 'See, Gerty, I'm lighting the lamp for +you.' Dear Uncle True! Miss Emily, do you think he loves me now?" + +"I do, indeed, Gertrude; and I think, if you make him an example, and +try to live as good and patient a life as he did, that he will really be +a lamp to your feet, and as bright a light to your path as if his face +were shining down upon you through the star." + +"I was patient and good when I lived with him; at least, I almost always +was; and I'm good when I'm with you; but I don't like Mrs. Ellis. She +tries to plague me, and she makes me angry, and I don't know what I do +or say. I did not mean to be impertinent to her to-day, and I wish I +hadn't slammed the door; but how could I help it, Miss Emily, when she +told me before Mr. Graham, that I tore up the last night's _Journal_, +and I _know_ that I did not. It was an old paper that she saw me tying +your slippers up in, and I am almost sure that she lit the library fire +with the _Journal_ herself; but Mr. Graham will always think I did it." + +"I have no doubt, Gertrude, that you had reason to feel provoked, and I +believe you when you say that you were not to blame for the loss of the +newspaper. But remember, my dear, that there is no merit in being +patient and good-tempered, when there is nothing to irritate you. I want +you to learn to bear even injustice, without losing your self-control. +Mrs. Ellis has been here a number of years; she has had everything her +own way, and is not used to young people. She felt, when you came, that +it was bringing new care and trouble upon her, and it is not strange +that when things go wrong she should sometimes think you in fault. She +is a very faithful woman, very kind and attentive to me, and very +important to my father. It will make me unhappy if I have any reason to +fear that you and she will not live pleasantly together." + +"I do not want to make you unhappy; I do not want to be a trouble to +anybody," said Gertrude, with some excitement; "I'll go away! I'll go +off somewhere, where you will never see me again!" + +"Gertrude!" said Emily, seriously and sadly. Her hands were still upon +the young girl's shoulders, and, as she spoke, she turned her round, and +brought her face to face with herself. "Gertrude, do you wish to leave +your blind friend? Do you not love me?" So touchingly grieved was the +expression of the countenance that met her gaze, that Gertrude's proud +spirit was subdued. She threw her arms round Emily's neck, and +exclaimed, "No! dear Miss Emily, I would not leave you for all the +world! I will do just as you wish. I will never be angry with Mrs. Ellis +again for your sake." + +"Not for _my_ sake, Gertrude," replied Emily, "for your own sake; for +the sake of duty and of God. A few years ago I should not have expected +you to have been pleasant and amiable towards anyone whom you felt +ill-treated you; but now that you know so well what is right; now that +you are familiar with the life of that blessed Master who, when he was +reviled, reviled not again; now that you have learned faithfully to +fulfil so many important duties; I had hoped that you had learned also +to be forbearing under the most trying circumstances. But do not think, +Gertrude, because I remind you when you have done wrong I despair of +your becoming one day all I wish to see you. What you are experiencing +now being a new trial, you must bring new strength to bear upon it; and +I have such confidence in you as to believe that, knowing my wishes, you +will try to behave properly to Mrs. Ellis on all occasions." + +"I will, Miss Emily, I will. I'll not answer her back when she's ugly to +me, if I have to bite my lips to keep them together." + +"O, I do not believe it will be so bad as that," said Emily, smiling. +"Mrs. Ellis's manner is rather rough, but you will get used to her." + +Just then a voice was heard in the entry, "To see _Miss Flint_! Really! +Well, _Miss Flint_ is in Miss Emily's room. She's going to entertain +company, is she?" Gertrude coloured, for it was Mrs. Ellis's voice, and +her tone was very derisive. Emily stepped to the door, and opened +it.--"Mrs.Ellis." + +"What say, Emily?" + +"Is there anyone below?" + +"Yes; a young man wants to see Gertrude; it's that young Sullivan, I +believe." + +"Willie!" exclaimed Gertrude, starting forward. + +"You can go down and see him, Gertrude," said Emily, "Come back here +when he's gone; and, Mrs. Ellis, I wish you would step in and put my +room a little in order. I think you will find plenty of pieces for your +rag-bag about the carpet--Miss Randolph always scatters so many when she +is engaged with her dressmaking." + +Mrs. Ellis made her collection, and then, seating herself on a couch at +the side of the fire-place, with her coloured rags in one hand and the +white in the other, commenced speaking of Gertrude. + +"What are you going to do with her, Emily?" said she; "send her to +school?" + +"Yes. She will go to Mr. W.'s this winter." + +"Why! Isn't that a very expensive school for a child like her?" + +"It is expensive, certainly; but I wish her to be with the best teacher +I know of, and father makes no objection to the terms. He thinks as I +do, that if we undertake to fit her to instruct others, she must be +thoroughly taught herself. I talked with him about it the first night +after we came into town for the season, and he agreed with me that we +had better put her out to learn a trade at once, than half-educate, make +a fine lady of her, and so unfit her for anything. He was willing I +should manage the matter as I pleased, and I resolved to send her to Mr. +W.'s. So she will remain with us for the present. I wish to keep her +with me as long as I can, not only because I am fond of the child, but +she is delicate and sensitive; and now that she is so sad about old Mr. +Flint's death, I think we ought to do all we can to make her happy; +don't you, Mrs. Ellis?" + +"I always calculate to do my duty," said Mrs. Ellis, rather stiffly. +"Where is she going to sleep when we get settled?" + +"In the little room at the end of the passage." + +"Then, where shall I keep the linen press?" + +"Can't it stand in the back entry? I should think the space between the +windows would accommodate it." + +"I suppose it must," said Mrs. Ellis, flouncing out of the room, and +muttering to herself, "everything turned topsy-turvy for the sake of +that little upstart!" + +Mrs. Ellis was vexed. She had long had her own way in the management of +all household matters at Mr. Graham's, and had become rather tyrannical. +She was capable, methodical, and neat; accustomed to a small family, and +now for many years quite _unaccustomed_ to children; Gertrude was in her +eyes an intruder--one who must of necessity be in mischief, continually +deranging her most cherished plans. + +She saw in the new inmate a formidable rival to herself in Miss Graham's +affections; and Mrs. Ellis could not brook the idea of being second in +the regard of Miss Emily, who, owing to her peculiar misfortune, and to +her delicate health, had long been her special charge, and for whom she +felt the greatest tenderness. Owing to these circumstances, Mrs. Ellis +was not favourably disposed towards Gertrude; and Gertrude was not yet +prepared to love Mrs. Ellis very cordially. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +WHO ARE HAPPY? + + +Emily sat alone in her room. Mr. Graham had gone to a meeting of +bank-directors. Mrs. Ellis was stoning raisins in the dining-room. +Willie detained Gertrude in the little library, and Emily was indulging +in a long train of meditation. Her head rested on her hand; her face, +usually so placid, was sad; and her whole appearance denoted +despondency. As thought pressed upon thought, and past sorrows arose in +quick succession, her head gradually sank upon the cushions of the couch +where she sat, and tears slowly trickled through her fingers. Suddenly a +hand was laid softly upon hers. She gave a quick start, as she always +did when surprised, for her unusual pre-occupation of mind had made +Gertrude's approaching step unheard. "Is anything the matter, Miss +Emily?" said Gertrude. "Do you like best to be alone, or may I stay?" + +The sympathetic tone, the delicacy of the child's question, touched +Emily. She drew her towards her, saying, as she did so, "O, yes, stay +with me;" then observing, as she passed an arm round the little girl, +that she trembled, and seemed violently agitated, she added, "But what +is the matter with you, Gerty? What makes you tremble and sob so?" + +At this, Gertrude broke forth with, "O, Miss Emily, I thought you were +crying when I came in, and I hoped you would let me come and cry with +you; for I'm so miserable I can't do anything else." + +Calmed herself by the agitation of the child, Emily tried to discover +the cause of this new affliction. Willie had been to tell her that he +was going away, going out of the country; as Gertrude expressed it, to +the other end of the world--to India. Mr. Clinton was interested in a +mercantile house in Calcutta, and had offered William the most +favourable terms to go abroad as clerk to the establishment. The +prospect was far better than he could hope for by remaining at home; the +salary was sufficient to defray all his own expenses, and provide for +the wants of those who were now becoming more dependent upon him. The +chance, too, of future advancement was great; though the young man's +affectionate heart clung fondly to home and friends, there was no +hesitation in his mind as to the course which both duty and interest +prompted. He agreed to the proposal, and whatever his own struggles were +at the thought of five, or perhaps ten years' banishment, he kept them +manfully to himself, and talked cheerfully about it to his mother and +grandfather. + +"Miss Emily," said Gertrude, when she had acquainted her with the news, +"how can I bear to have Willie go away? How can I live without Willie? +He is so kind, and loves me so much! He was always better than any +brother, and, since Uncle True died, he has done everything in the world +for me. I believe I could not have borne Uncle True's death if it had +not been for Willie; and now how can I let him go away?" + +"It is hard, Gertrude," said Emily, kindly, "but it is no doubt for his +advantage; you must try and think of that." + +"I know it," replied Gertrude--"I suppose it is; but, Miss Emily, you do +not know how I love Willie. We were so much together; and there were +only us two, and we thought everything of each other; he was so much +older than I, and always took such good care of me. O, I don't think you +have any idea what friends we are!" + +Gertrude had unconsciously touched a chord that vibrated through Emily's +whole frame. Her voice trembled as she answered, "_I_, Gertrude! _not +know_, my child! I know better than you imagine, how dear he must be to +you. I, too, had----" then she paused abruptly, and there were a few +moments' silence, during which Emily got up, walked hastily to the +window, pressed her aching head against the frosty glass, and then +returning, said, in a low voice which had recovered its usual calmness, +"O Gertrude! in the grief that oppresses you now, you little realise how +much you have to be thankful for. Think, my dear, what a blessing it is +that Willie will be where you can often hear from him, and where he can +have constant news of his friends." + +"Yes," replied Gerty; "he says he shall write to me and his mother very +often." + +"Then, too," said Emily, "you ought to rejoice at the good opinion Mr. +Clinton must have of Willie: the confidence he must feel in his +uprightness, to place in him so much trust. I think that is very +flattering." + +"So it is," said Gerty; "I did not think of that." + +"And you have lived so happily together," continued Emily, "and will +part in such perfect peace. O Gertrude! Gertrude! such a parting as that +should not make you sad; there are so much worse things in the world. Be +patient, my dear child; do your duty, and perhaps there will some day be +a happy meeting, that will repay you for all you suffer in the +separation." + +Emily's voice trembled as she uttered the last few words. Gertrude's +eyes were fixed upon her friend with a puzzled expression. "Miss Emily," +said she, "I begin to think that everything has trouble." + +"Certainly, Gertrude; can you doubt it?" + +"I did not use to think so. I knew I had, but I thought other folks were +more fortunate. I fancied that rich people were all very happy; and, +though you are blind, and that is a dreadful thing, I supposed you were +used to it; and you always looked so pleasant and quiet, I took it for +granted nothing ever vexed you now. And then, Willie!--I believed once +that nothing could make him look sad, he was always so gay; but when he +hadn't any place, I saw him really cry; and then, when Uncle True died, +and now again to-night, when he was telling me about going away, he +could hardly speak, he felt so badly. And so, Miss Emily, since I see +that you and Willie have troubles, and that tears will come, though you +try to keep them back, I think the world is full of trials, and that +every one gets a share." + +"It is the lot of humanity, Gertrude, and we must not expect it to be +otherwise." + +"Then, who can be happy, Miss Emily?" + +"Those, only, my child, who have learned submission; those who, in the +severest afflictions, see the hand of a loving Father, and obedient to +his will, kiss the chastening rod." + +"It is very hard, Miss Emily." + +"It is hard, my child, and therefore few in this world can rightly be +called happy; but if, even in the midst of our distress, we can look to +God in faith and love, we may, when the world is dark around, experience +a peace that is a foretaste of heaven." + +Willie's departure was sudden, and Mrs. Sullivan had only a week in +which to make those arrangements which a mother's thoughtfulness deems +necessary. Her hands were therefore full of work, and Gerty, whom Emily +at once relinquished for the short time previous to the vessel's +sailing, was of great assistance to her. Willie was very busy during the +day, but was always with them in the evening. + +On one occasion, he returned home about dusk, and his mother and +grandfather both being out, and Gertrude having just put aside her +sewing, he said to her, "Come, Gerty, if you are not afraid of taking +cold, come and sit on the door-step with me, as we used to do in old +times; there will be no more such warm days as this, and we may never +have another chance to sit there, and watch the moon rise above the old +house at the corner." + +"O Willie!" said Gertrude, "do not speak of our never being together in +the old place again! I cannot bear the thought; there is not a house in +Boston I could ever love as I do this." + +"Nor I," replied Willie; "but there is one chance in a hundred if I +should be gone five years that there would not be a block of brick +stores in this spot when I come to look for it. I wish I did not think +so, for I shall have many a longing after the old home." + +"But what will become of your mother and grandfather if this house is +torn down?" + +"It is not easy to tell, Gerty, what will become of any of us by that +time; but, if there is any necessity for their moving, I hope I shall be +able to provide a better house than this for them." + +"You won't be here, Willie." + +"I know it, but I shall be always hearing from you, and we can talk +about it by letters, and arrange everything. The idea of any such +changes, after all," added he, "is what troubles me most in going away; +I think they would miss me and need me so much. Gertrude, you will take +care of them, won't you?" + +"I!" said Gertrude, in amazement; "such a child as I!--what can I do?" + +"If I am gone five or ten years, Gerty, you will not be a child all that +time, and a woman is often a better dependence than a man, especially +such a good brave woman as you will be. I have not forgotten the +beautiful care you took of Uncle True; and, whenever I imagine +grandfather or mother old and helpless, I always think of you, and hope +you will be near them; for I know if you are, you will be a greater help +than I could be. So I leave them in your care, Gerty, though you _are_ +only a child yet." + +"Thank you, Willie," said Gertrude, "for believing I shall do everything +I can for them. I certainly will, as long as I live. But, Willie, _they_ +may be strong and well all the time you are gone; and I, although I am +so young, may be sick and die--nobody knows." + +"That is true enough," said Willie, sadly; "and I may die myself; but it +will not do to think of that. It seems to me I never should have courage +to go, if I didn't hope to find you all well and happy when I come home. +You must write to me every month, for it will be a much greater task to +mother, and I am sure she will want you to do nearly all the writing; +and, whether my letters come directed to her or you, it will be all the +same, you know. And, Gerty, you must not forget me, darling; you must +love me just as much when I am gone--won't you?" + +"Forget you, Willie! I shall be always thinking of you, and loving you +the same as ever. What else shall I have to do? But you will be off in a +strange country, where everything will be different, and you will not +think half as much of me, I know." + +"If you believe that, Gertrude, it is because you do _not_ know. You +will have friends all around you and I shall be alone in a foreign land; +but every day of my life my heart will be with you and my mother." + +They were now interrupted by Mr. Cooper's return, nor did they +afterwards renew the conversation; but the morning Willie left them, +when Mrs. Sullivan was leaning over a neatly-packed trunk in the next +room, trying to hide her tears, and Mr. Cooper's head was bowed lower +than usual, Willie whispered to Gerty, "Gerty, dear, for my sake take +good care of _our_ mother and grandfather--they are _yours_ almost as +much as mine." + +On Willie's thus leaving home, for the first time, to struggle and +strive among men, Mr. Cooper, who could not yet believe that the boy +would be successful in the war with fortune, gave him many a caution +against indulgent hopes which never would be realised. And Mrs. +Sullivan, with tears, said, "Love and fear God, Willie, and do not +disappoint your mother." We pause not to dwell upon the last night the +youth spent at his home, his mother's last evening prayer, her last +morning benediction, the last breakfast they all took together (Gertrude +among the rest), or the final farewell embrace. And Willie went to sea. +And the pious, loving, hopeful woman, who for eighteen years had +cherished her boy with tenderness and pride, maintained now her wonted +spirit of self-sacrifice, and gave him up without a murmur. None knew +how she struggled with her aching heart, or whence came the power that +sustained her. + +And now began Gertrude's residence at Mr. Graham's, hitherto in various +ways interrupted. She attended school, and laboured diligently at her +studies. Her life was varied by few incidents, for Emily never +entertained much company, and in the winter scarcely any, and Gertrude +formed no intimate acquaintance among her companions. With Emily she +passed many happy hours; they took walks, read books, and talked much +with each other, and Miss Graham found that in Gertrude's observing +eyes, and her feeling and glowing descriptions of everything that came +within their gaze, she was herself renewing her acquaintance with the +outer world. In errands of charity and mercy Gertude was either her +attendant or her messenger; and all the dependants of the family, from +the cook to the little boy who called at the door for the fragments of +broken bread, agreed in loving and praising the child, who, though +neither beautiful nor elegantly dressed, had a fairy lightness of step, +a grace of movement, and a dignity of bearing which impressed them all +with the conviction that she was no beggar in spirit, whatever might be +her birth or fortune. Mrs. Ellis's prejudices against her was still +strong; but, as Gertrude was always civil, and Emily prudently kept them +much apart, no unhappy result ensued. + +She went often to see Mrs. Sullivan, and, as the spring advanced, they +began to look for news of Willie. No tidings had come, however, when the +season arrived for the Grahams to remove into the country for the +summer. A letter written by Gertrude to Willie, soon after they were +established there, will give some idea of her situation and mode of +life. + +After dwelling upon the disappointment of having not yet heard from him, +and giving an account of the last visit she had made to his mother +before leaving the city, she wrote: "But you made me promise, Willie, to +write about myself, and said you should wish to hear everything that +occurred at Mr. Graham's which concerned me in anyway; so if my letter +is more tedious than usual, it is your own fault, for I have much to +tell of our removal to D----, and of the way in which we live here, so +different from our life in Boston. I think I hear you say, when you have +read so far, 'O dear! now Gerty is going to give me a description of Mr. +Graham's country-house!'--but you need not be afraid; I have not +forgotten how, the last time I undertook to do so, you placed your hand +over my mouth to stop me, and assured me you knew the place as well as +if you had lived there all your life, for I oft described it to you. +Everything looks smaller and less beautiful than it seemed to me then; +and, though I will not describe it to you again, I must just tell you +that the entry and piazzas are much narrower than I expected, the rooms +lower, and the garden and summer-houses not nearly so large. Miss Emily +asked me, a day or two ago, how I liked the place, and if it looked as +it used formerly. I told her the truth; and she was not at all +displeased, but laughed at my old recollections of the house and +grounds, and said it was always so with things we had seen when we were +little children. + +"I need not tell you that Miss Emily is kind to me as ever; for nobody +who knows her as you do would suppose she could ever be anything but the +best and loveliest person in the world. I can never do half enough, +Willie, to repay her for all her goodness to me; and yet, she is so +pleased with little gifts, and so grateful for trifling attentions, that +it seems as if everybody might do something to make her happy. I found a +few violets in the grass yesterday, and when I brought them to her she +kissed and thanked me as if they had been so many diamonds; and little +Ben Gately, who picked a hatful of dandelion-blossoms, without a single +stem, and then rang at the front-door bell, and asked for Miss Ga'am, so +as to give them to her himself, got a sweet smile for his trouble, and a +'thank you, Bennie,' that he will not soon forget. Wasn't it pleasant +in Miss Emily, Willie? + +"Mr. Graham has given me a garden, and I mean to have plenty of flowers +for her by-and-by--that is, if Mrs. Ellis doesn't interfere; but I +expect she will, for she does in almost everything. Willie, Mrs. Ellis +is my _great_ trial. She is just the kind of person I cannot endure. I +believe there are some people that other people _can't_ like--and she is +just the sort I can't. I would not tell anybody else so, because it +would not be right, and I do not know that it is right to mention it at +all; but I always tell you everything. Miss Emily talks to me about her, +and says I must learn to love her, and _when I do_ I shall be an angel. + +"There, I know you will think that is some of Gerty's old temper; and +perhaps it is, but you don't know how she tries me; it is in little +things that I cannot tell very easily, and I would not plague you with +them if I could, so I won't write about her any more--I will try to love +her dearly. + +"You will think that now, while I am not going to school, I shall hardly +know what to do with my time; but I have plenty to do. The first week +after we came here I found the mornings very dull. You know I am always +an early riser; but, as it does not agree with Miss Emily to keep early +hours, I never see her until eight o'clock, full two hours after I am up +and dressed. When we were in Boston, I always spent that time studying; +but this spring, Miss Emily, who noticed that I was growing fast, and +heard Mr. Arnold notice how pale I looked, fancied it would not do for +me to spend so much time at my books; and so, when we came to D----, she +planned my study-hours, which are very few, and arranged that they +should take place after breakfast, and in her own room. She always +advised me, if I could, to sleep later in the morning; but I could not, +and was up at my usual time, wandering around the garden. One day I was +quite surprised to find Mr. Graham at work, for it was not like his +winter habits; but he is a queer man. He asked me to come and help him +plant onion-seeds, and I rather think I did it pretty well; for after +that he let me plant a number of things, and label little sticks to put +down by the side of them. At last, to my joy, he offered to give me a +piece of ground for a garden, where I might raise flowers. And so I am +to have a garden. But I am making a very long story, Willie, and have +not time to say a thousand other things that I want to. O! if I could +see you, I could tell you in an hour more than I could write in a week. +In five minutes I expect to hear Miss Emily's bell, and then she will +send for me to come and read to her. + +"I long to hear from you, dear Willie, and pray to God morning and +evening, to keep you in safety, and soon send tidings of you to your +loving GERTY." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE RULING PASSION CONTROLLED. + + +A few weeks after the date of this letter, Gerty learned through George, +who went daily to the city to attend to the marketing, that Mrs. +Sullivan had left word at the shop of our old acquaintance, the butcher, +that she had received a letter from Willie, and wanted Gerty to come +into town and see it. Emily was willing to let her go, but afraid it +would be impossible to arrange it, as Charlie, the only horse Mr. Graham +kept, was in use, and she saw no other way of sending her. "Why don't +you let her go in the omnibus?" asked Mrs. Ellis. Gerty looked +gratefully at Mrs. Ellis; it was the first time that lady had ever +seemed anxious to promote her views. + +"I don't think it's safe for her to go alone in the coach," said Emily. + +"Safe!--What, for that great girl!" said Mrs. Ellis, whose position in +the family had no forms of restraint with Miss Graham. + +"Do you think it is?" inquired Emily. "She seems a child to me, to be +sure; but as you say, she is almost grown up, and I dare say is capable +of taking care of herself. Gertrude, are you sure you know the way from +the omnibus-office in Boston to Mrs. Sullivan's?" + +"Perfectly well, Miss Emily." + +A place was therefore secured, and Gertrude set forth on her expedition +with beaming eyes and a full heart. She found Mrs. Sullivan and Mr. +Cooper well, and rejoicing over the tidings from Willie, who, after a +long but agreeable voyage, had reached Calcutta in health and safety. A +description of his new home, his new duties and employers, filled all +the rest of the letter, except what was devoted to affectionate messages +and inquiries, a large share of which were for Gerty. Gertrude dined +with Mrs. Sullivan, and then hastened to the omnibus. She took her seat, +and as she waited for the coach to start, amused herself with the +passers-by. It was nearly three o'clock, and she began to think she +should be the only passenger, when she heard a strange voice proceeding +from a person whose approach she had not perceived. She moved towards +the door, and saw, standing at the back of the coach, the most +singular-looking being she had ever beheld. It was an old lady, small, +and considerably bent with years. She had been vainly endeavouring to +mount the inconvenient vehicle, and now, with one foot upon the lower +step, was calling to the driver to help her. "Sir," said she, in +measured tones, "is this travelling equipage under your honourable +charge?" + +"What say, marm?--Yes, I'm the driver;" saying which, he came up to the +door, opened it, and without waiting for the polite request which was on +the old lady's lips, placed his hand beneath her elbow, and lifted her +into the coach and shut the door. "Bless me!" ejaculated she, as she +seated herself opposite Gertrude, and began to arrange her veil and +other draperies, "that individual is not versed in the art of assisting +a lady, without detriment to her habiliments. O dear, O dear!" added +she, "I've lost my parasol." + +She rose as she spoke; but the sudden starting of the coach threw her +off her balance, and she would have fallen, had it not been for +Gertrude, who caught her by the arm, and reseated her, saying as she did +so, "Do not be alarmed, madam; here is the parasol." + +As she spoke she drew into view the missing article, which, though +nearly the size of an umbrella, was fastened to the old lady's waist by +a green ribbon, and, having slipped out of place, was supposed lost. And +not a parasol only did she bring to light; numerous other articles, +connected with the same green string--a large reticule of various +colours, a black lace cap, a large feather fan, and other articles. +They were partly hidden under a thin black silk shawl, and Gertrude +began to think her companion had been on a pilfering expedition. If so, +however, the culprit seemed remarkably at ease, for, before the coach +had gone many steps, she deliberately placed her feet on the opposite +seat, and proceeded to make herself comfortable. In the first place, +much to Gertrude's horror, she took out all her teeth, and put them in +her work-bag; then drew off a pair of black silk gloves, and replaced +them by cotton ones; removed her lace veil, folded and pinned it to the +green string. She next untied her bonnet, threw over it, as a protection +from the dust, a large cotton handkerchief, and loosing her fan, applied +herself diligently to the use of it, closing her eyes as she did so, +evidently intending to go to sleep. She did fall into a doze, for she +was very quiet, and Gertrude, occupied with observing some heavy clouds +that were rising from the west, forgot to observe her fellow traveller, +until she was startled by a hand suddenly laid upon her own, and an +abrupt exclamation of "My dear young damsel, do not those dark shadows +betoken adverse weather?" + +"I think it will rain very soon," replied Gertrude. + +"This morn, when I ventured forth," soliloquised the old lady, "the sun +was bright, the sky serene; even the winged songsters took part in the +universal joy; and now before I get home, my delicate lace flounces +(glancing at the skirt of her dress) will prove a sacrifice to the +pitiless storm." + +"Does the coach pass your door?" asked Gertrude. + +"No; Oh, no! not within half-a-mile. Does it better accommodate you, my +young miss?" + +"No. I shall have a mile to walk." + +The coach had reached its destination, and the two passengers alighted. +Gertrude would have started at once on her walk, but was prevented by +the old lady, who begged her to wait, as she was going the same way. The +old lady refused to pay the fare demanded by the driver; and declared it +was not the regular fare, and accused the man of an intention to put the +excess into his pocket. Gertrude was impatient, for she was every moment +expecting to see the rain pour in torrents; but the matter being +compromised, she was permitted to proceed. They had walked about a +quarter-of-a-mile, and at a very slow rate, when the rain fell; and now +Gertrude was asked to unloose the huge parasol, and carry it over her +companion and herself. In this way they had walked nearly as much more +of the distance, when the waters began to descend as if all the +reservoirs of heaven were thrown open. Just then Gertrude heard a step +behind them, and, turning, she saw George, Mr. Graham's man, running in +the direction of the house. He recognised her at once, and exclaimed, +"Miss Gertrude, you'll be wet through; and Miss Pace too. Sure, and ye'd +better baith hasten to her house, where ye'll be secure." + +So saying, he caught Miss Pace in his arms, and signing to Gertrude to +follow, rushed across the street, and hurrying on to a cottage near by, +did not stop until he had placed the old lady in safety beneath her own +porch; and Gerty also gained its shelter. Miss Pace was so bewildered +that it took her some minutes to recover her consciousness; and it was +arranged that Gertrude should stop where she was for an hour or two, and +that George should call for her when he passed that way with the +carriage on his return from the depot. + +Miss Patty Pace was not a person of much hospitality. She owned the +cottage which she occupied and lived alone, keeping no servants and +entertaining no visitors. She was herself a famous visitor; and, as but +a small part of her life had been passed in D----, and all her friends +and connexions lived either in Boston or at a much greater distance, she +was a constant frequenter of omnibuses. But though, through her +travelling propensities and her regular attendance at church, she was +well known, Gertrude was perhaps the first visitor who had ever entered +her house. + +Even when she was at her door, she had to take the old lady's key, +unlock and open it herself, and finally lead her hostess into the +parlour, and help her off with her innumerable capes, shawls, and veils. +Once come to a distinct consciousness of her situation, however, and +Miss Patty Pace conducted herself with all the elegant politeness for +which she was remarkable. Suffering a thousand regrets at the trying +experience her own clothes had sustained, she expressed nearly as many +fears lest Gertrude had ruined every article of her dress. It was only +after many assurances from the latter that her boots were scarcely wet +at all, her gingham dress and cape not hurt by rain, and her nice straw +bonnet safe under the scarf she had thrown over it, that Miss Patty +could be prevailed upon to so far forget the duties of a hostess as to +retire, and change her lace flounces for something more suitable for +home wear. As soon as she left the room, Gertrude, whose curiosity was +excited, took a nearer view of many articles, both of ornament and use, +which had attracted her attention, from their singular appearance. Miss +Pace's room was remarkable as its owner. Its furniture, like her +apparel, was made up of the gleanings of every age and fashion. +Gertrude's quick eye was revelling amid the few relics of ancient +eloquence, and the numerous specimens of folly and bad taste, when the +old lady returned. + +A neat though quaint black dress having taken the place of the +much-valued flounces, she now looked more lady-like. She held in her +hand a tumbler of pepper and water, and begged her visitor to drink, +assuring her it would warm her stomach and prevent her taking cold; and +when Gertrude, who could scarcely keep from laughing in her face, +declined the beverage, Miss Patty seated herself, and, while enjoying +the refreshment, carried on a conversation which at one moment satisfied +her visitor she was a women of sense, and the next that she was either +foolish or insane. The impression which Gertrude made upon Miss Patty +was more decided. Miss Patty was delighted with the young miss, and +declared she had an intellect that would do honour to a queen, a figure +that was airy as a gazelle, and motions more graceful than those of a +swan. When George came for Gertrude, Miss Pace was sorry to part with +her, invited her to come again, and she promised to do so. + +The satisfactory news from Willie, and the amusing adventures of the +afternoon, had given to Gertrude such a feeling of buoyancy, that she +bounded into the house, and up the stairs, with that fairy quickness +Uncle True had so loved to see in her, and which, since his death, her +subdued spirits had rarely permitted her to exercise. + +At the door of her room she met Bridget, the housemaid. On inquiring +what was going on there, she learned that during her absence her room +had received a thorough cleaning. Alarmed at the idea of Mrs. Ellis +having invaded her premises, she surveyed the apartment with a slight +feeling of agitation, which, as she continued her observations, swelled +into angry excitement. + +When Gertrude went from Mrs. Sullivan's to Mr. Graham's house in the +city, she took with her a trunk containing her wardrobe, an old bandbox, +which she put on the shelf of a closet in her chamber. There it remained +during the winter, unpacked, and when the family went into the country, +the box went also, carefully protected by its owner, who had put it in a +corner behind the bed, and the evening before her expedition to the city +had been engaged in inspecting its contents, endeared to her by the +charm of old association, and many a tear had the little maiden shed +over her stock of valuables. There was the figure of the Samuel, Uncle +True's first gift, defaced by time and accident. There, too, were his +pipes, dark with smoke and age; but as she thought what comfort they had +been to him, she felt them a consolation to her. She had also his +lantern, for she had not forgotten its pleasant light, the first that +ever fell upon the darkness of her life; also his fur cap, beneath which +she had often seen the kindly smile, and could hardly realise that there +was not one for her still hidden beneath its crown. + +All these things, excepting the lantern and cap, Gertrude had left upon +the mantel-piece; and on entering the room, her eye sought her +treasures. They were gone. The mantel-piece was empty. She ran towards +the corner for the old box. It was gone. To rush after the housemaid and +question her was but the work of an instant. + +Bridget was a new-comer, a stupid specimen, but Gertrude obtained from +her all the information she needed. The image, the pipes, and the +lantern were thrown among a heap of broken glass and crockery, and +smashed to atoms. The cap, said to be moth-eaten, and the other articles +had been cast into the fire at Mrs. Ellis's orders. Gertrude allowed +Bridget to depart, unaware of the greatness of her loss; then, shutting +the door, she wept. + +She rose from the bed suddenly, and started for the door; then, some new +thought seeming to check her, she returned again to the bedside, and, +with a loud sob, fell upon her knees, and buried her face in her hands. +Once or twice she lifted her head, and seemed on the point of rising and +going to face her enemy; but each time something came across her mind +and detained her. It was not fear; oh, no! Gertrude was not afraid of +anybody. It must have been some stronger motive than that. Whatever it +might be, it was something that had a soothing influence, for, after +every fresh struggle, she grew calmer, and rising, seated herself in a +chair by the window, leaned her head on her hand, and looked out. The +shower was over, and the smiles of the refreshed earth were reflected in +a glowing rainbow. A little bird came and perched on a branch of a tree +close to the window, and shouted forth a _Te Deum_. A Persian +lilac-bush, in full bloom, sent up a delicious fragrance. A wonderful +calm stole into Gertrude's heart, and she felt "the grace that brings +peace succeed to the passions that produce trouble." She had conquered; +she had achieved the greatest of earth's victories, a victory over +herself. The brilliant rainbow, the carol of the bird, the fragrance of +the blossoms, all the bright things that gladdened the earth after the +storm, were not half so beautiful as the light that overspread the face +of the young girl when, the storm within her laid at rest, she looked up +to heaven and her heart sent forth its silent offering of praise. + +The sound of the tea-bell startled her. She bathed her face and brushed +her hair, and went downstairs. There was no one in the dining-room but +Mrs. Ellis; Mr. Graham had been detained in town, and Emily was +suffering severe headache. Gertrude took tea alone with Mrs. Ellis, who, +unaware of the great value Gertrude attached to her old relics, was +conscious she had done an unkind thing. + +Next day Mrs. Prime, the cook, came to Emily's room, and produced the +little basket, made of a nut, saying, "I wonder now, Miss Emily, where +Miss Gertrude is; for I've found her little basket in the coal-hole, and +I guess she'll be right glad on't--'tan't hurt a mite." Emily inquired, +"What basket?" and the cook, placing it in her hands, gave an account of +the destruction of Gertrude's property, which she had herself witnessed +with indignation. She described the distress of Gertrude when +questioning Bridget, which the sympathising cook had heard from her +chamber. + +As Emily listened to the story, she thought the previous afternoon she +heard Gertrude sobbing in her room, but that she concluded that she +mistook. "Go," said she, "and carry the basket to Gertrude; she is in +the little library; but please, Mrs. Prime, don't tell her that you have +mentioned the matter to me." Emily expected for several days, to hear +from Gertrude the story of her injuries; but Gertrude kept her trouble +to herself. + +This was the first instance of complete self-control to Gerty. From this +time she experienced more and more the power of governing herself; and, +with each new effort gaining new strength, became at last a wonder to +those who knew the temperament she had had to contend with. She was now +nearly fourteen years old, and so rapid had been her recent growth that, +instead of being below the usual stature, she was taller than most girls +of her age. Freedom from study, and plenty of air and exercise, +prevented her, however, from suffering from this circumstance. Her +garden was a source of great pleasure to her, and flowers prospering +under her careful training, she had always a bouquet ready to place by +Emily's plate at breakfast-time. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE NURSE. + + +Mr. Graham's garden was very beautiful, abounding in rich shrubbery, +summer houses, and arbours covered with grape-vines; but a high, broad +fence hid it from public view, and the house, standing back from the +road, was old-fashioned in its appearance. The summer was passing most +happily, and Gertrude, in the enjoyment of Emily's society, and in the +consciousness that she was rendering herself useful and important to +this excellent friend, was finding in every day new causes of +contentment and rejoicing, when a stop was suddenly put to all her +pleasure. + +Emily was taken ill with a fever, and Gertrude, on her entering the +sick-room, to share in its duties, was rudely repulsed by Mrs. Ellis, +who had constituted herself sole nurse, and who declared that the fever +was catching, and Miss Emily did not want her there. + +For three or four days Gertrude wandered about the house, inconsolable. +On the fifth morning after her banishment from the room, she saw Mrs. +Prime, the cook, going upstairs with some gruel; and, giving her some +beautiful rose-buds which she had gathered, she begged her to give them +to Emily, and ask if she might not come in and see her. She lingered +about the kitchen awaiting Mrs. Prime's return, in hopes of some +message, at least, from the sufferer. But when the cook came down the +flowers were still in her hand, and as she threw them on the table, the +kind-hearted woman gave vent to her feelings. + +"Well! folks do say that first-rate cooks and nurses are allers as cross +as bears! 'Tan't for me to say whether it's so 'bout cooks, but 'bout +nurses there an't no sort o'doubt! I would not want to go there, Miss +Gertrude; I'm sure she'd bit your head off." + +"Wouldn't Miss Emily take the flowers?" asked Gertrude, looking quite +grieved. + +"Well, she hadn't no word in the matter. You know she couldn't see what +they were; and Mrs. Ellis flung 'em outside the door, vowin' I might as +well bring pison into the room with a fever as roses. I tried to speak +to Miss Emily, but Mrs. Ellis set up such a hush-sh-sh I s'posed she was +goin' to sleep, and jest made the best o' my way out. Ugh! don't she +begin to scold when there's anybody taken sick!" + +Gertrude sauntered out into the garden. She had nothing to do but think +anxiously about Emily, who, she feared, was very ill. Her work and her +books were all in Emily's room, where they were usually kept; the +library might have furnished amusement, but it was locked up. So the +garden was the only thing left for her, and there she spent the rest of +the morning; and many others, for Emily grew worse, and a fortnight +passed away without Gertrude's seeing her, or having any other +intimation regarding her health than Mrs. Ellis's occasional report to +Mr. Graham, who, as he saw the physician every day, and made frequent +visits to his daughter, did not require that particular information +which Gertrude was eager to obtain. Once or twice she had asked Mrs. +Ellis, who replied, "Don't bother me with questions! what do you know +about sickness?" + +One afternoon Gertrude was sitting in a large summer-house at the end of +the garden; her own piece of ground, fragrant with mignonette and +verbena, was close by, and she was busily engaged in tying up some +little papers of seeds, when she was startled by hearing a step beside +her, and looking up, saw Dr. Jeremy, the family physician, entering the +building. + +"Ah! what are you doing?" said the doctor, in a quick manner peculiar to +him. "Sorting seeds, eh?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Gerty, blushing, as she saw the doctor's keen black +eyes scrutinising her face! + +"Where have I seen you before?" asked he, in the same blunt way. + +"At Mr. Flint's." + +"Ah! True Flint's! I remember all about it. You're his girl! Nice girl, +too! And poor True, he's dead! Well, he's a loss to the community! So +this is the little nurse I used to see there. Bless me! how children do +grow!" + +"Doctor Jeremy," asked Gertrude, in an earnest voice, "will you please +to tell me how Miss Emily is?" + +"Emily! she an't very well just now." + +"Do you think she'll die?" + +"Die! No! What should she die for? I won't let her die, if you'll help +me to keep her alive. Why an't you in the house taking care of her?" + +"I wish I might!" exclaimed Gertrude, starting up; "I wish I might!" + +"What's to hinder?" + +"Mrs. Ellis, sir; she won't let me in; she says Miss Emily doesn't want +anybody but her." + +"She's nothing to say about it, or Emily either; it's my business, and I +want you. I'd rather have you to take care of my patients than all the +Mrs. Ellises in the world. She knows nothing about nursing; let her +stick to her cranberry-sauce and squash-pies. So, mind, to-morrow you're +to begin." + +"O, thank you, doctor." + +"Don't thank me yet; wait till you've tried it--it's hard work taking +care of sick folks. Whose orchard is that?" + +"Mrs. Bruce's." + +"Is that her pear-tree?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"By George, Mrs. Bruce, I'll try your pears for you!" + +As he spoke, the doctor, a man some sixty-five years of age, stout and +active, sprung over a stone wall, which separated them from the +orchard, and reached the foot of the tree almost at a bound. + +As Gertrude watched the proceeding, she observed the doctor stumble over +some obstacle, and only saved himself from falling by stretching forth +both hands, and sustaining himself against the trunk of the tree. At the +same instant a head, adorned with a velvet smoking-cap, was slowly +lifted from the long grass, and a youth, about sixteen or seventeen +years of age, stared at the intruder. + +Nothing daunted, the doctor at once took the offensive ground towards +the occupant of the place, saying, "Get up, lazy bones! What do you lie +there for, tripping up honest folks?" + +"Whom do you call honest folks, sir?" inquired the youth, apparently +undisturbed by the doctor's epithet and inquiry. He showed much _sang +froid_. + +"I call myself and my little friend here remarkably honest people," +replied the doctor, winking at Gertrude, who, standing behind the wall +and looking over, was laughing at the way in which the doctor had got +caught. The young man turned, and gave a broad stare at Gertrude's merry +face. + +"Can I do anything for you, sir?" asked he. + +"Yes, certainly," replied the doctor. "I came here to help myself to +pears; but you are taller than I--perhaps, with the help of that +crooked-handled cane of yours, you can reach that best branch." + +"A remarkably honourable and honest errand!" muttered the young man. "I +shall be happy to be engaged in so good a cause." And, drawing down the +branch, so that he could reach it with his hand, shook it vigorously. +The ripe fruit fell on every side; and the doctor, having filled his +pockets, and both his hands, started for the other side of the wall. + +"Have you got enough?" asked the youth, in a very lazy tone of voice. + +"Plenty, plenty," said the doctor. + +"Glad of it," said the boy, indolently throwing himself on the grass, +and still staring at Gertrude. + +"You must be very tired," said the doctor, stepping back a pace or two; +"I'm a physician, and should advise a nap." + +"Are you, indeed!" replied the youth, in the same half-drawling, +half-ironical tone of voice; "then I think I'll take your advice;" and +he threw himself upon the grass, and closed his eyes. + +Having emptied his pockets upon the seat of the summer-house, and +invited Gertrude to partake, the doctor, still laughing at his boyish +feat, looked at his watch. "Half-past four! The cars go in ten minutes. +Who's going to drive me down to the depot?" + +"I don't know, sir," replied Gertrude. + +"Where's George?" + +"He's gone to the meadow to get in some hay, but he left white Charlie +harnessed in the yard; I saw him fasten him to the chain, after he drove +you up from the cars." + +"Ah! then you can drive me down to the depot." + +"I can't, sir; I don't know how." + +"But you must; I'll show you how. You're not afraid?" + +"O, no, sir; but Mr. Graham----" + +"Never you mind Mr. Graham--do you mind me. I'll answer for your coming +back safe enough." + +Gertrude was naturally courageous; she had never driven before, but, +having no fears, she succeeded admirably, and, being often afterwards +called upon by Dr. Jeremy to perform the same service, she soon became +skilful in the use of the reins. + +Dr. Jeremy was true to his promise of installing Gertrude in Emily's +sick room. The next visit he made to his patient, he spoke in terms of +the highest praise of Gertrude's devotion to her old uncle, and her +capability as a nurse, and asked why she had been expelled from the +chamber. + +"She is timid," said Emily, "and is afraid of catching the fever." + +"Don't believe it," said Dr. Jeremy; "'tan't like her." + +"Do you think not?" inquired Emily, earnestly. "Mrs. Ellis----" + +"Told a lie," interrupted the doctor. "Gerty wants to come and take care +of you, and she knows how as well as Mrs. Ellis any day; it isn't much +you need done. You want quiet, and that's what you can't have with that +great talking woman about. So I'll send her to Jericho to-day, and bring +my little Gertrude up here. She's a quiet little mouse, and has got a +head on her shoulders." + +It is not to be supposed that Gertrude could provide for Emily's wants +any better than Mrs. Ellis; and Emily, knowing this, took care that the +housekeeper should not be sent to Jericho; for, though Dr. Jeremy, a man +of strong prejudices, did not like her, she was excellent in her +department, and could not be dispensed with. + +So, though Emily, Dr. Jeremy, and Gertrude were all made happy by the +free admission of the latter to the sick-room, the housekeeper was never +conscious that anyone knew her ill-will to Gertrude. + +There were care and tenderness in Gertrude, which only the warmest love +could have dictated. When Emily awoke at night from a troubled sleep, +she found a cooling draught ready at her lips, and knew from Mrs. +Ellis's deep snoring that it was not her hand that held it--when she +observed that all day long no troublesome fly was ever permitted to +approach her pillow, her aching head was relieved by hours of patient +bathing, and the little feet that were never weary were always +noiseless--she realised the truth that Dr. Jeremy had brought her a most +excellent medicine. A week or two passed away, and she was able to sit +up, though not yet able to leave her room. A few weeks more, and the +doctor began to insist upon air and exercise. "Drive out two or three +times every day," said he. + +"How can I?" said Emily. "George has so much to do, it will be very +inconvenient." + +"Let Gertrude drive you; she is a capital hand." + +"Gertrude," said Emily, smiling, "I believe you are a great favourite of +the doctor's; he thinks you can do anything. You never drove, did you?" + +"Hasn't she driven me to the depot every day for these six weeks?" +inquired the doctor. + +"Is it possible?" asked Emily. + +Upon her being assured this was the case, and the doctor insisting that +there was no danger, Charlie was harnessed into the carriage, and Emily +and Mrs. Ellis went out to drive with Gertrude, an experiment which, +being often repeated, was a source of health to the invalid, and +pleasure to them all. In the early autumn, when Emily's health was +restored, old Charlie was daily called into requisition; sometimes Mrs. +Ellis accompanied them, but, as she was often engaged in household +duties, they oft went by themselves, in a large, old-fashioned buggy, +and Emily declared that Gertrude's learning to drive had proved a great +source of happiness. Once or twice, in the course of the summer and +autumn, Gertrude saw again the lazy youth whom Dr. Jeremy had stumbled +over when he went to steal pears. Once he came and sat on the wall while +she was at work in her garden, professed himself astonished at her +activity, talked a little with her about her flowers, asked some +questions concerning her friend Dr. Jeremy, and ended by requesting to +know her name. + +Gertrude blushed; she was sensitive about her name, and, though she went +by that of Flint, and did not think much about it, she could not fail to +remember, when the question was put to her point-blank, that she had no +surname of her own. Emily had tried to find Nan Grant, in order to learn +from her something of Gertrude's early history; but Nan had left her old +habitation, and for years nothing had been heard of her. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +CHANGES. + + +It was the twilight of a sultry September day, and, wearied by excessive +heat, Emily sat on the front piazza of her father's house, inhaling a +delicious and refreshing breeze. The western sky was still streaked with +brilliant lines of red, the lingering effects of a gorgeous sunset, +while the moon, now nearly at the full, and triumphing in the close of +day and the commencement of her nightly reign, cast her full beams upon +Emily's white dress, and gave to the beautiful hand and arm, which, +escaping from the draperied sleeve, rested on the side of her rustic +arm-chair, the semblance of polished marble. Ten years had passed since +Emily was introduced to the reader; and yet, so slight were the changes +wrought by time, that she looked little older than on her first meeting +Gertrude in Mr. Arnold's church. + +She had even then experienced much of the sorrows of life, and learned +how to distil from the bitter dregs of suffering a balm for every pain. +Even then, that experience, and the blessed knowledge she had gained +from it, had both stamped themselves upon her countenance; therefore, +time had little power upon her; as she was then so was she now; lovely +in her outward appearance, and still more lovely in heart and life. +Still a close observer might perceive in her a greater degree of +buoyancy of spirit, keenness of interest in what was going on about her, +and evident enjoyment of life, and this was due, as Emily acknowledged, +to her recent close companionship with one to whom she was bound by the +warmest affection, and who, by her sympathy, her constant devotion, her +natural appreciation of the entertaining and the ludicrous, and the +beautiful and true, and her unsparing efforts to bring her much-loved +friend into communion with everything she herself enjoyed, had called +into play faculties which blindness had rendered almost dormant, and +become, what Uncle True bade her be, eyes to her benefactor. + +On the present occasion, as Emily sat alone, her thoughts were sad. She +held her head a little on one side, in a listening attitude, and, as +often as she heard the sound of the gate swinging in the breeze, she +would start, while a look of anxiety, and even pain, would cross her +features. + +At length, some one approaches the gate. None but Emily's quick ear +could have distinguished the light step; but she hears it at once, and, +rising, goes to meet the new comer, whom we must pause to introduce, +for, though an old acquaintance, time has not left her unchanged, and it +would be hard to recognize in her our little quondam Gertrude, for she +has now become a young lady. She is some inches taller than Emily, and +her figure is slight and delicate. Her complexion is dark, but clear, +and rendered brilliant by the rosy hue that flushes her cheeks; but that +may be the effect of her rapid walk from the railroad station. + +Gertrude's eyes have retained their old lustre, and do not now look too +large for her face; and, if her mouth be less classically formed than +the strict rule of beauty would commend, it is atoned for by two rows of +small pearly teeth, which are as regular as a string of beads. Her neat +dress of spotted muslin fits close to her throat, and her black mantle +does not hide the roundness of her taper waist. + +Is Gertrude a beauty? By no means. Hers is a face and form about which +there would be a thousand different opinions, and few would pronounce +her beautiful. But there are faces whose ever-varying expression one +loves to watch--tell-tale faces, that speak the truth and proclaim the +sentiment within; faces that now light up with intelligence, now beam +with mirth, now sadden at the tale of sorrow, now burn with a holy +indignation for that which the soul abhors, and faces sanctified by the +divine presence, when the heart turns from the world and itself, and +looks upward in the spirit of devotion. Such a face was Gertrude's. +There are forms which, though neither dignified nor fairy-like, possess +a grace, an ease, a power of moving airily in their sphere--and such a +form was Gertrude's. Whatever charm these attractions might give +her--and many estimated it highly--it was greatly enhanced by an utter +unconsciousness, on her part, of possessing any attractions at all. + +As she perceived Miss Graham coming to meet her, she quickened her pace, +and joining her near the door-step, where a path led into the garden, +passed her arm affectionately over Emily's shoulder, in a manner which +the latter's blindness, and Gertrude's superior height and ability to +act as guide, had rendered usual, and said, while she drew the shawl +closer around her blind friend, "Here I am again, Miss Emily! Have you +been alone since I went away?" + +"Yes, dear, most of the time, and have been worried to think you were +travelling about in Boston this excessive warm day." + +"It has not hurt me in the least; I only enjoy this cool breeze all the +more--it is such a contrast to the heat and dust of the city!" + +"But, Gerty," said Emily, stopping short in their walk, "what are you +coming away from the house for? You have not been to tea, my child." + +"I know it, Emily, but I don't want any supper." + +They walked slowly and in perfect silence. At last Emily said, "Well, +Gertrude, have you nothing to tell me?" + +"O yes, a great deal, but----" + +"But you know it will be sad news to me, and so you don't like to speak +it; is it not so?" + +"I ought not to have the vanity, dear Emily, to think it would trouble +you very much; but ever since last evening, when I told you what Mr. W. +said, and what I had in my mind, and you seemed to feel so badly at the +thought of our being separated, I have felt almost doubtful what it was +right for me to do." + +"And I, on the other hand, Gertrude, have been reproaching myself for +allowing you to have any knowledge of my feeling in the matter, lest I +should be influencing you against your duty. I feel that you are right, +Gertrude, and that, instead of opposing, I ought to do everything I can +to forward your plans." + +"Dear Emily!" said Gertrude, "if you thought so from what I told you +yesterday, you would be convinced had you observed all that I have +to-day." + +"Why! Are matters any worse than they were at Mrs. Sullivan's?" + +"Much worse than I described to you. I did not then know all that she +had to contend with; but I have been at their house since I left home +this morning (for Mr. W. did not detain me five minutes), and it does +not seem safe for such a delicate woman as Mrs. Sullivan to be alone +with Mr. Cooper, now that his mind is in such a state." + +"But do you think you can do any good?" + +"I know I can, dear Emily; I can manage him much better than she can, +and do more for his comfort. He is like a child now, and full of whims. +When he can be indulged, Mrs. Sullivan will please him at any amount of +inconvenience, and even danger to herself, not only because he is her +father, and she feels it her duty, but she is afraid of him, he is so +irritable and violent. She tells me he often takes it into his head to +do the strangest things, such as going out late at night, when it is +unsafe, and sleeping with his window wide open." + +"Poor woman!" exclaimed Emily; "what does she do in such cases?" + +"I can tell you, Emily, for I saw an instance of it to-day. When I went +in this morning, he was preparing to make a coal-fire in the grate, +notwithstanding the heat, which was becoming intense in the city." + +"And Mrs. Sullivan?" said Emily. + +"Was sitting on the lower stair, in the front entry, crying." + +"Poor thing!" murmured Emily. + +"She could do nothing with him," continued Gertrude, "and had given up +in despair." + +"She ought to have a strong woman or a man to take care of him." + +"That is what she dreads worse than anything. She says it would kill her +to see him unkindly treated, as he would be sure to be by a stranger; +and, besides, she shrinks from the idea of having anyone in the house to +whom she is unaccustomed. She is very neat and particular in all her +arrangements, has always done her work herself; and declares she would +sooner admit a wild beast into her family than an Irish girl." + +"Her new house has not been a source of much pleasure to her yet, has +it?" + +"Oh, no. She was saying to-day how strange it seemed when she had been +looking forward so long to the comfort of a new tenement, that, just as +she had moved in and got everything furnished to her mind, she should +have this great trial." + +"It seems strange to me," said Emily, "that she did not sooner perceive +its approach. I noticed when I went with you the failure in the old +man's intellect." + +"I had observed it for a long time," remarked Gertrude, "but never spoke +of it to her; and I do not think she was in the least aware of it, until +about their removal, when the breaking-up of old associations affected +his mind." + +"Sad thing!" said Emily. "How old is he?" + +"I believe he is very old; I remember Mrs. Sullivan's telling me some +time ago that he was near eighty." + +"Is he so old as that? Then I am not surprised that these changes have +made him childish." + +"Oh, no. Melancholy, as it is, we may come to the same if we live to his +age; and as he seems generally contented, I do not lament it so much on +his own account as Mrs. Sullivan's." + +"Does it seem hard for her to bear up under it?" + +"I think it would not be if she were well; but there is something the +matter with her, and I fear it is more serious than she allows, for she +looks very pale, and has had several alarming ill turns lately." + +"Has she consulted a physician?" + +"No; she doesn't wish for one, and says she shall soon be better; but I +do not feel sure that she will, especially as she takes no care of +herself; and that is one reason I wish to be in town as soon as +possible. I am anxious to have Dr. Jeremy see her, and I can bring it +about without her knowing that he comes on her account." + +"You speak confidently of being in town, Gertrude; so I suppose it is +all arranged." + +"Oh, I have not told you, have I, about my visit to Mr. W.? Dear, good +man, how grateful I ought to be to him! He has promised me the +situation." + +"I had no doubt he would, from what you told me he said to you at Mrs. +Bruce's." + +"You hadn't, really! Why, Emily, I was almost afraid to mention it to +him. I couldn't believe he would have sufficient confidence in me; but +he was so kind! I hardly dare tell you what he said about my capacity to +teach, you will think me so vain." + +"You need not tell me, my darling; I know from his own lips how highly +he appreciates your ability." + +"Dear Uncle True always wanted me to be a teacher; it was the height of +his ambition. He would be pleased, wouldn't he, dear Emily?" + +"Yes, proud to see you assistant in a school like Mr. W.'s. But he would +think as I do, that you are undertaking too much. You expect to be +occupied in the school the greater part of every morning, and yet you +propose to be nurse to Mrs. Sullivan, and guardian to her poor old +father. My dear child, you are not used to so much care, and I shall be +constantly troubled for you, lest your own health and strength give +way." + +"Oh, dear Emily, there is no cause for any anxiety on my account. I am +well and strong, and capable of all that I have planned for myself. My +only trouble is in leaving you; and I fear you will miss me, and perhaps +feel as if----" + +"I know what you would say, Gertrude. You need not fear that; I am sure +of your affection. I am sure you love me next to your duty, and I would +not that you should give me the preference. So dismiss that thought from +your mind, and do not believe that I would be selfish enough to desire +to retain you. I only wish, my dear, that for the present you had not +thought of entering the school. You might then have gone to Mrs. +Sullivan's, stayed as long as needed, and perhaps found, by the time we +are ready to start on our southern tour, that your services could be +dispensed with; in which case you could accompany us on a journey which +I am sure your health will by that time require." + +"But, dear Emily, how could I do that? I could not propose myself as a +visitor to Mrs. Sullivan, however useful I might intend to be to her; +nor could I speak of nursing to a woman who will not confess that she is +ill. It seemed to me impossible, with all the delicacy and tact in the +world, to bring it about; for I have been with you so long that Mrs. +Sullivan thinks me entirely unfitted for her primitive way of life. It +was only when Mr. W. spoke of his wanting an assistant, and hinted that +he should like to employ me in that capacity, that the present plan +occurred to me. I knew if I told Mrs. Sullivan that I was engaged to +teach there, and that you were not coming to town, and represented to +her that I wanted a boarding-place for the winter, she would insist that +I should go nowhere else." + +"And it proved as you expected?" + +"Exactly; and she showed so much pleasure at the thought of my being +with her, that I realised still more how much she needed some one." + +"She will have a treasure in you, Gertrude." + +"No, indeed! The feeling I have is, that however little I may be able to +accomplish, it will be more than anyone else could do for Mrs. Sullivan. +She has lived so retired that she has not an intimate friend in the +city, and I do not know of anyone, except myself, whom she would +willingly admit under her roof. She is used to me, and loves me; I am no +restraint upon her, and she allows me to assist in whatever she is +doing, although she often says I live a lady's life now, and am not used +to work. She knows, too, that I have an influence over her father; and I +_have_--strange as it may seem to you--I _have_ more than I know how to +account for myself. I think it is partly because I am not afraid of him, +and am firm in opposing his unreasonable fancies, and partly because I +am more of a stranger than Mrs. Sullivan. But there is another cause; he +associates me in his mind with Willie; for we were for some years +constantly together, both left the house at the same time, and he knows +that it is through me that the correspondence with him is carried on. +Since his mind has been so weak, he thinks continually of Willie, and I +can at any moment, however irritable he may be, make him calm and +quiet, by proposing to tell him the latest news from his grandson. It +does not matter how often I repeat the contents of the last letter, it +is always new to him; and you have no idea, Emily, what power this gives +me. Mrs. Sullivan sees how easily I can guide his thoughts, and I +noticed what a load of care was taken from her mind by having me there +to-day. She looked so happy when I came away to-night, and spoke so +hopefully of the comfort it would be during the winter to have me with +her, that I felt repaid for any sacrifice it has been to me. But when I +came home, and saw you, and thought of your going so far away, and of +the length of time it might be before I should live with you again, I +felt as if----" Gerty could say no more. She laid her head on Emily's +shoulder, and wept. + +Emily soothed her with the greatest tenderness. "We have been very happy +together, Gerty," said she, "and I shall miss you sadly; half the +enjoyment of my life has of late years been borrowed from you. But I +never loved you half so well as I do now, at the time we must part; for +I see in the sacrifice you are making of yourself one of the noblest and +most important traits of character a woman can possess. I know how much +you love the Sullivans, and you have certainly every reason for being +attached to them; but your leaving us at this time, and renouncing +without a murmur the southern tour from which you expected so much +pleasure, proves that my Gerty is the brave, good girl I always hoped +and prayed she might become. You are in the path of duty, Gertrude, and +will be rewarded by the approbation of your own conscience, if in no +other way." + +As Emily finished speaking, they reached a corner of the garden, and +were met by a servant-girl, who announced that Mrs. Bruce and her son +were in the parlour, and had asked for them both. + +"Did you get her buttons in town, Gertrude?" inquired Emily. + +"Yes, I found some that were an excellent match for the dress; she +probably wants to know what success I had; but how can I go in?" + +"I will return to the house with Kate, and you can go in at the +side-door, and reach your own room without being seen. I will excuse +you to Mrs. Bruce for the present; and when you have bathed your eyes, +and feel composed, you can come in and report concerning the errand she +entrusted to you." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +FRUSTRATED PLANS. + + +When Gertrude entered the room in half-an-hour, her face showed no +mental distress. Mrs. Bruce nodded to her good naturedly from a corner +of the sofa. Mr. Bruce rose and offered his chair at the same time that +Mr. Graham pointed to a vacant window-seat near him, and said kindly, +"Here is a place for you, Gertrude." + +Declining these civilities, she withdrew to an ottoman near an open +glass door, where she was immediately joined by Mr. Bruce, who, seating +himself in an indolent attitude upon the upper row of a flight of steps +which led from the window to the garden, commenced conversation with +her. + +Mr. Bruce--the gentleman who, some years before, wore a velvet +smoking-cap, and took afternoon naps in the grass--had recently returned +from Europe, and, glorifying in the renown acquired from a moustache, a +French tailor, and the possession of a handsome property in his own +right, now viewed himself with more complacency than ever. + +"So you've been in Boston all day, Miss Flint?" + +"Yes, nearly all day." + +"Didn't you find it distressingly warm?" + +"Somewhat so." + +"I tried to go in to attend to some business that mother was anxious +about, and even went down to the depot; but I had to give it up." + +"Were you overpowered by the heat?" + +"I was." + +"How unfortunate!" remarked Gertrude, in a half-compassionate, +half-ironical tone of voice. + +Mr. Bruce looked up, to judge from her countenance whether she were +serious or not; but there being little light in the room, on account of +the warmth of the evening, he could not decide the question, and +therefore replied, "I dislike the heat, Miss Gertrude, and why should I +expose myself to it unnecessarily?" + +"Oh, I beg your pardon; I thought you spoke of important business." + +"Only some affair of my mother's. Nothing I felt any interest in, and +she took the state of the weather for an excuse. If I had known that you +were in the cars, as I have since heard, I should certainly have +persevered, in order to have had the pleasure of walking down Washington +Street with you." + +"I did not go down Washington Street." + +"But you would have done so with a suitable escort," suggested the young +man. + +"If I had gone out of my way for the sake of accompanying my escort, the +escort would have been a very doubtful advantage," said Gertrude, +laughing. + +"How very practical you are, Miss Gertrude! Do you mean to say that, +when you go to the city, you always have a settled plan of operations, +and never swerve from your course?" + +"By no means. I trust I am not difficult to influence when there is a +sufficient motive." + +The young man bit his lip. "Then you never act without a motive; pray, +what is your motive in wearing that broad-brimmed hat when you are at +work in the garden?" + +"It is an old habit, adopted some years ago from motives of convenience, +and still adhered to, in spite of later inventions, which would +certainly be a better protection from the sun. I must plead guilty, I +fear, to a little obstinacy in my partiality for that old hat." + +"Why not confess, Miss Gertrude, that you wear it in order to look +fanciful and picturesque, so that the neighbours' slumbers are disturbed +by the thoughts of it? My own morning dreams, for instance, are so +haunted by that hat, as seen in company with its owner, that I am daily +drawn, as if by magnetic attraction, in the direction of the garden. You +will have a heavy account to settle with Morpheus, one of these days, +for defrauding him of his rights; and your conscience too will suffer +for injuries to my health, sustained by continued exposure to early +dews." + +"It is hard to condemn me for such unintentional mischief; but since I +am to experience so much future remorse on account of your morning +visits, I shall take upon myself the responsibility of forbidding them." + +"Oh, you wouldn't be so unkind!--especially after all the pains I have +taken to impart to you the little I know of horticulture." + +"Very little I think it must have been; or I have but a poor memory," +said Gertrude, laughing. + +"Have you forgotten the pains I took yesterday to acquaint you with the +different varieties of roses? Don't you remember how much I had to say +of damask roses and damask bloom; and how before I finished, I could not +find words enough in praise of blushes, especially such sweet and +natural ones as met my eyes while I was speaking?" + +"I know you talked a great deal of nonsense. I hope you don't think I +listened to it all." + +"Oh, Miss Gertrude! It is of no use to say flattering things to you; you +always regard my compliments as jokes." + +"I have told you, several times, that it was most useless to waste so +much flattery upon me. I am glad you are beginning to realise it." + +"Well, then, to ask a serious question, where were you this morning at +half-past seven?" + +"On my way to Boston in the cars." + +"Is it possible?--so early! Why, I thought you went at ten. Then, all +the time I was watching by the garden wall to say good-morning, you were +half-a-dozen miles away. I wish I had not wasted that hour so; I might +have spent it in sleeping." + +"Very true, it is a great pity." + +"And then half-an-hour more here this evening! How came you to keep me +waiting so long?" + +"I was not aware of doing so. I certainly did not take your visit to +myself." + +"My visit certainly was not meant for anyone else." + +"Ben," said Mr. Graham, approaching rather abruptly, and taking part in +the conversation, "are you fond of gardening? I thought I heard you just +now speaking of roses?" + +"Yes, sir; Miss Flint and I were having quite a discussion upon +flowers--roses especially." + +Gertrude, availing herself of Mr. Graham's approach, tried to escape and +join the ladies at the sofa; but Mr. Bruce, who had risen on Mr. +Graham's addressing him, saw her intention, and frustrated it by placing +himself in the way, so that she could not pass him without positive +rudeness. Mr. Graham continued, "I propose placing a small fountain in +the vicinity of Miss Flint's flower garden; won't you walk down with me, +and give your opinion of my plan?" + +"Isn't it too dark, sir, to----" + +"No, no, not at all; there is ample light for our purpose. This way, if +you please;" and Mr. Bruce was compelled to follow where Mr. Graham led, +though, in spite of his acquaintance with Paris manners, he made a wry +face, and shook his head menacingly. + +Gertrude was now permitted to relate to Mrs. Bruce the results of the +shopping which she had undertaken on her account, and display the +buttons, which proved very satisfactory. The gentlemen, soon returning, +took seats near the sofa, and the conversation became general. + +"Mr. Graham," said Mrs. Bruce, "I have been asking Emily about your +visit to the south; and I think it will be a charming trip." + +"I hope so, madame; it will be an excellent thing for Emily, and as +Gertrude has never travelled, I anticipate a great deal of pleasure for +her." + +"Ah! then you are to be of the party, Miss Flint?" + +"Of course," said Mr. Graham, without giving Gertrude a chance to speak +for herself; "we depend upon Gertrude; couldn't get along without her." + +"It will be delightful for you," continued Mrs. Bruce, her eyes still +fixed on Gertrude. + +"I did expect to go with Mr. and Miss Graham," answered Gertrude, "and +looked forward to the journey with the greatest eagerness; but I have +just decided that I must remain in Boston this winter." + +"What are you talking about, Gertrude?" asked Mr. Graham. "What do you +mean? This is all news to me." + +"And to me, too, sir, or I should have informed you of it before. I +supposed you expected me to accompany you, and there is nothing I should +like so much. I should have told you before of the circumstances that +now make it impossible; but they are of quite recent occurrence." + +"But we can't give you up, Gertrude; I won't hear of such a thing; you +must go with us in spite of circumstances." + +"I fear I shall not be able," said Gertrude, smiling pleasantly, but +still retaining her firmness of expression; "you're very kind, sir, to +wish it." + +"Wish it!--I tell you I insist upon it. You are under my care, child, +and I have a right to say what you shall do." + +Mr. Graham was excited. Gertrude and Emily looked troubled, but neither +spoke. + +"Give me your reasons, if you have any," said Mr. Graham, vehemently, +"and let me know what has put this strange notion into your head." + +"I will explain it to you to-morrow, sir." + +"To-morrow! I want to know now. Tell me what all this means? Here I plan +my business, and make all my arrangements, to give up this winter to +travelling--not so much on my own account as to please both of you, and, +just as all is settled, and we are on the point of starting, Gertrude +says that she has concluded not to go." + +Emily undertook to explain Gertrude's motives, and ended by expressing +her approbation of her course. As soon as she had finished, Mr. Graham, +who had listened very impatiently, and interrupted her with many a +"pish!" and "pshaw!" burst forth with redoubled indignation. "So Gerty +prefers the Sullivans to us, and you seem to encourage her in it! I +should like to know what they have ever done for her, compared with what +I have done." + +"They have been friends of hers for years, and now that they are in +great distress, she does not feel as if she could leave them, and I +confess I do not wonder at her decision." + +"I do. She prefers to make a slave of herself in Mr. W.'s school, and a +greater slave in Mrs. Sullivan's family, instead of staying with us, +where she has been treated like a lady, and like one of our own family." + +"Oh, Mr. Graham!" said Gertrude, earnestly, "it is not a matter of +choice, except as I feel it to be a duty." + +"And what makes it a duty? Just because you used to live with them, and +that boy out in Calcutta has sent you home a camel's-hair scarf and a +cage full of miserable little birds, and written you letters, you must +forfeit your own interest to take care of his sick relations! Can their +claim compare with mine? Haven't I given you the best of educations, and +spared not expense for your improvement and happiness?" + +"I did not think, sir," said Gertrude, humbly, and yet with dignity, "of +counting up the favours I had received, and measuring my conduct +accordingly. In that case my obligations to you are immense, and you +would certainly have the greatest claim upon my services." + +"Services! I don't want your _services_, child. Mrs. Ellis can do quite +as well as you can for Emily, or me either; but I like your _company_, +and think it is very ungrateful in you to leave us, as you talk of +doing." + +"Father," said Emily, "I thought the object in giving Gertrude a good +education was to make her independent of all the world, and not simply +dependent upon us." + +"Emily," said Mr. Graham, "I tell you it is a matter of feeling--you +don't seem to look upon the thing in the light I do; but you are both +against me, and I won't talk any more about it." + +So saying, Mr. Graham went to his study, and was seen no more that +night. + +Poor Gertrude! Mr. Graham, who had been so generous, who had seldom or +ever spoken harshly to her, and had always treated her with great +indulgence, was now deeply offended. He had called her ungrateful; he +felt that she had abused his kindness, and believed that he and Emily +stood in her imagination secondary to other far less warm-hearted +friends. Deeply wounded, she hastened to say good-night to the no less +afflicted Emily, and, seeking her own room, gave way to feelings that +caused her a sleepless night. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +SELFISHNESS. + + +Left at three years of age dependent upon the charity of a world in +which she was friendless and alone, Gertrude had, during her residence +at Nan Grant's, found little of that charity. But, although her +turbulent spirit rebelled at the treatment she received, she was then +too young to reason upon the subject, or come to any conclusions upon +the hardness and cruelty of humanity; and, had she done so, such +impressions would have been effaced in the home of her kind +foster-father. + +And having, through a similar providence, found in Emily additional +proof of the fact that the tie of kindred blood is not always needed to +bind heart to heart in the closest bonds of sympathy and affection, she +had hitherto, in her unusually happy experience, felt none of the evils +that spring from dependence upon the bounty of strangers. + +From Mr. Graham she had until now experienced only kindness. On her +first coming to live with them, he had taken little notice of her, so +long as she was quiet, well-mannered, and no trouble to anybody, had +been indifferent about her. He observed that Emily was fond of the girl, +and, though he wondered at her taste, was glad that she should be +indulged. But he soon noticed in his daughter's favourite a quickness of +mind and propriety of deportment which created an interest in her that +soon increased to positive partiality, especially when he discovered her +taste for gardening and her love of flowers. Emily formed no plan as to +Gertrude's education to which she did not obtain a ready assent from her +father; and Gertrude, grateful for so much bounty, spared no pains to +evidence her sense of obligation and regard, by treating Mr. Graham with +the greatest respect. + +But, unfortunately for the continuance of these amicable relations, Mr. +Graham had neither the disinterested forbearing spirit of Uncle True, +nor the saintly patience and self-sacrifice of Emily. Mr. Graham was a +liberal and highly respectable man; he had the reputation of being a +high-minded and honourable man; and his conduct justified this report of +him. But he was a _selfish_ man, and often took one-sided views. He had +supported and educated Gertrude--he liked her--she was the person whom +he preferred for a travelling companion for himself and Emily--and he +either _could_ not or _would_ not see that her duty lay in any other +direction. + +During a wakeful and restless night, Gertrude reviewed and considered +her own circumstances. At first her only emotion was one of grief, but +that gradually subsided, as other bitter thoughts rose up in her mind. + +"What right," thought she, "has Mr. Graham to treat me this way--to tell +me I _shall_ go with him on his southern journey, and speak as if my +other friends were ciphers in his estimation, and ought to be in my own? +Does he consider my freedom is to be the price of my education, and am I +no longer able to say yes or no? Emily does not think so; Emily, who +loves and needs me a thousand times more than Mr. Graham, thinks I have +acted rightly, and she assured me that it was my duty to carry out the +plans I had formed. And my solemn promise to Willie! is that to be held +for nothing? No, it would be tyranny in Mr. Graham to insist on my +remaining with them, and I am glad I have resolved to break away from +such thraldom. Besides, I was educated to teach, and Mr. W. says it is +important to commence while my studies are fresh in my mind." So much +said pride; and Gertrude's heart listened awhile to such suggestions. +But not long. She had accustomed herself to view the conduct of others +in that spirit of charity which she desired should be exercised towards +her own, and milder thoughts took the place of these excited feelings. + +"Perhaps," said she to herself, "it is, after all, pure kindness that +prompted Mr. Graham's interference. He may think as Emily does, that I +am undertaking too much. It is impossible for him to know how strong my +motives are, how deep I consider my obligations to the Sullivans, and +how much I am needed by them at this time. I had no idea, either, that I +was to be one of the party to the south; for though Emily talked as if +she took it for granted, Mr. Graham never asked me to go, and I could +not suppose it would be any great disappointment to him to refuse; but, +after planning the journey to please us both, I do not wonder at his +being annoyed. He probably feels, too, as if I had been under his +guardianship so long that he has almost a right to decide upon my +conduct. And he _has_ been very indulgent to me--and I a stranger with +no claims! Shall I then decide to give up my teaching, to go to the +south, and leave Mrs. Sullivan to suffer, perhaps die, while I am away? +No, that is impossible. I will never be such a traitor to my own heart, +and my sense of right; sorry as I shall be to offend Mr. Graham, I must +not allow his anger to turn me from my duty." + +Having thus resolved to brave the tempest, and committed her cause to +Him who judgeth righteously, Gertrude tried to compose herself to sleep. +Dreams of a painful nature started her back to consciousness. In some of +these visions she beheld Mr. Graham angry, and threatening her with his +displeasure if she dared to thwart his plans; and then she seemed to see +Willie, the same boyish youth from whom she had parted five years +before, beckoning her with a sad countenance to the room where his pale +mother lay in a swoon, as Gertrude had a few weeks before seen her. +Exhausted by such harassing images, she at length gave up the attempt to +obtain any rest, and rising, seated herself at the window, where, +watching the approach of dawn, she found, in quiet self-communing, the +courage which she felt would be requisite to carry her calmly and firmly +through the next day--a day destined to witness her sad separation from +Emily, and her farewell to Mr. Graham, which would probably be more +distressing. The tyrannical disposition of Mr. Graham was well +understood in his family, each member of which was accustomed to respect +all his wishes and whims; and though he was always indulgent and kind, +none ever braved a temper which, when excited, was so violent. It +cannot, then, be surprising that Gertrude's heart should have failed her +when she stood, half-an-hour before breakfast-time, with the handle of +the dining-room door in her hand, summoning all her energies for another +meeting with the opposer of her plans. She paused but a moment, and then +went in. Mr. Graham was sitting in his arm-chair, and on the +breakfast-table lay the morning paper. It had been Gertrude's habit to +read that paper aloud to the old gentleman at this same hour, and it was +for that purpose she had now come. She advanced toward him with her +usual "Good morning." + +The salutation was returned in a constrained voice. She seated herself, +and leaned forward to take the newspaper. But he placed his hand upon it +to prevent her. + +"I was going to read the news to you, sir." + +"And I do not wish to have you read, or do anything else for me, until I +know whether you have concluded to treat me with the respect I have a +right to demand from you." + +"I certainly never intended to treat you otherwise than with respect, +Mr. Graham." + +"When girls or boys set themselves up in opposition to those older and +wiser than themselves, they manifest the greatest disrespect they are +capable of; but I am willing to forgive the past, if you assure me, as I +think you will, after a night's reflection, that you have returned to a +right sense of your duty." + +"I cannot say, sir, that I have changed my views with regard to what +that duty is." + +"Do you mean to tell me," asked Mr. Graham, rising from his chair, and +speaking in a tone which made Gerty's heart quake, "do you mean to tell +me that you have an idea of persisting in your folly?" + +"Is it folly, sir, to do right?" + +"Right! There is a great difference of opinion between you and me as to +what is right in this case." + +"But, Mr. Graham, I think if you knew all the circumstances, you would +not blame my conduct. I have told Emily the reasons that influence me, +and she----" + +"Don't quote Emily to me!" interrupted Mr. Graham; "I don't doubt she'd +give her head to anybody that asked for it; but I hope I know a little +better what is due to myself; and I tell you plainly, Miss Gertrude +Flint, without any more words in the matter, that if you leave my house, +as you propose doing, you leave it with my displeasure; and _that_, you +may find one of these days, it is no light thing to have +incurred--unnecessarily too, as you are doing." + +"I am very sorry to displease you, Mr. Graham, but----" + +"No, you're not _sorry_; if you were, you would not walk straight in the +face of my wishes," said Mr. Graham, who began to observe the expression +of Gertrude's face, which, though troubled, had acquired additional +firmness, instead of quailing before his severe and cutting words. "But +I have said enough about a matter which is not worthy of so much notice. +You can go or stay, as you please. I wish you to understand, if you go, +I utterly withdraw my protection and assistance from you. You must take +care of yourself, or trust to strangers. I suppose you expect your +Calcutta friend will support you, perhaps come home and take you under +his especial care; but if you think so, you know little of the world. I +dare say he is married to an Indian by this time, and, if not, has +forgotten you." + +"Mr. Graham," said Gertrude, proudly, "Mr. Sullivan will not probably +return to this country for many years, and I assure you I neither look +to him nor anyone else for support; I intend to earn a maintenance for +myself." + +"A heroic resolve!" said Mr. Graham, contemptuously, "and pronounced +with a dignity I hope you will be able to maintain. Am I to consider, +then, that your mind is made up?" + +"It is, sir," said Gertrude, not a little strengthened for the dreaded +necessity of pronouncing her final resolution by Mr. Graham's sarcastic +speeches. + +"And you go?" + +"I must. I believe it to be my duty, and am, therefore, willing to +sacrifice my own comfort, and, what I assure you I value far more, your +friendship." + +Mr. Graham did not seem to take the least notice of the latter part of +her remark, and so far forgot his usual politeness as to drown her voice +in the violent ringing of the table-bell. + +It was answered by Katy with the breakfast; and Emily and Mrs. Ellis +coming, all seated themselves at the table, and the meal was commenced +in unusual silence and constraint, for Emily had heard the loud tones of +her father's voice, while Mrs. Ellis plainly saw that something +unpleasant had occurred. + +When Mr. Graham had finished eating a hearty breakfast, he turned to +Mrs. Ellis, and invited her to accompany himself and Emily on their +journey to the south, mentioning the probability that they should pass +some weeks in Havana. + +Mrs. Ellis accepted the invitation with pleasure, and asked a number of +questions concerning the proposed route and length of absence; while +Emily hid her agitated face behind her tea-cup; and Gertrude, who had +lately been reading _Letters from Cuba_, and was aware that Mr. Graham +knew the strong interest she felt in the place, pondered in her mind +whether it could be possible that he could be guilty of the mean desire +to vex and mortify her. + +Breakfast over, Emily hastily sought her room, where she was joined by +Gertrude. In answering Emily's inquiries as to the scene which had taken +place, Gertrude forbore to repeat Mr. Graham's most bitter and wounding +remarks; for she saw from her kind friend's countenance how deeply she +participated in her own sense of wrong. She told her, however, that it +was now well understood by Mr. Graham that she was to leave, and, as his +sentiments towards her were far from kindly, she thought it best to go +at once, especially as she could never be more needed by Mrs. Sullivan +than at present. Emily saw the reasonableness of the proposal, assented +to it, and agreed to accompany her to town that afternoon; for, deeply +sensitive at any unkindness manifested towards Gertrude, she preferred +to have her depart thus abruptly, rather than encounter her father's +contemptuous neglect. The remainder of the day was spent by Gertrude in +packing and other preparations, while Emily sat by, counselling the +future conduct of her adopted darling, lamenting the necessity of their +separation, and exchanging with her reiterated assurances of +undiminished affection. + +"Oh, if you could only write to me, dear Emily, during your long +absence, what a comfort it would be," exclaimed Gertrude. + +"With Mrs. Ellis's assistance, my dear," replied Emily, "I will send you +such news as I can of our movements; but, though you may not be able to +hear much from me, you will be ever in my thoughts, and I shall never +forget to commend my beloved child to the protection and care of One who +will be to her a better friend than I can be." + +In the course of the day Gertrude sought Mrs. Ellis, and astonished that +lady by stating that she had come to have a few farewell words with her. +Surprise, however, was soon superseded by the housekeeper's eagerness to +expatiate upon the generosity of Mr. Graham, and the delights of the +excursion in prospect. After wishing her a great deal of pleasure, +Gertrude begged to hear from her by letter during her absence; to which +request Mrs. Ellis only replied by asking if Gertrude thought a Thibet +dress would be uncomfortable on the journey; and, when it was repeated +with great earnestness, she, with equal unsatisfactoriness to the +suppliant for epistolary favours, begged to know how many pairs of +undersleeves she would probably require. Having responded to her +questions, and at last gained her attention, Gertrude obtained from her +a promise to write _one_ letter, which would, she declared, be more than +she had done for years. + +Before leaving the house, Gertrude sought Mr. Graham's study, in hopes +that he would take a friendly leave of her; but on her telling him that +she had come to bid him "Good-bye," he indistinctly muttered the simple +words of that universal formula--so deep in its meaning when coming from +the heart; so chilling when uttered, as on the present occasion, by +stern and nearly closed lips--and turning his back upon her, took up the +tongs to mend his fire. So she went away, with a tear in her eye and a +sadness in her heart. + +A far different scene awaited her in the upper kitchen, where she went +to seek Mrs. Prime and Katy. "Bless yer soul, dear Miss Gertrude!" said +the former, stumbling up the staircase which led from the lower room, +and wiping her hands on her apron--"how we shall miss yer! Why, the +house won't be worth livin' in when you're out of it. My gracious! if +you don't come back, we shall all die out in a fortnight. Why, you're +the life and soul of the place! But there, I guess you know what's +right; so, if you must go, we must bear it--though Katy and I'll cry our +eyes out, for aught I know." + +"Sure, Miss Gairthrue," said Irish Katy, "and it's right gude in you to +be afther comin' to bid us good-bye. I don't see how you gets memory to +think of us all, and I'm shure ye'll never be betther off than what I +wish yer. I can't but think, miss, it'll go to help yer along, that +everybody's gude wishes and blessin' goes with yer." + +"Thank you, Katy, thank you," said Gertrude, touched by the simple +earnestness of these good friends. "You must come and see me some time +in Boston; and you too, Mrs. Prime, I shall depend upon it. Good-bye;" +and the good-bye that _now_ fell upon Gertrude's ear was a hearty and a +true one; it followed her through the hall, and as the carriage drove +away she heard it mingling with the rattling of the vehicle. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +A FRIEND IN AFFLICTION. + + +Passing over Gertrude's parting with Emily, her cordial reception by +Mrs. Sullivan, and her commencement of school duties, we will record the +events of a day in November, about two months after she left Mr. +Graham's. + +Rising with the sun, she made her neat toilet in a room so cold that her +hands were half benumbed; nor did she omit, ere she began the labours of +the day, to supplicate Heaven's blessing upon them. Then, noiselessly +entering the adjoining apartment, where Mrs. Sullivan was still +sleeping, she lit a fire, and performed a similar service at the +cooking-stove, which stood in a comfortable room, where, now that the +weather was cold, the family took their meals. The table was set for +breakfast when Mrs. Sullivan entered, pale, thin, and feeble in her +appearance, and wrapped in a large shawl. + +"Gertrude," said she, "why did you let me sleep so late, while you are +up and at work?" + +"For the very best reason in the world, auntie; because I sleep all the +early part of the night, and am wide awake at day-break, and with you it +is quite the reverse. Besides, I like to get the breakfast; I make such +beautiful coffee. Look!" said she, pouring some into a cup, and then +lifting the lid of the coffee-pot, and pouring it back again; "see how +clear it is! Don't you long for some of it?" + +Mrs. Sullivan smiled, for, Uncle True having always preferred tea, +Gertrude did not at first know how to make coffee. + +"Now," said Gertrude, "I want you to sit down here and watch the +tea-kettle boil, while I run and see if Mr. Cooper is ready to let me +tie up his cue." + +She went, leaving Mrs. Sullivan to think what a good girl she was; and +presently returning with the old man, she placed a chair for him, and +having waited while he seated himself, and then pinned a napkin about +his throat, she proceeded to place the breakfast on the table. + +While Mrs. Sullivan poured out the coffee, Gertrude removed the skin +from a baked potato, and the shell from a boiled egg, and placing both +on the plate destined for Mr. Cooper, handed him his breakfast in a +state of preparation which obviated the difficulty the old man +experienced in performing these tasks for himself. Poor Mrs. Sullivan +had no appetite, and it was with difficulty Gertrude persuaded her to +eat anything; but a few fried oysters, unexpectedly placed before her, +proved such a temptation that she was induced to eat several, with a +degree of relish she rarely felt for any article of food. As Gertrude +gazed at her languid face, she realized, more than ever, the change +which had come over the active little woman; and confident that nothing +but positive disease could have effected such a transformation, she +resolved that not another day should pass without her seeing a +physician. + +Breakfast over, there were dishes to wash, rooms to be put in order, +dinner to be partially prepared; and all this Gertrude saw accomplished, +chiefly through her own labour, before she went to re-arrange her dress, +previous to her departure for the school where she had now been some +weeks assistant teacher. A quarter before nine she looked in at the +kitchen door, and said, in a cheering tone, to the old man, who was +cowering gloomily over the fire--"Come, Mr. Cooper, won't you go over +and superintend the new church a little while this morning? Mr. Miller +will be expecting you; he said yesterday that he depended on your +company when at work." + +The old man rose, and taking his great-coat from Gertrude, put it on +with her assistance, and accompanied her in a mechanical sort of way, +which implied great indifference about going. As they walked in silence +down the street, Gertrude could not but resolve in her mind the singular +coincidence which had thus made her the almost daily companion of +another infirm old man; nor could she fail to draw a comparison between +the warm-hearted Uncle True, and the gloomy Paul Cooper. Unfavorable as +the comparison was to the latter, it did not diminish the kindness of +Gertrude towards her present charge, who was in her eyes an object of +sincere compassion. They soon reached the new church--a very handsome +edifice. It was not yet finished, and a number of workmen were +completing the interior. A man with a hod full of mortar preceded +Gertrude and her companion up the steps which led to the main entrance, +but stopped inside the porch, on hearing himself addressed by name, and +turned to respond to the well-known voice. "Good morning, Miss Flint," +said he. "I hope you're very well, this fine day. Ah! Mr. Cooper, you've +come to help me a little, I see--that's right. We can't go on very well +without you--you're so used to the place. Here, sir, if you'll come with +me I'll show you what has been done since you were here last; I want to +know how you think we are getting along." + +So saying, he was walking away with the old sexton; but Gertrude asked +him if he would see Mr. Cooper safe home when he passed Mrs. Sullivan's +house on his way to dinner. + +"Certainly, Miss Flint," replied the man, "with all pleasure; he has +usually gone with me readily, when you have left him in my care." +Gertrude then hastened to the school, rejoicing that Mr. Cooper would be +safe during the morning; and that Mrs. Sullivan would have the quiet she +so much needed. + +This man was a respectable mason, who had often been in Mr. Graham's +employ, and whose good-will Gertrude had won by the kindness she had +shown his family during the previous winter, when they were sick. In her +daily walk past the church, she had oft seen Mr. Miller at work, and it +occurred to her that, if she could awaken in Mr. Cooper's mind an +interest in the new structure, he might find amusement in watching the +workmen. She had some difficulty in persuading him to visit a building +to the erection of which he had been opposed. Once there, he became +interested in the work, and as Mr. Miller tried to make him comfortable, +and made him believe that he was useful, he gradually acquired a habit +of passing the greater part of every morning in watching the workmen. +Sometimes Gertrude called for him on her return from school; and +sometimes Mr. Miller took him home. + +Since Gertrude had been at Mrs. Sullivan's there was a great alteration +in Mr. Cooper. He was more manageable, and manifested less irritability, +and his favourable change, together with the cheering influence of +Gertrude's society, had produced a beneficial effect upon Mrs. Sullivan; +but within the last few days, her increased debility, and two sudden +attacks of faintness, had awakened Gertrude's fears. She determined, as +soon as she should be released from her school duties, to seek Dr. +Jeremy and request his attendance. + +Of Gertrude's school-duties, she was found by Mr. W. competent to the +performance of them, and that she met with those trials only which all +teachers are subjected, from the idleness or stupidity of their pupils. +On this day she was detained to a later hour than usual, and the clock +struck two as she was ringing Dr. Jeremy's door-bell. The girl who +opened the door knew Gertrude, and telling her that, although the doctor +was just going to dinner, she thought he would see her, asked her into +the office. He advanced to meet Gertrude, holding out both his hands. +"Gertrude Flint, I declare!" exclaimed he. "Why, I'm glad to see you, my +girl. Why haven't you been here before, I should like to know?" Gertrude +explained that she was living with friends, one of whom was very old, +the other an invalid; and that so much of her time was occupied in +school, that she had no opportunity for visiting. + +"Poor excuse," said the doctor; "poor excuse. But, now we've got you +here, we shan't let you go very soon!" and going to the foot of the +staircase, he called out loudly, "Mrs. Jeremy! Mrs. Jeremy! come down to +dinner as quick as you can, and put on your best cap--we've got +company.--Poor soul!" added he, in a lower tone, smiling, "she can't +hurry, can she, Gerty?--she's so fat." + +Gertrude protested against staying to dinner, declaring she must hasten +home, and announcing Mrs. Sullivan's illness and the object of her +visit. + +"An hour can't make much difference," insisted the doctor. "You must +stay and dine with me, and then I'll take you with me in the buggy." +Gertrude hesitated; the sky had clouded over, and a few flakes of snow +were falling; she should have an uncomfortable walk; and, moreover, it +would be better for her to accompany the doctor, as the street in which +she lived was principally composed of new houses, not yet numbered, and +he might have some difficulty in finding the right tenement. Mrs. Jeremy +now entered. Fat she certainly was, uncommonly fat, and flushed with the +excitement of dressing. She kissed Gertrude, and then, seeing that no +one else was present, exclaimed, glancing reproachfully at the +doctor--"Why, Dr. Jeremy!--an't you ashamed of yourself? I never will +believe you again; you made me think there was some great stranger +here." + +"And pray, Mrs. Jeremy, who's a greater stranger in this house than +Gerty Flint?" + +"Sure enough!" said Mrs. Jeremy. "Gertrude _is_ a stranger, and I've got +a scolding in store for her on that very account; but, you know, Dr. +Jeremy, I shouldn't have put on my lilac-and-pink for Gertrude to see; +she likes me just as well in my old yellow, if she did tell me, when I +bought it, the saucy girl, that I'd selected the ugliest cap in Boston. +Do you remember that Gerty?" Gerty laughed heartily at the recollection +of an amusing scene that took place when she went shopping with Mrs. +Jeremy. "But come, Gerty, dinner's ready; take off your cloak and +bonnet, and come into the dining-room; the doctor has much to say, and +has been wanting dreadfully to see you." + +They had been sitting some minutes without a word having been spoken, +when the doctor suddenly commenced laughing till tears came into his +eyes. Gertrude looked at him, inquiringly, and Mrs. Jeremy said, "There, +Gertrude!--for a whole week he had just such a laughing fit, two or +three times a-day. I was as much astonished at first as you are; and I +don't understand now what could have happened between him and Mr. Graham +that was so very funny." + +"Come, wife," said the doctor, "don't you forestall my communication. I +want to tell the story myself. I don't suppose, Gertrude, you've lived +five years at Mr. Graham's without finding out what a cantankerous, +opinionative, obstinate old hulk he is!" + +"Doctor!" said Mrs. Jeremy, "be careful." + +"I don't care, wife; I'll speak my mind with regard to Mr. Graham; and +Gertrude, here, has done the same, I haven't a particle of doubt, only +she's a good girl, and won't say so." + +"I never saw anything that looked like it," said Mrs. Jeremy; "I've seen +as much of him as most folks. I meet him in the street almost every day, +and he looks as smiling as a basket of chips, and makes a beautiful +bow." + +"I dare say," said the doctor; "Gertrude and I know what gentlemanly +manners he has when one does not walk in the very teeth of his +opinions--eh, Gertrude!--but when one does----" + +"In talking politics, for instance," suggested Mrs. Jeremy. "It's your +differences with him on politics that have set you against him so." + +"No, it isn't," replied the doctor. "A man may get angry talking +politics, and be a good-natured man too. I get angry _myself_ on +_politics_, but that isn't the sort of thing I refer to. It's Graham's +wanting to lay down the law to everybody that comes within ten miles of +him that I can't endure; his dictatorial way of acting as if he were +the Grand Mogul of Cochin China. I thought he'd improved of late years; +he had a serious lesson enough in that sad affair of poor Philip +Amory's; but I believe he's been trying the old game again. Ha! ha! ha!" +shouted the good doctor, leaning forward and giving Gertrude a light tap +on the shoulder--"wasn't I glad when I found he'd met at last with a +reasonable opposition! and that, too, where he least expected it!" + +Gertrude looked her astonishment at his evident knowledge of the +misunderstanding between herself and Mr. Graham. "You wonder where I got +my information; I'll tell you. It was partly from Graham himself; and +what diverts me is to think how hard the old chap tried to hide his +defeat, and persuade me that he'd had his own way, when I saw through +him, and knew that he'd found his match in you." + +"Dr. Jeremy," said Gertrude, "I hope you don't think----" + +"No, my dear, I _don't_ think you a _professional pugilist_; but I +consider you a girl of sense--one who knows what's right--and will do +what's right, in spite of Mr. Graham; and when you hear my story you +will know the grounds on which I formed my opinion with regard to the +course things had taken. One day--about two months ago--I was summoned +to go and see one of Mr. W.'s children, who had an attack of croup. Mr. +W. was talking with me, when he was called away to see a visitor, and on +his return he mentioned that he had secured your services in his school. +I knew Emily intended you for a teacher, and I was thankful you had got +so good a situation. At Mr. W.'s door I encountered Mr. Graham, and he +entertained me as we went down the street with an account of his plan +for the winter. 'But Gertrude Flint is not going with you,' said +I.--'Gertrude!' said he; 'certainly she is.'--'Are you sure of that?' I +asked. 'Have you invited her?'--'Invited her! No,' was his answer; 'but, +of course, I know she will go, and be glad of the opportunity; it isn't +every girl that is so fortunate.' Now, Gerty, I felt provoked at his way +of speaking, and I answered, in as confident a tone as his own, 'I doubt +whether she will accept the invitation.' Upon that, Mr. Dignity +straightened up, and such a speech as he made! I never can recall it +without being amused, especially when I think of the come-down that +followed so soon after. I can't repeat it; but one would have thought to +hear him that it was not only impossible you should oppose his wishes, +but actual treason in me to suggest such a thing. I knew better than to +tell what I had just heard from Mr. W., but I never felt a greater +curiosity about anything than I did to know how the matter would end. +Two or three times I planned to drive to see Emily, and hear the result; +but a doctor never can call a day his own, and I got prevented. On +Sunday I heard Mrs. Prime's voice in the kitchen (her niece lives here), +and down I went to make my inquiries. She told me the truth, I rather +think; though not, perhaps, all the particulars. It was not more than a +day or two after that before I saw Graham. 'Ah,' said I; 'when do you +start?'--'To-morrow,' replied he. 'Really,' I exclaimed; 'then I shan't +see your ladies again. Will you take a little package from me to +Gertrude?'--'I know nothing about Gertrude,' said he, stiffly.--'What!' +rejoined I, affecting great surprise, 'has Gertrude left you?'--'She +has,' answered he. 'And dared,' continued I, 'to treat you with such +disrespect--to trifle so with your dignity?'--'Dr. Jeremy!' exclaimed +he, 'I don't wish to hear her mentioned; she has behaved as ungratefully +as she has unwisely.'--'Why, about the gratitude, Graham,' said I, 'I +believe you said it would only be an additional favour on your part if +you took her with you, and I think it is wisdom in her to make herself +independent at home. But I really am sorry for you and Emily; you will +miss her so much.'--'We can dispense with your sympathy, sir,' answered +he; 'for that which is no loss.'--'Ah! really,' I replied; 'now, I was +thinking Gertrude's society would be quite a loss.'--'_Mrs. Ellis_ goes +with us,' said he, with emphasis, that seemed to say her company +compensated for all deficiencies.--'Ah!' said I, 'charming woman, Mrs. +Ellis!' Graham looked annoyed, for he is aware that Mrs. Ellis is my +antipathy." + +"Well, you ought to have known better, Dr. Jeremy," said his +kind-hearted wife, "than to have attacked a man so on his weak point: it +was only exciting his temper for nothing." + +"I was taking up the cudgels for Gertrude, wife." + +"And I don't believe Gertrude wants you to take up the cudgels for her. +I have no manner of doubts that she has the kindest of feelings towards +Mr. Graham, this blessed minute." + +"I have, Mrs. Jeremy," said Gertrude; "he has been a most generous and +indulgent friend to me." + +"Except when you wanted to have your own way," suggested the doctor. + +"Which I seldom did when it was in opposition to his wishes. I always +considered it my duty to submit to him, until at last a higher duty +compelled me to do otherwise." + +"And then, my dear," said Mrs. Jeremy, "I dare say it pained you to +displease him; and that is a right woman's feeling, and one that Dr. +Jeremy, in his own heart, can't but approve of, though one would think, +to hear him talk, that he considered it pretty in a young girl to take +satisfaction in browbeating an old gentleman. But don't let us talk any +more about it; he has had his say, and now it's my turn. I want to hear +how you are situated, Gerty, where you live, and how you like teaching." + +Gertrude answered all these questions: and the doctor, who had heard +Mrs. Sullivan spoken of as a friend of True's and Gerty's, made many +inquiries as to her health. It was now snowing fast, and Gertrude's +anxiety to return home in good season being very manifest to her kind +host and hostess, they urged no further delay, and, after she had +promised to repeat her visit, she drove away with the doctor. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +CARES MULTIPLIED. + + +"I have been thinking," said Gertrude, as she drew near home, "how we +shall manage, doctor, so as not to alarm Mrs. Sullivan." + +"What's going to alarm her?" asked the doctor. + +"You, if she knows at once you are a physician. I think I had better +introduce you as a friend, who brought me home in the storm." + +"Oh! so we are going to act a little farce, are we? Stage manager, +Gertrude Flint--unknown stranger, Dr. Jeremy. I'm ready. What shall I +say first?" + +"I leave that to a wiser head than mine, doctor, and trust entirely to +your own discretion to obtain some knowledge of her symptoms, and only +gradually disclose to her that you are a physician." + +"Ah, yes! pretend at first to be only a private individual of an +inquiring mind. I can manage it." As they opened the door, Mrs. Sullivan +rose from her chair with a troubled countenance, and hardly waited for +the introduction to Gertrude's friend before she asked if Mr. Cooper +were not with them. + +"No, indeed," replied Gertrude. "Hasn't he come home?" + +Upon Mrs. Sullivan saying that she had not seen him since morning, +Gertrude informed her, with a composure she was far from feeling, that +Mr. Miller had undertaken the care of him, and could, undoubtedly, +account for his absence. She would seek him at once. + +"Oh, I'm so sorry," said Mrs. Sullivan, "that you should have to go out +again in such a storm; but I feel very anxious about grandpa--don't you, +Gerty?" + +"Not very: I think he's safe in the church. But I'll go for him at once; +you know, auntie, I never mind the weather." + +"Then take my great shawl, dear." And Mrs. Sullivan went to the closet +for her shawl, giving Gertrude an opportunity to beg of Dr. Jeremy that +he would await her return; for she knew that any unusual agitation of +mind would often cause an attack of faintness in Mrs. Sullivan, and was +afraid to have her left alone, to dwell with alarm upon Mr. Cooper's +prolonged absence. + +It was a very disagreeable afternoon, and already growing dark. Gertrude +hastened along the wet footpath, exposed to the blinding storm, and, +after passing through several streets, gained the church. She went into +the building, now nearly deserted by workmen, saw that Mr. Cooper was +not there, and began to fear she should gain no information concerning +him, when she met Mr. Miller coming from the gallery. He looked +surprised at seeing her, and asked if Mr. Cooper had not returned home. +She answered in the negative, and he informed her that his efforts were +insufficient to persuade the old man to go home at dinner-time, and that +he had therefore taken him to his own house; he had supposed that long +before this hour he would have been induced to allow one of the +children to accompany him to Mrs. Sullivan's. + +As it seemed probable that he was still at Mr. Miller's, Gertrude +proceeded thither at once. After an uncomfortable walk, she reached her +destination. She knocked at the door, but there was no response, and +after waiting a moment, she opened it, and went in. Through another door +there was the sound of children's voices, and so much noise that she +believed it impossible to make herself heard, and, therefore, without +further ceremony, entered the room. A band of startled children +dispersed at the sight of a stranger, and ensconced themselves in +corners; and Mrs. Miller, in dismay at the untidy appearance of her +kitchen, hastily pushed back a clothes-horse against the wall, thereby +disclosing to view the very person Gertrude had come to seek, who, in +his usual desponding attitude, sat cowering over the fire. But, before +she could advance to speak to him, her attention was arrested by a most +unexpected sight. Placed against the side of the room, opposite the +door, was a narrow bed, in which some person seemed to be sleeping. +Hardly, however, had Gertrude presented herself in the doorway before +the figure suddenly raised itself, gazed fixedly at her, lifted a hand +as if to ward off her approach, and uttered a piercing shriek. + +The voice and countenance were not to be mistaken, and Gertrude, pale +and trembling, felt something like a revival of her old dread as she +beheld the well-known features of Nan Grant. + +"Go away! go _away_!" cried Nan, as Gertrude advanced into the room. +Again Gertrude paused, for the wildness of Nan's eyes and the excitement +of her countenance were such that she feared to excite her further. Mrs. +Miller now came forward and said, "Why, Aunt Nancy! what is the matter? +This is Miss Flint, one of the best young ladies in the land." + +"No, 'tan't!" said Nan. "I know better." + +Mrs. Miller now drew Gertrude aside into the shadow of the +clothes-horse, and conversed with her in an undertone, while Nan, +leaning on her elbow, and peering after them, maintained a watchful, +listening attitude. Gertrude was informed that Mrs. Miller was a niece +of Ben Grant's, but had seen nothing of him or his wife for years, +until, a few days previous. Nan had come there in a state of the +greatest destitution, and threatened with the fever under which she was +now suffering. "I could not refuse her a shelter," said Mrs. Miller; +"but, as you see, I have no accommodation for her; and it's not only bad +for me to have her sick here in the kitchen, but, what with the noise of +the children, and all the other discomforts, I'm afraid the poor old +thing will die." + +"Have you a room that you could spare above-stairs?" asked Gertrude. + +"Why, there's our Jane," answered Mrs. Miller; "she's a good-hearted +girl as ever lived; she said, right off, she'd give up her room to poor +Aunt Nancy, and she'd sleep in with the other children. I don't feel, +though, as if we could afford to keep another fire agoing, and so I +thought we'd put a bed here for a day or two, and just see how she got +along. But she's looked pretty bad to-day; and now, I'm thinking from +her actions that she's considerable out of her head." + +"She ought to be kept quiet," said Gertrude; "and, if you will have a +fire in Jane's room at my expense, and do what you can to make her +comfortable, I'll send a physician here to see her." Mrs. Miller was +beginning to express the warmest gratitude, but Gertrude interrupted her +with saying, "Don't thank me, Mrs. Miller; Nancy is not a stranger to +me; I have known her before, and, perhaps, feel more interested in her +than you do yourself." + +Mrs. Miller looked surprised; but Gertrude could not stop to enter into +a further explanation. Anxious to speak to Nan, and assure her of her +friendly intentions, she went up to the side of the bed, in spite of the +wild and glaring eyes which were fixed steadily upon her. "Nan," said +she, "do you know me?" + +"Yes! yes!" replied Nan, in a half-whisper, speaking quickly, and +catching her breath; "what have you come for?" + +"To do you good, I hope." + +But Nan still looked incredulous, and in the same undertone, and with +the same nervous accent, inquired, "Have you seen Gerty? Where is she?" + +"She is well," answered Gertrude, astonished at the question, for she +had supposed herself recognised. + +"What did she say about me?" + +"She says that she forgives and pities you, and is in hopes to do +something to help you and make you well." + +"Did she?" said the sick woman; "then you won't kill me?" + +"Kill you?--No, indeed. We are in hopes to make you comfortable and cure +you." + +Mrs. Miller, who had been preparing a cup of tea, now drew near with it +in her hand. Gertrude took it and offered it to Nan, who drank eagerly +of it, staring at her over the edge of the cup. When she had finished, +she threw herself heavily upon the pillow, and began muttering some +indistinct sentences, the only distinguishable word being the name of +her son Stephen. Finding the current of her thoughts thus apparently +diverted, Gertrude now feeling in haste to return and relieve Dr. +Jeremy, who had so kindly agreed to stay with Mrs. Sullivan, moved a +little from the bedside, saying as she did so, "Good-bye, I will come +and see you again." + +"You won't hurt me?" said Nan, starting up. + +"Oh, no. I will bring you something you will like." + +"Don't bring Gerty here with you! I don't want to see her." + +"I will come alone," replied Gertrude. + +Nan now laid down, and did not speak again while Gertrude remained in +the house, though she watched her steadily until she was outside the +door. Mr. Cooper made no objection to accompanying his young guide, and +though the severity of the storm was such that they did not escape a +thorough wetting, they reached home in safety. + +Dr. Jeremy, seated with his feet upon the fender, had the contented +appearance of one who is quite at home. He had been talking with Mrs. +Sullivan about the people of a country town where they had both passed +some time in their childhood, and the timid woman had come to feel so +much at her ease in the society of the social and entertaining +physician, that, though he had accidentally disclosed his profession, +she allowed him to question her upon the state of her health, without +any of the alarm she had fancied she should feel at the sight of a +doctor. By the time Gertrude returned, he had made himself well +acquainted with the case, and was prepared, on Mrs. Sullivan's leaving +the room, to provide dry clothes for her father, to report to Gertrude +his opinion. + +"Gertrude," said he, as soon as the door was shut, "that's a very sick +woman." + +"Do you think so, Dr. Jeremy?" said Gertrude, much alarmed, and sinking +into the nearest chair. + +"I do," replied he. "I wish I had seen her six months ago." + +"Why, doctor? Do you date her illness so far back as that?" + +"Yes, and much farther. She has borne up under the gradual progress of a +disease which is now, I fear, beyond the aid of medical treatment." + +"Dr. Jeremy," said Gertrude, "you do not mean to tell me that auntie is +going to die and leave me, and her poor old father, and without ever +seeing Willie again, too? Oh, I had hoped it was not nearly so bad as +that!" + +"Do not be alarmed, Gertrude," said the doctor. "I did not mean to +frighten you;--she may live some time yet. I can judge better of her +case in a day or two. But it is absolutely _unsafe_ for you to be here +alone with these two friends of yours--to say nothing of its overtasking +your strength. Has not Mrs. Sullivan the means to keep a nurse, or even +a domestic? She tells me she has no one." + +"Yes, indeed," answered Gerty; "her son supplies her wants most +generously. I know that she never draws nearly the whole of the amount +he is anxious she should expend." + +"Then you must speak to her about getting some one to assist you at +once; for, if you do not, I shall." + +"I intend to do it," said Gertrude. "I have seen the necessity for some +time past; but she has such a dread of strangers, that I hated to +propose it." + +"Nonsense," said the doctor; "that's only imagination in her; she would +soon get used to being waited upon." + +Mrs. Sullivan now returned, and Gertrude, giving an account of her +unexpected re-encounter with Nan Grant, begged Dr. Jeremy to go the next +day and see her. "It will be a visit of charity," said she, "for she is +probably penniless; and, though staying with your old patients, the +Millers, she is but distantly connected, and has no claim upon them. +That never makes any difference with you, however, I know very well." + +"Not a bit, not a bit," answered the doctor. "I'll go and see her +to-night, if the case requires it, and to-morrow I shall look in to +report how she is, and hear the rest of what Mrs. Sullivan was telling +me about her wakeful nights. But, Gertrude, do you go, child, and change +your wet shoes and stockings. I shall have you on my hands next." + +Mrs. Sullivan was delighted with Dr. Jeremy. "So different," said she, +"from common doctors" (a portion of humanity for which she seemed to +have an unaccountable aversion); "so social and friendly! Why, I felt, +Gertrude, as if I could talk to him about my sickness as freely as I can +to you." + +Gertrude joined in the praises bestowed upon her much-valued friend, and +it was tea-time before Mrs. Sullivan was weary of the subject. After the +evening meal was over, and Mr. Cooper had been persuaded to retire to +rest, while Mrs. Sullivan, reclining on the sofa, was enjoying what she +always termed her happiest hour, Gertrude broached the subject +recommended by Dr. Jeremy. Contrary to her expectations, Mrs. Sullivan +no longer objected to the proposal of introducing a domestic into the +family. She was convinced of her own incompetency to perform any active +labour, and was equally opposed to the exertion on Gertrude's part which +had, during the last week, been requisite. Gertrude suggested Jane +Miller as a girl well suited to their wants, and it was agreed that she +should be applied for on the next morning. + +One more glance at Gertrude, and we shall have followed her to the +conclusion of the day. She is alone. It is ten o'clock, and the house is +still. Mr. Cooper is sound asleep. Gertrude has just listened at his +door, and heard his loud breathing. Mrs. Sullivan, under the influence +of a soothing draught recommended by Dr. Jeremy, has fallen into an +unusually quiet slumber. The little Calcutta birds, ten in number, that +occupy a large cage in the window, are nestled side by side on their +slender perch, and Gertrude has thrown a warm covering over them, that +they might not suffer from the cold night air. She has locked the doors, +made all things safe and comfortable, and now sits down to read, to +meditate, and pray. Her trials and cares are multiplying. A great grief +stares her in the face, and a great responsibility; but she shrinks not +from either. No! on the contrary, she thanks God that she is here; that +she had the resolution to forsake pleasure and ease, and in spite of +her own weakness and man's wrath, to place herself in the front of +life's battle, and bravely wait its issues. She thanks God that she +knows where to look for help. But, though her heart is brave and her +faith firm, she has a woman's tender nature; and, as she sits alone she +weeps--weeps for herself, and for him who, far away in a foreign land, +is counting the days, the months, and years which shall restore him to a +mother he is destined never to see again. But remembering that she is to +stand in the place of a child to that parent, and that her hand must +soothe the pillow of the invalid, and minister to all her wants, comes +the stern necessity of self-control--a necessity to which Gertrude has +long since learned to submit--and, rallying all her calmness and +fortitude, she wipes away the tears, and commends herself to Him who is +strength to the weak and comfort to the sorrowing. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE VISION. + + +It was fortunate for Gertrude that the vacation at Mr. W.'s school was +approaching, when she would be more at leisure to attend to her +multiplied cares. She considered herself favoured in obtaining the +services of Jane, who consented to come and help Miss Gertrude. She did +not, she said, exactly like living out, but couldn't refuse a young lady +who had been so good to them in times past. Gertrude had feared that, +with Nan Grant sick in the house, Mrs. Miller would not be able to give +up her eldest daughter; but Mary, a second girl, having returned home +unexpectedly, one of them could be spared. Under Gertrude's tuition, +Jane was able to relieve Mrs. Sullivan of her household duties, and to +leave Gertrude at liberty to visit Nan, whose fever rendered her claim +for aid the most imperative. In Gertrude's still vivid recollection of +her former sufferings under Nan there was no bitterness, no revenge. If +she remembered the past, it was only to pity and forgive her +persecutor. + +Therefore, night after night found her watching by the bedside of the +sick woman, who, still delirious, had entirely lost the dread she had at +first seemed to feel at her presence. Nan talked much of little +Gerty--sometimes in a way that led Gertrude to believe herself +recognised, but more frequently as if the child were supposed to be +absent; and it was not until a long time after that Gertrude was led to +adopt the correct supposition, which was, that she had been mistaken for +her mother, whom she much resembled, and whom, though tended in her last +sickness by Nan herself, the fevered and conscience-stricken sufferer +believed had come back to claim her child at her hands. It was only the +continued assurances of good-will on Gertrude's part, and her unwearied +efforts to soothe and comfort her, that finally led Nan to the belief +that the injured mother had found her child in safety, and was ignorant +of the wrongs and unkindness she had endured. + +One night--it was the last of Nan's life--Gertrude, who had scarcely +left her during the day, and was still watching, heard her own name +mingled with those of others in a few rapid sentences. She listened +intently, for she was always in hopes, during these ravings, to gain +some information concerning her own early life. Her name was not +repeated, however, and for some time the muttering of Nan's voice was +indistinct. Then, suddenly starting up and addressing herself to some +imaginary person, she shouted aloud, "Stephie! Stephie! give me back the +watch, and tell me what you did with the rings?--They will ask--those +folks!--and what shall I tell them?" Then, after a pause, she said, in a +more feeble, but equally earnest voice, "No, no, Stephie, I never'll +tell--I _never, never_ will!" The moment the words had left her lips, +she started, turned, saw Gertrude standing by the bedside, and with a +frightful look, shrieked, rather than asked, "Did you hear? Did you +hear?--You did," continued she, "and you'll tell! Oh, if you _do_!" She +was here preparing to spring from the bed, but overcome with exhaustion, +sunk back on the pillow. Summoning Mr. and Mrs. Miller, the agitated +Gertrude, believing that her own presence was too exciting, left the +dying woman to their care, and sought another part of the house. +Learning, about an hour afterwards, from Mrs. Miller, that Nan had +become comparatively calm, but seemed near her end, Gertrude thought it +best not to enter the room again; and, sitting down by the kitchen fire, +pondered over the strange scene she had witnessed. Day was just dawning +when Mrs. Miller came to tell her that Nan had breathed her last. + +Gerty's work of mercy, forgiveness, and Christian love being thus +finished, she hastened home to recruit her strength, and fortify herself +for the labour and suffering yet in store for her. In three weeks from +Nan Grant's death, Paul Cooper was smitten by the Destroyer's hand, and +he, too, was laid to his last rest; and though the deepest feelings of +Gertrude's heart were not in either case fully awakened, it was no +slight call upon the mental and physical endurance of a girl of eighteen +to bear up under the self-imposed duties caused by each event, and that, +too, at a time when her mind was racked by the apprehension of a new and +more intense grief. Emily's absence was also a sore trial to her, for +she was accustomed to rely upon her for advice and counsel, and in +seasons of peculiar distress, to learn patience and submission. Only one +letter had been received from the travellers, and that, written by Mrs. +Ellis, contained little that was satisfactory. It was written from +Havana, where they were boarding in a house kept by an American lady, +and crowded with visitors from Boston, New York, and other northern +cities. + +"It an't so very pleasant, after all, Gertrude," wrote Mrs. Ellis, "and +I wish we were safe home again; and not on my own account either, so +much as Emily's. She feels kind of strange here; and no wonder, for it's +a dreadful uncomfortable sort of a place. The windows have no glass +about them, but are grated like a prison; and there is not a carpet in +the house, nor a fire-place, though sometimes the mornings are cold. +There's a widow here, with a brother and some nieces. The widow is a +flaunting kind of a woman, that I begin to think is either setting her +cap for Mr. Graham, or means to make an old fool of him. She is one of +your loud-talking women, that dress up a good deal, and like to take the +lead; and Mr. Graham is silly enough to follow after her party, and go +to all sorts of rides and excursions;--it's so _ridiculous_--and he over +sixty-five years old! Emily and I have pretty much done going into the +parlour, for these gay folks don't take any sort of notice of us. Emily +doesn't say a word, or complain a bit, but I know she is not happy here, +and would be glad to be back in Boston; and so should I, if it wasn't +for that horrid steamboat. I liked to have died with sea-sickness, +Gertrude, coming out; and I dread going home so, that I don't know what +to do." + + * * * * * + +Gertrude wrote frequently to Emily, but, as Miss Graham was dependent +upon Mrs. Ellis's eyesight, and the letters must, therefore, be subject +to her scrutiny, she could not express her innermost thoughts and +feelings as she was wont to do in conversation with her sympathising and +indulgent friend. Every Indian mail brought news from William Sullivan, +who, prosperous in business, and rendered happy even in his exile by the +belief that the friends he loved best were in the enjoyment of the +fruits of his exertions, wrote always in a strain of cheerfulness. + +One Sabbath afternoon, a few weeks after Mr. Cooper's death, found +Gertrude with an open letter in her hand, the numerous post-marks upon +the outside of which proclaimed from whence it came. It had that day +been received, and Mrs. Sullivan, as she lay stretched upon the couch, +had been listening for the third time to the reading of its contents. +The bright hopes expressed by her son, and the gay tone in which he +wrote, all unconscious of the cloud of sorrow that was gathering for +him, formed so striking a contrast to her own reflections, that she lay +with her eyes closed, and oppressed with an unwonted degree of sadness; +while Gertrude, as she glanced at the passage in which Willie dilated +upon the "joy of once more clasping in his arms the dear mother whom he +so longed to see again," and then turned her gaze upon the wasted form +and cheek of that mother, felt a chill at her heart. Dr. Jeremy's first +fears were confirmed, and, her disease still further aggravated by the +anxiety which attended her father's sickness and death, Mrs. Sullivan +was rapidly passing away. + +Whether she was herself aware of this Gertrude had not yet been able to +determine. She had never spoken upon the subject, or intimated a +conviction of her approaching end; and Gertrude was almost inclined to +believe that she was deceiving herself with the expectation of recovery. +All doubt of this was soon removed; for after remaining a short time +engaged in deep thought, or perhaps in prayer, Mrs. Sullivan opened her +eyes, fixed them upon the young attendant, and said, in a calm, distinct +voice--"Gertrude, I shall never see Willie again." Gertrude made no +reply. + +"I wish to write and tell him so myself, or, rather, if you will write +for me, I should like to tell you what to say; and I feel that no time +is to be lost, for I am failing fast, and may not long have strength +enough to do it. It will devolve upon you, my child, to let him know +when all is over; but you have had too many sad duties already, and it +will spare you somewhat to have me prepare him to hear bad news. Will +you commence a letter to-day?" + +"Certainly, auntie, if you think it best." + +"I do, Gerty. What you wrote by the last mail was my father's sickness +and death; and there was nothing mentioned likely to alarm him on my +account, was there?" + +"Nothing at all." + +"Then it is time he should be forewarned, poor boy! I do not need Dr. +Jeremy to tell me that I am dying." + +"Did he tell you so?" asked Gertrude, as she went to her desk, and began +to arrange her writing materials. + +"No, Gerty! he was too prudent for that; but I told _him_ and he did not +contradict me. You have known it some time, have you not?" inquired she, +gazing earnestly in the face of Gertrude. + +"Some weeks," replied Gertrude, as she spoke imprinting a kiss upon the +pale brow of the sufferer. + +"Why did you not tell me?" + +"Why should I, dear auntie?" said Gertrude. "I knew the Lord could never +call you at a time when your lamp would not be trimmed and burning." + +"Feebly, it burns feebly!" said she. + +"Whose, then, is bright," said Gertrude, "if yours be dim! Have you not, +for years past, been a living lesson of piety? Unless it be Emily, +auntie, I know of no one who seems so fit for heaven." + +"Oh, no, Gerty! I am a sinful creature, full of weakness; much as I long +to meet my Saviour, my earthly heart pines with the vain desire for one +more sight of my boy, and all my dreams of heaven are mingled with the +aching regret that the one blessing I most craved on earth has been +denied me." + +"Oh, auntie!" exclaimed Gertrude, "we are all human! Until the mortal +puts on immortality, how can you cease to think of Willie, and long for +his presence in this trying hour! It cannot be a sin--that which is so +natural!" + +"I do not know, Gerty; perhaps it is not; and, if it be, I trust before +I go hence, I shall be blessed with a spirit of perfect submission, to +atone for the occasional murmuring of a mother's heart? Read to me, my +dear, some holy words of comfort; you always seem to open the good book +at the passage I most need. It is sinful, indeed, to me, Gertrude, to +indulge the least repining, blessed as I am in the love and care of one +who is dear to me as a daughter!" + +Gertrude took her Bible, and opening it at the Gospel of St. Mark, her +eye fell upon the account of Our Saviour's agony in the garden of +Gethsemane. She rightly believed that nothing could be more appropriate +to Mrs. Sullivan's state of mind than the touching description of the +struggle of our Lord's humanity; nothing more likely to sooth her +spirit, and reconcile her to the occasional rebellion of her own mortal +nature, then the evident contest of the human with the divine so +thrillingly narrated by the disciple; and that nothing could be more +inspiring than the example of that holy Son of God, who ever to His +thrice-repeated prayer that, if possible, the cup might pass from him, +added the pious ejaculation, "Thy will, not mine, be done." The words +were not without effect; for, when she had finished, she observed that +as Mrs. Sullivan lay still upon her couch, her lips seemed to be +repeating the Saviour's prayer. Not wishing to disturb her meditations, +Gertrude made no reference to the proposed letter to Willie, but sat +silently, and Mrs. Sullivan fell asleep. It was a gentle slumber, and +Gertrude sat and watched with pleasure the peaceful happy expression of +her features. Darkness had come on before she awoke, and so shrouded the +room that Gertrude, who still sat there, was invisible in the gloom. She +started on hearing her name, and, hastily lighting a candle, approached +the couch. + +"O, Gertrude!" said Mrs. Sullivan, "I have had such a beautiful dream! +Sit down by me, my dear, and let me tell it to you; it could not have +been more vivid, if it had all been reality:--" + + * * * * * + +THE DREAM:--"I thought I was sailing rapidly through the air, and for +some time I seemed to float on and on, over clouds and among bright +stars. The motion was so gentle that I did not grow weary, though in my +journey I travelled over land and sea. At last I saw beneath me a +beautiful city, with churches, towers, monuments, and throngs of gay +people moving in every direction. As I drew nearer, I could distinguish +the faces of these numerous men and women, and among them, in the +crowded street, there was one who looked like Willie. I followed him, +and soon felt sure it was he. He looked older than when we saw him last, +and much as I have always imagined him, since the descriptions he has +given in his letters of the change that has taken place in his +appearance. I followed him through several streets, and at last he +turned into a fine, large building, which stood near the centre of the +city. I went in also. We passed through large halls and beautifully +furnished rooms, and at last stood in a dining-saloon, in the middle of +which was a table covered with bottles, glasses, and the remains of a +rich desert, such as I never saw before. There was a group of young men +round the table, all well-dressed, and some of them fine-looking, so +that at first I was quite charmed with their appearance. I seemed, +however, to have a strange power of looking into their hearts, and +detecting all the evil there was there. One had a very bright, +intelligent face, and might have been thought a man of talent--and so he +was; but I could see better than people usually can, and I perceived, by +a sort of instinct, that all his mind and genius were converted into a +means of duping and deceiving those who were so foolish or so ignorant +as to be ensnared. + +"Another seemed by his wit and drollery to be the charm of the company; +but I could detect marks of intoxication. + +"A third was vainly attempting to look happy; but his soul was bared to +my searching gaze, and I saw that he had the day before lost at the +gaming-table his own and a part of his employer's money, and was +tortured with anxiety lest he might not this evening win it back. + +"There were many others present, and all, more or less, sunk in +dissipation, had reached various stages on the road to ruin. Their +faces, however, looked gay, and, as Willie glanced from one to another, +he seemed pleased and attracted. + +"One of them offered him a seat at the table, and all urged him to take +it. He did so, and the young man at his right filled a glass with bright +wine, and handed it to him. He hesitated, then took it and raised it to +his lips. Just then I touched him on the shoulder. He turned, saw me, +and instantly the glass fell from his hand, and was broken. I beckoned, +and he rose and followed me. The gay circle he had left called loudly +upon him to return; one of them even laid a hand upon his arm, and tried +to detain him; but he would not listen or stay--he shook off the hand, +and we went on. Before we had got outside the building, the man whom I +had first noticed, and whom I knew to be the most artful of the company, +came out from a room near the door, which he had reached by some other +direction, and, approaching Willie, whispered in his ear. Willie +faltered, turned, and would perhaps have gone back; but I stood in front +of him, held up my finger menacingly, and shook my head. He hesitated no +longer, but, flinging aside the tempter, rushed out of the door, and was +instantly down the long flight of steps. I seemed to move with great +rapidity, and was soon guiding my son through the intricate, crowded +streets of the city. Many were the snares we found laid for the unwary. +More than once my watchful eye saved the thoughtless boy by my side from +some pitfall or danger, into which, without me, he would have fallen. +Occasionally I lost sight of him, and had to turn back; once he was +separated from me by the crowd, and missed his way, and once he lingered +to witness or join in some sinful amusements. Each time, however, he +listened to my warning voice, and we went on in safety. + +"At last, however, in passing through a brilliantly-lighted street--for +it was now evening--I suddenly observed that he was absent from my side. +I hunted the streets, and called him by name; but there was no answer. I +then unfolded my wings, and, soaring high above the crowded town, +surveyed the whole, hoping that in that one glance I might, as I had at +first done, detect my boy. + +"I was not disappointed. In a gorgeous hall, dazzlingly lit, and filled +with a fashionable crowd, I beheld Willie. A brilliant young creature +was leaning on his arm, and I saw into her heart, and knew that she was +not blind to his beauty or insensible to his attractions. But, oh! I +trembled for him now! She was lovely and rich, and also fashionable and +admired. But I saw into her soul, and she was proud, cold-hearted, and +worldly; and if she loved Willie, it was his beauty, his winning +manners, and his smile that pleased her--not his noble nature, which she +knew not how to prize. As they promenaded through the hall, and she, +whom crowds were praising, gave all her time and thoughts to him, I, +descending in an invisible shape, and standing by his side, touched his +shoulder. He looked around, but, before he could see his mother's face, +the siren's voice attracted all his attention. Again and again I +endeavoured to win him away; but he heard me not. At length she spoke +some word that betrayed to my high-minded boy the folly and selfishness +of her worldly soul. I seized the moment when she had thus weakened her +hold upon him, and, clasping him in my arms, spread my wings, and soared +far, far away, bearing with me the prize I had toiled after and won. As +we rose into the air, my manly son became in my encircling arms a child +again, and there rested on my bosom the same little head, with its soft, +silken curls, that had nestled there in infancy. Back we flew, over sea +and land, and paused not until, on a soft, grassy slope, under the shade +of green trees, I thought I saw my darling Gerty, and was flying to lay +my precious boy at her feet, when I awoke pronouncing your name." + + * * * * * + +"And now, Gertrude, the bitterness of the cup I am called upon to drink +is passed away. A blessed angel has ministered unto me. I no longer wish +to see my son again on earth, for I am persuaded that my departure is in +accordance with the schemes of a merciful Providence. I now believe that +Willie's living mother might be powerless to turn him from temptation +and evil; but the spirit of that mother will be mighty still, and in the +thought that she, in her home beyond the skies, is ever watching around +his path, and striving to lead him in the narrow way, he may find a +truer shield from danger, a firmer rest to his tempted soul, than she +could have been while on earth. Now, oh, my Father, I can say, from the +depths of my heart, 'Thy will, not mine, be done!'" + +From this time until her death, which took place about a month +afterward, Mrs. Sullivan's mind remained in a state of perfect +resignation. The last pang had lost its bitterness. In the letter which +she dictated to Willie, she expressed her trust in the goodness and +wisdom of Providence, and exhorted him to cherish the same submissive +love for the All-wise. She reminded him of the early lessons she had +taught him, the piety and self-command, which she had inculcated, and +made it her dying prayer that her influence might be increased, rather +than diminished, and her presence felt to be a continual reality. + +After Gertrude had folded the letter, and left for her duties in school, +Mrs. Sullivan re-opened the sheet, and, with her feeble hand, recounted +the disinterested and loving devotion of Gertrude, thus: "So long, my +son, as you cherish in your heart the memory of your grandfather and +mother, cease not to bestow all the gratitude of which that heart is +capable upon one whose praises my hand is too feeble to portray." + +So slow and gradual was the decline of Mrs. Sullivan, that her death at +last came as an unexpected blow to Gertrude, who, though she saw the +ravages of disease, could not realise that a termination must come to +their work. In the dead hours of the night, with no one to sustain and +encourage her but the frightened Jane, did she watch the departing +spirit of her much-loved friend. "Are you afraid to see me die, +Gertrude?" asked Mrs. Sullivan, an hour before her death. On Gertrude's +answering that she was not--"Then turn me a little towards you," said +she, "that your face, my darling, may be the last to me of earth." + +It was done, and, with her hand locked fast in Gertrude's, and a look +that spoke the deepest affection, she expired. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +MORE CHANGES. + + +Not until her work of love was ended did Gertrude become conscious that +her lengthened labours by night and day had worn upon her frame, and +exhausted her strength. For a week after Mrs. Sullivan was in her grave, +Dr. Jeremy feared a severe illness for Gertrude. But, after struggling +with her dangerous symptoms for several days, she rallied; and, though +still pale and worn by care and anxiety, was able to resume her school +duties, and make arrangements for another home. + +Several homes had been offered to her, with a warmth and cordiality +which made it difficult to decline their acceptance; but Gertrude, +though deeply touched by the kindness thus manifested towards her in her +loneliness, preferred to seek a permanent boarding-place, and when the +grounds on which she based her decision were understood by her friends, +they approved her course. + +Mrs. Jeremy at first felt hurt at Gertrude's refusal to live with them +for any length of time that she chose; and the doctor was so peremptory +with his "Come, Gertrude, come right home with us--don't say a word!" +that she was afraid lest, in her weak state of health, she should be +carried off, without a _chance_ to remonstrate. But, after he had taken +upon himself to give Jane orders about packing her clothes and sending +them after her, and then locking up the house, he gave Gertrude an +opportunity to state her reasons for wishing to decline the generous +proposal. + +But all her reasoning upon general principles proved insufficient to +convince the warm-hearted couple. "It was all nonsense about independent +position. She would be perfectly independent with them, and her company +would be such a pleasure that she need feel no hesitation in accepting +their offer, and might be sure she would be conferring a favour, instead +of being the party obliged." At last she was compelled to make use of an +argument which had greatly influenced her own mind, and would, she felt +sure, carry no little weight with it in the doctor's own estimation. + +"Dr. Jeremy," said she, "I hope you will not condemn in me a motive +which has strengthened my firmness in this matter. I should be unwilling +to mention it if I did not know that you are so far acquainted with the +state of affairs between Mr. Graham and myself as to understand and +sympathize with my feelings. You know that he was opposed to my leaving +them and remaining here this winter, and must suspect that, when we +parted, there was not a perfectly good understanding between us. He +hinted that I should never be able to support myself, and should be +driven to a life of dependence; and, since the salary which I receive +from Mr. W. is sufficient for all my wants, I wish to be so situated on +Mr. Graham's return that he will perceive that my assurance that I could +earn my own living was not without foundation." + +"So Graham thought that, without his sustaining power, you would soon +come to beggary--did he? With your talents, too? that's just like him!" + +"Oh, no, no!" replied Gertrude, "I did not say that; but I seemed to him +a mere child, and he did not realise that in giving me an education he +had paid my expenses in advance. It was very natural he should distrust +my capacity--he had never seen me compelled to exert myself." + +"I understand--I understand," said the doctor. "He thought you would be +glad enough to come back to them; yes, yes, just like him!" + +"Well, now," said Mrs. Jeremy, "I don't believe he thought any such +thing. He was provoked, and didn't mind what he said. Ten to one he will +never think of it again, and it seems to me it is only a kind of pride +in Gertrude to care anything about it." + +"I don't know that, wife," said the doctor. "If it _is_ pride, it's an +honourable pride that I like; and I am not sure but, if I were in +Gertrude's place, I should feel just as she does; so I shan't urge her +to do any other ways than she proposes. She can have a boarding-place, +and yet spend much of her time with us." + +"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Jeremy; "and, if you feel set about it, Gerty, +dear, I am sure I shall want you to do whatever pleases you best; but +one thing I do insist on, and that is, that you leave this house, which +must look very dreary, this very day, go home with me, and stay until +you get recruited." + +Gertrude, gladly consenting to a short visit, compromised the matter by +accompanying them without delay, and it was chiefly owing to the +doctor's persevering skill and care bestowed upon his young guest, and +the motherly nursing of Mrs. Jeremy, that she escaped the illness which +had threatened her. + +Mr. and Mrs. W., who felt great sympathy for Gertrude, pressed her to +come to their house, and remain until the return of Mr. Graham and +Emily; but, on being assured by her that she was unaware of the period +of their absence, and should not probably reside with them for the +future, they were satisfied that she acted with wisdom and judgment in +at once providing herself with an independent situation. + +Mr. and Mrs. Arnold, who had been constant in their attentions, both to +Mrs. Sullivan and Gertrude, and were the only persons, except the +physician, who had been admitted to the sick room of the invalid, felt +that they had a peculiar claim to the care of the doubly-orphaned girl, +and urged her to become a member of their household. Mr. Arnold's family +being large, and his house and salary small, true benevolence alone +prompted this proposal; and on Gertrude's acquainting his economical and +prudent wife with the ample means she enjoyed from her own exertions, +and the decision she had formed of procuring an independent home, she +received the warm approbation of both, and found in the latter an +excellent adviser and assistant. + +Mrs. Arnold had a widowed sister who was in the habit of receiving, as +boarders, a few young ladies. Gertrude did not know this lady +personally, but had heard her warmly praised; and she indulged the hope +that through her friend, the minister's wife, she might obtain with her +an agreeable and not too expensive residence. In this she was not +disappointed. Mrs. Warren had fortunately vacant a large front chamber; +and, Mrs. Arnold having recommended Gertrude in the warmest manner, +suitable terms were agreed upon, and the room placed at her disposal. +Mrs. Sullivan had bequeathed to her all her furniture, and Mrs. Arnold +and her daughters insisted that, in consideration of her recent fatigue +and bereavement, she should attend only to her school duties, and leave +to them the furnishing of her room with such articles as she preferred +to have placed there, and superintended the packing away of all other +movables; for Gertrude was unwilling that anything should be sold. On +entering the dining-room the first evening after she took up her +residence at Mrs. Warren's, she expected to meet only strangers at the +tea-table, but was agreeably disappointed at the sight of Fanny Bruce, +who, left in Boston while her mother and brother were spending the +winter in travelling, had now been several weeks an inmate of Mrs. +Warren's house. Fanny was a school-girl, twelve or thirteen years of +age; a near neighbour to Gertrude, had been in the habit of seeing her +often at Mr. Graham's, and had sometimes begged flowers from her, +borrowed books, and obtained assistance in her fancy-work. She admired +Gertrude much; had hailed with delight the prospect of knowing her +better, as she hoped to do at Mrs. Warren's; and when she met the gaze +of her large, dark eyes, and saw a smile of pleasure overspread her +countenance at the sight of a familiar face, she came forward to shake +hands, and beg that Miss Flint would sit next her at the table. + +Fanny Bruce was a girl of good disposition and warm heart, but she had +been much neglected by her mother, whose pride was in her son, the same +Ben of whom we have previously spoken. She had often been left behind in +some boarding-house, while her pleasure-loving mother and indolent +brother passed their time in journeying; and had not always been so +fortunately situated as she was at present. + +Gertrude had not been long at Mrs. Warren's before she observed that +Fanny occupied an isolated position in the family. She was a few years +younger than her companions, three dressy misses, who could not +condescend to admit her into her clique. Although the privacy of her own +room was pleasing to Gertrude's feelings, pity for poor Fanny induced +her to invite her frequently to come and sit with her, and she often so +far forgot her own griefs as to exert herself in providing entertainment +for her young visitor, who considered it a privilege to share Gertrude's +retirement, read her books, and feel confident of her friendship. During +the stormy month of March Fanny spent almost every evening with +Gertrude; and she, who at first felt that she was making a sacrifice of +her comfort and ease by giving another constant access to her apartment, +realised the force of Uncle True's prophecy, that, in her efforts for +the happiness of others, she would at last find her own; for Fanny's +lively and amusing conversation drew Gertrude from brooding over her +sorrows. + +April arrived, and still no news from Emily; Gertrude's heart ached with +longing to once more pour out her griefs on the bosom of that dear +friend, and find her consolation and support. Gertrude had written +regularly, but of late she had not known where to direct her letters; +and since Mrs. Sullivan's death there had been no communication between +her and the travellers. She was sitting at her window one evening, +thinking of those friends lost by absence and by death, when she was +summoned to see Mr. Arnold and his daughter Anne. After the usual +civilities, Miss Arnold said, "Of course you have heard the news, +Gertrude?" + +"No," replied Gertrude. "I have heard nothing special." + +"What!" exclaimed Mr. Arnold, "have you not heard of Mr. Graham's +marriage?" + +Gertrude started up in surprise. "Do you really mean so, Mr. Arnold? Mr. +Graham married! When? To whom?" + +"To the widow Holbrook, a sister-in-law of Mr. Clinton's; she has been +staying at Havanna, with a party from the north, and the Grahams met her +there." + +"But, Gertrude," asked Mr. Arnold, "how does it happen you have not +heard of it? It is in all the newspapers--'Married in New Orleans, J. H. +Graham, Esq., to Mrs. Holbrook.'" + +"I have not seen a newspaper for a day or two," replied Gertrude. + +"And Miss Graham's blindness, I suppose, prevents her writing," said +Anne; "but I thought Mr. Graham would send wedding compliments." + +Gertrude made no reply, and Miss Arnold said, "I suppose his bride +engrosses all his attention." + +"Do you know anything of this Mrs. Holbrook?" asked Gertrude. + +"Not much," answered Mr. Arnold. "I have seen her occasionally at Mr. +Clinton's. She is a handsome, showy woman, fond of society, I should +think." + +"I have seen her very often," said Anne. "She is a coarse, noisy, +dashing person, just the one to make Miss Emily miserable." + +Gertrude looked distressed, and Mr. Arnold glanced reprovingly at her. +"Anne," said he, "are you sure you speak advisedly?" + +"Belle Clinton is my authority, father. I only judge from what I used to +hear her say at school about her Aunt _Bella_, as she always used to +call her." + +"Did Isabel represent her aunt so unfavourably?" + +"Not intentionally; she meant the greatest praise, but I never liked +anything she told us about her." + +"We will not condemn her until we can decide upon acquaintance," said +Mr. Arnold; "perhaps she will prove the reverse of what you suppose." + +"Can you tell me anything concerning Emily?" asked Gertrude, "and +whether Mr. Graham is soon to return?" + +"Nothing," said Miss Arnold. "When did you hear from them yourself?" + +Gertrude mentioned the date of the letter from Mrs. Ellis, the account +she had given of a gay party from the north, and suggested that probably +Mrs. Graham was the widow she had described. + +"The same, undoubtedly," said Mr. Arnold. + +Their knowledge of facts were so slight, however, that little remained +to be said concerning the marriage, and other topics of conversation +were introduced. But Gertrude found it impossible to think of any other +subject; the matter was so vitally important to Emily, that her mind +constantly recurred to it. The conversation was interrupted by the +sudden entrance of Dr. and Mrs. Jeremy. The former held in his hand a +sealed letter, directed to Gertrude, in the handwriting of Mr. Graham; +and, as he handed it to her, he rubbed his hands, and looking at Anne +Arnold, exclaimed, "Now, Miss Anne, we shall hear all about these famous +nuptials!" + +Finding her visitors eager to learn the contents of her letter, Gertrude +broke the seal, and hastily perused its contents. The envelope contained +two or three pages closely written by Mrs. Ellis, and also a lengthy +note from Mr. Graham. Surprised as Gertrude was at any communication +from one who had parted from her in anger, her desire was to hear from +Emily, and she preferred the housekeeper's document as most likely to +contain the desired information. It ran as follows:-- + + "NEW YORK, _March 31, 1852_. + + "DEAR GERTRUDE,--As there were plenty of Boston folks at the + wedding, you have heard before this of Mr. Graham's marriage. He + married the widow Holbrook, the same I wrote to you about. She was + determined to have him, and she's got him. I don't hesitate to say + he's got the worst of the bargain. He likes a quiet life, and he's + lost the chance of that--poor man!--for she's the greatest hand for + company that ever I saw. She followed Mr. Graham up pretty well at + Havanna, but I guess he thought better of it, and didn't mean to + have her. But when we got to New Orleans, she was there; and she + carried her point, and married him. Emily behaved beautifully; she + never said a word against it, and always treated the lady as + pleasantly as could be; but, dear me! how will our Emily get along + with so many folks about all the time, and so much noise and + confusion? For my part, I an't used to it, and it's not agreeable. + The new lady is civil enough to me, now she's married. I daresay + she thinks it stands her in hand, as long as she's one of the + family, and I've been in it so long. But I suppose you've been + wondering what had become of us, Gertrude, and will be surprised to + find we have got so far as New York, on our way home--_my_ way + home, for I'm the only one that talks of coming at present. I kept + meaning to write while we were in New Orleans, but there was so + much going on I didn't get the chance; and, after that horrid + steamboat from Charleston here, I wasn't good for anything for a + week. But Emily was so anxious that I couldn't put off writing any + longer. Poor Emily isn't very well; I don't mean that she's + downright sick--it's low spirits more than anything. She gets tired + and worried very quick, and easily disturbed, which didn't used to + be the case. It may be the new wife, and all the nieces and other + disagreeable things. She never complains, and nobody would know but + what she was pleased to have her father married again; but she + hasn't seemed happy all winter, and now it troubles me to see how + she looks sometimes. She talks a sight about you, and felt + dreadfully not to get any more letters. But to come to the + principal thing, they are all going to Europe--Emily and all. I + take it, it's the new wife's idea. Mr. Graham wanted me to go, but + I would as soon be hung as venture on the sea again, and I told him + so. So now he has written for you to go with Emily; and if you are + not afraid of sea-sickness, I hope you won't refuse, for it would + be dreadful for her to have a stranger, and you know she always + needs somebody on account of her blindness. I do not think she has + the least wish to go; but she would not ask to be left behind, for + fear her father should think she did not like the new wife. + + "As soon as they sail--the last of April--I shall come back to the + house in D----, and see to things there while they are away. I + write a postscript to you from Emily, and we shall be very + impatient to hear your answer; and I hope you will not refuse to go + with Emily. + + "Yours very truly, + + "SARAH H. ELLIS." + +The postscript contained the following:-- + + "I need not tell my darling Gertrude how much I have missed her, + and longed to have her with me again; how I have thought of her by + night and day, and prayed God to strengthen and fit her for many + trials and labours. The letter written soon after Mr. Cooper's + death is the last that has reached me, and I do not know whether + Mrs. Sullivan is still living. Write to me at once, my dear child, + if you cannot come to us. Father will tell you of our plans, and + ask you to accompany us to Europe. My heart will be light if I can + take my dear Gerty with me; I trust to you, my love, to decide + aright. You have heard of father's marriage. It is a great change + for us all, but will, I trust, result in happiness. Mrs. Graham + has two nieces, who are with us at the hotel. They are to be of + our party to go abroad, and are, I understand, very beautiful + girls, especially Bella Clinton, whom you saw in Boston some years + ago. Mrs. Ellis is very tired of writing, and I must close with + assuring my dearest Gertrude of the devoted affection of + + "EMILY GRAHAM." + +It was with great curiosity that Gertrude unfolded Mr. Graham's epistle. +She thought it would be awkward for him to address her, and wondered +much whether he would maintain his authoritative tone, or condescend to +apologise. Had she known him better, she would have been assured that +nothing would ever induce him to do the latter, for he was one of those +persons who never believe themselves in the wrong. + + "MISS GERTRUDE FLINT,--I am married, and intend to go abroad on the + 28th of April. My daughter will accompany us, and as Mrs. Ellis + dreads the sea, I propose that you join us in New York, and attend + the party as a companion to Emily. I have not forgotten the + ingratitude with which you once slighted a similar offer on my + part, and nothing would compel me to give you another opportunity + to manifest such a spirit, but a desire to promote the happiness of + Emily, and a sincere wish to be of service to a young person who + has been in my family so long that I feel a friendly interest in + providing for her. By complying with our wishes, you will remove + the recollection of your past behaviour; and, if you choose to + return to us, I shall enable you to maintain the place and + appearance of a lady. As we sail the last of the month, it is + important you should write and name the day. I will meet you at the + boat. Mrs. Ellis being anxious to return to Boston, I hope you will + come as soon as possible. I enclose a sum of money to cover + expenses. If you have contracted debts, let me know to what amount, + and I will see that all is paid before you leave. Trusting you are + now come to a sense of your duty, I subscribe myself your friend, + + "J. H. GRAHAM." + +Gertrude was sitting near a lamp, whose light fell directly upon her +face, which, as she glanced over Mr. Graham's note, flushed crimson with +wounded pride. Dr. Jeremy observed her colour change, and during the few +minutes that Mr. and Miss Arnold stayed to hear the news, he gave an +occasional glance of defiance at the letter, and as soon as they were +gone, begged to be made acquainted with its contents. + +"He writes," said Gertrude, "to invite me to accompany them to Europe." + +"Indeed!" said Dr. Jeremy, with a low whistle; "and he thinks you'll be +silly enough to pack up and start off at a minute's notice!" + +"Why, Gerty," said Mrs. Jeremy, "you'll like to go, shan't you, dear? It +will be delightful." + +"Delightful--nonsense! Mrs. Jeremy," exclaimed the doctor; "what is +there delightful, I want to know, in travelling about with an arrogant +old tyrant, his blind daughter, upstart dashy wife, and her two +fine-lady nieces? A pretty position Gertrude would be in--a slave to the +whims of all that company." + +"Why, Dr. Jeremy," interrupted his wife, "you forget Emily." + +"Emily--to be sure, she's an angel, and never would impose upon anybody, +least of all her own pet; but she'll have to play second fiddle herself, +and I'm mistaken if she doesn't find it very hard to defend her rights +and maintain a comfortable position in her father's enlarged family +circle." + +"So much the more need, then," said Gertrude, "that someone should be +enlisted in her interests, to ward off the approach of every annoyance." + +"Do you mean, then, to put yourself in the breach?" asked the doctor. + +"I mean to accept Mr. Graham's invitation," replied Gertrude, "and join +Emily at once; but I trust the harmony that seems to subsist between her +and her new connections will continue undisturbed, so that I shall have +no cause to take up arms on _her_ account, and on _my own_ I have not a +single fear." + +"Then you think you shall go?" said Mrs. Jeremy. + +"I do," said Gertrude; "nothing but my duty to Mrs. Sullivan and her +father led me to think of leaving Emily. That duty is at an end. I see +from Mrs. Ellis's letters that Emily is not happy; and nothing which I +can do to make her so must be neglected. Only think, Mrs. Jeremy, what a +friend she has been to me." + +"I know it," said Mrs. Jeremy, "and I dare say you will enjoy the +journey, in spite of all the scarecrows the doctor sets up to frighten +you; but it does seem a sacrifice for you to leave your comforts for +such an uncertain sort of life." + +"Sacrifice!" said the doctor; "it's the greatest sacrifice that ever I +heard of! It is not merely giving up a good income of her own earning, +and as pleasant a home as there is in Boston; it is relinquishing all +the independence that she has been striving after, and which she was so +anxious to maintain." + +"No, doctor," said Gertrude, warmly; "nothing that I do for _Emily's_ +sake can be called a sacrifice; it is my greatest pleasure." + +"Gerty always finds her pleasure in doing what is right," remarked Mrs. +Jeremy. + +"The thought," said Gertrude, "that our dear Emily was dependent upon a +stranger for all those little attentions that are only acceptable from +those she loves, would make me miserable; our happiness for years has +been in each other; and when one has suffered, the other has suffered +also. I _must_ go to her; I cannot think of doing otherwise." + +"I wish," muttered Dr. Jeremy, "that your sacrifice would be half +appreciated. But Graham, I'll venture to say, thinks it will be the +greatest favour to take you back again. Perhaps he addressed you as a +beggar; it wouldn't be the first time he's done such a thing. I wonder +what would have induced poor Philip Amory to go back. Has he made any +apology in his letter for past unkindness?" + +"I do not think he considered any to be needed," replied Gertrude. + +"Then he didn't make any excuse for his ungentlemanly behaviour? I +declare it's a shame you should be exposed to any more such treatment; +but I always _did_ hear that women were self-forgetful in their +friendship, and I believe it. Gertrude makes an excellent friend. Mrs. +Jeremy, we must cultivate her regard; and sometime or other, perhaps, +make a loud call upon her services." + +"And if ever you do, sir, I shall be ready to respond to it; if there is +a person in the world who owes a debt to society, it is myself. I hear +the world called cold, selfish, and unfeeling; but it has not been so to +me. I should be ungrateful if I did not cherish a spirit of universal +love; how much more so, if I did not feel bound, heart and hand, to +those dear friends who have bestowed upon me such affection as no orphan +ever found before!" + +"Gertrude," said Mrs. Jeremy, "I believe that you were right in leaving +Emily when you did, and that you are right in returning to her now; and, +if your being such a good girl as you are is at all due to her, she +certainly has a great claim upon you." + +"She has a claim, indeed, Mrs. Jeremy! It was Emily who first taught me +the difference between right and wrong----" + +"And she is going to reap the benefit of that knowledge in you," said +the doctor, in continuation of her remark. "That's fair! But if you are +resolved to take this European tour, you will be busy enough with your +preparations. Do you think Mr. W. will be willing to give you up?" + +"I hope so," said Gertrude. "I am sorry to be obliged to ask it of him, +for he has been very indulgent to me, and I have been absent from school +two weeks out of the winter already; but as it will shortly be the +summer vacation, he will, perhaps, be able to supply my place." + +Mrs. Jeremy interested herself in Gertrude's arrangements, offered an +attic-room for the storage of her furniture, gave up to her a dressmaker +she had engaged for herself, and a plan was laid out, by which Gertrude +could start for New York in less than a week. + +Mr. W., on being applied to, relinquished Gertrude, though deeply +regretting to lose so valuable an assistant; and after a few days +occupied in preparation, she bade farewell to the tearful Fanny Bruce, +the bustling doctor, and his kind-hearted wife, all of whom accompanied +her to the railroad station. She promised to write to the Jeremys; and +they agreed to forward her any letters that might arrive from Willie. + +In less than a fortnight from the time of her departure, Mrs. Ellis +returned to Boston, and brought news of the safe conclusion of +Gertrude's journey. A letter received a week after by Mrs. Jeremy +announced that they should sail in a few days. She was, therefore, +surprised when a second epistle was put into her hands, dated the day +succeeding that on which she supposed Mr. Graham's party to have left +the country. It was as follows:-- + + "NEW YORK, _April 29th_. + + "MY DEAR MRS. JEREMY,--As yesterday was the day on which we + expected to sail for Europe, you will be astonished to hear that we + are yet in New York, and still more so to learn that the foreign + tour is now postponed. Only two days since Mr. Graham was seized + with the gout, and the attack was so violent as to threaten his + life. Although to-day somewhat relieved, and considered by his + physician out of immediate danger, he remains a great sufferer, and + a sea-voyage is pronounced impracticable. His great anxiety is to + be at home; and, as soon as he can bear the journey, we shall + hasten to the house in D----.I enclose a note for Mrs. Ellis. It + contains various directions which Emily is desirous she should + receive; and, as we did not know how to address her, I have sent it + to you, trusting to your kindness to see it forwarded. Mrs. Graham + and her nieces, who had been anticipating much pleasure from going + abroad, are, of course, greatly disappointed. It is particularly + trying to Miss Clinton, as her father has been absent more than a + year, and she was hoping to meet him in Paris. + + "It is impossible that either me or Emily should regret a journey + of which we felt only dread, and, were it not for Mr. Graham's + illness being the cause of its postponement, we should find it hard + not to realise a degree of satisfaction in the prospect of + returning to the dear old place in D----, where we hope to be + established in the course of the next month. I say _we_, for + neither Mr. Graham nor Emily will hear of my leaving them again. + + "With the kindest regards to yourself, and my friend the doctor, + + "I am, yours very sincerely, + + "GERTRUDE FLINT." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +JEALOUSY. + + +Mr. Graham's country-house boasted a fine, old fashioned entry, with a +door at either end, both of which usually stood open during the warm +weather, admitting a current of air, and rendering the neighbourhood of +the front entrance a favourite resort of the family, during the early +hours of the day, when the sun had no access to the spot. Here, on a +pleasant June morning, Isabel Clinton and her cousin, Kitty Ray, had +made themselves comfortable. + +Isabel had drawn a large arm-chair close to the door-sill, ensconced +herself in it, and was gazing idly down the road. She was a beautiful +girl, tall and well-formed, with a delicate complexion, clear blue eyes, +and rich, light, flowing curls. The same lovely child, whom Gertrude had +gazed upon with rapture, as, leaning against the window of her father's +house, she once watched old True while he lit his lamp, had ripened into +an equally lovely woman. At an early age deprived of her mother, and +left for some years to the care of servants, she soon learned to +appreciate, at more than their true value, her outward attractions; and +her aunt, under whose tutelage she had been since she left school, did +not counteract this undue self-admiration. An appearance of conscious +superiority which distinguished her, and her independent air, might be +attributed to her conviction that Belle Clinton, the beauty and the +heiress, attired in a blue cashmere morning-dress, richly embroidered, +and open in front, for the purpose of displaying an equally rich +flounced cambric petticoat. + +On a low step at her feet sat Kitty Ray, a complete contrast to her +cousin in looks, manners and many points of character. She was a sweet +little creature, lively, playful, and affectionate. She was so small +that her childish manners became her; so full of spirits that her +occasional rudeness claimed pardon on that score; and for all other +faults her warm-heartedness and generous enthusiasm must plead an excuse +to one who wished to love her as she wished and expected to be loved by +everybody. She was a pretty girl, always bright and animated, mirthful +and happy; fond of her cousin Belle, and sometimes influenced by her, +though often enlisting on the opposite side of some contested question. +Unlike Belle, she was seldom well dressed, for she was very careless. On +the present occasion her dark silk wrapper was half-concealed by a +crimson flannel sack, which she held tightly around her, for she said it +was a chilly morning, and she was half-frozen to death--she certainly +would go and warm herself at the kitchen fire, if she did not fear +encountering that _she-dragon_, Mrs. Ellis; she was sure she did not +see, if they must sit in the doorway, why Belle couldn't come to the +side-door, where the sun shone beautifully. "O, I forgot, though," added +she; "her complexion!" + +"Complexion!" said Belle; "I'm no more afraid of hurting my complexion +than you are; I never freckle, or tan either." + +"But you burn all up, and look like a fright." + +"Well, if I didn't, I shouldn't go there to sit; I like to be at the +front of the house, where I can see the passing. I wonder who those +people are coming up the road." + +Kitty stood up, and looked as Belle pointed. After observing the +approaching couple for a minute or two she exclaimed, "Why, that's +Gertrude Flint! I wonder where she's been! And who can that be with +her? I didn't know there was a beau to be had about here." + +"Beau!" said Belle, sneeringly. + +"And why not a beau, Cousin Belle? I'm sure he looks like one." + +"I wouldn't give much for any of her beaux!" said Belle. + +"Wouldn't you?" said Kitty. "Wait until you see who they are; you +near-sighted people shouldn't decide in such a hurry. I can tell you +that he is a gentleman you wouldn't object to walking with yourself; +it's Mr. Bruce, the one we met in New Orleans." + +"I don't believe it!" exclaimed Belle, starting up. + +"You will soon have a chance to see for yourself; for he is coming home +with her." + +"_He is!_ What can he be walking with her for?" + +"To show his taste, perhaps. I am sure he could not find more agreeable +company." + +"You and I don't agree about that," replied Belle. "I don't see anything +very agreeable about her." + +"Because you are determined not to, Belle. Everybody else thinks her +charming, and Mr. Bruce is opening the gate for her as politely as if +she were a queen. I like him for that." + +"Do see," said Belle; "she's got on that white cape-bonnet of hers! and +that checked gingham dress! I wonder what Mr. Bruce thinks of her, and +he such a critic in regard to ladies' dress." + +Gertrude and her companion now drew near to the house. The former looked +up, saw the young ladies in the doorway, and smiled pleasantly at Kitty, +who was making strange grimaces and giving insignificant glances over +Belle's shoulder; but Mr. Bruce did not observe either of them; and they +heard him say, as he handed Gertrude a small parcel he had been carrying +for her, "I believe I won't come in; it's such a bore to have to talk to +strangers. Do you work in the garden, mornings, this summer?" + +"No," replied Gertrude, "there is nothing left of my garden but the +memory of it." + +"Why, Miss Gertrude!" said the young man, "I hope these new-comers +haven't interfered with----" Here, observing the direction of Gertrude's +eyes, he raised his own, saw Belle and Kitty standing opposite to him; +and compelled now to speak with them, went forward to shake hands, +trusting to his remarks about strangers in general, and these new-comers +in particular, not having been overheard. Although overheard, the young +ladies chose to take no notice of that which they supposed intended for +unknown individuals. + +They were mistaken, however, for Mr. Bruce knew, perfectly well that the +nieces of the present Mrs. Graham were the same girls whom he met at the +south, and was indifferent about renewing his acquaintance. But his +vanity was not proof against the evident pleasure they both manifested +at seeing him again; and he soon engaged in an animated conversation +with them, while Gertrude entered the house. She sought Emily's room, +and was giving an account of her morning's expedition to the village, +and how she had accomplished various commissions and errands, when Mrs. +Ellis came, and said, with distressed voice, "Hasn't Gertrude?--Oh, +there you are! Do tell me what Mrs. Wilkins said about the +strawberries?" + +"I engaged three quarts; hasn't she sent them?" + +"No, but I'm thankful to hear they're coming; I have been so plagued +about the dinner." + +She now came in, and seating herself, exclaimed, "I declare, Emily, such +an ironing as our girls have got to do to-day! You never saw anything +like it! There's no end to the fine clothes Mrs. Graham and her nieces +put into our wash. It's a shame! Rich as they are, they might put out +their washing. I've been helping, _myself_, as much as I could; but, as +Mrs. Prime says, one can't do everything at once; and I've had to see +the butcher, make puddings and blancmange, and been worried to death all +the time, because I forgot to engage those strawberries. So Mrs. Wilkins +hadn't sent her fruit to market when you got there?" + +"No, but she was in a great hurry getting ready; it would have been gone +in a very short time." + +"Well, that was lucky. I don't know what I should have done without, for +I've no time to hunt up anything else for dessert. I've got just as much +as I can do till dinner-time. Mrs. Graham never kept house before, and +don't know how to make allowance for anything. She comes home from +Boston, expects to find everything in apple-pie order, and never asks or +cares who does the work." + +Mrs. Prime called out, "Mrs. Ellis, the boy has brought your +strawberries, and the stalks an't off; he said they hadn't no time." + +"That's too bad," exclaimed the tired housekeeper. "Who's going to take +the stalks off, I should like to know? Kate is busy, and I can't do it." + +"I will, Mrs. Ellis; let _me_ do it," said Gertrude, following Mrs. +Ellis, who was now half-way downstairs. + +"No, no! don't you, Miss Gertrude," said Mrs. Prime; "they'll only stain +your fingers all up." + +"No matter if they do; my hands are not made of white kid. They'll bear +washing." + +Mrs. Ellis was only too thankful for Gertrude's help. Belle and Kitty +were doing their best to entertain Mr. Bruce, who, sitting on the +door-steps, from time to time cast his eyes down the entry, and up the +staircase, in hopes of Gertrude's reappearance; and despairing of it, he +was about to depart, when his sister Fanny came running up the yard, and +rushed past the assembled trio for the house. + +Her brother, however, stretched out his arm, caught her, and before he +let her go whispered something in her ear. + +"Who is that wild Indian?" asked Kitty Ray, as Fanny ran across the +entry and disappeared. + +"A sister of mine," answered Ben, in a nonchalant manner. + +"Why! is she?" inquired Kitty, with interest; "I have seen her here +several times, and never took any notice of her. I didn't know she was +_your_ sister. What a pretty girl she is." + +"Do you think so?" said Ben; "sorry I can't agree with you. I think +she's a fright." + +Fanny now reappeared, and stopping a moment on her way upstairs called +out, without any ceremony, "She says she can't come, she's busy." + +"Who?" asked Kitty, in her turn catching Fanny and detaining her. + +"Miss Flint." + +Mr. Bruce coloured slightly, and Belle Clinton observed it. + +"What is she doing?" inquired Kitty. + +"Picking strawberries." + +"Where are you going, Fanny?" + +"Upstairs." + +"Do they let you go all over the house?" + +"Miss Flint said I might go up and bring down the birds." + +"What birds?" + +"Her birds. I am going to hang them in the sun, and they'll sing +beautifully." + +She went, and soon returned with a cage containing the little monias +sent by Willie from Calcutta. + +"There Kitty," cried Belle; "those are the birds that wake us so early +every morning." + +"Very likely," said Kitty; "bring them here. Goodness! what little +creatures they are!--do look at them, Mr. Bruce--they are sweetly +pretty." + +"Put them down on the door-step, Fanny," said Ben, "so that we can see +them better." + +"I'm afraid you'll frighten them," replied Fanny; "Miss Gertrude doesn't +like to have them frightened." + +"No, we won't," said Ben; "we're disposed to be very friendly to Miss +Gertrude's birds. Where did she get them? Do you know, Fanny?" + +"Why, they are Indian birds; Mr. Sullivan sent them to her." + +"Who is he?" + +"Oh, he is a very particular friend; she has letters from him every +little while." + +"What Mr. Sullivan?" asked Belle. "Do you know his Christian name?" + +"I suppose it's William," said Fanny. "Miss Emily always calls the birds +little Willies." + +"Belle!" exclaimed Kitty, "that's your William Sullivan." + +"What a favourite man he seems to be!" said Mr. Bruce, in a tone of +sarcasm; "the property of one beautiful lady and the particular friend +of another." + +"I don't know what you mean, Kitty," said Belle, tartly. "Mr. Sullivan +is a junior partner of my father's, but I have not seen him for years." + +"Except in your dreams, Belle," suggested Kitty. "You forget." + +"Do you dream about Mr. Sullivan?" asked Fanny, fixing her eyes on Belle +as she spoke. "I mean to go and ask Miss Gertrude if she does." + +"Do," said Kitty; "I'll go with you." + +They ran across the entry into the dining room, and put the question at +the same time. Taken by surprise, Gertrude neither blushed nor looked +confused, but answered, quietly, "Yes, sometimes; but what do you know +of Mr. Sullivan?" + +"Oh, nothing," answered Kitty; "only _some others do_, and we are +inquiring around to see how many there are;" and she ran back in triumph +to tell Belle she might as well be frank, like Gertrude, and plead +guilty to the weakness; it looked so much better than blushing and +denying it. + +But it would not do to joke with Belle any longer; she was offended, and +did not conceal the fact. Mr. Bruce felt annoyed, and soon left, leaving +the two cousins to settle their difficulty as best they could. As soon +as he had gone, Belle folded up her work, and walked upstairs to her +room with great dignity, while Kitty stayed behind to laugh over the +matter, and improve her opportunity to make friends with Fanny Bruce; +for Kitty laboured under the idea that in cultivating the acquaintance +of the sister she should advance her cause. + +She therefore called Fanny to sit beside her, put her arm round her +waist, and commenced talking about Gertrude, and the origin and extent +of the intimacy which seemed to exist between her and the Bruce family. +Fanny, who was always communicative, willingly informed her of the +circumstances which had attached her so strongly to a friend who was +some years her senior. + +"And your brother," said Kitty, "he has known her some time, hasn't he?" + +"Yes, I suppose so," answered Fanny, carelessly. + +"Does he like her?" + +"I don't know; I should think he would; I don't see how he can help it." + +"What did he whisper to you when you came up the steps?" + +"Oh, he bade me ask Miss Gertrude if she wasn't coming back to see him +again, and tell her he was tired to death waiting for her." + +Kitty pouted and looked vexed. "Has Miss Flint been in the habit of +receiving company here, and been treated like an equal?" + +"Of course she has," answered Fanny, with spirit; "why shouldn't she? +She's the most perfect lady I ever saw, and mother says she has +beautiful manners, and I must take pattern by her." + +"Oh, Miss Gertrude!" called she, as Gertrude, who had been to place the +strawberries in the refrigerator, crossed the back part of the long +entry, "Are you ready now?" + +"Yes, Fanny, I shall be in a moment," answered Gertrude. + +"Ready for what?" inquired Kitty. + +"To read," said Fanny. "She is going to read the rest of Hamlet to Miss +Emily; she read the first three acts yesterday, and Miss Emily let me +sit in her room and hear it. I can't understand it when I read it +myself, but when I listen to Miss Gertrude it seems quite plain. She's a +splendid reader, and I came in to-day on purpose to hear the play +finished." + +Kitty's last companion having deserted her, she lay on the entry sofa +and fell asleep. She was wakened by her aunt, who returned from the city +a short time before dinner--"I say Kitty Ray, wake up and go dress for +dinner! I saw Belle at the chamber window looking like a beauty. I wish +you'd take half the pains she does to improve your appearance." + +Kitty yawned, and, after delaying a little, followed Mrs. Graham's +directions. It was Kitty's policy, after giving offence to her cousin +Belle, to appear utterly unconscious of the existence of any unkind +feelings; and, though Belle often manifested some degree of sulkiness, +she was too dependent upon Kitty's society to retain that disposition +long. They were soon chatting together as usual. + +"Belle," said Kitty, as she stood arranging her hair at the glass, "do +you remember a girl we used to meet every morning on our way to school, +walking with a paralytic old man?" + +"Yes." + +"Do you know, I think it was Gertrude Flint. She has altered very much, +to be sure; but the features are still the same, and there certainly +never was but one such pair of eyes." + +"I have no doubt she is the same person," said Belle, composedly. + +"Did you think of it before?" + +"Yes, as soon as Fanny spoke of her knowing Willie Sullivan." + +"Why, Belle, why didn't you speak of it?" + +"Lor', Kitty, I don't feel so much interest in her as you and some +others do." + +"What others?" + +"Why, Mr. Bruce; don't you see he is half in love with her?" + +"No, I don't see any such thing; he has known her for a long time (Fanny +says so), and, of course, he feels a respect for a girl that the Grahams +make so much account of. But I don't believe he'd think of such a thing +as being in love with a poor girl like her, with no family connections +to boast of." + +"Perhaps he didn't _think_ of being." + +"Well, he _wouldn't_ be. She isn't the sort of person that would suit +him. He has been in society a great deal, not only at home, but in +Paris; and he would want a wife that was very lively and fond of +company, and knew how to make a show with money." + +"A girl, for instance, like Kitty Ray." + +"How ridiculous, Belle! just as if people couldn't talk without thinking +of themselves all the time! What do I care about Ben Bruce?" + +"I don't know that you care anything about him; but I wouldn't pull all +the hair out of my head about it, as you are doing. There's the +dinner-bell." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE DISAPPOINTED WOOER. + + +Twilight found Gertrude and Emily seated at a window which commanded a +delightful western view. Gertrude had been describing to her blind +friend the gorgeous picture presented to her vision by the masses of +brilliantly-painted cloud; and Emily, as she listened to the glowing +description, experienced a participation in Gertrude's enjoyment. The +glory had now faded away, save a long strip of gold which skirted the +horizon; and the stars as they came out, one by one, seemed to look in +at the chamber window with a smile of recognition. + +In the parlour below there was company from the city, and the sound of +mirth and laughter came up on the evening breeze; so mellowed, however, +by distance, that it contrasted with the peace of the quiet room, +without disturbing it. + +"You had better go down, Gertrude," said Emily; "they appear to be +enjoying themselves, and I love to hear your laugh mingling with the +rest." + +"Oh, no, dear Emily!" said Gertrude; "I prefer to stay with you: they +are nearly all strangers to me." + +"As you please, my dear; but don't let me keep you from the young +people." + +"You can never keep me with you, dear Emily, longer than I wish to stay; +there is no society I love so well." And so she stayed, and they resumed +their pleasant conversation. They were interrupted by Katy, whom Mrs. +Graham sent to announce a new visitor--Mrs. Bruce--who had inquired for +Emily. + +"I suppose I must go down," said Emily; "you'll come too, Gertrude?" + +"No, I believe not, unless she asked for me. Did she, Katy?" + +"Mrs. Graham was only afther mintioning Miss Emily," said Katy. + +"Then I will stay here," said Gertrude; and Emily, finding it to be her +wish, went without her. There was soon another loud ring at the +door-bell. It seemed to be a reception evening, and this time Gertrude's +presence was particularly requested, to see Dr. and Mrs. Jeremy. + +When she entered the parlour a great number of guests were assembled, +and every seat occupied. As she came in alone, and unexpected by most of +the company, all eyes were turned upon her. Contrary to the expectation +of Belle and Kitty, who were watching her with curiosity, she manifested +no embarrassment, but glancing leisurely at the various groups, until +she recognised Mrs. Jeremy, crossed the large saloon with characteristic +grace, and as much ease as if she were the only person present. After +greeting that lady with her usual cordiality, she turned to speak to the +doctor; but he was sitting next Fanny Bruce, in the window-seat, and was +half-concealed by the curtain. Before he came Mrs. Bruce nodded +pleasantly from the opposite corner, and Gertrude went to shake hands +with her; Mr. Bruce, who formed one in a gay circle of young ladies and +gentlemen collected in that part of the room, and who had been observing +Gertrude's motions so attentively as to make no reply to a question put +to him by Kitty Ray, now offered his chair, saying, "Miss Gertrude, do +take this seat." + +"Thank you," said Gertrude, "but I see my friend the doctor on the other +side of the room; he expects me to speak to him, so don't let me disturb +you." + +Dr. Jeremy now came half-way across the room to meet her, and led her +into the recess formed by the window, and placed her in his own seat +next to Fanny Bruce. To the astonishment of all who knew him, Ben Bruce +brought his own chair, and placed it for the doctor opposite to +Gertrude. So much respect for age was not anticipated from the man of +fashion. + +"Is that a daughter of Mr. Graham's?" asked a young lady of Belle +Clinton, who sat next her. + +"No, indeed," replied Belle; "she is a person to whom Miss Graham gave +an education, and now she lives here to read to her and be a sort of +companion; her name is Flint." + +"What did you say that young lady's name was?" asked a dashing +lieutenant, addressing Isabel. + +"Miss Flint." + +"Flint, ah! she's a genteel-looking girl. How peculiarly she dresses her +hair!" + +"Very becoming, however, to that style of face," remarked the young lady +who had first spoken. "Don't you think so?" + +"I don't know," replied the lieutenant; "something becomes her; she +makes a fine appearance. Bruce," said he, as Mr. Bruce returned, after +his unusual effort of politeness, "who is that Miss Flint?--I have been +here two or three times, and I never saw her before." + +"Very likely," said Mr. Bruce; "she won't always show herself. Isn't she +a fine-looking girl?" + +"I haven't made up my mind yet; she's got a splendid figure; but who is +she?" + +"She's a sort of adopted daughter of Mr. Graham's, I believe, a +_protégée_ of Miss Emily's." + +"Ah, poor thing! An orphan?" + +"Yes, I suppose so," said Ben, biting his lips. + +"Pity!" said the young man; "poor thing! but she's good-looking, +particularly when she smiles; there is something very attractive about +her face." + +There certainly was to Ben, for, a moment after, Kitty Ray missed him +from the room, and immediately espied him, standing on the piazza, and +leaning through the open window to talk with Gertrude, Dr. Jeremy, and +Fanny. The conversation soon became very lively; there seemed to be a +war of wits going on; the doctor, especially, laughed very loud, and +Gertrude and Fanny often joined in the merry peal. Kitty endured it as +long as she could, and then ran, joined the party, and heard what they +were having so much fun about. + +But it was all an enigma to Kitty. Dr. Jeremy was talking with Mr. Bruce +concerning something which had happened many years ago; there was a +great deal about a fool's cap, with a long tassel, and taking afternoon +naps in the grass; the doctor was making queer allusions to some old +pear-tree, and traps set for thieves, and kept reminding Gertrude of +circumstances which attended their first acquaintance with each other +and with Mr. Bruce. + +Kitty was beginning to feel that she had placed herself in the position +of an intruder, and began to feel embarrassed, when Gertrude touched her +arm, and making room for her next herself, motioned to her to sit down, +saying, as she did so, "Dr. Jeremy is speaking of the time when he (or +he and I, as he chooses to have it) went fruit-stealing in Mrs. Bruce's +orchard, and were unexpectedly caught by Mr. Bruce." + +"You mean, my dear," interrupted the doctor, "that Mr. Bruce was +discovered by us. Why, it's my opinion he would have slept until this +time if I hadn't given him such a thorough waking up." + +"My first acquaintance with you was certainly the greatest awakening of +my life," said Ben, speaking as if to the doctor, but looking meaningly +at Gertrude; "that was not the only nap it cost me. How sorry I am, Miss +Gertrude, that you've given up working in the garden, as you used to! +Pray, how does it happen?" + +"Mrs. Graham has had it remodelled," replied Gertrude, "and the new +gardener neither needs nor desires my services. He has his own plans, +and it is not well to interfere with the professor of an art; I should +be sure to do mischief." + +"I doubt whether his success compares with yours," said Ben. "I do not +see anything like the same quantity of flowers in the room that _you_ +used to have." + +"I think," said Gertrude, "that he is not as fond of cutting them as I +was. I did not care so much for the appearance of the garden as for +having plenty of flowers in the house; but with him it is the reverse." + +Kitty made remark to Mr. Bruce on the subject of gardening, and +Gertrude, turning to Dr. Jeremy, continued in conversation with him, +until Mrs. Jeremy rose to go, when she said, "Dr. Jeremy, have you given +Gertrude her letter?" + +"Goodness me!" exclaimed the doctor. Then feeling in his pocket, he drew +forth an evidently foreign document, the envelope literally covered with +various coloured post-office stamps. "See here, Gerty, genuine Calcutta; +no mistake!" + +Gertrude took the letter, and, as she thanked the doctor, her +countenance expressed pleasure at receiving it; a pleasure, however, +somewhat tempered by sadness, for she had heard from Willie but once +since he learned the news of his mother's death, and that letter had +been such an outpouring of his vehement grief, that the sight of his +handwriting almost pained her, as she anticipated something like a +repetition of the outburst. + +Mr. Bruce, who kept his eyes upon her, and expected to see her change +colour, and look disconcerted, on the letter being handed to her in the +presence of so many witnesses, was reassured by the composure with which +she took it, and held it openly in her hand, while she bade the doctor +and his wife good evening. She followed them to the door, and was +retreating to her own apartment, when she was met by Mr. Bruce, who had +noticed the movement, and now entered from the piazza in time to arrest +her steps, and ask if her letter was of such importance that she must +deny the company the pleasure of her society in order to study its +contents. + +"It is from a friend of whose welfare I am anxious to hear," said +Gertrude, gravely. "Please excuse me to your mother, if she inquires for +me; and, as the rest of the guests are strangers, I shall not be missed +by them." + +"Oh, Miss Gertrude," said Mr. Bruce, "it's no use coming here to see +you, you are so frequently invisible. What part of the day is the most +likely to find you disengaged?" + +"Hardly any part," said Gertrude. "I am always a busy character; but +good night, Mr. Bruce--don't let me detain you from the other young +ladies;" and Gertrude ran upstairs, leaving Mr. Bruce uncertain whether +to be vexed with himself or her. + +Contrary to Gerty's expectations, William Sullivan's letter proved very +soothing to the grief she had felt on his account. His spirit had been +so crushed by the death of his grandfather, and by his second and still +greater loss, that his first communication to Gertrude had alarmed her, +from its despairing tone; she had feared lest his Christian fortitude +would give way to the force of his double affliction. She was much +relieved to find that he wrote in a calmer strain; that he had taken to +heart his mother's last entreaty and prayer for a submissive disposition +on his part; and that, although deeply afflicted, he was schooling +himself to patience and resignation. + +The three closely-written pages were devoted to fervent expressions of +gratitude to Gertrude for the kindness and love which had comforted the +last days of his much-regretted friends. He prayed that Heaven would +bless her, and reward her self-denying efforts, and closed with saying, +"You are all that is left to me, Gertrude. If I loved you before, my +heart is now bound to you by ties stronger than those of earth; my +hopes, my labours, my prayers, are all for you. God grant that we may +some day meet again!" + +For an hour Gertrude sat lost in meditation; her thoughts went back to +her home at Uncle True's, and the days when she and Willie passed so +many happy hours in close companionship, little dreaming of the long +separation so soon to ensue. She was startled at last from her reverie +by the voices of Mrs. Graham's visitors, who were now taking leave. + +Mrs. Bruce and her son lingered a little, until the carriages had left +with the guests for the city, and, as they were making their farewells +on the door-step, beneath Gertrude's window, she heard Mrs. Graham say, +"Remember, Mr. Bruce, we dine at two; and, Miss Fanny, we shall hope to +see you also." + +Mr. Bruce's attentions to her had that day been marked; and the +professions of admiration he had whispered in her ear had been still +more so. Both these attentions and this admiration were unsought and +undesired; neither were they flattering to the high-minded girl, who was +superior to coquetry, and whose self-respect was wounded by the assured +manner in which Mr. Bruce made his advances. As a youth of seventeen, +she had marked him as indolent and ill-bred. Her sense of justice, +however, would have obliterated this recollection, had his character and +manner been changed on the renewal of their acquaintance, some years +after. But this was not the case, for outward polish could not cloud +Gertrude's discernment; and she perceived that his old characteristics +remained, rendered more glaring by ill-concealed vanity. As a boy, he +had stared at Gertrude from impudence, and inquired her name out of idle +curiosity; as a youthful coxcomb he had resolved to flirt with her, +because his time hung heavy on his hands. But, to his surprise, he found +the country girl quite insensible to the flattery and notice which many +a city belle had coveted; and that when he tried raillery, he usually +proved the disconcerted party. + +It was something new to Mr. Bruce to find any lady thus indifferent to +his merits; and proved such an awakening to his ambition, that he +resolved to recommend himself to Gertrude, and consequently improved +every opportunity of gaining admittance to her society. But while +labouring to inspire her with a due appreciation of himself, he fell +into his own snare; for though he failed in awakening Gertrude's +interest, he could not be equally insensible to her attractions. Even +the dull intellect of Ben Bruce was capable of measuring her vast +superiority to most girls of her age; and her vivacious originality was +a contrast to the insipidity of fashionable life, which at length +completely charmed him. + +His earnestness and perseverance began to annoy the object of his +admiration before he left Mr. Graham's in the autumn; and she was glad +soon after to hear that he had accompanied his mother to Washington, as +it insured her against meeting him again for months to come. + +Mr. Bruce regretted losing sight of Gertrude, but amid the gaiety of +southern cities wasted his time with tolerable satisfaction. He was +reminded of her again on meeting the Graham party at New Orleans, and it +is some credit to his understanding to say, that in the comparison which +he constantly drew between her and the vain daughters of fashion, she +stood higher than ever in his estimation. He did not hesitate to tell +her so on the morning already mentioned, when, with evident +satisfaction, he had recognized and joined her; and, the increased +devotion of his words and manner, which now took a tone of truth in +which they had before been wanting, alarmed Gertrude, and led to a +serious resolve to avoid him on all possible occasions. + +On the day succeeding the one of which we have been speaking, Mr. Graham +returned from the city about noon, and joined the young ladies in the +entry, unfolded his newspaper, and, handing it to Kitty, asked her to +read the news. "What shall I read?" said Kitty, taking the paper rather +unwillingly. + +"The leading article, if you please." + +Kitty turned the paper inside and out, looked hastily up and down its +pages, and then declared her inability to find it. Mr. Graham was +astonished, and pointed in silence to the paragraph. She began, but had +scarcely read a sentence before Mr. Graham stopped her, saying, "Don't +read so fast--I can't hear a single word!" She now drawled so +intolerably that he interrupted her again, and bade her give the paper +to her cousin. + +Belle took it from the pouting Kitty, and finished the article--not, +however, without being once or twice compelled to go back and read more +intelligibly. + +"Do you wish to hear anything more, sir?" asked she. + +"Yes; won't you turn to the ship-news, and read me the list by the +steamer?" Belle, more fortunate than Kitty, found the place, and +commenced. "At Canton, April 30th, ship Ann Maria, Ray, _d-i-s-c-g_. +What does that mean?" + +"Discharging, of course; go on." + +"S-l-d--a-b-t 13th," spelt Belle, looking dreadfully puzzled all the +while. + +"Stupid!" muttered Mr. Graham, almost snatching the paper out of her +hands; "not know how to read ship-news! Where's Gertrude? Where's +Gertrude Flint? She's the only girl I ever saw that did know anything. +Won't you call her, Kitty?" + +Kitty went, though reluctantly, to call Gertrude, and told her for what +she was wanted. Gertrude was astonished; since the day when she had +persisted in leaving his house, Mr. Graham had never asked her to read +to him; but, obedient to the summons, she presented herself, and, taking +the seat which Belle had vacated near the door, commenced with the +ship-news, and, without asking questions, turned to various items of +intelligence, taking them in the order which she knew Mr. Graham +preferred. + +The old gentleman, leaning back in his easy-chair, and resting his gouty +foot upon an ottoman opposite to him, looked amazingly satisfied; and +when Belle and Kitty had gone off to their room, he remarked, "This +seems like old times, doesn't it, Gertrude?" He closed his eyes, and +Gertrude was soon aware that he had fallen asleep. Seeing that, as he +sat, it would be impossible for her to pass without waking him, she laid +down the paper, and was preparing to draw some work from her pocket, +when she observed a shadow in the doorway, and, looking up, saw the +person whom she had yesterday resolved to avoid. + +Mr. Bruce was staring in her face, with an indolent air of ease and +confidence, which she always found very offensive. He had in one hand a +bunch of roses, which he held up to her admiring gaze. "Very beautiful!" +said Gertrude, as she glanced at the little branches, covered with a +luxurious growth of moss rose-buds, both pink and white. + +She spoke in a low voice, fearing to awaken Mr. Graham. Mr. Bruce, in a +whisper, remarked, as he dangled them above her head, "I thought they +were pretty when I gathered them, but they suffer from the comparison. +Miss Gertrude," and he gave a meaning look at the roses in her cheeks. + +Gertrude, to whom this was a stale compliment, coming from Mr. Bruce, +took no notice of it, but, rising, advanced to make her exit by the +front-door, saying, "I will go across the piazza, Mr. Bruce, and send +the ladies word that you are here." + +"O, pray, don't!" said he, putting himself in her way. "It would be +cruel; I haven't the slightest wish to see them." He so effectually +prevented her, that she was unwillingly compelled to retreat from the +door and resume her seat. As she did so, she took her work from her +pocket, her countenance in the meantime expressing vexation. + +Mr. Bruce looked triumphant. + +"Miss Gertrude," said he, "will you oblige me by wearing these flowers +in your hair to-day?" + +"I do not wear gay flowers," replied Gertrude, without lifting her eyes +from the piece of muslin on which she was employed. + +Supposing this to be on account of her mourning (for she wore a plain +black dress), he selected the white buds from the rest, and, presenting +them to her, begged that, for his sake, she would display them in +contrast with her dark silken braids. + +"I am much obliged to you," said Gertrude; "I never saw more beautiful +roses, but I am not accustomed to be so much dressed, and, believe me, +you must excuse me." + +"Then you won't take my flowers?" + +"Certainly I will, with pleasure," said she, rising, "if you will let me +get a glass of water, and place them in the parlour, where we can all +enjoy them." + +"I did not cut my flowers, and bring them here for the benefit of the +whole household," said Ben, in a half-offended tone. "If you won't wear +them, Miss Gertrude, I will offer them to somebody that will." + +This, he thought, would alarm her, for his vanity was such that he +attributed her behaviour wholly to coquetry. + +"I will punish her," thought he, as he tied the roses together again, +and arranged them for presentation to Kitty, who he knew would be +flattered to receive them. + +"Where's Fanny to-day," asked Gertrude, anxious to divert the +conversation. + +"I don't know," answered Ben, which implied that he had no idea of +talking about Fanny. + +"How attentive you are to your work!" said he, at last: "your eyes +seemed nailed to it. I wish I were as attractive as that piece of +muslin!" + +"I wish you were as inoffensive," thought Gertrude. + +"I do not think you take much pains to entertain me," added he, "when +I've come here on purpose to see you." + +"I thought you came by Mrs. Graham's invitation," said Gertrude. + +"And didn't I have to court Kitty for an hour in order to get it?" + +"If you obtained it by artifice," said Gertrude, smiling, "you do not +deserve to be entertained." + +"It is much easier to please Kitty than you," remarked Ben. + +"Kitty is very amiable and pleasant," said Gertrude. + +"Yes; but I'd give more for one smile from you than----" + +Gertrude now interrupted him with, "Ah! here is an old friend coming to +see us; please let me pass, Mr. Bruce?" + +The gate at the end of the yard swung to as she spoke, and Ben, looking +in that direction, saw the person whom Gertrude seemed desirous to go +and meet. + +"Don't be in such a hurry to leave me!" said Ben; "that little crone, +whose coming seems to give you so much satisfaction, can't get here this +half hour, at the rate she is travelling." + +"She is an old friend," replied Gertrude, "I must go and welcome her." +Her countenance expressed so much earnestness that Mr. Bruce was ashamed +to persist in his incivility, and, rising, permitted her to pass. Miss +Patty Pace was over-joyed at seeing Gertrude, and commenced waving, in a +theatrical manner, a huge feather fan, her favourite mode of salutation. +As she drew near, Miss Patty took her by both hands, and stood talking +with her some minutes. They entered the house at the side door, and Ben, +thus disappointed of Gertrude's return, sallied into the garden in hopes +to attract the notice of Kitty. + +Ben Bruce had such confidence in the power of wealth and a high station +in fashionable life that it never occurred to him to doubt that Gertrude +would gladly accept his hand and fortune if they were placed at her +disposal. Many a worldly-wise mother had sought his acquaintance; many a +young lady of property and rank had received his attention with favour, +and believing, as he did, that he had money enough to purchase. He +determined to win Gertrude's good opinion and affection; and although +more interested in her than he was aware of himself, he at present made +that his ultimate object. He felt conscious that as yet she had given no +evidence of his success; and having resolved to resort to some new means +of winning her, he, with a too common baseness, fixed upon a method +which was calculated, if successful, to end in the mortification, if not +the unhappiness, of a third party. He intended, by marked devotion to +Kitty Ray, to excite the jealousy of Gertrude. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +TRUE POLITENESS. + + +A half-hour before dinner Mrs. Graham and her nieces, Mr. Bruce, his +sister Fanny, and Lieutenant Osborne, as they sat in the large room, had +their curiosity much excited by the merriment which existed in Emily's +room. Gertrude's clear laugh was distinguishable, and even Emily joined +in the outburst, while another person appeared to be of the party, as a +most singular voice mingled with the rest. + +Kitty ran to the entry two or three times to listen, and at last +returned with the announcement that Gertrude was coming down stairs with +the very queen of witches. Presently Gertrude opened the door, which +Kitty had slammed behind her, and ushered in Miss Patty Pace, who +advanced with measured, mincing steps to Mrs. Graham, and, stopping in +front of her, made a low curtsey. + +"How do you do, ma'am?" said Mrs. Graham, half inclined to believe that +Gertrude was playing off a joke upon her. + +"This, I presume, is the mistress," said Miss Patty. + +Mrs. Graham acknowledged her claim to that title. + +"A lady of presence!" said Miss Patty, to Gertrude, in an audible +whisper, pronouncing each syllable with a manner and emphasis peculiar +to herself. Then, turning to Belle, who was shrinking into the shadow of +a curtain, she approached her, held up both her hands in astonishment, +and exclaimed, "Miss Isabella, as I still enjoy existence! and radiant, +too, as the morning! Bless my heart! how your youthful charms have +expanded!" + +Belle had recognised Miss Pace the moment she entered the room, but was +ashamed to acknowledge the acquaintance of so eccentric an individual, +and would have still feigned ignorance, but Kitty now came forward, +exclaiming, "Why, Miss Pace, where did you come from?" + +"Miss Catharina," said Miss Pace, taking her hands in an ecstasy of +astonishment, "_then you know me_! Blessings on your memory of an old +friend!" + +"Certainly, I knew you in a minute; you're not so easily forgotten, I +assure you. Belle, don't you remember Miss Pace? It's at your house I've +always seen her." + +"Oh, is it she?" said Belle, with a poor attempt to conceal the fact +that she had any previous knowledge of a person who had been a frequent +visitor at her father's house, and was held in esteem by both her +parents. + +"I apprehend," said Miss Patty to Kitty, in the same loud whisper, "that +she carries a proud heart." Then, without having appeared to notice the +gentlemen, who were directly behind her, she added, "Sparks, I see Miss +Catharina, young sparks! Whose?--yours or hers?" + +Kitty laughed, for she saw that the young men heard her, and were much +amused, and replied without hesitation, "O mine, Miss Patty, mine, both +of 'em!" Miss Patty now looked around the room, and, missing Mr. Graham, +advanced to his wife, saying, "And where, madam, is the bridegroom?" + +Mrs. Graham, a little confused, replied that her husband would be in +presently, and invited Miss Pace to be seated. + +"No, mistress, I am obliged to you; I have an inquiring mind, and, with +your leave, will take a survey of the apartment. I love to see +everything that is modern." She then examined the pictures upon the +walls, but had not proceeded far before she turned to Gertrude and +asked, loud enough to be heard, "Gertrude, my dear, what have they done +with the second wife?" Gertrude looked surprised, and Miss Pace +corrected her remark, saying, "Oh, it is the counterfeit that I have +reference to; the original, I am aware, departed long since; but where +is the counterfeit of the second Mrs. Graham? It always hung here, if my +memory serves me." + +Gertrude whispered a reply to this question, and Miss Pace then uttered +the following soliloquy: "The garret! well, 'tis the course of nature; +what is new obliterates _the recollection, even_, of the old." + +She now linked her arm in Gertrude's, and made her the companion of her +survey. When they had completed the circuit of the room, she stopped in +front of the group of young people, all of whom were eyeing her with +great amusement, and claimed the acquaintance of Mr. Bruce, and asked to +be introduced to that member of the war department, as she styled +Lieutenant Osborne. Kitty introduced her with great formality, and at +the same time presented the lieutenant to Gertrude. A chair was now +brought, Miss Patty joined their circle and entertained them until +dinner time. Gertrude again sought Emily's room. + +At the table, Gertrude sat next to Emily, whose wants she always made +her care, and with Miss Patty on the other side, had no time or +attention to bestow on anyone else; much to the chagrin of Mr. Bruce, +who was anxious she should observe his assiduous devotion to Kitty, +whose hair was adorned with the moss-rose buds, and her face with +smiles. + +Belle was also made happy by the marked admiration of the young officer. +Occasionally, some remark made by Miss Pace irresistibly attracted the +attention of every one at the table, and extorted either the laughter it +was intended to excite, or a mirth which, though perhaps ill-timed, it +was impossible to repress. + +Mr. Graham treated Miss Patty with politeness and attention, and Mrs. +Graham spared no pains to bring out the old lady's conversational +powers. She found that Miss Patty was acquainted with everybody, and +made most amusing comments upon almost every person who became the topic +of conversation. Mr. Graham at last led her to speak of herself and her +lonely mode of life; and Fanny Bruce, who sat next, asked her bluntly, +why she never got married. + +"Ah, my young miss," said she, "we all wait our time, and I may take a +companion yet." + +"You should," said Mr. Graham. "Now you have property, Miss Pace, and +ought to share it with some nice thrifty man." + +"I have but an insignificant trifle of worldly wealth," said Miss Pace, +"and am not as youthful as I have been; but I may suit myself with a +companion, notwithstanding. I approve of matrimony, and have my eye upon +a young man." + +"_A young man!_" exclaimed Fanny Bruce, laughing. + +"O yes, Miss Frances," said Miss Patty; "I am an admirer of youth, and +of everything that is modern. Yes, I cling to life--I cling to life." + +"Certainly," remarked Mrs. Graham. "Miss Pace must marry somebody +younger than herself; someone to whom she can leave all her property, if +he should happen to outlive her." + +"Yes," said Mr. Graham; "at present you would not know how to make a +will, unless you left all your money to Gertrude, here; I rather think +she would make good use of it." + +"That would certainly be a consideration to me," said Miss Pace; "I +should dread the thought of having my little savings squandered. Now, I +know there's more than a sufficiency of pauper population; and plenty +that would be glad of legacies; but I have no intention of bestowing on +such. Why, sir, nine-tenths of them will _always_ be poor. No, no! I +shouldn't give to such! No, no! I have other intentions." + +"Miss Pace," asked Mr. Graham, "what has become of General Pace's +family?" + +"_All dead!_" replied Miss Patty, promptly, "_all dead!_ I made a +pilgrimage to the grave of that branch of the family. It was a touching +scene," said she in a pathetic tone. "There was a piece of grassy +ground, belted about with an iron railing, and in the centre a beautiful +white marble monument, in which they were all buried; it was pure as +alabaster, and on it was inscribed these lines: + + 'Pace.'" + +"What were the lines?" inquired Mrs. Graham. + +"Pace, ma'am, Pace; nothing else." + +Solemn as was the subject, a universal titter pervaded the circle: and +Mrs. Graham, perceiving that Kitty and Fanny would soon burst into +uncontrollable fits of laughter, made the move for the company to quit +the table. + +The gentlemen did not care to linger, and followed the ladies into the +wide entry, the coolness of which invited every one to loiter there +during the heat of the day. Miss Patty and Fanny Bruce compelled the +unwilling Gertrude to join the group there assembled; and Mrs. Graham, +who could not forego her afternoon nap, was the only one who absented +herself. + +So universal was the interest Miss Patty excited, that all private +dialogue was suspended, and close attention given to whatever topic the +old lady was discussing. + +Belle maintained a slightly scornful expression of countenance, and +tried with partial success to divert Lieutenant Osborne's thoughts into +another channel; but Kitty was so delighted with Miss Pace's +originality, that she made no attempt at any exclusive conversation, +and, with Mr. Bruce sitting beside her and joining in her amusement, +looked more than contented. + +Dress and fashion, two favourite themes with Miss Patty, were now +introduced, and, after discoursing upon her love of the beautiful, as +witnessed in the mantua-making and millinery arts, she deliberately left +her seat, and going towards Belle (who wished to avoid her), began to +examine the material of her dress, and requested her to rise and permit +her to further inspect the mode in which it was made, declaring the +description of so modern a master-piece of art would be a feast to the +ears of some of her junior acquaintances. + +Belle indignantly refused to comply, and shook off the hand of the old +lady as if there had been contamination in her touch. + +"Do stand up, Belle," said Kitty, in an undertone; "don't be so cross." + +"Why don't you stand up yourself," said Belle, "and show off your own +dress, for the benefit of her low associates?" + +"She didn't ask me," replied Kitty, "but I will, with pleasure, if she +will condescend to look at it. Miss Pace," continued she gaily, placing +herself in front of the inquisitive Miss Patty, "do admire my gown at +your leisure, and take a pattern of it, if you like, I should be proud +of the honour." + +For a wonder, Kitty's dress was pretty and well worthy of observation. +Miss Patty made many comments, and her curiosity being satisfied, +commenced retreating towards the place she had left, first glancing +behind her to see if it was still vacant, and then moving towards it +with a backward motion, consisting of a series of curtseys. + +Fanny Bruce, who stood near, observing that she had made an exact +calculation how many steps would be required to reach her seat, placed +her hand on the back of the chair, as if to draw it away; and encouraged +by a look and smile from Isabel, moved it, slightly, but still enough to +endanger the old lady's safety. + +On attempting to regain it, Miss Pace stumbled, and would have fallen, +but Gertrude--who had been watching Fanny's proceedings--sprang forward +in time to fling an arm around her, and place her safely in the chair, +casting at the same time a reproachful look at Fanny, who, much +confused, turned to avoid Gertrude's gaze, and in doing so accidentally +trod on Mr. Graham's gouty toes, which drew from him an exclamation of +pain. + +"Fan," said Mr. Bruce, who had observed the latter accident only, "I +wish you could learn politeness." + +"Whom am I to learn it from?" asked Fanny, pertly,--"you?" + +Ben looked provoked, but forbore to reply; while Miss Pace, who had +recovered her composure, said--"Politeness! Ah, a lovely but rare +virtue; perceptibly developed, however, in the manners of my friend +Gertrude, which I hesitate not to affirm would well become a princess." + +Belle curled her lip, and smiled disdainfully. "Lieutenant Osborne," +said she, "don't you think Miss Devereux has beautiful manners?" + +"Very fine," replied the lieutenant; "the style in which she receives +company, on her reception-day, is elegance itself." + +"Who are you speaking of?" inquired Kitty; "Mrs. Harry Noble?" + +"Miss Devereux, we were remarking upon," said Belle; "but Mrs. Noble is +also very stylish." + +"I think she is," said Mr. Bruce; "do you hear, Fanny?--we have found a +model for you,--you must imitate Mrs. Noble." + +"I don't know anything about Mrs. Noble," retorted Fanny; "I'd rather +imitate Miss Flint. Miss Gertrude," said she, "how _shall_ I learn +politeness?" + +"Do you remember," asked Gertrude, speaking low, "what your music-master +told you about learning to _play_ with expression? I should give you the +same rule for improvement in politeness." + +Fanny blushed deeply. "What is that?" said Mr. Graham; "Fanny, what is +Gertrude's rule for politeness." + +"She only said," answered Fanny, "that it was the same my music-master +gave me last winter." + +"And what did _he_ say?" inquired her brother. + +"I asked Mr. Hermann," said Fanny, "how I should learn to play with +expression, and he said, 'You must cultivate your _heart_, Miss Bruce, +you must cultivate your _heart_.'" + +This new direction for the attainment of a great accomplishment was +received with countenances that indicated as great a variety of +sentiments as there was difference of character among Fanny's audience. +Mr. Graham bit his lip, and walked away; for _his_ politeness was +founded on no such rule, and he knew that Gertrude's _was_. Belle looked +glorious disdain; Mr. Bruce and Kitty, puzzled and half amused; while +Lieutenant Osborne proved himself not quite callous to a noble truth, by +turning upon Gertrude a glance of admiration. Emily's face evidenced how +fully she coincided in the opinion thus unintentionally made public, and +Miss Patty expressed her approbation. + +"Miss Gertrude's remark is a verity," said she. "The only politeness +which is trustworthy is the spontaneous offering of the heart. Perhaps +this goodly company of masters and misses would condescend to give ear +to an old woman's tale of a rare instance of true politeness, and the +fitting reward it met." + +All expressed strong desire to hear Miss Patty's story, and she began: +"On a winter's day, some years ago, an old woman, of many foibles and +weaknesses, but with a keen eye and her share of worldly wisdom--Miss +Patty Pace by name--started, by special invitation, for the house of one +worshipful Squire Clinton, the honoured parent of Miss Isabella, the +fair damsel yonder. Every tall tree in our good city was spangled with +frost work, more glittering far than gems that sparkle in Golconda's +mine, and the side-walk were a snare to the feet of the old and unwary. + +"I lost my equilibrium, and fell. Two gallant gentlemen lifted and +carried me to a neighboring apothecary's emporium, restored my scattered +wits, and, revived me with a fragrant cordial. I went on my way with +many a misgiving, however, and scarcely should I have reached my +destination with bones unbroken, had it not been for a knight with a +rosy countenance, who overtook me, placed my old arm within his own more +strong and youthful one, and protected my steps to the end of my +journey. No slight courage either, my young misses, did my noble escort +need, to carry him through what he had undertaken. Paint to your +imagination a youth, fresh and beautiful as a sunbeam, straight as an +arrow--a perfect Apollo--linked to the little bent body of poor Miss +Patty Pace. I will not spare myself, young ladies; for, had you seen me +then, you would have considered me now vastly ameliorated in outer +presentment. My double row of teeth were stowed away in my pocket, my +frisette was pushed back from my head by my recent fall, and my +gogs--the same my father wore before me--covered my face, and they alone +attracted attention, and created some excitement. But he went on +unmoved; and, in spite of many a captivating glance and smile from rows +of beautiful young maidens whom we met, and many a sneer from youths of +his own age, he sustained my feeble form with as much care as if I had +been an empress, and accommodated his buoyant step to the slow movement +which my infirmities compelled. Ah! what a spirit of conformity he +manifested! my knight of the rosy countenance! Could you have seen him, +Miss Catharina, or you, Miss Frances, your palpitating hearts would have +taken flight for ever. He was a paragon, indeed. + +"Whither his own way tended I cannot say, for he moved in conformity to +mine, and left me not until I was safe at the abode of Mistress Clinton. +I hardly think he coveted my old heart, but I sometimes believe it +followed him, for truly he is still a frequent subject of my +meditations." + +"Ah! then _that_ was his reward!" exclaimed Kitty. + +"Not so, Miss Kitty; guess again." + +"I can think of _nothing so desirable_, Miss Patty." + +"His _fortune in life_, Miss Catharina--that was his reward; it may be +that he cannot yet estimate the full amount of his recompense." + +"How so?" exclaimed Fanny. + +"I will briefly narrate the rest. Mistress Clinton encouraged me always +to converse much in her presence. She knew my taste was disposed to +humour me, and I was pleased to be indulged. I told my story, and +enlarged upon the merits of my noble youth, and his wonderful spirit of +conformity. The squire, a gentleman who estimates good breeding, was +present, with his ears opened, when I recommended my knight, with all +the eloquence I could command; he was amused, interested, pleased. He +promised to see the boy, and did so; the noble features spake for +themselves, and gained him a situation as clerk; from which he has since +advanced in the ranks, until now he occupies the position of partner and +confidential agent in a creditable and wealthy house. Miss Isabella, it +would rejoice my heart to hear the latest tidings from Mr. William +Sullivan." + +"He is well, I believe," said Isabella, sulkily. "I know nothing to the +contrary." + +"Oh, Gertrude knows," said Fanny. "Gertrude knows all about Mr. +Sullivan; she will tell you." + +All turned, and looked at Gertrude, who, with face flushed, and eyes +glistening with the interest she felt in Miss Patty's narrative, stood +leaning upon Emily's chair. Miss Patty now appealed to her, much +surprised, however, at her having any knowledge of her much admired +young escort. Gertrude drew near, and answered all her questions without +the least hesitation or embarrassment. + +Gertrude gave Miss Pace an account of the curiosity which Willie and his +friends had felt concerning the original author of his good fortune; and +the old lady was so delighted at hearing the various conjectures about +Mr. Clinton's unexpected summons, and of the matter being attributed to +the agency of Santa Claus, that she loudly laughed. Miss Pace was just +taxing Gertrude with messages of remembrance to be despatched in her +next letter to Willie, when Mrs. Graham presented herself, and arrested +the attention of the whole company by exclaiming, in her abrupt manner +and loud tones--"What! are you all here? I thought you were bound for a +walk in the woods. Kitty, what has become of your cherished scheme of +climbing Sunset Hill?" + +"I proposed it, aunt, an hour ago, but Belle insisted it was too warm. +_I_ think the weather is just right for a walk." + +"It will soon be growing cool," said Mrs. Graham, "and I think you had +better start; it is some distance, if you go round through the woods." + +"Who knows the way?" asked Kitty. + +No one responded to the question, and all professed ignorance; much to +the astonishment of Gertrude, who believed that every part of the woody +ground and hill beyond were familiar to Mr. Bruce. She did not stay, +however, to hear any further discussion of their plans; for Emily was +beginning to suffer from headache and weariness, and Gertrude insisted +that she should seek the quiet of her own room, and she went with her. +She was just closing the chamber door, when Fanny called from the +staircase, "Miss Gertrude ain't you going for a walk with us?" + +"No," replied Gertrude; "not to-day." + +"Then I won't go," said Fanny, "if you don't. Why don't you go, Miss +Gertrude?" + +"I shall walk with Miss Emily, by-and-bye, if she is well enough; you +can accompany us, if you like, but you would enjoy going to Sunset Hill +much more." + +Meantime a whispered consultation took place below, in which someone +suggested that Gertrude was well acquainted with the path which the +party wished to follow through the woods. Belle opposed her being +invited to join them; Kitty hesitated between her liking for Gertrude +and her fears regarding Mr. Bruce's allegiance; Lieutenant Osborne +forbore to urge what Belle disapproved; and Mr. Bruce remained silent, +trusting to the final necessity of her being invited to act as guide, in +which capacity he had purposely concealed his own ability to serve. This +necessity was so obvious, that, as he had foreseen, Kitty was at last +despatched to find Gertrude and make known their request. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +HAUTEUR. + + +Gertrude would have declined, and made her attendance upon Emily an +excuse for non-compliance; but Emily, believing that the exercise would +be beneficial to Gertrude, interfered, and begged her to agree to +Kitty's proposal; and, on the latter declaring that the expedition must +otherwise be given up, she consented to join it. To change her slippers +for thick walking boots occupied a few minutes only; a few more were +spent in a vain search for her flat hat, which was missing from the +closet where it usually hung. + +"What are you looking for?" said Emily, hearing Gertrude twice open the +door of the closet. + +"My hat! but I don't see it. I believe I shall have to borrow your +sun-bonnet again," and she took up a white sun-bonnet, the same she had +worn in the morning, and which now lay on the bed. + +"Certainly, my dear," said Emily. + +"I shall begin to think it mine before long," said Gertrude, gaily, as +she ran off, "I wear it so much more than you do." Emily now called from +the staircase, "Gertrude, my child, have you thick shoes? It is always +very wet in the meadow beyond Thornton place." Gertrude assured her that +she had; but fearing that the others were less carefully equipped, +inquired of Mrs. Graham whether Belle and Kitty were insured against the +dampness they might encounter. + +Mrs. Graham declared they were not. "I have some very light +india-rubbers," said Gertrude; "I will take them with me, and Fanny and +I shall be in time to warn them before they come to the place." + +It was an easy matter to overtake Belle and the lieutenant, for they +walked very slowly, and seemed not unwilling to be left in the rear. The +reverse was the case with Mr. Bruce and Kitty, who appeared purposely to +keep in advance; Kitty hastening her steps from her reluctance to allow +an agreeable _tête-à-tête_ to be interfered with, and Ben from a desire +to give Gertrude a fair opportunity to observe his devotion to Kitty, +which increased the moment _she_ came in sight. + +They had now passed the Thornton farm, and only one field separated them +from the meadow, which was in the centre a complete quagmire, and only +passable to the thickly-shod, by keeping close to the wall, and thus +skirting the field. Gertrude and Fanny were some distance behind, and +nearly out of breath with a pursuit in which the others had gained so +great advantage. As they were passing the farm-house, Mrs. Thornton came +to the door and addressed Gertrude, who, foreseeing that she would be +detained some minutes, bade Fanny run on, acquaint her brother and Kitty +with the nature of the soil in advance, and begged them to wait at the +bars until the rest of the party came up. Fanny was too late, +notwithstanding the haste she made; they were half across the meadow +when she reached the bars, proceeding in perfect safety, for Mr. Bruce +was conducting Kitty by the only practicable path, close under the wall, +proving to Gertrude, who in a few moments joined Fanny, that he was no +stranger to the place. When they were half-way across, they encountered +some obstacle, for Kitty stood poised on one foot and clinging to the +wall, while Mr. Bruce placed a few stepping-stones across the path. He +then helped her over, and they went on, their figures soon disappearing +in the grove beyond. + +Isabel and the lieutenant were so long making their appearance that +Fanny became very impatient, and urged Gertrude to leave them to their +fate. They at last turned the corner near the farm-house, and came on, +Belle maintaining her leisurely pace. "Are you lame, Miss Clinton?" +called out Fanny, so soon as they were within hearing. + +"Lame!" said Belle; "what do you mean?" + +"Why, you walk so slow," said Fanny; "I thought something must be the +matter with your feet." + +Belle disdained any reply, and, tossing her head, entered the damp +meadow, in close conversation with her devoted young officer, not +deigning even to look at Gertrude, who, without appearing to notice her +haughtiness, took Fanny's hand, and, turning away from the direct path, +to make the circuit of the field, said to Belle, with calm courtesy of +manner, "This way, if you please, Miss Clinton; we have been waiting to +guide you through this wet meadow." + +"Is it wet?" asked Belle, in alarm, glancing down at her delicate +slipper. She then added, in a provoked tone, "I should have thought you +would have known better than to bring us this way. I shan't go across." + +"Then you can go back," said the pert Fanny; "nobody cares." + +"It was not my proposition," remarked Gertrude, mildly, though with a +heightened colour; "but I think I can help you through the difficulty. +Mrs. Graham was afraid you had worn thin shoes, and I brought you a pair +of india-rubbers." + +Belle took them, and, without the grace to express any thanks, said, as +she unfolded the paper in which they were wrapped, "Whose are they?" + +"Mine," replied Gertrude. + +"I don't believe I can keep them on," muttered Belle; "they'll be +immense, I suppose." + +"Allow me," said the lieutenant; and, taking one of the shoes, he +stooped to place it on her foot, but found it difficult to do so, as it +was too small. Belle, perceiving it, bent down to perform, the office +for herself, and treated Gertrude's property with such angry violence +that she snapped the strap which passed across the instep, and even +then only succeeded in partially forcing her foot into the shoe. + +Meantime, as she bent forward, Fanny's attention was attracted by a very +tasteful broad-brimmed hat, which she wore jauntily on one side of her +head, and which Fanny recognised as Gertrude's. It was a somewhat +fanciful article of dress, that Gertrude would hardly have thought of +purchasing for herself, but which Mr. Graham had brought home to her the +previous summer to replace a common garden hat which he had accidentally +crushed. As the style of it was simple and in good taste, she had been +in the habit of wearing it often in her country walks, and kept it hung +in the closet, where it had been found and appropriated by Belle. It had +been seen by Fanny in Gertrude's room at Mrs. Warren's; she had also +been permitted to wear it on one occasion, when she took part in a +charade. Having heard Gertrude say it was missing, she was astonished to +see it adorning Belle; and, as she stood behind her, made signs to +Gertrude, and performed a series of pantomimic gestures expressive of an +intention to snatch it from Miss Clinton's head, and place it on that of +its rightful owner. + +Gertrude's gravity nearly gave way. She shook her head at Fanny, held up +her finger, made signs to her to forbear, and, with a face whose +laughter was only concealed by the deep white bonnet which she wore, +took her hand, and hastened with her along the path, leaving Belle and +her beau to follow. + +"Fanny," said she, "you must not make me laugh so; if Miss Clinton had +seen us she would have been very much hurt." + +"She has no business to wear your hat," said Fanny, "and she shan't." + +"Yes, she shall," replied Gertrude; "she looks beautiful in it, I am +delighted to have her wear it, and you must not intimate to her that it +is mine." + +The walk through the woods was delightful, and Gertrude and her young +companion, in the quiet enjoyment of it, had almost forgotten that they +were members of a gay party, when they suddenly came in sight of Kitty +and Mr. Bruce. They were sitting at the foot of an old oak, Kitty +earnestly engaged in the manufacture of an oak-wreath, which she was +just fitting to her attendant's hat; while he himself, when Gertrude +first caught sight of him, was leaning against the tree in a careless +attitude. But as soon as he perceived their approach, he bent forward, +inspected Kitty's work, and when they came within hearing, was uttering +a profusion of thanks and compliments, which he took care should reach +Gertrude's ears, and Kitty received with manifest pleasure--a pleasure +which was still further enhanced by her perceiving that Gertrude had +apparently no power to withdraw his attention from her. Poor, simple +Kitty! she believed him honest while he bought her heart with +counterfeits. "Miss Gertrude," said Fanny, "I wish we could go into some +pine woods, so that I could get some cones to make baskets and frames +of." + +"There are plenty of pines in that direction," said Gertrude, pointing +with her finger. + +"Why can't we go and look for cones?" asked Fanny; "we could get back by +the time Belle Clinton reaches this place." + +Gertrude and Fanny started off, having first tied their bonnets to the +branch of a tree. They were gone some time, for Fanny found plenty of +cones, but was at a loss how to carry them home. "I have thought," said +she, at last; "I will run back and borrow brother Ben's handkerchief; +or, if he won't let me have it, I'll take my own bonnet and fill it +full." Gertrude promised to await her return, and she ran off. When she +came near the spot where she had left Kitty and Mr. Bruce, she heard +several voices and loud laughter. Belle and the lieutenant had arrived, +and they were having great sport about something. Belle was standing +with the white cape bonnet in her hand. She had bent it completely out +of shape, so as to give it the appearance of an old woman's cap, had +adorned the front with white-weed and dandelions, and finally pinned on +a handkerchief to serve as a veil. She held it up on the end of the +lieutenant's cane, and was endeavouring to obtain a bid for Miss Flint's +bridal bonnet. + +Fanny listened a moment with an indignant countenance, then advanced +with a bound, as if just running from the woods. Kitty caught her frock +as she passed, and exclaimed, "Why, Fanny, are you here? Where's +Gertrude?" + +"Oh, she's in the pine woods!" replied Fanny, "and I'm going back; she +only sent me to get her hat, the sun's so warm where we are." + +"Ah, yes!" said Belle, "her Paris hat. Please give it to her, with our +compliments." + +"No, that isn't hers," said Fanny; "_that_ is Miss Emily's. _This_ is +hers;" and she laid her hand upon the straw head-dress which the +gentlemen had but a moment before been assuring Belle was vastly +becoming, and, without ceremony, snatched it from her head. + +Belle's eyes flashed angrily. "What do you mean?" said she; "you saucy +little creature! Give me that hat!" and she stretched out her hand to +take it. + +"I shan't do any such thing!" said Fanny; "it's Gertrude's hat. She +looked for it this afternoon, but concluded it was either lost or +stolen, and so borrowed Miss Emily's cape-bonnet; but she'll be very +glad to find it, and I'll carry it to her. I rather think," said she, +looking over her shoulder, as she ran off, "I rather think Miss Emily +would be willing you should wear her bonnet home, if you'll be careful, +and not bend it." + +A few moments of anger to Belle, laughter from Kitty and Mr. Bruce, and +concealed amusement on Lieutenant Osborne's part, and Gertrude came +hastily from the woods, with the hat in her hand, Fanny following her; +and, taking advantage of Belle's position, with her back towards her, +resumed her pantomimic threats and insinuations. "Miss Clinton," said +Gertrude, as she replaced the hat in her lap, "I am afraid Fanny has +been very rude in my name. I did not send her for either hat or bonnet, +and shall be pleased to have you wear this as often as you like." + +"I don't want it," said Belle, scornfully; "I'd no idea it belonged to +you." + +"Certainly not; I am aware of it," said Gertrude. "But I trust that will +not prevent you making use of it for to-day, at least." Without urging +the matter further, she proposed that they should hasten on to the top +of the hill, which they could not otherwise reach before sunset; and set +the example by moving forward in that direction, Fanny accompanying her, +and busying herself as she went by stripping the decorations from +Emily's despised bonnet; Belle tying an embroidered handkerchief under +her chin; and Mr. Bruce swinging on his arm the otherwise neglected +hat. + +Belle did not recover her temper during the evening; the rest found +their excursion agreeable, and it was nearly dark when they reached the +Thornton farm on their return. Here Gertrude left them, telling Fanny +that she had promised to stop and see Jenny Thornton, one of her +Sunday-school class, who was in a fever, and refusing to let her remain, +as her mother might not wish her to enter the house, where several of +the family were sick. About an hour after, as Gertrude was walking home +in some haste, she was joined near Mr. Graham's house by Mr. Bruce, who, +with her hat still hanging on his arm, seemed to have been awaiting her +return. She started on his abruptly joining her, for it was so dark that +she did not at once recognise him, and supposed it might be a stranger. + +"Miss Gertrude," said he, "I hope I don't alarm you." + +"Oh no," said she, reassured by the sound of his voice; "I did not know +who it was." + +He offered his arm, and she took it; for his recent devotion to Kitty +had served in some degree to relieve her of any fear she had felt lest +his attentions carried meaning with them; and concluding that he liked +to play beau-general, she had no objection to his escorting her home. + +"We had a very pleasant walk this evening," said he; "at least, I had. +Miss Kitty is a very entertaining companion." + +"I think she is," replied Gertrude; "I like her frank, lively manners +much." + +"I am afraid you found Fanny rather poor company. I should have joined +you occasionally, but I could hardly find an opportunity to quit Miss +Kitty, we were so much interested in what we were saying." + +"Fanny and I are accustomed to each other, and very happy together," +said Gertrude. + +"Do you know we have planned a delightful drive for to-morrow?" + +"No; I was not aware of it." + +"I suppose Miss Kay expects I shall ask her to go with me; but +supposing, Miss Gertrude, I should give you the preference, and ask you, +what should you say?" + +"That I was much obliged to you, but had an engagement to take a drive +with Miss Emily," replied Gertrude, promptly. + +"Indeed!" said he, in a suppressed and provoked tone; "I thought you +would like it; but Miss Kitty, I doubt not will accept. I will go in and +ask her. Here is your hat." + +"Thank you," said Gertrude, and would have taken it; but Ben still held +it by one string, and said---- + +"Then you won't go, Miss Gertrude?" + +"My engagement with Miss Emily cannot be postponed on any account," +answered Gertrude, thankful that she had so excellent a reason for +declining. + +"Nonsense!" said Mr. Bruce; "you could go with me if you chose; and if +you don't, I shall certainly invite Miss Kitty." + +The weight he seemed to attach to this threat astonished Gertrude. "Can +it be possible," thought she, "that he expects thus to pique and annoy +me?" and she replied by saying, "I shall be happy if my declining prove +the means of Kitty's enjoying a pleasant drive; she is fond of variety, +and has few opportunities here to indulge her taste." + +They now entered the house. Mr. Bruce sought Kitty in the recess of the +window, and Gertrude, not finding Emily present, stayed but a short time +in the room--long enough, however, to observe Mr. Bruce's exaggerated +devotion to Kitty, which was marked by others beside himself. Kitty +promised to accompany him the next day, and did so. Mrs. Graham, Mrs. +Bruce, Belle, and the lieutenant, went also in another vehicle, and +Emily and Gertrude took a different direction, and driving white Charlie +in the old-fashioned buggy, rejoiced in their quiet independence. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +VANITY. + + +Days and weeks passed on, and no marked event took place in Mr. Graham's +household. The weather became intensely warm, and no more walks and +drives were planned. The lieutenant left the city, and Isabel, who could +neither endure with patience excessive heat nor want of society, grew +more irritable than ever. + +To Kitty, however, these summer days were fraught with interest. Mr. +Bruce visited constantly at the house, and had great influence upon her +outward demeanour and her inward happiness, which fluctuated as his +attentions were freely bestowed or altogether suspended. No wonder the +poor girl was puzzled to understand one whose conduct was certainly +inexplicable to any but those initiated into his motives. Believing, as +he did, that Gertrude would in time show a disposition to win him back, +he was anxious only to carry his addresses to Kitty to such a point as +would excite a serious alarm in the mind of the poor _protégée_ of the +Grahams, who dared to slight his proffered advances. Acting then as he +did almost wholly with reference to Gertrude, it was only in her +presence, or under such circumstances that he was sure it would reach +her ears, that he manifested a marked interest in Kitty; and his +behaviour was, therefore, in the highest degree, unequal, leading the +warm-hearted Kitty to believe one moment that he felt for her almost the +tenderness of a lover, and the next to suffer under the apprehension of +having unconsciously wounded or offended him. Unfortunately, too, Mrs. +Graham took every opportunity to congratulate her upon her conquest, +thereby increasing the simple girl's confidence in the sincerity of Mr. +Bruce's admiration. + +Gertrude, whose eyes were soon opened to the existing state of things, +was filled with apprehension on account of Kitty, for whose peace and +welfare she felt great concern. The suspicions to which Mr. Bruce's +conduct gave rise were soon strengthened into convictions; for, on +several occasions, after he had offered Kitty proofs of devotion, he +tested their effect upon Gertrude by some attention to herself; +intimating that she had it in her power to rob Kitty of all claim upon +his favour. + +Gertrude availed herself of every opportunity to acquaint him with the +truth, that he could not render himself more odious in her eyes than by +the use of such mean attempts to mortify her; but attributing her warmth +to jealousy, which he desired to excite, the selfish young man +persevered in his course of wickedness. As he only proffered his +attentions, and made no offer of his heart and hand, Kitty, having +forgotten that she had a few weeks back looked upon Gertrude as a rival, +now chose her for her bosom friend; and the transparency of her +character was such that she betrayed her secret to Gertrude. Though no +one but Gertrude appeared to observe it, Kitty was wonderfully +changed;--the gay, laughing, careless Kitty had now her fits of +musing--her sunny face was subject to clouds, that flitted across it, +and robbed it of all its brightness. If she found Gertrude sitting alone +in her room she would approach, throw her arm around her, and talk on +her favourite topic. She would relate the complimentary speeches and +polite attentions of Mr. Bruce, talk about him for an hour, and question +Gertrude as to her opinion of his merits. She would ask if Gertrude +really supposed he meant all he said, and add, that of course she didn't +believe he did--it was all nonsense. And if Gertrude avowed the same +opinion, and declared it was best not to trust his flatteries, poor +Kitty's face would fail, and she would give her reasons for _sometimes_ +thinking he was sincere--he had such a _truthful, earnest_ way of +speaking. + +At last Mr. Bruce tried Gertrude's firmness by offering to her +acceptance a rich ring. Not a little surprised at his presumption, she +declined it without ceremony, and the next day saw it on the finger of +Kitty, who was eager to give an account of its presentation. + +"And did you _accept_ it?" asked Gertrude, with such a look of +astonishment, that Kitty observed it, and evaded an acknowledgment of +having done so, by saying, with a blushing countenance, that she agreed +to wear it a little while. + +"I wouldn't," said Gertrude. + +"Why not?" + +"Because, in the first place, I do not think it is in good taste to +receive such rich gifts from gentlemen; and then, again, if strangers +notice it, you may be subjected to unpleasant, significant remarks." + +"What would you do with it?" asked Kitty. + +"I should give it back." + +Kitty looked very undecided; but concluded to offer it to Mr. Bruce, and +tell him what Gertrude said. She did so, and that gentleman, little +appreciating Gertrude's motives, and believing her only desirous of +making difficulty between him and Kitty, jumped at the conclusion that +her heart was won at last. He was disappointed, therefore, when, on his +next meeting with her, she treated him as she had invariably done of +late, with cool civility; indeed, it seemed to him that she was more +insensible than ever to his attractions, and hastily quitted the house, +much to the distress of Kitty. + +"Shall I," thought he, "marry this poor girl? Shall I, who have a +handsome fortune, and additional expectations to make a brilliant +alliance, condescend to share my wealth with this adopted child of the +Grahams? If she were one atom less charming, I would disappoint her, +after all! I wonder how she'd feel if I should marry Kitty! I dare say +that she would come to my wedding, bend her slender neck as gracefully +as ever, and say, '_Good evening, Mr. Bruce_,' as calmly as she does +now, every time I go to the house! But, as _Mrs. Bruce_, I should be +proud of that manner, certainly. I wonder how I ever got in love with +her; I'm sure I don't know. She isn't handsome; mother thinks she isn't, +and so does Belle Clinton. But Lieutenant Osborne noticed her the minute +she came into the room; and Fan raves about her beauty. I don't know +what I think myself; I believe she's bewitched me, so that I'm not +capable of judging; but, if it isn't beauty, it's something more than +mere good looks." + +About this time, Mrs. Graham and Mrs. Bruce, with their families, +received cards for a _levée_ at the house of an acquaintance five miles +distant. Mrs. Bruce, who had a close carriage, invited both the cousins +to go; and, as Mr. Graham's carriage, when closed, would only +accommodate himself and lady, the proposal was acceded to. + +The prospect of a gay assembly revived Isabel's drooping spirits. Her +rich evening dresses were brought out, and she stood before her mirror, +and tied on first one wreath, and then another, and looked so beautiful +in each that it was difficult to choose. Kitty, who stood by, went to +consult Gertrude. + +"Gertrude," said Kitty, "what shall I wear this evening? I've been +trying to get Belle to tell me, but she never will hear what I ask her, +when she's thinking about her own dress! She's dreadfully selfish." + +"Who advises _her_?" asked Gertrude. + +"Oh, nobody; she always decides for herself; but then she has so much +taste, and I haven't the least in the world! So do tell me, Gertrude, +what had I better wear to-night?" + +"I'm the last person you should ask, Kitty; I never went to a +fashionable party in my life." + +"That doesn't make any difference. I'm sure if you did go, you'd look +better than any of us; and I'm not afraid to trust to your opinion, for +I never in my life saw you wear anything that didn't look genteel--even +your gingham morning-gown has a sort of stylish air." + +"Stop, stop, Kitty; you are going too far; you must keep within bounds +if you want me to believe you." + +"Well then," said Kitty, "to say nothing of yourself (for you're +superior to flattery, Gertrude--_somebody_ told me so)--who furnishes +Miss Emily's wardrobe? Who selects her dresses?" + +"I have done so lately, but----" + +"I thought so!--I thought so!" interrupted Kitty. "I knew poor Miss +Emily was indebted to you for always looking so nice and so beautiful." + +"No, indeed, Kitty, you are mistaken; I have never seen Emily better +dressed than she was the first time I met her; and her beauty is not +borrowed from art--it is all her own." + +"Oh, I know she is lovely, and everybody admires her; but no one can +suppose she would take pains to wear such pretty things, and put them on +so gracefully, just to please herself." + +"It is not done merely to please herself; it was to please her father +that Emily first made the exertion to dress with taste as well as +neatness. I have heard that, for some time after she lost her eyesight, +she was disposed to be very careless; but, having accidentally +discovered that it was an additional cause of sorrow to him, she roused +herself at once, and, with Mrs. Ellis's assistance, contrived always +afterwards to please him in that particular. But you observe, Kitty, she +never wears anything showy or conspicuous." + +"No, indeed, that is what I like; but, Gertrude, hasn't she always been +blind?" + +"No; until she was sixteen she had beautiful eyes, and could see as well +as you can." + +"What happened to her? How did she lose them?" + +"I don't know." + +"Didn't you ever ask?" + +"No." + +"Why not?--how queer!" + +"I heard that she didn't like to speak of it." + +"But she would have told you; she worships you." + +"If she had wished me to know, she would have told without my asking." + +Kitty stared at Gertrude, wondering much at such unusual delicacy and +consideration, and instinctively admiring a forbearance of which she was +conscious she should herself have been incapable. + +"But your dress!" said Gertrude, smiling at Kitty's abstraction. + +"Oh, yes! I had almost forgotten what I came here for," said Kitty. +"What shall it be, then--thick or thin; pink, blue, or white?" + +"What has Isabel decided upon?" + +"Blue--a rich blue silk; that is her favourite colour, always; but it +doesn't become me." + +"No, I should think not," said Gertrude; "but come, Kitty, we will go to +your room and see the dresses, and I will give my opinion." + +Kitty's wardrobe having been inspected, a delicate white crape was fixed +upon. And now her head-dresses did not prove satisfactory. "I cannot +wear any of them," said Kitty; "they look so mean by the side of +Isabel's; but oh!" exclaimed she, glancing at a box which lay on the +dressing-table, "these are just what I should like! Oh, Isabel, where +did you get these beautiful carnations?" and she took up some flowers +which were, indeed, a rare imitation of nature, and, displaying them to +Gertrude, added that they were just what she wanted. + +"Oh, Kitty," said Isabel, angrily, "don't touch my flowers! you will +spoil them!" and snatching them from her, she replaced them in the box, +and deposited them in the bureau, and locked them up--an action which +Gertrude witnessed with astonishment, mingled with indignation. + +"Kitty," said she, "I will arrange a wreath of natural flowers for you, +if you wish." + +"Will you, Gertrude?" said the disappointed and provoked Kitty. "Oh that +will be delightful. I should like it of all things! And, Isabel, you +cross old miser, you can keep all your wreaths to yourself!" + +Gertrude prepared a head-dress for Kitty; and tastefully mingled the +choicest productions of the garden, that, when Isabel saw her cousin +look so beautiful with it, she felt a sharp pang of jealousy of Kitty +and dislike to Gertrude. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +THE REJECTED. + + +Emily was not well this evening. It was often the case, lately, that +headache, weariness, or a nervous shrinking from noise and excitement +sent her to her own room or to her couch at an early hour. After Mrs. +Graham and her nieces had gone downstairs to await Mr. Graham's +pleasure, and Mrs. Bruce's arrival, Gertrude returned to Emily, and +found her suffering more than usual from her head. She was easily +induced to seek the only infallible cure--sleep; and Gertrude, seating +herself on the bedside, as she was frequently in the habit of doing, +bathed her temples until she fell into a quiet slumber. The noise of +Mrs. Bruce's carriage disturbed her a little; but she was soon in so +sound a sleep that, when Mr. and Mrs. Graham departed, the loud voice of +the latter did not startle her in the least. Gertrude sat some time +longer without changing her position, then, quietly rising, and +arranging everything for the night, according to Emily's wishes, she +closed the door, sought a book in her own room, and, entering the +parlour, seated herself at a table to enjoy the rare opportunity for +stillness and repose. But she soon left her seat, and going towards the +glass doors and leaning her head upon her hands, was absorbed in +meditation. + +She had not long sat thus when she heard a footstep in the room, and, +turning, saw Mr. Bruce beside her. She started, and exclaimed, "Mr. +Bruce! is it possible? I thought you had gone to the wedding." + +"No, there were greater attractions for me at home. Could you believe, +Miss Gertrude, I should find any pleasure in a party which did not +include yourself?" + +"I certainly should not have the vanity to suppose the reverse?" replied +Gertrude. + +"I wish you had a little more vanity, Miss Gertrude. Perhaps then you +would believe what I say." + +"I am glad you have the candour to acknowledge, Mr. Bruce, that, without +that requisite, one would find it impossible to put faith in your fair +speeches." + +"I acknowledge no such thing. I only say to you what any other girl but +yourself would be willing enough to believe; but how shall I convince +you that I am serious, and wish to be so understood?" + +"By addressing me with simple truthfulness, and sparing me those words +and attentions which I wish to convince you are unacceptable to me and +unworthy of yourself." + +"But I have a meaning, Gertrude, a _deep_ meaning. I have been trying +long to find an opportunity to tell you of my resolve, and you _must_ +listen to me now;" for he saw her change colour and look anxious and +uneasy. "You must give me an answer at once, and one that will, I trust, +be favourable to my wishes. You like plain speaking; and I will be plain +enough, now that my mind is made up. My relatives and friends may talk +and wonder as much as they please at my choosing a wife who has neither +money nor family to boast of; but I will defy them all, and offer +without hesitation to share my prospects with you. What is money good +for, if it does not make a man independent to do as he pleases? And, as +to the world, I don't see but that you can hold your head as high as +anybody, Gertrude; so, if you've no objection to make, we'll play at +cross purposes no longer;" and he endeavoured to take her hand. + +But Gertrude drew back; the colour flushed her cheeks, and her eyes +glistened as she fixed them upon his face, with an expression of +astonishment and pride. The penetrating look of those dark eyes spoke +volumes, and Mr. Bruce replied to their inquiring gaze in these words: +"I hope you are not displeased at my frankness." + +"With your frankness," said Gertrude, calmly; "no, that is a thing that +never displeases me. But what I have unconsciously done to inspire you +with so much confidence, that, while you defend yourself for defying the +wishes of your friends, you hardly give me a voice in the matter?" + +"Nothing," said Bruce; "but I thought you had laboured under the +impression that I was disposed to trifle with your affections, and had +therefore kept aloof and maintained a distance towards me which you +would not have done had you known I was in earnest; but, believe me, I +only admired you the more for behaving with so much dignity, and if I +have presumed upon your favour, you must forgive me." + +The expression of wounded pride vanished from Gertrude's face. "He knows +no better," thought she; "I should pity his vanity and ignorance, and +sympathize in his disappointment; and, in disclaiming with a +positiveness which left no room for self-deception, any interest in Mr. +Bruce beyond that of an old acquaintance and well-wisher, she +nevertheless softened her refusal by the choice of the mildest language. +She felt gratitude and consideration were due to the man who, however +little she might esteem _him_, had paid _her_ the highest honour;" and, +though her regret in the matter was tempered by the thought of Kitty, +and the strangeness of Mr. Bruce's conduct towards her, now rendered +doubly inexplicable, she did not permit that reflection to prevent her +from maintaining the demeanour of a perfect lady, who, in giving pain to +another, laments the necessity of so doing. But she almost felt as if +her thoughtfulness for his feelings had been thrown away, when she +perceived the spirit in which he received her refusal. + +"Gertrude," said he, "you are either trifling with me or yourself. If +you are still disposed to coquet with me, I shall not humble myself to +urge you further; but if, on the other hand, you are so far forgetful of +your own interests as deliberately to refuse such a fortune as mine, I +think it's a pity you haven't got some friend to advise you. Such a +chance doesn't occur every day, especially to poor school-mistresses; +and if you are so foolish as to overlook it, you'll never have another." + +Gertrude's _old temper_ rose at this insulting language; but her +feelings had been too long under strict regulation to yield, and she +replied in a tone which, though slightly agitated, was far from being +angry, "Allowing I could so far forget _myself_, Mr. Bruce, I would not +do _you_ such an injustice as to marry you for your fortune. I do not +despise wealth, for I know the blessing it may often be; but my +affections cannot be bought with gold;" and as she spoke she moved +towards the door. + +"Stay!" said Mr. Bruce, catching her hand; "listen to me one moment; let +me ask you one question. Are you jealous of my late attentions to +another?" + +"No," answered Gertrude; "but I confess I have not understood your +motives." + +"Did you think," asked he, "that I care for silly Kitty? Did you believe +that I had any other desire than to show you that my devotion was +acceptable elsewhere? No, I never had the least particle of regard for +her; my heart has been yours all the time, and I only danced attendance +upon _her_, in hopes to win a glance from _you_--an _anxious_ glance, if +might be. Oh, I have wished that you would show only one quarter of the +pleasure that she did in my society; would blush and smile as she did; +would look sad when I was dull, and laugh when I was merry; so that I +might flatter myself that your heart was won. But as to _loving_ +her,--pooh! Mrs. Graham's poodle-dog might as well try to rival you as +that soft----" + +"Stop! stop!" exclaimed Gertrude; "for _my_ sake, if not for your _own_! +Oh, how----" She could say no more; but, sinking into a seat, burst into +tears, and hiding her face in her hands, as had been her habit in +childhood, wept without restraint. + +Mr. Bruce stood by in utter amazement; at last he approached her, and +asked, in a low voice, "What is the matter? what have I done?" + +It was some minutes before she could reply; then, lifting her head, and +tossing the hair from her forehead, she displayed features expressive +only of the deepest grief, and said, in broken accents, "What have you +done? Oh, how can you ask? She is gentle, and amiable, and affectionate. +She loves everybody, and trusts everybody. You have _deceived_ her, and +_I_ was the cause of it. Oh, how, how could you do it!" + +Ben exclaimed, "She will get over it." "Get over _what_!" said Gertrude; +"her love for you? Perhaps so; I know not how deep it is. But, think of +her happy, trusting nature, and how it has been betrayed! Think how she +believed your flattering words, and how hollow they were, all the while! +Think how her confidence has been abused! how that fatherless and +motherless girl, who had a claim to the sympathy of all the world, has +been taught a lesson of distrust." + +"I didn't think you would take it so," said Ben. + +"How else could I view it?" asked Gertrude; "could you expect that such +a course would win my respect?" + +"You take it very seriously, Gertrude; such flirtations are common." + +"I am sorry to hear it," said Gertrude. "To my mind, unversed in the +ways of society, it is a dreadful thing to trifle thus with a human +heart. Whether Kitty loves you is not for me to say; but what opinion, +alas! will she have of your sincerity?" + +"I think you're rather hard, Miss Gertrude, when it was my love for you +that prompted my conduct." + +"Perhaps I am," said Gertrude. "It is not my place to censure; I speak +only from the impulse of my heart. One orphan girl's warm defence of +another is but natural. Perhaps she views the thing lightly, and does +not _need_ an advocate; but, oh, Mr. Bruce, do not think so meanly of my +sex as to believe that one woman's heart can be won to love and +reverence by the author of another's betrayal! She were less than woman +who could be so false to her sense of right and honour." + +"Betrayal!--Nonsense! you are very high-flown." + +"So much so, Mr. Bruce, that half-an-hour ago I could have wept that you +should have bestowed your affection where it met with no requital; and +if now I wept for the sake of her whose ears have listened to false +professions, and whose peace has, to say the least, been _threatened_ on +my account, you should attribute it to the fact that my sympathies have +not been exhausted by contact with the world." + +A short silence ensued. Ben went a step or two towards the door, then +stopped, came back, and said, "After all, Gertrude Flint, I believe the +time will come when your notions will grow less romantic, and you will +look back to this night and wish you had acted differently." He +immediately left the room, and Gertrude heard him shut the hall-door +with a bang. + +A moment after the silence that ensued was disturbed by a slight sound +which seemed to proceed from the recess in the window. Gertrude started, +and, as she went towards the spot, heard a smothered sob. She lifted a +curtain, and there, upon the window-seat, her head buried in the +cushions, and her little slender form distorted into a strange attitude, +sat, or rather crouched, poor Kitty Ray. + +"Kitty?" cried Gertrude. At the sound of her voice Kitty sprung suddenly +from her recumbent posture, threw herself into Gertrude's arms, laid her +head upon her shoulder, and though she did not, _could_ not weep, shook +with an agitation uncontrollable. Her hand which grasped Gertrude's was +cold; her eyes fixed; and at intervals the same hysterical sound which +had at first betrayed her in her hiding-place alarmed her young +protector, to whom she clung. Gertrude supported her to a seat, and +then, folding the slight form to her bosom, chafed the cold hands, and +again and again kissing the rigid lips, succeeded in restoring her to +something like composure. For an hour she lay thus, receiving Gertrude's +caresses with evident pleasure, and now and then returning them +convulsively, but speaking no word and making no noise. Gertrude, with +the truest delicacy, refrained from asking questions, or recurring to a +conversation, the whole of which had been thus overheard and +comprehended; but, patiently waiting until Kitty grew more calm, +prepared for her a soothing draught; and then, finding her completely +prostrated, both in mind and body, passed her arm around her waist, +guided her upstairs, and took her into her own room, where, if she +proved wakeful, she would be spared the scrutiny of Isabel. Still +clinging to Gertrude, the poor girl, to whose relief tears came at last, +sobbed herself to sleep. Gertrude, though nearly the same age as Kitty, +had seen too much trouble to enjoy in times of disquiet the privilege of +sinking easily to repose. She felt under the necessity, too, of +remaining awake until Isabel's return, that she might inform her what +had become of Kitty, whom she would be sure to miss from the room which +they both occupied. It was past midnight when Mrs. Graham and her niece +returned home, and Gertrude went immediately to inform the latter that +her cousin was asleep in her room. The noise of the carriage, however, +had awakened the sleeper, and when Gertrude returned she was rubbing her +eyes, and trying to collect her thoughts. Suddenly the recollection of +the scene of the evening flashed upon her, and with a deep sigh she +exclaimed, "Oh, Gertrude, I have been dreaming of Mr. Bruce! Should you +have thought he would have treated me so?" + +"No, I should not," said Gertrude; "but I wouldn't dream about him, +Kitty, nor think of him any more; we will both go to sleep and forget +him." + +"It is different with you," said Kitty, with simplicity. "He loves you, +and you do not care for him; but I--I----" Here her feelings overpowered +her, and she buried her face in her pillow. + +Gertrude approached, laid her hand kindly upon the head of the poor +girl, and finished the sentence for her. + +"You have such a large heart, Kitty, that he found some place there, +perhaps; but it is too good a heart to be shared by the mean and base. +You must think no more of him--he is not worthy of your regard." + +"I can't help it," said Kitty; "I am silly, just as he said." + +"No, you are not," said Gertrude, encouragingly; "and you must prove it +to him." + +"How?" + +"Let him see that, with all her softness, Kitty Ray is brave; that she +believes not his flattery, and values his professions at just what they +are worth." + +"Will you help me, Gertrude? You are my best friend; you took my part, +and told him how wicked he had been to me. May I come to you for comfort +when I can't make believe happy any longer to him, and my aunt, and +Isabel?" + +Gertrude's fervent embrace assured her. + +"You will be as bright and as happy as ever in a few weeks," said she; +"you will soon cease to care for a person whom you no longer respect." + +Kitty disclaimed the possibility of ever being happy again; but Gertrude +was more hopeful. She saw that Kitty's outburst of sobs and tears was +like an impetuous grief, but that the deepest recesses of her nature +were safe. She felt a deep compassion for her, and many fears lest she +would want sufficient strength of mind to behave with dignity and +womanly pride in her future intercourse with Mr. Bruce. + +Fortunately, the trial was spared her by Mr. Bruce's absenting himself +from the house, and in a few days leaving home for the remainder of the +summer; and, as this circumstance involved his own and Mrs. Graham's +family in wonder as to the cause of his sudden departure, Kitty's trials +were in the perpetual questionings from her aunt and cousin as to her +share in this occurrence. Had she quarrelled with him?--and why? Kitty +denied that she had; but she was not believed. + +Mrs. Graham and Isabel were aware that Kitty's refusing at the last +moment to attend the wedding _levée_ was owing to her having learned, +just before the carriage drove to the door, that Mr. Bruce was not to be +one of the party; and, as they got her to confess that he had passed a +part of the evening at the house, they came to the conclusion that some +misunderstanding had arisen between the lovers. + +Isabel was too well acquainted with Kitty's sentiments to believe she +had voluntarily relinquished an admirer who had evidently been highly +prized; and she also saw that the sensitive girl winced under every +allusion to the deserter. Where was her affection? For she made Mr. +Bruce and his disappearance her constant topic; and, on the slightest +difference between herself and Kitty, she distressed the latter by +cutting sarcasm relative to her late love-affair. Kitty would then seek +refuge with Gertrude, and claim her sympathy; and she not only found in +her a friendly listener to her woes, but invariably acquired in her +society greater strength and cheerfulness than she could elsewhere rally +to her aid. + +Many a time, when Isabel had been tantalising Kitty beyond what her +patience could endure, a little figure would present itself at the door +of Miss Graham's room, and with the sweetest of voices say, "I hear you, +Kitty; come in, my dear; we shall be glad of your pleasant company;" and +seated by the side of Gertrude, learning from her some little art in +needlework, listening to an agreeable book, or Emily's more agreeable +conversation, Kitty passed hours which were never forgotten, so peaceful +were they, so serene, so totally unlike any she had ever spent before. + +None could live in familiar intercourse with Emily, listen to her words, +observe the radiance of her heavenly smile, and breathe in the pure +atmosphere that environed her very being, and not carry away with them +the _love_ of virtue and holiness, if not something of their _essence_. +She was so unselfish, so patient, notwithstanding her privations, that +Kitty would have been ashamed to repine in her presence; and there was a +contagious cheerfulness ever pervading her apartment, which, in spite of +Kitty's recent cause of unhappiness, often led her to forget herself, +and break into her natural tone of buoyancy and glee. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +ENVY, HATRED, AND MALICE. + + +Little did Gertrude imagine, while she was striving to promote the +welfare of Kitty, who had thrown herself upon her love and care, the +jealousy and ill-will she was exciting in others. Isabel, who had never +liked one whose tone of action and life reproached her own vanity and +selfishness, and who saw in her the additional crime of being the +favoured friend of a youth of whose interesting boyhood she herself +retained a sentimental recollection, was eager to render her odious to +Mrs. Graham. She was not slow to observe the confidence that existed +between Kitty and Gertrude; that her cousin had forsaken her own room +for that of the latter the night after her probable quarrel and parting +with Bruce; and her resentment, excited still further by the growing +friendship which her own unkindness to Kitty served only to confirm, she +communicated to Mrs. Graham her suspicion that Gertrude had selfishly +made a difficulty between Bruce and Kitty, and fostered and widened the +breach, and succeeded in breaking off the match. Mrs. Graham readily +adopted Belle's opinion. "Kitty," said she, "is weak-minded, and much +under Miss Flint's influence. I shouldn't be surprised if you were +right, Belle!" + +Thus they tried to entrap Kitty into a confession that Gertrude had +driven away her lover. But Kitty, while she indignantly denied +Gertrude's having injured her, refused to reveal the occurrences of the +eventful evening. Mrs. Graham and Belle were angry, and many were their +private discussions on the subject, and as they became more and more +incensed against Gertrude, so they began to manifest it in their +demeanour. + +Gertrude soon perceived their incivility. With wonderful patience, +however, did she preserve her equanimity. She had never looked for +kindness and attention from Mrs. Graham and Isabel. They were irritated +by her calmness and patience, now made their attack in another quarter; +and Emily, the sweet, lovely, and unoffending Emily, became the object +against which they aimed many of their shafts of ill-will. + +Gertrude could bear injury, injustice, and even cruel language, towards +herself only; but her blood boiled when she perceived that her cherished +Emily was becoming the victim of neglect and ill-usage. To address the +gentle Emily in other words than those of courtesy was next to +impossible; it was equally hard to find fault with the actions of one +whose life was so good and beautiful; and the isolated position which +she occupied on account of her blindness seemed to render her free from +interference. But Mrs. Graham was coarse and blunt, Isabel selfish and +unfeeling; and long before the blind girl was aware of any unkind +intention on their part, Gertrude's spirit had rebelled at the knowledge +of many a word and act well calculated to distress a sensitive mind. +Many a stroke was warded off by Gertrude; many a nearly defeated plan, +which Emily was known to have had at heart, carried through by +Gertrude's perseverance and energy; and for some weeks Emily was kept +ignorant of the fact that many a little office formerly performed for +her by a servant was now fulfilled by Gertrude, who would not let her +know that Bridget had received from her mistress orders which were quite +inconsistent with her usual attendance upon Miss Graham's wants. + +Mr. Graham was absent on business at New York. His presence would have +been a great restraint upon his wife, who was well aware of his devoted +affection for his daughter. His love for Emily, and the devotion +manifested towards her by every member of the household, had rendered +her an object of jealousy to Mrs. Graham. + +Shortly before Mr. Graham's return, Mrs. Graham and Isabel were +indulging themselves in an unlimited abuse of the rest of the household, +when a letter was brought to Mrs. Graham, which proved to be from her +husband. After glancing over its contents, she remarked, with an air of +satisfaction, "Here is good news for us, Isabel, and a prospect of some +pleasure in the world." And she read aloud the following--"The +troublesome affair which called me here is nearly settled, and the +result is very favourable to my wishes and plans. I now see nothing to +prevent our starting for Europe the latter part of next month, and the +girls must make their arrangements accordingly. Tell Emily to spare +nothing towards a full and complete equipment for herself and Gertrude." + +"He speaks of Gertrude," said Isabel, sneeringly, "as if she were one of +the family. I'm sure I don't see any very great prospect of pleasure in +travelling all through Europe with a blind woman, and her disagreeable +appendages; I can't think what Mr. Graham wants to take them for." + +"I wish he would leave them at home," said Mrs. Graham; "it would be a +good punishment for Gertrude. But, mercy! he would as soon think of +going without his right hand as without Emily." + +"I hope, if ever I'm married," exclaimed Isabel, "it won't be to a man +that's got a blind daughter! Such a dreadful good person, too, whom +everybody has got to worship, and admire, and wait upon!" + +"I don't have to wait upon her," said Mrs. Graham; "that's Gertrude's +business--it's what she's going for." + +"That's the worst of it; a blind girl has to have a waiting-maid, and a +waiting-maid is a great lady, who doesn't mind cheating your nieces out +of their lovers, and even robbing them of each other's affection." + +"Well, what can I do, Belle? I'm sure I don't want Gertrude's company +any more than you do; but I don't see how I can get rid of her." + +"I should think you'd tell Mr. Graham some of the harm she's done +already. If you have any influence over him, you might prevent her +going." + +"It would be no more than she deserves," said Mrs. Graham; "and I may +give him a hint of her behaviour; he'll be surprised enough when he +hears of Bruce's sudden flight. I knew he thought it would be a match +between him and Kitty." + +As Isabel descended the staircase, to meet with smiles and compliments +the guests whom in her heart she wished a thousand miles away on this +intensely hot afternoon, Gertrude came up from the kitchen, and passed +along a passage to her own room. She carried, over one arm, a dress of +white muslin, and a number of collars, sleeves, and ruffles, with other +articles fresh from the ironing-board. Her face was heated; she looked +tired, and, as she reached her room, and deposited her burden upon the +bed, she drew a long breath, as if fatigued, seated herself by a +window, brushed the hair back from her face, and threw open a blind. +Just then Mrs. Prime put her head in at the door; and, seeing Gertrude +alone, entered the room, but stood in astonishment on observing the +evidences of her recent laborious employment; then, glancing at the +fruits of her diligence, she burst forth indignantly, "My sakes alive! +Miss Gertrude, I believe you've been doin' up them muslins yourself, +after all!" + +Gertrude smiled, but did not reply. + +"Now, if that ain't too bad!" said the kind-hearted woman; "to think you +should ha' been at work down in that 'ere hot kitchen, and all the rest +on us takin' a spell o' rest in the heat of the day. I'll warrant if +Miss Emily knew it, she'd never put on that white gown!" + +"It hardly looks _fit_ for her to wear," said Gertrude. "I'm not much +used to ironing, and have had a great deal of trouble with it; one side +got dry before I could smooth out the other." + +"It looks elegant, Miss Gertrude; but what should you be doin' Bridget's +work for, I want to know?" + +"Bridget always has enough to do," said Gertrude, evading a direct +answer; "and it's very well for me to have some practice; knowledge +never comes amiss, you know, Mrs. Prime." + +"'Tant no kind of an afternoon for 'speriment o' that sort; and you +wouldn't ha' done it, I'll venture to say, if you hadn't been afeard +Miss Emily would want her things, and find out they wan't done. Times is +changed in this house, when Mr. Graham's own daughter, that was once the +head of everything, has to have her clothes laid by to make room for +other folks. Bridget ought to know better than to mind these upstarters, +when they tell her, as I heard Miss Graham yesterday, to let alone that +heap o' muslins, and attend to something that was o' more consequence. +Our Katy would ha' known better; but Bridget's a new-comer like all the +rest. Thinks I to myself then, what would Miss Gertrude say, if she +suspected how Miss Emily was bein' neglected! But I'll _tell_ Miss +Emily, as sure as my name's Prime, just how things go--you shan't get so +red in the face with ironing agin, Miss Gertrude. If the kind o' frocks +she likes to wear can't be done up at home--and yourn too, what's +more--the washin' ought to be put out. There's money enough, and some of +it ought to be spent for the use o' the ladies as is ladies! I wish to +heart _that_ Isabella would have to start round a little lively; 'twould +do her good; but, Lor', Miss Gertrude, it goes right to my heart to see +all the vexatious things as is happenin' nowadays! I'll go right to Miss +Emily this minute, and tell how things go on." + +"No, you won't, Mrs. Prime," said Gertrude, persuasively; "when I ask +you not. You forget how unhappy it would make her, if she knew that Mrs. +Graham was so wanting in consideration. I would rather iron dresses +every day, or do anything else for our dear Miss Emily, than let her +_suspect_ even that anybody could willingly be unkind to her." + +Mrs. Prime hesitated. "Miss Gertrude, I thought I loved our dear young +lady as well as anybody, but I believe you love her better still, to be +so thoughtful all for her sake; and I wouldn't say nothing about it, +only I think a sight o' _you_, too; you've been here ever since you was +a little gal, and we all set lots by you, and I can't see them folks +ride over your head, as I know they mean to." + +"I know you love me, Mrs. Prime, and Emily too; so, for the sake of us +both, you mustn't say a word to anybody about the change in the family +arrangements. We'll all do what we can to keep Emily from pain; and, as +to the rest, we won't care for ourselves; if they don't pet and indulge +me as much as I have been accustomed to, the easiest way is not to +notice it." + +"Lord bless yer heart, Miss Gertrude, them folks is lucky to have you to +deal with; it isn't everybody as would put up with 'em. They don't come +much in my way, thank fortin! I let Miss Graham see, right off, that I +wouldn't put up with interference; cooks is privileged to set up for +their rights, and I scared her out o' my premises pretty quick, I tell +yer! It's mighty hard for me to see our own ladies imposed upon; but +since you say 'mum,' Miss Gertrude, I'll try and hold my tongue as long +as I can. It's a shame, though, I do declare." + +An hour after, Gertrude was at the glass, braiding her long hair, when +Mrs. Ellis, after a slight knock, entered. "Well, Gertrude," said she, +"I didn't think it would come to this!" + +"Why, what is the matter?" inquired Gertrude, anxiously. + +"It seems we are going to be turned out of our rooms!" + +"Who?" + +"You, and I next, for ought I know." + +Gertrude coloured, but did not speak, and Mrs. Ellis related that she +had received orders to fit up Gertrude's room for some visitors who were +expected. She was astonished to hear that Gertrude had not been +consulted on the subject. Mrs. Graham had spoken so carelessly of her +removal, and seemed to think it so agreeable for Emily to share her +apartment with her young friend, that Mrs. Ellis concluded the matter +had been pre-arranged. + +Deeply wounded and vexed on her own and Emily's account, Gertrude stood +for a moment silent. She then asked if Mrs. Ellis had spoken to Emily on +the subject. She had not. Gertrude begged her to say nothing about it. + +"I cannot bear," said she, "to let her know that the little sanctum she +fitted up so carefully has been unceremoniously taken from me. I sleep +in her room more than half the time, as you know; but she always likes +to have me call this chamber mine, that I may be sure of a place where I +can read and study. If you will let me remove my bureau into your room, +Mrs. Ellis, and sleep on a couch there occasionally, we need not say +anything about it to Emily." + +Mrs. Ellis assented. She had grown strangely humble and compliant within +a few months, and Gertrude had won her good-will, first by forbearance, +and latterly by the frequent assistance she had rendered to the +overburdened housekeeper. But, though yielding and considerate towards +Gertrude, whom, with Emily and Mrs. Prime, she now considered members of +the injured party to which she herself belonged, no words could express +her indignation with regard to the late conduct of Mrs. Graham and +Isabel. "It is all of a piece," said she, "with the rest of their +conduct! Sometimes I almost feel thankful that Emily is blind; it would +grieve her to see the goings-on. I should have liked to box Isabella's +ears for taking your seat at the table so impudently as she did +yesterday, and then neglecting to help Emily to anything at all; and +there sat dear Emily, angel as she is! all unconscious of her shameful +behaviour, and asking her for butter as sweetly as if it were by mere +accident that you had been driven from the table, and she left to +provide for herself. And all those strangers there, too! I saw it all +from the china-closet! And then Emily's dresses and muslins!--there they +laid in the press-drawer, till I thought they would mildew. I'm glad to +see Bridget has been allowed to do them at last, for I began to think +Emily would, one of these warm days, be without a clean gown in the +world. But all I wish is, that they'd all go off to Europe, and leave us +here to ourselves. You don't want to go, do you, Gertrude?" + +"Yes, if Emily goes." + +"Well, you're better than I am; I couldn't make such a martyr of myself +even for her sake." + +It is needless to detail the many petty annoyances to which Gertrude was +daily subjected; nor with all the pains taken to prevent it, could Emily +be long kept in ignorance of the light estimation in which both herself +and Gertrude were regarded. Kitty, incensed at the incivility of her +aunt and Isabel, and indifferent towards the visitors, hesitated not to +express both to Emily and Gertrude her sense of the injuries they +sustained. But Kitty was no formidable antagonist to Mrs. Graham and +Belle, for her spirits were greatly subdued, and she no longer dared, as +she would once have done, to stand between her friends and the +indignities to which they were exposed. + +But Mrs. Graham became at last entangled in difficulties of her own +weaving. Her husband returned, and it now became necessary to set bounds +to her own insolence, and, what was far more difficult, to that of +Isabel. Mrs. Graham knew just how far her husband's forbearance would +extend--just the point to which his perceptions might be blinded. But in +his absence she permitted Belle to fill the house with her lively young +acquaintances, and winked at the many flagrant violations of politeness +manifested by the young people towards the daughter of their absent +host, and their youthful friend and attendant. But now a check must be +put to all indecorous proceedings; and, unfortunately for the execution +of the wife's precautions, the head of the family returned unexpectedly, +and under circumstances which forestalled any preparation. He arrived +just at dusk, having come from town in an omnibus. It was a cool +evening, the windows and doors were closed, and the drawing-room was so +brilliantly lighted that he suspected that a large company was being +entertained there. He felt vexed, for it was Saturday night, and, in +accordance with New England customs, Mr. Graham loved to see his +household quiet on that evening. He was also suffering from a violent +headache, and, avoiding the drawing-room, passed on to the library, and +then to the dining-room. He then went upstairs, walked through several +rooms, glanced indignantly at their slovenly appearance, and finally +gained Emily's chamber. + +A bright wood fire burned upon the hearth; a couch was drawn up beside +it, on which Emily was sitting; and Gertrude's little rocking-chair +occupied the opposite corner. The peaceful face of Emily, and the +radiant expression of Gertrude's countenance, as she saw the father of +her blind friend looking pleasantly in upon them, proved such a charming +contrast to the scenes presented in other parts of the house, that the +old gentleman, warmed to more than usual satisfaction with both of the +inmates, greeted his surprised daughter with a hearty paternal embrace, +and gave Gertrude an equally affectionate greeting, exclaiming, as he +took the arm-chair, "Now, girls, this looks pleasant and home-like! What +in the world is going on downstairs?" Emily explained that there was +company staying in the house. + +"Ugh! company!" grunted Mr. Graham, in a dissatisfied tone. "I think so! +Been emptying rag-bags about the chambers, I should say, from the +looks." + +Gertrude asked if he had been to tea. He had not, and should be thankful +for some; he was tired. + +"Don't tell anybody that I've got home, Gerty," called he, as she left +the room; "I want to be left in peace _to-night_, at least." + +While Gertrude was gone, Mr. Graham questioned Emily as to her +preparations for the European tour. To his surprise, he learned that she +had never received his message communicated in the letter to Mrs. +Graham, and knew nothing of his plans. Astonished and angry, he +restrained his temper; he did not like to acknowledge to himself, far +less to his daughter, that his commands had been disregarded by his +wife. After he had enjoyed a comfortable repast, at which Gertrude +presided, they both returned to Emily's room; and now Mr. Graham's first +inquiry was for the _Evening Transcript_. + +"I will go for it," said Gertrude, rising. + +"Ring!" said Mr. Graham, imperatively. He had observed that Gertrude's +ringing was disregarded, and wished to know the cause of so strange a +piece of neglect. Gertrude rang several times, but obtained no answer to +the bell. At last she heard Bridget's step in the entry, and, opening +the door, said to her, "Bridget, won't you find the _Transcript_, and +bring it to Miss Emily's room?" Bridget soon returned with the +announcement that Miss Isabella was reading it, and declined to give it +up. + +A storm gathered on Mr. Graham's brow. "Such a message to _my +daughter_!" he exclaimed. "Gertrude, go yourself and tell the +impertinent girl that _I_ want the paper! What sort of behaviour is +this?" he muttered. + +Gertrude entered the drawing-room with great composure, and, amid the +stares of the company, spoke in a low tone to Belle, who immediately +yielded up the paper, looking much confused as she did so. Belle was +afraid of Mr. Graham; and, on her informing her aunt of his return, that +lady was also disconcerted. She had fully calculated upon seeing her +husband before he had access to Emily. But it was too late now, but she +used all her tact to disperse her friends at an early hour, and then +found Mr. Graham smoking in the dining-room. + +He was in an unpleasant mood; but she contrived to conciliate rather +than irritate him, avoided all discordant subjects, and the next morning +introduced to her friends an apparently affable host. + +But this serenity was disturbed long before the Sabbath drew to a close. +As he walked up the aisle, before morning service, with Emily, according +to custom, leaning upon his arm, his brow darkened at seeing Isabel +complacently seated in that corner of the old fashioned pew which had +for years been sacred to his blind daughter. Mrs. Graham winked at her +niece, but Isabel was mentally rather obtuse, and was subjected to the +mortification of having Mr. Graham remove her from the seat, in which he +placed Emily, while the displaced occupant, who had been so mean for the +last three Sundays to deprive Miss Graham of this old-established right, +was compelled to sit in the only vacant place, beside Mr. Graham, with +her back to the pulpit. And very angry was she at observing the smiles +visible upon many countenances in the neighboring pews. + +Mr. Graham had not been at home a week before he understood the state of +feeling in the mind of his wife and Isabel, and the manner in which it +was likely to act upon the happiness of the household. He saw that Emily +was superior to complaint; she had never in her life complained; he +observed, too, Gertrude's devotion to his much-loved child, and it +stamped her in his mind as one who had a claim to his regard which +should never be disputed. It is not, then, to be wondered at, that when +Mrs. Graham made her intended insinuations against his youthful +_protégée_, Mr. Graham treated them with contempt. + +He had known Gertrude from a child. She was high-spirited--he had +sometimes thought her wilful--but _never_ mean or false. It was no use +to tell him all that nonsense;--he was glad that it was all off between +Kitty and Bruce; for Ben was an idle fellow, and would never make a good +husband; and, as to Kitty, he thought her much improved of late, and if +it were owing to Gertrude's influence, the more they saw of each other +the better. + +Mrs. Graham was in despair. "It is all settled," said she to Isabel. "It +is no use to contest the point; Mr. Graham is firm as a rock, and as +sure as _we_ go to Europe, Emily and Gertrude will go _too_." + +She was almost startled; therefore, by an excess of good-luck, when +informed, a few days afterwards, that the couple she had so dreaded to +have of the party were to be left behind, at Miss Graham's special +request. Emily's scruples with regard to mentioning to her father the +little prospect of pleasure the tour was likely to afford her all +vanished when she found that Gertrude would be a still greater sufferer +from the society to which she would be subjected. + +Blind as she was, Emily understood and perceived almost everything that +was passing around her. Quick of perception, and with a hearing rendered +doubly intense by her want of sight, the events of the summer were, +perhaps, more familiar to her than to any other member of the family. +She more than suspected the exact state of matters betwixt Mr. Bruce and +Gertrude, though the latter had never spoken to her on the subject. She +imagined how Kitty was involved in the affair (no very difficult thing +to conceive by one who enjoyed the confidence which the simple-hearted +girl unconsciously made during her intercourse with her). + +As Mrs. Graham's and Isabel's abuse of power became more open, Mrs. +Ellis and Mrs. Prime considered the embargo upon free speech in Miss +Graham's presence wholly removed; and any pain which the knowledge of +their neglect might have caused her was more than compensated to Emily +by the proofs it had called forth of devoted attachment and willing +service on the part of her adopted child, as she loved to consider +Gertrude. + +Calmly and promptly did she resolve to adopt a course which should free +Gertrude from her self-sacrificing service. She encountered much +opposition from her father; but he had seen, during the previous winter +at the South, how Emily's infirmity unfitted her for travelling, +especially when deprived of Gertrude's attendant eyes; he now realised +how contrary to her tastes and habits were those of his new wife and her +nieces; and, unwilling to be convinced of the folly of his sudden +choice, and probably of unhappiness from it, he appreciated the wisdom +of Emily's proposal, and felt relief in the adoption of a course which +would satisfy all parties. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +TRAVEL AND A MYSTERY. + + +Mrs. Warren's pleasant boarding-house was chosen by Emily for her own +and Gertrude's winter home; and one month from the time of Mr. Graham's +return from New York his country-house was closed; he, his wife, Isabel, +and Kitty went to Havre; Mrs. Ellis went to enjoy a little rest from +care with some cousins at the eastward; and Mrs. Prime was established +as cook in Mrs. Warren's household. + +Although ample arrangements were made by Mr. Graham, and sufficient +means provided for the support of both Emily and Gertrude, the latter +was anxious to be usefully employed, and, therefore, resumed a portion +of her school duties at Mr. W's. Much as Emily loved Gertrude's constant +presence, she gladly resigned her for a few hours every day, rejoiced in +the spirit which prompted her exertions, and rewarded her with praise. +In the undisturbed enjoyment of each other's society, and in their +intercourse with a small, intelligent circle of friends, they passed a +season of sweet tranquility. They read, walked, and communed, as in +times long past. Together they attended lectures, concerts, and +galleries of art. + +It was a blissful and an improving winter which they passed together. +They lived not for themselves alone; the poor blessed them, the +sorrowful came to them for sympathy, and the affection which they +inspired in the family circle was boundless. Spring came and passed +while there, and they were loth to leave a place where they had been so +happy; at last a sudden failure in Emily's health occurred, and Dr. +Jeremy's peremptory command caused them to seek the country air. + +Added to her anxiety about Emily, Gertrude began to feel much troubled +at Willie Sullivan's long silence; no word from him for two or three +months. Willie could not have forgotten or meant to neglect her. That +was impossible. She tried, however, not to feel disturbed about it, and +gave all her care to Emily, who now began indeed to require it. + +They went to the sea-side for a few weeks; but the bracing atmosphere +brought no strength to the blind girl's feeble frame. She was obliged to +give up her daily walks; a continued weariness robbed her step of its +elasticity, and her mind became subject to depression, while her nervous +temperament became so susceptible that the utmost care was requisite to +preserve her from all excitement. + +The doctor often came to see his favourite patient; but as she got worse +instead of better, he ordered her back to the city, declaring that Mrs. +Jeremy's front chamber was as cool and comfortable as the contracted +apartments of the crowded boarding-house at Nahant, and he insisted upon +both her and Gertrude to take up their quarters for a week or two; and +then, if Emily were no better, he hoped to have leisure to start off +with them in search of health. Emily thought she was doing very well +where she was, and was afraid to be troublesome to Mrs. Jeremy. + +"Don't talk about trouble, Emily; you ought to know Mrs. Jeremy better +by this time. Come up to-morrow; I'll meet you at the cars! Good-bye!" + +Gertrude followed him. "I see, doctor, you think Emily is not so well." + +"No; how should she be? What with the sea roaring on one side, and Mrs. +Fellows's babies on the other, it's enough to wear away her strength. I +won't have it so! This isn't the place for her, and do you bring her up +to my house to-morrow." + +"The babies don't usually cry as much as they have to-day," said +Gertrude, smiling; "and as to the ocean, Emily loves dearly to hear the +waves rolling in." + +"Knew she did!" said the doctor. "Shan't do it; bad for her; it makes +her sad, without her knowing why. Bring her up to Boston, as I tell +you." + +It was three weeks after the arrival of his visitors before the popular +physician could steal away from his patients to enjoy a few weeks' +recreation in travelling. For his own sake he would hardly have thought +of attempting so unusual a thing as a journey; and his wife, too, loved +home so much better than any other place that she was loth to start for +parts unknown; but both were willing to sacrifice their long-indulged +habits for the advantage of their young friends. + +Emily was decidedly better; and viewed with pleasure the prospect of +visiting West Point, Catskill, and Saratoga, even on her own account; +and when she reflected upon the probable enjoyment the trip would afford +Gertrude, she felt herself endowed with new strength for the +undertaking. Gertrude needed change of scene and diversion of mind +almost as much as Emily. The excessive heat, and her constant attendance +in the invalid's room, had paled the roses in her cheeks, while care and +anxiety had weighed upon her mind. + +New York was their first destination; but the heat and dust of the city +were almost insufferable, and during the day they passed there only Dr. +Jeremy ventured out of the hotel except once, when Mrs. Jeremy and +Gertrude went in search of dress-caps. But the doctor passed the whole +day in the revival of old acquaintances, and some of these warm-hearted +friends having presented themselves at the hotel in the evening to be +introduced to Mrs. Jeremy and her companions, their room was enlivened +until a late hour by the cheerful conversation of a group of elderly +men, who, as they recalled the scenes and incidents of their youthful +days, seemed to renew their youthful spirits. The conversation, however, +was not of a character to exclude the ladies from participating in as +well as enjoying it. Emily listened with delight to a conversation which +had such varied charms, and shared with Gertrude the admiration of the +doctor's friends, who were all excited to the warmest sympathy for her +misfortune. + +Upon hearing that Dr. Jeremy's party was going up the Hudson next +morning, Dr. Gryseworth, of Philadelphia, who had been a student of our +good doctor's, expressed his pleasure to meet them on the boat, and to +introduce to Gertrude his two daughters, whom he was to accompany to +Saratoga to meet their grandmother. + +Gertrude, who slept soundly until wakened by Miss Graham, started up in +astonishment on seeing her dressed and standing by the bedside--a most +unusual circumstance, as Gertrude's morning kiss was wont to be Emily's +first intimation of daylight. + +"Six o'clock, Gerty, and the boat starts at seven! The doctor has +knocked at our door." + +"How soundly I have slept!" exclaimed Gertrude. "I wonder if it's a +pleasant day." + +"Beautiful!" replied Emily, "but very warm. The sun was shining so +brightly that I had to close the blinds on account of the heat." + +Gertrude made haste, but was not quite dressed when they were summoned +to breakfast. She had trunks to lock, and therefore insisted upon the +others preceding her to the breakfast-hall. The company was small, +consisting only of two parties besides Dr. Jeremy's, and a few +gentlemen, most of them business men. Of those who still lingered at the +table when Gerty made her appearance, there was only one whom she +particularly observed during the few moments allowed for breakfast. + +This was a gentleman who sat at some distance from her, idly balancing +his tea-spoon on the edge of his cup. He seemed quite at his leisure, +and previous to Gertrude's entrance had won Mrs. Jeremy's animadversions +by a slight propensity to make a more critical survey of her party than +she found agreeable. + +"Do, pray," said she to the doctor, "send the waiter to ask that man to +take something himself; I can't bear to have anybody looking at me so +when I'm eating!" + +"He isn't looking at you, wife; it's Emily that has taken his fancy. +Emily, my dear, there's a gentleman, over opposite, who admires you +exceedingly." + +"Is there?" said Emily, smiling, "I am very much obliged to him. May I +venture to return the compliment?" + +"Yes. He's a fine-looking fellow, though wife, here, doesn't seem to +like him very well." + +Gertrude now joined them, and, as she made her morning salutions to the +doctor and his wife, and gaily apologised to the former for her +tardiness, the fine colour which mantled her countenance, and the deep +brilliancy of her eyes, drew affectionate admiration from the kind old +couple, and were, perhaps, the cause of the stranger's attention being +transferred from the lovely face of Emily to the more youthful and +eloquent features of Gertrude. Taking her seat, she soon perceived the +notice she was attracting. It embarrassed her, and she was glad to see, +in a few minutes, the gentleman rise and depart. As he passed out, she +had an opportunity of observing him, which she had not done while he sat +opposite to her. He was above the middle height, slender, but finely +formed, and of a dignified bearing. His features were rather sharp, but +expressive, and even handsome; his dark eyes were most penetrating, +while his compressed lips indicated strength of resolution and will. + +His hair was peculiar; it was deeply tinged with grey, and in the +vicinity of his temples, white. This was strikingly in contrast with the +youthful fire of his eye, and the lightness of his step, that instead of +seeming the effect of age, it enhanced the contradictory claims of his +otherwise apparent youth and vigour. + +"What a queer-looking man," exclaimed Mrs. Jeremy, when he had passed +out. + +"An elegant-looking man, isn't he?" said Gertrude. + +"Elegant?" rejoined Mrs. Jeremy. "What! with that grey head?" + +"I think it's beautiful," said Gertrude; "but I wish he didn't look so +melancholy; it makes me quite sad to see him." + +"How old should you think he was?" asked Dr. Jeremy. + +"About fifty," said Mrs. Jeremy. + +"About thirty," said Gertrude. + +"A wide difference," remarked Emily. "Doctor, you must decide the +point." + +"Impossible! I wouldn't venture to tell that man's age within ten years, +at least. Wife has got him old enough, certainly; perhaps I might see +him as low as Gertrude's mark. Age never turned _his_ hair grey!--that +is certain." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. + + +To travellers in the United States, a trip from Boston into New York +state is an everyday affair, scarce worth calling a journey; but to Dr. +Jeremy it was a momentous event, calling the good physician out of a +routine of daily professional visits, which, for twenty years, had not +been interrupted by a week's absence from home, and plunging him at once +into that whirl of hurry, tumult, and excitement, which exists on all +our great routes, especially in the summer season. + +The doctor was by nature and habit a social being; never shrinking from +intercourse with his fellow-men, but seeking and enjoying their +companionship. He knew how to adapt himself to the taste of young and +old, rich and poor, and was well acquainted with city life in all its +forms. In the art of travelling, however, he was totally unversed. + +Thankful were the party when they were safe on the steamboat; and were +congratulating themselves and each other, when the doctor called from +the other end of the saloon--"Come, come, wife--Gertrude, Emily! what +are you staying down in this confined place for? you'll lose the best +view;" and, coming toward them, he took Gertrude's arm, and would have +hurried her away, leaving Mrs. Jeremy and Emily to follow; but Gertrude +would not trust Emily to ascend the cabin-stairs under any guardianship +but her own, and Mrs. Jeremy immediately engaged the doctor in an +animated discussion as to the advisability of his adopting a straw hat, +which the thoughtful wife had brought from home. By the time the +question was settled, and Emily, at Gertrude's persuasion, had been +induced to change her thin mantilla for a light travelling-cloak, the +boat had proceeded some distance, and when our party gained the head of +the stairs, and looked about them for seats on deck, not a single vacant +bench was to be seen. There was a large number of passengers, nearly all +of whom were collected at the stern of the boat. Dr. Jeremy went in +search of chairs. + +"Don't let us stay here," whispered Mrs. Jeremy to Gertrude and Emily. +"Let's go right back before the doctor comes! There are beautiful great +rocking-chairs down in the cabin, without a soul to sit in them, and I'm +sure we ain't wanted here to make up a company. I hate to stand with all +these people staring at us, and crowing to think they've got such nice +places; don't you, Emily?" Mrs. Jeremy just then forgot that Emily could +not see. But Gertrude never forgot it; and, as she stood with her arm +lightly pressed around her friend's waist, to prevent the motion of the +boat from throwing her off her balance, they attracted attention; the +one so bright, erect, and strong with youth and health, that she seemed +a fit protector for the other, who, in her sweet and gentle +helplessness, leaned upon her so trustingly. + +Here Mrs. Jeremy was interrupted by the salutation of Dr. Gryseworth, +who insisted upon giving up his seat to Mrs. Jeremy; and another +gentleman, till now unnoticed by our party, rose, and bowing politely, +placed his own chair for Emily, and walked quickly away. It was the +stranger whom they had seen at breakfast. Gertrude recognised his keen, +dark eye, and his singular hair; and, as she thanked him, and placed +Emily in the seat, she coloured under his earnest glance. But Dr. +Gryseworth soon claimed her attention for the introduction to his +daughters, and all thoughts of the retreating stranger were banished for +the present. + +The Misses Gryseworth were intelligent-looking girls; the eldest, lately +returned from Europe, where she had been travelling with her father, was +considered a very elegant and superior person, and Gertrude was charmed +with the lady-like cordiality with which they both made her +acquaintance, and still more with the sympathising attentions which they +paid to Emily. By the time that Dr. Jeremy returned with a chair he +found Gertrude and Dr. Gryseworth comfortably accommodated, and was +thus enabled to sink at once into his seat, and into that state of easy +unconcern which became his pleasant, genial temperament. + +Long before the boat reached West Point, where the Jeremys were to land, +an excellent understanding subsisted between Gertrude and the Misses +Gryseworth. They had been about an hour in each other's society, when +Netta Gryseworth, glancing towards another part of the boat, said in an +undertone, "Ellen, do invite Mr. Phillips to come back and be introduced +to Miss Flint!--see how lonesome the poor man looks." + +Gertrude followed the direction of Netta's eye, and saw the stranger of +the morning at some distance, slowly pacing up and down, with a serious +and distracted air. + +"He has not been near us for an hour," said Netta. + +"I hope we have not frightened your friend away," said Gertrude. + +"Oh, no, indeed!" replied Ellen. "Although Mr. Phillips is but a recent +acquaintance, we have found him so independent, and sometimes so +whimsical, that I am never astonished at being suddenly forsaken by him. +There are some people, you know, for whom it is always sufficient excuse +to say, _It is their way_. I wish he would condescend to join us again, +however; I should like to introduce him to you, Miss Flint." + +"You wouldn't like him," said Netta. + +"Now, that is not fair, Netta!" said her sister, "to prejudice Miss +Flint against my friend. You mustn't let her influence you," said she to +Gertrude. "She hasn't known him half as long as I have; and I do not +dislike him. My straightforward sister never likes odd people, and I +must confess that Mr. Phillips is eccentric; but he interests me all the +more on that account, and I am sure he and you would have many ideas and +sentiments in common." + +"How can you say so, Ellen?" said Netta. "I think they are totally +different." + +"You must consider Netta's remark complimentary, Miss Flint," said +Ellen; "it would not be quite so much so if it had come from me." + +"But you wished me to become acquainted with your oddity," said +Gertrude. "I suspect you act on the principle that one's misfortunes +should be shared by one's friends." + +Netta laughed. "Not exactly," said she; "it was compassion _for him_ +that moved me. I can't help pitying him when he looks so home-sick, and +I thought your society would brighten him up and do him good." + +"Ah, Netta!" said her sister, "he has excited your sympathy, I see. A +few days more, and I shouldn't be surprised if you went beyond me in +your admiration of him. If so, take care, you transparent creature, not +to betray your inconsistency." Then she said to Gertrude, "Netta met Mr. +Phillips only yesterday and has not seemed very favourably impressed. +Father and I were passengers in the same steamer in which he came from +Liverpool a few weeks ago. He had an ill turn in the early part of the +voyage, and it was in a professional way that father first made his +acquaintance. I was surprised at seeing him on board to-day, for he +mentioned no such intention yesterday." + +Gertrude suspected that the young lady might herself be the cause of his +journey; but she did not say so, and the conversation taking another +turn, Mr. Phillips was not again adverted to, though Gertrude observed, +just before the boat stopped at West Point, that Dr. Jeremy and Dr. +Gryseworth had joined him, and that the trio were engaged in a colloquy +which seemed to interest them all. At West Point, Gertrude parted from +her new friends, who expressed a wish to meet in Saratoga. + +Our travellers passed one night only at West Point. The weather +continued hot, and Dr. Jeremy, perceiving that Emily drooped under the +oppressive atmosphere, was desirous to reach the summit of Catskill +Mountain before the coming Sabbath. + +One solitary moonlight evening sufficed to give Gertrude some idea of +the beauties of the place. She could not observe it in detail, only as a +whole; but, thus presented in all the dreamy loveliness of a summer's +night, it left on her mind a vague sentiment of wonder and delight at +the surpassing sweetness of what seemed rather a glimpse of Paradise +than an actual show of earth, so harmonious was the scene, so still, so +peaceful. "Emily, darling," said she, as they stood together in a rustic +arbour, commanding the most striking prospect both of the river and the +shore, "it looks like you; you ought to live here and be the priestess +of such a temple;" and, locking her hand in that of Emily, she poured +into her ear the holy and elevated sentiments to which the time and the +place gave birth. + +At an early hour in the morning they steamed up the river. But West +Point was hardly passed before Gertrude's watchful eye detected in +Emily's countenance signs of weariness and debility. Sacrificing, +without hesitation, the pleasure she was herself deriving from beautiful +scenes through which the boat was passing, she proposed that they should +seek the cabin, where Miss Graham might rest in greater stillness. But +Emily would not listen to the proposal; would not think of depriving +Gertrude of the pleasure she knew she must be experiencing. + +"The prospect is all lost upon me now, Emily," said Gertrude. "I see +only your tired face. Do go and lie down, if it be only to please me; +you hardly slept at all last night." + +"Are you talking of going below?" exclaimed Mrs. Jeremy. "I, for one, +shall be thankful, too; it's as comfortable again, and we can see all we +want to from the cabin windows; can't we, Emily?" + +"Should you really prefer it?" inquired Emily. + +"Indeed, I should!" said Mrs. Jeremy, with such emphasis that her +sincerity could not be doubted. + +"Then, if you will promise to stay here, Gertrude," said Emily, "I will +go with Mrs. Jeremy." + +Gertrude assented to the plan; but insisted upon first accompanying +them, to find a vacant berth for Emily, and see her under circumstances +which would promise repose. Emily was too weak to endure the noise on +deck, and after she had laid down in the quiet saloon, Gertrude stood +smoothing back her hair, and watching her pale countenance, until she +was accused of violating the agreement, and was at last sent off by the +good-natured doctor's lady, who declared herself perfectly well able to +take care of Emily. + +"You'd better make haste back," she said, "before you lose your seat; +and, Gerty, don't let the doctor come near us; he'll be teasing us to go +back again, and we shall not." Mrs. Jeremy untied her bonnet-strings, +put her feet up in the opposite chair, clapped her hands at Gertrude, +and bade her begone. + +Gertrude ran off laughing, and a smile was on her face when she reached +the staircase. As she came up with her quick and light step, a tall +figure moved aside to let her pass. It was Mr. Phillips. He bowed, and +Gertrude, returning the salutation, passed on to the place she had left, +wondering how he came to be again their travelling companion. He could +not have been on board previously to her going below with Emily. + +Gertrude had sat about five minutes, when a shadow passed before her, +and looking up, she betrayed a little confusion at again encountering a +pair of eyes, whose magnetic gaze bewildered her. She was turning away, +when the stranger spoke. "Good morning, young lady! our paths still lie +in the same direction, I see. Will you honour me by making use of my +guide-book?" + +As he spoke he offered her a little book containing a map of the river, +and the shores on either side. Gertrude took it, and thanked him. As she +unfolded the map he stationed himself a few steps distant, and leaned +over the railing, in an apparently absent state of mind; nor did he +speak to her again for some minutes. Then, suddenly turning towards her, +he said, "You like this very much?" + +"Very much," said Gertrude. + +"You have never seen anything so beautiful before in your life." He did +not seem to question her; he spoke as if he knew. + +"It is an old story to you, I suppose," said Gertrude. + +"What makes you think so?" asked he, smiling. + +Gertrude was disconcerted by his look, and still more by his smile; it +changed his whole face so--it made him look so handsome, and yet so +melancholy. She blushed and could not reply; he saved her the trouble. +"That is hardly a fair question, is it? You probably think you have as +much reason for your opinion as I had for mine. You are wrong, however; +I never was here before; but I am too old a traveller to carry my +enthusiasm in my eyes--as you do," added he, after a moment's pause, +during which he looked her full in the face. Then seeming to perceive +the embarrassment which his scrutiny of her features caused, he turned +away, and a shadow passed over his fine countenance, lending it for a +moment an expression of mingled bitterness and pathos, which served to +disarm Gertrude's confusion. + +Presently, taking a vacant chair next hers, he directed his attention +to a beautiful country residence on their right, spoke of its former +owner, whom he had met in a foreign land, and related some interesting +anecdotes concerning a journey which they had taken together. This +introduced other topics, chiefly connected with wanderings in countries +almost unknown; and so rich and varied was the stranger's conversation, +so graphic were his descriptions, so exuberant his imagination, and so +powerful his command of words and his gift of expressing his thoughts, +that his listener sat entranced with delight. + +When Dr. Jeremy came in search of his young charge, conversation between +her and the stranger had assumed so much ease and freedom that the +doctor opened his eyes in astonishment, shrugged his shoulders, and +exclaimed, "This is pretty well, I declare!" + +Gertrude did not see the doctor approach, but looked up at the sound of +his voice. Conscious of the surprise it must be to find her talking so +familiarly with a stranger, she coloured slightly; but observing that +her companion only smiled, she felt rather amused than embarrassed; and +she began to feel confidence in her fellow-traveller, who rose, shook +hands with Dr. Jeremy, to whom he had, the previous day, been +introduced, and said, with perfect composure, "Will you have the +kindness, sir, to present me to this lady? We have already had some +conversation together, but do not yet know by what name we may address +each other." + +Dr. Jeremy having performed the ceremony of introduction, Mr. Phillips +bowed gracefully, and looked at Gertrude in such a benignant, fatherly +way, that she hesitated not to take his offered hand. He detained hers a +moment while he said, "Do not be afraid of me when we meet again;" and +then walked away, and paced slowly up and down the deck until passengers +for Catskill were summoned to dinner, when he, Dr. Jeremy, and Gertrude +went below. The doctor tried to rally Gertrude about her grey-headed +beau, declaring that he was yet young and handsome, and that she could +have his hair dyed any colour she pleased. But he could not succeed in +annoying her in that way, for her interest in him, which she could not +deny, was quite independent of his personal appearance. + +The bustle, however, of dinner, and going on shore at Catskill, banished +from the doctor's head all thought of everything except the safety of +himself, his ladies, and their baggage. + +Emily, whose nervous system was somewhat disordered, clung tremblingly +to Gertrude; and Gertrude found herself, she knew not how, leaning on +the arm of Mr. Phillips, to whose silent exertions they were both +indebted for their safety in disembarking. Mrs. Jeremy was counting up +the trunks, while her husband was loudly denouncing the steamboat, its +conductors, and the whole hurrying, skurrying Yankee nation. + +Two stage-coaches were waiting at the wharf to take passengers up the +mountain, and before Dr. Jeremy had turned his back upon the river, +Emily and Gertrude were placed in one of them by Mr. Phillips, who, +without speaking, took this office upon himself, and then went to inform +the doctor of their whereabouts, and the doctor and his wife soon joined +them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +THE ROCK OF AGES. + + +Before they had gained the road leading to the Mountain House, they +became conscious of the vast difference between the temperature of the +river and that of the inland country, and, in being suddenly deprived of +the refreshing breeze they had enjoyed on board the boat, they fully +realised the extreme heat of the weather. For the first few miles +Gertrude's care was required to shield Emily and herself from the rays +of the burning sun; and it was a great relief when they reached the +beautifully-shaded road which led up the side of the mountain. The +atmosphere being clear, the gradually widening prospect was beautiful, +and Gertrude's delight was such that the restraint imposed by +stage-coach decorum was almost insupportable. When, therefore, the +ascent became so laborious that the gentlemen alighted to relieve the +weary horses, Gertrude gladly accepted Dr. Jeremy's proposal that she +should accompany him on a walk of a mile or two. + +Gertrude was an excellent walker, and she and the active doctor soon +left the coaches far behind. At a sudden turn in the road they stopped +to view the scene below, and stood enjoying the stillness and beauty of +the spot, when they were startled by hearing a voice, saying, "A fine +landscape, certainly!" + +It came from Mr. Phillips, seated upon a moss-grown rock, against which +Gertrude was leaning. His attitude was easy and careless, his +broad-brimmed straw hat lay on the ground, and his snow-besprinkled hair +was tossed back from his high and expanded forehead. He immediately +joined Dr. Jeremy and Gertrude. + +"You have got the start of us, sir," said the former. + +"Yes; I have walked from the village--my practice always when the roads +are such that no time can be gained by riding." + +As he spoke, he placed in Gertrude's hand, without looking at her, or +seeming conscious what he was doing, a bouquet of rich laurel blossoms. +She would have thanked him, but his absent manner was such that it +afforded her no opportunity, especially as he went on talking with the +doctor, as if she had not been present. + +All three resumed their walk. Mr. Phillips and Dr. Jeremy conversed in +an animated manner, and Gertrude, content to be a listener, soon +perceived that she was not the only person to whom the stranger had +power to render himself agreeable. Dr. Jeremy engaged him upon a variety +of subjects, upon all of which he appeared equally well informed; and +Gertrude smiled to see her old friend rub his hands together--his mode +of expressing satisfaction. + +Gertrude thought their new acquaintance must be a botanist by +profession, so versed was he in everything relating to that science. +Again, she was sure that geology must have been with him an absorbed +study, so intimate seemed his acquaintance with mother earth; and both +of these impressions were in turn dispelled when he talked of the ocean +like a sailor, of the counting-house like a merchant, of Paris like a +man of fashion and the world. In the meantime she walked beside him, +silent but not unnoticed; for, as they approached a rough and steep +ascent, he offered his arm, and expressed a fear lest she should become +fatigued. Dr. Jeremy declared his belief that Gerty could outwalk them +both; and, thus satisfied, Mr. Phillips resumed the broken thread of +their discourse, into which Gertrude was drawn almost unawares. + +Mr. Phillips no longer seemed in Gertrude's eyes a stranger--he was a +mystery, but not a forbidding one. She longed to learn the history of a +life which many an incident of his own narrating proved to have been +made up of strange and mingled experience; especially did her +sympathetic nature desire to fathom the cause of that deep-seated +melancholy which shadowed and darkened his noble countenance, and made +his very smile a sorrowful thing. Dr. Jeremy, who shared her curiosity, +asked a few questions, in hopes to obtain some clue to his new friend's +history; but in vain. Mr. Phillips' lips were sealed on the subject. + +The doctor now felt very weary, and seating themselves by the roadside, +they awaited the arrival of the coach. There had been a short silence, +when the doctor, looking at Gertrude, remarked, "There will be no church +for us to-morrow, Gerty." + +"No church," exclaimed Gerty, gazing about her with a look of reverence; +"how _can_ you say so?" + +Mr. Phillips smiled, and said in a peculiar tone, "There is no Sunday +here, Miss Flint; it doesn't come up so high." + +He spoke lightly--too lightly, Gertrude thought--and she replied with +some seriousness and much sweetness, "I have often rejoiced that the +Sabbath has been sent _down_ into the _lower_ earth; the higher we go +the nearer we come, I trust, to the eternal Sabbath." + +Mr. Phillips bit his lip, and turned away without replying. There was an +expression about his mouth which Gertrude did not like; but she could +not find it in her heart to reproach him for the slight sneer which his +manner, rather than his look, implied; for as he gazed a moment or two +into vacancy there was in his absent countenance such a look of sorrow +that she could only pity and wonder. The coaches now came up, and, as he +placed her in her former seat, he resumed his wonted serene and kind +expression, and she felt convinced that it was only doing justice to his +frank and open face to believe that nothing was hid behind it that would +not do honour to the man. + +An hour brought them to the Mountain House, and to their joy they were +shown to some of the most excellent rooms the hotel afforded. As +Gertrude stood at the window of the chamber allotted to herself and +Emily, and heard the loud murmurs of some of her fellow-travellers who +were denied any tolerable accommodation, she could not but be astonished +at Dr. Jeremy's unusual good fortune. Emily, being greatly fatigued with +the toilsome journey, had supper brought to her own room, and Gertrude +partaking of it with her, neither of them sought other society that +night, but at an early hour went to rest. The last thing that Gertrude +heard before falling asleep was the voice of Dr. Jeremy saying, as he +passed their door, "Take care, Gerty, and be up in time to see the sun +rise." + +But she was not up in time, nor was the doctor; neither of them had +calculated upon the sun being such an early riser; and though Gertrude +sprang up almost before her eyes were open, a flood of daylight was +pouring in at the window, and a scene met her gaze which banished regret +at having overslept herself, since nothing, she thought, could be more +glorious than that which now lay outspread before her. + +Far out to the distant horizon nothing was to be seen but a sea of snowy +clouds, which wholly overshadowed the lower earth and hid it from view. +Vast, solid, and of the most perfect whiteness, they stretched on every +side, forming, as they lay in thick masses, between which not a crevice +was discernible, an unbroken curtain, dividing the heavens from the +earth. The foliage of the oaks, the pines, and the maples, which had +found root in this lofty region, was rich in varied hues, and tame and +fearless birds of various note were singing in the branches. Gertrude +gave one long look, then hastened to dress herself and go out upon the +platform. + +She was soon joined by Dr. and Mrs. Jeremy, the former full of life, and +dragging forward his reluctant, sleepy partner, whose countenance +proclaimed how unwillingly she had forgone her morning nap. The doctor +rubbed his hands as they joined Gertrude. "Very fine, this, Gerty! A +touch beyond anything I had calculated upon," Gertrude turned upon him +her beaming eyes, but did not speak. + +The doctor stepped to the edge of the flat rock upon which they stood, +placed his hands beneath his coat tails, and indulged in a soliloquy, +made up of short exclamations and interjectional phrases, expressive of +his approbation. + +"Why, this looks queer, doesn't it?" said Mrs. Jeremy, rubbing her +eyes, and gazing about her; "but I daresay it would be just so an hour +or two hence. I don't see what the doctor would make me get up so early +for." Then she darted forward, exclaiming, "Dr. Jeremy, for mercy's +sake, don't stand so near the edge of that precipice! Why, are you +crazy, man? You frighten me to death! You'll fall over and break your +neck!" + +Finding the doctor deaf to her entreaties, Mrs. Jeremy grew so disturbed +by his dangerous position that, looking most imploringly at Gertrude, +she begged her to get the doctor away, for the poor man was so +venturesome he would surely be killed. + +"Suppose we explore that little path at the right of the house," +suggested Gertrude; "it looks attractive." + +"So it does," said Mrs. Jeremy; "beautiful little shady path. Come, +doctor, Gerty and I are going to walk up here--come!" + +The doctor looked in the direction in which she pointed. + +"Ah!" said he, "that is the path the man at the office spoke about; it +leads up to the pine gardens. We'll climb up, by all means, and see what +sort of a place it is." + +Gertrude led the way, all walking in single file, for the path was a +mere foot-track. The ascent was very steep, and they had not proceeded +far before Mrs. Jeremy, panting with heat and fatigue, stopped short, +and declared her inability to reach the top; she would not have come if +she had known what a hard hill she would have to climb. Encouraged and +assisted by her husband and Gertrude, she was induced to make a further +attempt; and they had gone on some distance, when Gertrude, who was some +steps in advance, heard Mrs. Jeremy give a slight scream. She looked +back; the doctor was laughing heartily, but his wife, who was the +picture of consternation, was trying to pass him and retrace her steps +down the hill. + +"What is the matter?" asked Gertrude. + +"Matter!" cried Mrs. Jeremy; "why, this hill is covered with +rattlesnakes; and here we are all going up to be bitten to death!" + +"No such thing, Gerty!" said the doctor, still laughing. "I only told +her there had been one killed here this summer, and now she's making it +an excuse for turning back." + +"I don't care!" said the good-natured lady, half laughing herself, in +spite of her fears; "if there's been one, there may be another; and I +won't stay a minute longer! I thought it was a bad enough place before, +and now I am going down faster than I came up." + +Finding her determined, the doctor hastened to accompany her, calling to +Gertrude and assuring her there was no danger, and begging her wait for +him at the top of the hill, where he would join her after he left his +wife in safety at the hotel. Gertrude, therefore, went on alone. For the +first few yards she looked about her, and thought of rattlesnakes; but +the path was so well worn that she felt sure it must be often trod, and +was probably safe; and the beauty of the place engrossed all her +attention. After active climbing, she reached the highest point of +ground, and found herself once more on the elevated platform, from which +she could look forth upon the unbroken sea of clouds. + +She seated herself at the foot of an immense pine-tree, removed her +bonnet, for she was warm from recent exercise; and she inhaled the +refreshing mountain breeze. She had sat thus but a moment when a slight +rustling noise startled her; she remembered the rattlesnakes, and was +springing to her feet; but hearing a low sound, as of some one +breathing, turned her eyes in the direction from which it came, and saw, +only a few yards from her, the figure of a man stretched upon the +ground, apparently asleep. She went towards it with a careful step, and +before she could see the face, the large straw hat and the long, +blanched, wavy hair betrayed the identity of the individual. Mr. +Phillips was, or appeared to be, sleeping; his head was pillowed upon +his arm, his eyes were closed, and his attitude denoted perfect repose. +Gertrude stood still and looked at him. As she did so, his countenance +suddenly changed; the peaceful expression gave place to the same unhappy +look which had at first excited her sympathy. His lips moved, and in his +dreams he spoke, or rather shouted, "No! no! no!" each time that he +repeated the word pronouncing it with more emphasis; then wildly +throwing one arm above his head he let it fall heavily upon the ground, +and, the excitement subsiding from his face, he uttered the simply +words, "_Oh, dear!_" much as a grieved and tired child might do as he +leans his head upon his mother's knee. + +Gertrude was deeply touched. She forgot that he was a stranger; she +only saw a sufferer. An insect lit upon his fair, open forehead; she +leaned over him, brushed it away, and, as she did so, one of her tears +fell upon his cheek. He awoke, and looked full in the face of the +embarrassed girl, who started, and would have hastened away; but, +leaning on his elbow, he caught her hand and detained her. He gazed at +her a moment without speaking; then said, in a grave voice, "My child, +did you shed that tear for me?" + +She did not reply, except by her eyes, which were still glistening with +the dew of sympathy. + +"I believe you _did_," said he, "and from my heart I bless you! But +never again weep for a stranger. You will have woes enough of your own +if you live to be my age." + +"If I had not had sorrows," said Gertrude, "I should not know how to +feel for others; if I had not often wept for myself I should not weep +now for you." + +"But you are happy?" + +"Yes." + +"Some find it easy to forget the past." + +"_I_ have not forgotten it." + +"Children's griefs are trifles, and you are still scarce more than a +child." + +"I _never_ was a child," said Gertrude. + +"Strange girl!" soliloquised her companion. "Will you sit down and talk +with me a few minutes?" + +Gertrude hesitated. + +"Do not refuse; I am an old man, and very harmless. Take a seat here +under this tree, and tell me what you think of the prospect." + +Gertrude smiled inwardly at the idea of his being such an old man, and +calling her a child; but, old or young, she had it not in her heart to +fear him, or refuse his request. She sat down, and he seated himself +beside her, but did not speak of the prospect, or of anything, for a +moment or two; then turning to her abruptly, he said, "So you never were +unhappy in your life?" + +"Never?" exclaimed Gertrude. "Oh, yes; often." + +"But never long?" + +"Yes, I can remember whole years when happiness was a thing I had never +even dreamed of." + +"But comfort came at last. What do you think of those to whom it never +comes?" + +"I know enough of sorrow to pity and wish to help them." + +"What can you do for them?" + +"_Hope_ for them--_pray_ for them!" said Gertrude, with a voice full of +feeling. + +"What if they be past hope--beyond the influence of prayer?" + +"There are no such," said Gertrude, with decision. + +"Do you see," said Mr. Phillips, "this curtain of thick clouds, now +overshadowing the world? Even so many a heart is weighed down and +overshadowed by thick and impenetrable darkness." + +"But the light shines brightly above the clouds," said Gertrude. + +"Above! well, that may be; but what avails it to those who see it not?" + +"It is sometimes a weary and toilsome road that leads to the +mountain-top; but the pilgrim is well repaid for the trouble which +brings him _above the clouds_," replied Gertrude, with enthusiasm. + +"Few ever find the road that leads so high," responded her melancholy +companion; "and those who do cannot live long in so elevated an +atmosphere. They must come down from their height, and again dwell among +the common herd; again mingle in the warfare with the mean, the base, +and the cruel." + +"But they have seen the glory; they know that the light is ever burning +on high, and will have faith to believe it will pierce the gloom at +last. See, see," said she, her eyes glowing with the fervour with which +she spoke--"even now the heaviest clouds are parting; the sun will soon +light up the valley!" + +She pointed as she spoke to a wide fissure which was gradually +disclosing itself, as the hitherto solid mass of clouds separated on +either side, and then turned to the stranger to see if he observed the +change; but, with the same smile upon his unmoved countenance, he was +watching, not the display of nature in the distance, but that close at +his side. He was gazing with intense interest upon the young and ardent +worshipper of the beautiful and the true; and, in studying her features +and observing the play of her countenance, he seemed so wholly absorbed +that Gertrude--believing he was not listening to her words, but had +fallen into one of his absent moods--ceased speaking, rather abruptly, +and was turning away, when he said---- + +"Go on, happy child! Teach _me_, if you can, to see the world tinged +with the rosy colouring it wears for _you_; teach me to love and pity as +you do that miserable thing called _man_. I warn you that you have a +difficult task, but you seem to be very hopeful." + +"Do you hate the world?" asked Gertrude, with straightforward +simplicity. + +"Almost," was Mr. Phillips' answer. + +"_I_ did _once_," said Gertrude, musingly. + +"And will again, perhaps." + +"No, that would be impossible; it has been a good foster mother to its +orphan child, and now I love it dearly." + +"Have they been kind to you?" asked he, with eagerness. "Have heartless +strangers deserved the love you seem to feel for them?" + +"Heartless strangers!" exclaimed Gertrude, the tears rushing to her +eyes. "Oh, sir, I wish you could have known my Uncle True, and Emily, +dear, blind Emily! you would think better of the world for their sakes." + +"Tell me about them," said he, and he looked fixedly down into the +precipice which yawned at his feet. + +"There is not much to tell, only that one was old and poor, and the +other wholly blind; and yet they made everything rich, and bright, and +beautiful to me--a poor, desolate, injured child." + +"Injured! Then you acknowledge that you had previously met with wrong +and injustice?" + +"I!" exclaimed Gertrude; "my earliest recollections are only of want, +suffering, and much unkindness." + +"And these friends took pity on you?" + +"Yes. One became an earthly father to me, and the other taught me where +to find a heavenly one." + +"And ever since then you have been free and light as air, without a wish +or care in the world." + +"No, indeed, I did not say so--I do not mean so," said Gertrude. "I have +had to part from Uncle True, and to give up other dear friends, some for +years and some forever; I have had many trials, many lonely, solitary +hours, and even now am oppressed by more than one subject of anxiety and +dread." + +"How, then, so cheerful and happy?" asked Mr. Phillips. + +Gertrude had risen, for she saw Dr. Jeremy approaching. She smiled at +Mr. Phillips' question; and after looking into the deep valley beneath +her, gave him a look of holy faith, and said, in a low but fervent tone, +"I see the gulf yawning beneath me, but I lean upon the Rock of Ages." + +Gertrude had spoken truly when she said that more than one anxiety and +dread oppressed her; for, mingled with a fear lest the time was fast +approaching when Emily would be taken from her, she had of late been +grieved by the thought that Willie Sullivan, towards whom her heart +yearned with more than a sister's love, was forgetting the friend of his +childhood, or ceasing to regard her with the love of former years. It +was now some months since she had received a letter from India; the last +was short, and written in a haste which Willie apologised for on the +score of business duties; and Gertrude was compelled unwillingly to +admit the chilling presentiment that, now that his mother and +grandfather were no more, the ties which bound the exile to his native +home were sensibly weakened. + +Nothing would have induced her to hint, even to Emily, a suspicion of +neglect on Willie's part; nothing would have shocked her more than +hearing such neglect imputed to him by another; and still, in the depths +of her heart, she sometimes mused with wonder upon his long silence, and +his strange diminution of intercourse between herself and him. During +several weeks, in which she had received no tidings, she had still +continued to write as usual, and felt sure that such reminders must have +reached him by every mail. What, then, but illness or indifference could +excuse his never replying to her faithfully-despatched missives? + +Dr. Jeremy's approach was the signal for hearty congratulations between +himself and Mr. Phillips; the doctor began to converse in his animated +manner, spoke with hearty delight of the beauty and peacefulness of that +bright Sabbath morning in the mountains; and Mr. Phillips, compelled to +exert himself and conceal the gloom which weighed upon his mind, talked +with an ease, and even playfulness, which astonished Gertrude, who +walked back to the house wondering at this strange and inconsistent man. +She did not see him at breakfast, and at dinner he sat at some distance +from Dr. Jeremy's party, and merely gave a graceful salutation to +Gertrude as she left the dining-hall. + +The Jeremys stayed two days longer at the Mountain House; the +invigorating air benefited Emily, who appeared stronger than she had +done for weeks past, and was able to take many a little stroll in the +neighborhood of the house. Gertrude was never weary of the glorious +prospect; and an excursion which she and the doctor made on foot to the +cleft in the heart of the mountain, where a narrow stream leaps a +distance of two hundred feet into the valley below, furnished the theme +for many a descriptive reverie, of which Emily reaped a part of the +enjoyment. They saw no more of their new acquaintance, who had +disappeared. Dr. Jeremy inquired of their host concerning him, and +learned that he left at an early hour on Monday, and took up a +pedestrian course down the mountain. The doctor was disappointed, for he +liked Mr. Phillips much, and had flattered himself, from some particular +inquiries he had made concerning their proposed route, that he had an +idea of attaching himself to their party. + +"Never mind, Gertie," said he, "I daresay we shall come across him yet +some time when we least expect it." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +THE INVISIBLE CHARM. + + +From Catskill Dr. Jeremy proceeded directly to Saratoga. The place was +crowded with visitors, for the season was at its height, and the +improvident travellers having neglected to secure rooms, they had no +right to expect any accommodation. + +"Where do you propose stopping?" inquired an acquaintance of the +doctor's, whom they met in the cars. + +"At Congress Hall," was the reply. "It will be a quiet place for us old +folks, and more agreeable than any other house to Miss Graham, who is an +invalid." + +"You are expected, I conclude?" + +"Expected?--No; who should be expecting us?" + +"Your landlord. If you have not engaged rooms you will fare badly, for +every hotel is crowded." + +"We must take our chance then," said the doctor, with indifference; but +arriving at his destination, he found his friend's words were true. + +"I don't know what we are going to do," said he, as he joined the +ladies; "they say every house is full; and, if so, we'd better take the +next train of cars and be off, for we can't sleep in the street." + +"Carriage, sir?" shouted a cabman, a few steps distant, and beckoning to +the doctor, while another tapped his shoulder, and made a similar +suggestion. + +"Carriage!" repeated the doctor, angrily. "What for? where would you +carry us, for mercy's sake? There isn't a garret to be had in your town, +for love or money." + +"Well, sir," said the last petitioner, "the houses are pretty full just +now, to be sure, but may be you can get colonised out." + +"_Colonised out!_" said the doctor, in a tone of vexation. "That's what +I think we are already; what I want is to get _in_ somewhere. Where do +you usually drive your coach?" + +"To Congress Hall." + +"Drive up, then, and let us get in; and, mind, if they don't take us at +Congress Hall, we shall expect you to keep us until we find +accommodation." + +Mrs. Jeremy, Emily, and Gertrude were assisted into a small omnibus. The +doctor took a seat on the outside, and, the moment the vehicle stopped, +hastened to the landlord. There was not a vacant corner in the house. +Wishing to accommodate him, the office-keeper said that he might be able +before night to furnish him with one room in a house in the next street. + +"One room! in the next street!" cried the doctor. "Ah, that's being +colonised out, is it? Well, sir, it won't do for me; I must have a place +to put my ladies in at once. Why, in conscience, don't you have hotels +enough for your visitors?" + +"It is the height of the season, sir, and----" + +"Why, Dr. Jeremy!" exclaimed the youthful voice of Netta Gryseworth, who +was passing through the hall with her grandmother. "How do you do, sir? +Are Miss Graham and Miss Flint with you? Have you come to stay?" + +Before the doctor could answer her questions and pay his respects to +Madam Gryseworth, a venerable old lady whom he had known for thirty +years, the landlord of the hotel accosted him. "Dr. Jeremy?" said he. +"Excuse me, I did not know you. Dr. Jeremy, of Boston?" + +"The same," said the doctor, bowing. + +"Ah, we are all right, then. Your rooms are reserved, and will be made +ready in a few minutes; they were vacated two days ago, and have not +been occupied since." + +"What is all this?" exclaimed the honest doctor. "I engaged no rooms." + +"A friend did it for you, then, sir; a fortunate circumstance, +especially as you have ladies with you. Saratoga is very crowded at this +season; there were seven thousand strangers in the town yesterday." + +The doctor thanked his unknown friend, and summoned the ladies to enjoy +their good fortune. + +"Why, now, ain't we lucky?" said Mrs. Jeremy, as she glanced around the +comfortable room allotted to herself, and then she took a survey of +Emily's and Gertrude's apartment. + +The doctor, having attended to the baggage, approached the door and +heard his wife's last remark, and entering with his finger on his lip, +exclaimed, in a low voice, "Hush! hush! don't say too much about it! We +are profiting by a glorious mistake on the part of our good landlord. +These rooms were engaged for somebody, that's certain, but not for us. +However, they can't do no more than turn us out when the right folks +come, and until then we have a prospect of very good lodgings." + +But if they were not the right folks, the right folks never came, and, +in the course of a week, our party not only ceased to be conscious of +their precarious footing in the house, but obtained a favourable +exchange for Emily to a bed-room upon the first floor, which opened +directly into the drawing-room, and saved her from passing up and down +the often crowded staircases. + +It was nearly tea-time on the day of their arrival, and Emily and +Gertrude had just completed their toilet, when there was a light rap +upon their door. Gertrude opened it, and admitted Ellen Gryseworth, who, +while she saluted her with southern warmth of manner, hesitated, saying, +"I am afraid you will think me an intruder, but Netta told me you had +arrived, and hearing from the chamber-maid that you had the next room to +mine, I could not forbear stopping a moment as I passed to tell you how +very glad I am to see you again." + +Gertrude and Emily expressed their pleasure at the meeting, urged her to +come in and remain until the gong sounded for tea. She accepted the +invitation, and, taking a seat upon the nearest trunk, inquired +concerning their travels and Emily's health since they parted at West +Point. + +Among other adventures, Gertrude mentioned their having again +encountered Mr. Phillips. "Indeed!" said Miss Gryseworth; "he seems to +be an ubiquitous individual. He was in Saratoga a day or two ago, and +sat opposite to me at our dinner-table, but I have not seen him since. +Did you become acquainted with him, Miss Graham?" + +"I am sorry to say I did not," replied Emily; then, looking smilingly at +Gertrude, she added, "Gerty was so anxious for an opportunity to +introduce me that I was quite grieved for her disappointment." + +"Then you liked him?" Miss Gryseworth asked Gertrude, and speaking with +great earnestness. "I knew you would." + +"He interested me much," replied Gertrude. "He is very agreeable, very +peculiar, and to me rather incomprehensible." + +"Non-committal, I see," said Miss Gryseworth, archly. "I hope you will +have a chance to make up your mind; it is more than I can do, I confess, +for every time I am in his company I recognise some new trait of +character. He got so angry at one of the waiters the day he dined with +us in New York, that I was frightened. But I believe my fears were +groundless, for he is too much of a gentleman to bandy words with an +inferior, and though his eyes flashed like coals of fire, he kept his +temper from blazing forth. I will do him the justice to say that this +great indignation did not spring from any neglect he had himself +received, but from the man's inattention to two dowdy-looking women from +the country, who had never thought of seeing him, and therefore got +nothing to eat until everybody else had finished, and looked all the +time as disappointed as if they were just out of the State Prison." + +"Too bad!" exclaimed Gertrude, energetically. "I don't wonder Mr. +Phillips felt provoked with the mercenary fellow. I like him for that." + +"It _was_ too bad," said Miss Gryseworth; "I couldn't help pitying them +myself. One of them--a young girl, fresh from the churn, who had worn +her best white gown on purpose to make a figure in the city--was near +weeping." + +"I hope such instances of neglect are not very common," said Gertrude. +"I am afraid, if they are, Emily and I shall be on the crying list, for +Dr. Jeremy will not fee the waiters beforehand; he says it is a mean +thing, and he will not command attention in that way." + +"Oh, you need have no such fear," said Miss Gryseworth. "Persons +accustomed to hotel life can always command attention, especially in so +well-regulated an establishment as this. Grandmamma shares the doctor's +views with regard to bargaining for it beforehand, but no one ever sees +her neglected here." + +Another light tap at the door, and this time it was Netta Gryseworth who +entered, exclaiming, "I hear Ellen's voice, so I must come in. I am +provoked," added she, as she kissed Emily's hand, and shook Gertrude's +with a freedom which seemed to spring from girlish hoydenism and +high-bred independence of manner, "to think that while I have been +watching about the drawing-room doors for this last half-hour, so as to +see you the first minute you came in, Ellen has been sitting here on a +trunk, as sociable as all the world, enjoying your society, and telling +you every bit of the news." + +"Not every bit, Netta," said Ellen; "I have left several choice little +morsels for you." + +"Have you told Miss Flint about the Foxes and the Coxes that were here +yesterday?--Has she, Miss Flint?" + +"Not a word about them," said Gertrude. + +"Nor about the fright we had on board the steamboat?" + +"No." + +"Nor about Mr. Phillips being here?" + +"Oh, yes, she told us that." + +"Ah, she did!" exclaimed Netta, with an arch look which called up her +sister's blushes. "And did she tell you how he occupied this room, and +how we heard him through the thin partition pacing up and down all +night, and how it kept me from sleeping, and gave me a terrible headache +all the next day?" + +"No, she did not tell me that," said Gertrude. + +"You don't either of you walk all night, do you?" asked Netta. + +"Not often." + +"Oh, how thankful we ought to be to have you for neighbours!" replied +Netta. "If that horrible man had stayed here and kept up that measured +tread, there would have been a suicide either in this room or ours +before many nights." + +"Do you think he was ill?" asked Gertrude. + +"No, indeed," said Ellen; "it was nothing very remarkable--not for him, +at least--all his habits are peculiar; but it kept Netta awake an hour +or two, and made her fidgety." + +"An hour or two, Ellen!" cried Netta. "It was the whole night." + +"My dear sister," said Ellen, "you don't know what a whole night is." + +A little sisterly discussion might have ensued about the length of Mr. +Phillips' walk and Netta's consequent wakefulness, but, fortunately, the +gong sounded for tea. + +Saratoga is a queer place. One sees congregated there, at the height of +the season, delegates from every part of the world. Fashion's ladder is +transplanted thither, and all its rounds are filled. Beauty, wealth, +pride, and folly are well represented; also wit, genius, and learning. +Idleness reigns supreme, and no one, not even the most active and +industrious citizens of our working land, dares, in this her legitimate +province, to dispute her temporary sway. Every rank of society, every +profession, and almost every trade, meet each other on an easy and +friendly footing. The acknowledged belle, the bearer of an aristocratic +name, the owner of a well-filled purse, the renowned scholar, artist, or +poet, have all a conspicuous sphere to shine in. + +It was a new experience to Gertrude, and although in the Congress Hall +she saw only the reflection of Saratoga gaiety, and heard only the echo +of its distant hum, there was enough of novelty and excitement to +entertain and surprise one who was a novice in fashionable life. In the +circle of high-bred, polished, literary, and talented persons whom Madam +Gryseworth drew about her, and into which Dr. Jeremy's party were +admitted, Gertrude found much that was congenial to her cultivated +taste, and she soon was appreciated as she deserved. Madam Gryseworth +was a lady of the old school--one who had all her life been accustomed +to the best society, and who continued, in spite of her advanced years, +to enjoy and to adorn it. For the first day or two Mrs. Jeremy stood +much in awe of her, and could not feel quite at ease in her presence; +but this feeling wore off, and the stout little doctor's lady soon +became confiding and chatty towards the august dame. + +One evening, when the Jeremys had been a week at Saratoga, as Emily and +Gertrude were leaving the tea-table, they were joined by Netta +Gryseworth, who, linking her arm in Gertrude's, exclaimed, in her usual +gay manner, "Gertrude, I shall quarrel with you soon!" + +"Indeed!" said Gertrude; "on what grounds?" + +"Jealousy." + +Gertrude blushed slightly. + +"Oh, you needn't turn so red; it is not on account of any grey-headed +gentleman staring at you all dinner-time from the other end of the +table. No; I'm indifferent on that score. Ellen and you may disagree +about Mr. Phillips' attentions, but I'm jealous of those of another +person." + +"I hope Gertrude isn't interfering with your happiness in any way," said +Emily, smiling. + +"She is, though," replied Netta. "My happiness, my pride, my comfort; +she is undermining them all. She would not dare to so conduct herself, +Miss Graham, if you could see her behaviour." + +"Tell me all about it," said Emily, coaxingly, "and I will promise to +interest myself for you." + +"I doubt that," answered Netta; "I am not sure but you are a coadjutor +with her. However, I will state my grievance. Do you not see how +entirely she engrosses the attention of an important personage? Are you +not aware that Peter has ceased to have eyes for anyone else? For my own +part, I can get nothing to eat or drink until Miss Flint is served, and +I'm determined to ask papa to change our seats at the table. It isn't +that I care about my food; but I feel insulted--my pride is essentially +wounded. A few days ago I was a great favourite with Peter, and all my +pet dishes were sure to be placed in front of me; but now the tune is +changed, and this very evening I saw him pass Gertrude the blackberries, +which the creature knows I delight in, while he pushed a dish of blues +towards me in a contemptuous manner, which seemed to imply, +'Blueberries are good enough for _you_, miss!'" + +"I have noticed that the waiters are very attentive to us," said Emily; +"do you suppose Gertrude has been secretly bribing them?" + +"She says not," replied Netta. "Didn't you tell me so yesterday, +Gertrude, when I was drawing a similar comparison between their devotion +to you and to our party? Didn't you tell me that neither the doctor nor +any of you ever gave Peter anything?" + +"Certainly," answered Gertrude; "his attentions are all voluntary; but I +attribute them entirely to Emily's influence and his desire to serve +her." + +"It is no such thing," said Netta; "it's sorcery, I'm sure of it; you've +been practising the black art, Gertrude, and I'll warn Peter this very +day." + +They now went to the corner of the drawing-room where the old ladies of +Gryseworth and Jeremy were sitting upon a sofa, engaged in earnest +conversation, while Ellen, who had just returned from a drive with her +father, stood talking with him and a Mr. Petrancourt, who had just +arrived from New York. + +The ladies on the sofa made room for Emily, and Netta and Gertrude +seated themselves. Madame Gryseworth was annoyed by a group of children +on the other side of the room, who by their shouts interrupted her +remarks, and prevented her understanding those of her neighbour. +Gertrude's attention was attracted by them to such a degree that she did +not hear half of the sallies of wit and nonsense which Netta continued +to pour forth. + +"Do go and play with those children, Gertrude," said Netta at last; "I +know you're longing to go." + +"I'm longing to stop their play!" said Gertrude. + +Some half-dozen gaily-dressed children had collected around a strange +little new-comer, whom they were subjecting to every species of +persecution. Her clothes, though of rich materials, were mostly untidily +arranged, and soiled by travelling. Her little black silk frock (for the +child was clad in mourning) was quite outgrown, being much shorter than +some of her other garments, and her whole appearance denoted great +neglect. Gertrude saw the little girl standing in their midst, looking +wildly about her, as if to escape; but this the children prevented, and +continued to ply her with questions, each of which called forth their +derisive shouts, which made her cry. Whether the scene reminded Gertrude +of some of her own experiences, or merely touched the chord of sympathy +for the injured, she could not keep her eyes from the little party; and +just as Netta was upon one of her favourite topics--namely, Mr. Phillips +and his unaccountable conduct--she sprang from her seat, exclaiming, +"They shan't torment that child so!" and hastily crossed the room. + +Netta burst into a hearty laugh at Gertrude's excited manner of starting +on her benevolent errand; and this, together with her so hastily +crossing the large and crowded room, drew the inquiries of all the +circle whom she had left, and during her absence she became the subject +of discussion and remark. + +"What is the matter, Netta?" asked Madame Gryseworth. "Where has +Gertrude gone?" + +"To offer herself as a champion, grandmamma, for that little rowdy-dowdy +looking child." + +"Is she the one who has been making all this noise?" + +"No, indeed; but I believe she is the cause of it." + +"It isn't every girl," said Ellen, "who could cross a room like this so +gracefully as Gertrude can." + +"She has a remarkably good figure," said Madame Gryseworth, "and knows +how to walk." + +"She is a very well-formed girl," remarked Dr. Gryseworth, "but the true +secret of her looking so completely the lady lies in her having uncommon +dignity of character, being wholly unconscious of observation and +independent of the wish to attract it. She dresses well, too; Ellen, I +wish you would imitate Miss Flint's style of dress; nothing could be in +better taste." + +"Or a greater saving to your purse, papa," whispered Netta. "Gertrude +dresses very simply." + +"Miss Flint's style of dress would not become Miss Gryseworth," said +Mrs. Petrancourt, who approached in time to hear the doctor's remark. +"Your daughter, sir, is a noble, showy-looking girl, and can carry off a +great deal of dress." + +"So can a milliner's doll, Mrs. Petrancourt. However, I suppose, in a +certain sense, you are right. The two girls are not sufficiently alike +to resemble each other, if their dresses were matched with Chinese +exactness." + +"Resemble each other! You surely would not wish to see your beautiful +daughter the counterpart of one who has not half her attractions." + +"Are you much acquainted with Miss Flint?" + +"Not at all; but Netta pointed her out to me at the tea-table as being a +particular friend." + +"Then you must excuse me, ma'am, if I remark that it is impossible you +should have any idea of her attractions, as they do not lie on the +surface." + +"You confess, then, that you do not think her handsome, sir?" + +"To tell you the truth, I never thought anything about it. Ask +Petrancourt; he is an acknowledged judge;" and the doctor bowed in a +flattering manner to the lady who had been the belle of the season at +the time her husband paid his addresses to her. + +"I will, when I can get a chance; but he is standing too near the blind +lady--Miss Flint's aunt, is she not?" + +"Particular friend; not her aunt." + +This conversation had been carried on in a low voice, that Emily might +not hear it. Others, however, were either more careless or more +indifferent to her presence; for Madam Gryseworth began to speak of +Gertrude without restraint, and she was at this moment saying, "One must +see her under peculiar circumstances to be struck with her beauty at +once; for instance, as I did yesterday, when she had just returned from +riding, and her face was in a glow from exercise and excitement; or as +she looks when animated by her intense interest in some glowing and +eloquent speaker, or when her feelings are suddenly touched and the +tears start into her eyes, and her whole soul shines out through them!" + +"Why, grandmamma," cries Netta, "you are really eloquent!" + +"So is Gertrude, at such times as those I speak of. Oh, she is a girl +after my own heart!" + +"She must be a very agreeable young lady, from your account," said Mr. +Petrancourt. "We must know her." + +"You will not find her of the same stamp as most of the agreeable young +ladies whom you meet in gay circles. I must tell you what Horace Willard +said of her. He is an accomplished man and a scholar--his opinion is +worth something. He had been staying a fortnight at the United States +Hotel, and used to call occasionally to see us. The day he left he came +to me and said--'Where is Miss Flint? I must have one more refreshing +conversation with her before I go. It is a perfect rest to be in that +young lady's society, for she never seems to be making the least effort +to talk with me, or to expect any attempt on my part; she is one of a +few girls who never speak unless they have something to say.' How she +has contrived to quiet those children!" + +Mr. Petrancourt followed the direction of Madame Gryseworth's eyes. "Is +that the young lady you were speaking of?" asked he. "The one with great +dark eyes, and such a splendid head of hair? I have been noticing her +for some time." + +"Yes, that is she, talking to the little girl in black." + +"Madame Gryseworth," said Dr. Jeremy, through the long, open window, and +stepping inside as he spoke, "I see you appreciate our Gerty; I did not +say too much in praise of her good sense, did I?" + +"Not half enough, doctor; she is a very bright girl, and a very good +one, I believe." + +"Good!" exclaimed the doctor; "I didn't know that goodness counted in +these places; but if goodness is worth speaking of, I should like to +tell you a little of what I know of that girl;" and, without going +closely into particulars, he commenced dilating enthusiastically upon +Gertrude's noble and disinterested conduct under trying circumstances, +and had recounted, in a touching manner, her devotion to one old +paralytic--to another infirm and ill-tempered old man and his +slowly-declining daughter--and would have proceeded to speak of her +recent self-sacrificing labours in Emily's service; but Miss Graham +touched his arm, spoke in a low voice, and interrupted him. + +He stopped abruptly. "Emily, my dear," said he, "I beg your pardon; I +didn't know you were here; but what you say is very true. Gertrude is a +private character, and I have no right to bring her before the public. I +am an old fool, certainly; but there, we are all friends." And he looked +around the circle a little anxiously, casting a slightly suspicious +glance at the Petrancourts, and finally rested his gaze upon a figure +behind Ellen Gryseworth. The latter turned, not having been previously +aware that any stranger was near, and, to her surprise, found herself +face to face with Mr. Phillips! "Good evening, sir," said she, on +recognising him; but he did not seem to hear her. Madam Gryseworth, who +had never seen him before, looked up inquiringly. + +"Mr. Phillips," said Ellen, "shall I make you acquainted with Mrs. +Gryseworth, my----" But before she could complete the introduction he +had darted through the window, and was walking across the piazza with +hasty strides. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +A SURPRISE. + + +Later in the evening, when Gertrude, having resigned her little charge +to the nurse who came to seek her, had again joined her party, the +attention of every one assembled in the drawing-room was attracted by +the entrance of a beautiful and showily-dressed young lady, attended by +two or three gentlemen. After glancing round the room for the person +whom she came to seek, she advanced towards Mrs. Petrancourt, who rose +to receive her young visitor. Unexpected as the meeting was to Gertrude, +she recognized Isabel Clinton, who passed both her and Emily without +observing them, and, there being no vacant chair near at hand, seated +herself with Mrs. Petrancourt on a couch a little farther up the room, +and entered into earnest conversation; nor did she change her position +or look in the direction of Dr. Jeremy's party until she was taking +leave. She would have passed them then without noticing their presence, +but hearing Dr. Gryseworth address Miss Flint by name, she half turned, +caught Gertrude's eye, spoke a careless "How do you do?" with that +indifference with which one salutes a very slight acquaintance, cast a +look back at Emily, surveyed with an impertinent air of curiosity the +rest of the circle to which they belonged, and unceremoniously walked +off, whispering to her companions some satirical comments upon the place +and the company. + +"Oh, what a beauty!" exclaimed Netta to Mrs. Petrancourt. "Who is she?" + +Mrs. Petrancourt related what she knew of Miss Clinton, told how she had +travelled with her in Switzerland, and met her in Paris, where she was +universally admired; then, turning to Gertrude, she remarked, "You are +acquainted with her, I see, Miss Flint." Gertrude replied that she knew +her before she went abroad, but had seen nothing of her since her +return. + +"She has just arrived," said Mrs. Petrancourt; "she came with her father +in the last steamer, and has been in Saratoga but a day or two. She is +making a great sensation at the 'United States,' and has troops of +beaux." + +"Most of whom are probably aware," remarked Mr. Petrancourt, "that she +will have plenty of money one of these days." + +Emily's attention was by this time attracted. She had been conversing +with Ellen Gryseworth, but now turned to ask Gertrude if they were +speaking of Isabel Clinton. + +"Yes," said Dr. Jeremy, "and if she were not the rudest girl in the +world, my dear, you would not have remained so long in ignorance of her +having been here." + +Emily forbore to make any comment. Gertrude was silent also; but she +burned inwardly, as she always did, at any slights being offered to the +gentle Emily. + +Gertrude and Dr. Jeremy were always among the earliest morning visitors +at the spring. The doctor enjoyed drinking the water at this hour; and, +as Gertrude was fond of walking before breakfast, he made it a point +that she should accompany him, partake of the beverage of which he was +so fond, and afterwards join him in brisk pedestrian exercise till near +breakfast time. + +On the morning succeeding the evening of which we have been speaking, +they had presented themselves at the spring. Gertrude had gratified the +doctor, and made a martyr of herself by imbibing a tumblerful of water +which she found very unpalatable; and he having quaffed his seventh +glass, they had both proceeded some distance on one more walk around the +grounds when he suddenly missed his cane, and believing that he had left +it at the spring, declared his intention to return and look for it. + +Gertrude would have gone back also, but, as there might be some +difficulty in recovering it, he insisted upon her continuing her walk in +the direction of the circular railway, promising to come round the other +way and meet her. She had proceeded some little distance, and was +walking thoughtfully along, when, at an abrupt winding in the path, she +observed a couple approaching her--a young lady leaning on the arm of a +gentleman. A straw hat partly concealed the face of the latter, but in +the former she recognised Bella Clinton. It was evident that Bella saw +Gertrude, and knew her, but did not mean to acknowledge her +acquaintance; for, after the first glance, she kept her eyes obstinately +fixed either upon her companion or the ground. This conduct did not +disturb Gertrude in the least; Bella could not feel more indifferent +about the acquaintance than she did; but being thus saved the necessity +of awaiting and returning any salutation from that quarter, she +naturally bestows her passing glance upon the gentleman who accompanied +Miss Clinton. He looked up at the same instant, fixed his full grey eyes +upon her, with that careless look with which one stranger regards +another, then, turning as carelessly away, made some slight remark to +his companion. + +They pass on. They have gone some steps--but Gertrude stands fixed to +the spot. She feels a great throbbing at her heart. She knows that look, +that voice, as well as if she had seen and heard them yesterday. Could +Gertrude forget Willie Sullivan? But he has forgotten her. Shall she run +after him and stop him, and catch both his hands in hers, and compel him +to see, and know, and speak to her? She started one step forward in the +direction he had taken, then suddenly paused and hesitated. A crowd of +emotions choked, blinded, suffocated her, and while she wrestled with +them, and they with her, he turned the corner and passed out of sight. +She covered her face with her hands and leaned against a tree. + +It was Willie. There was no doubt of that; but not her Willie--the _boy_ +Willie. It was true time had added but little to his height or breadth +of figure, for he was a well-grown youth when he went away. But six +years of Eastern life, including no small amount of travel, care, +exposure, and suffering, had done the work that time would ordinarily +have accomplished. The winning attractiveness of the boy had but given +place to equal, if not superior, qualities in the man, who was still +very handsome, and gifted with that natural grace and ease of deportment +which win universal commendation. The broad, open forehead, the lines of +mild but firm decision about the mouth, the frank, fearless manner, +were as marked as ever, and were alone sufficient to betray his identity +to one upon whose memory these and all his other characteristics were +indelibly stamped; and Gertrude needed not the sound of his well-known +voice, that too fell upon her ear, to proclaim to her beating heart that +Willie Sullivan had met her face to face, had passed on, and that she +was left alone, unrecognised, unknown, unthought of, and uncared for! + +For a time this bitter thought, "He does not know me," was present to +her mind; it engrossed her entire imagination, and sent a thrill of +surprise and agony through her whole frame. She did not stop to reflect +upon the fact that she was but a child when she parted from him, and +that the change in her appearance must be immense. The one painful idea, +that she was forgotten and lost to the dear friend of her childhood, +obliterated every other recollection. Other feelings, too, soon crowded +into her mind. Why was Willie here, and with Isabel Clinton leaning on +his arm? How came he on this side the ocean? and why had he not +immediately sought herself, the earliest and, as she had supposed, +almost the only friend, to welcome him back to his native land? Why had +he not written and warned her of his coming? How should she account for +his strange silence, and the still stranger circumstance of his hurrying +at once to the haunts of fashion, without once visiting the city of his +birth and the sister of his adoption? + +But among all her visions there had been none which approached the +reality of this painful experience that had suddenly plunged her into +sorrow. Her darkest dreams had never pictured a meeting so chilling; her +most fearful forebodings had never prefigured anything so heart-rending +as this seemingly annihilation of all the sweet and cherished relations +that had subsisted between herself and the long-absent wanderer. No +wonder, then, that she forgot the place, the time, everything but her +own overwhelming grief; and that, as she stood leaning against the old +tree, her chest heaved with sobs too deep for utterance, and great tears +trickled from her eyes and between the little taper fingers that vainly +sought to hide her disturbed countenance. + +She was startled from her position by the sound of a footstep. Hastily +starting forward, without looking in the direction from which it came, +and throwing her veil so as to hide her face, she wiped away her +fast-flowing tears and hastened on, to avoid being observed by any of +the numerous strangers who frequented the grounds at this hour. + +Half-blinded, however, by the thick folds of the veil, and her sight +rendered dim by the tears which filled her eyes, she was scarcely +conscious of the unsteady course she was pursuing, when suddenly a loud, +whizzing noise close to her ears frightened and confused her so that she +knew not which way to turn; at the same instant an arm was suddenly +flung round her waist, she was forcibly lifted from her feet as if she +had been a little child, and found herself detained and supported by the +same strong arm, while just in front of her a little hand-car, +containing two persons, was whirling by at full speed. One step more and +she would have reached the track of the miniature railway, and been +exposed to fatal injury from the rapidly-moving vehicle. Flinging back +her veil, she perceived her fortunate escape; and being released from +the firm grasp of her rescuer, she turned upon him a half-confused, +half-grateful face. + +Mr. Phillips--for it was he--looked upon her in the most tender and +pitying manner. "Poor child!" said he soothingly, at the same time +drawing her arm through his, "you were very much frightened. Here, sit +down upon this bench," and he would have drawn her towards a seat, but +she shook her head and signified by a movement her wish to proceed +towards the hotel. She could not speak; the kindness of his look and +voice only served to increase her trouble and rob her of the power to +articulate. So he walked on in silence, supporting her with the greatest +care and bestowing upon her many an anxious glance. At last making a +great effort to recover her calmness, she partially succeeded--so much +so that he ventured to speak again, and asked, "Did _I_ frighten you?" + +"You!" replied she, in a low and somewhat unsteady voice. "Oh no! you +are very kind." + +"I am sorry you are so disturbed," said he; "those little cars are +troublesome things; I wish they'd put a stop to them." + +"The car!" said Gertrude, in an absent way; "oh, yes, I forgot." + +"You are a little nervous, I fear; can't you get Dr. Jeremy to prescribe +for you?" + +"The doctor! He went back for his cane, I believe." + +Mr. Phillips saw that she was bewildered. He forbore any conversation, +and they continued their walk to the hotel in silence. Just before +leaving her he said, in a tone of the deepest interest, as he held her +hand for a moment at parting, "Can I do anything for you? Can I help +you?" + +Gertrude looked up at him. She saw that he understood that she was +unhappy, not nervous. Her eyes thanked him as they glistened behind a +shower of tears. "No, no," gasped she, "but you are very good;" and she +hastened into the house, leaving him gazing at the door, as if she was +still in sight and he were watching her. + +Gertrude's first thought was how she might best conceal all her fears, +and especially from Miss Graham any knowledge of her grief. That she +would receive sympathy from Emily there could be no doubt; but as she +loved her benefactress, did she shrink from any disclosure which was +calculated to lessen Willie Sullivan in the estimation of one in whose +opinion she was anxious that he should sustain the high place to which +her own praises had exalted him. The chief knowledge that Emily had of +Willie was derived from Gertrude, and with a mingled feeling of +tenderness for him and pride on her own account did the latter dread to +disclose the fact that he had returned, and that she had met him at +Saratoga, and that he had passed her carelessly by. + +It was very hard for her to appear as usual and elude the vigilance of +Emily, who was keenly alive to every sensation experienced by Gertrude. + +Gertrude's love for Willie was undying, and she could not think that he +would attach himself to one so worldly, vain, and selfish as Isabel +Clinton. True, she was the daughter of Willie's early and generous +employer, now the senior partner in the mercantile house to which he +belonged, and would be expected to pay her every polite attention; but +still Gertrude could not but feel a greater sense of estrangement, a +chilling presentiment of sorrow, from seeing him thus familiarly +associated with one who had treated her with scorn. + +She had to summon all her self-command, and endeavour to behave with +serenity and composure. Gertrude compelled herself to enter the room +where Emily was awaiting her, bid her a cheerful "good morning," and +assist in her toilet. Her face bore indications of recent tears, but +that Emily could not see, and by breakfast-time even they were +effectually removed. + +New trials too awaited her, for Dr. Jeremy, according to his promise, +after recovering his cane, went to meet her as agreed upon, and, finding +her false to her appointment, was full of inquiries as to the path she +had taken. The truth was, that when Gertrude heard Mr. Phillips +approaching in the direction she should have taken, she, in her +eagerness to avoid meeting any one, took the contrary path to that she +had been pursuing, and, after he joined her, retraced her steps to the +hotel the same way she had come, consequently eluding the search of the +doctor. But before she could plead any excuse Netta Gryseworth came up, +full of pleasantry and fun, and leaning over Gertrude's shoulder, said, +in a whisper loud enough to be heard by all the little circle, who were +being delayed on their way to breakfast by the doctor's demand for an +explanation, "Gertrude, my dear, such affecting partings ought to be +private; I wonder you allow them to take place directly at the +door-step." + +This remark did not lessen Gertrude's discomfiture, which became extreme +on Dr. Jeremy's taking Netta by the arm and insisting upon knowing her +meaning, declaring that he always had suspicions of Gertrude, and wanted +to know with whom she had been walking. + +"Oh, a certain tall young beau of hers, who stood gazing after her when +she left him, until I began to fear the cruel creature had turned him +into stone. What did you do to him, Gertrude?" + +"Nothing," replied Gertrude. "He saved me from being thrown down by the +little rail-car, and afterwards walked home with me." Gertrude answered +seriously; she could have laughed and joked with Netta at any other +time, but now her heart was too heavy. The doctor did not perceive her +agitation, and pushed the matter further. + +"Quite romantic! imminent danger! providential rescue! _tête-à-tête_ +walk home, carefully avoiding the old doctor, who might prove an +interruption!--I understand!" Poor Gertrude, blushing and distressed, +tried to offer some explanation and stammered out, with a faltering +voice, that she did not notice--she didn't remember. + +At breakfast she could not conceal her want of appetite, and was glad +when Emily went with her to their own room, where, after relating her +escape from accident, and Mr. Phillips' agency in that escape, she was +permitted by her apparently satisfied hearer to sit down and read to her +in a book lent them by that gentleman, to whom, however, no opportunity +had yet occurred of introducing Emily. + +The whole morning passed away, and nothing was heard from Willie. Every +time a servant passed, Gertrude was on the tiptoe of expectation; and +when she heard a tap at the door she trembled so that she could hardly +lift the latch. But there was no summons to the parlour, and by noon the +excitement had brought a deep flush into her face, and she had a severe +headache. Conscious, however, of the wrong construction put upon her +conduct if she absented herself from the dinner-table, she made the +effort to dress with as much care as usual; and, as she passed up the +hall to her seat, it was not strange that, though suffering herself, the +rich glow that mantled her cheeks, and the brilliancy which excitement +had given to her dark eyes, attracted the notice of others besides Mr. +Phillips. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +THE STRICKEN DEER. + + +When Gertrude went to her room after dinner, which she did as soon as +she had seen Emily comfortably established in the drawing-room in +conversation with Madam Gryseworth, she found there a beautiful bouquet +of the choicest flowers, which the chamber-maid said she had been +commissioned to deliver to herself. She rightly imagined the source from +whence they came, divined the motives of kindness which had prompted the +donor of so acceptable a gift, and felt that, if she must accept pity +from any quarter, Mr. Phillips was one from whom she could more easily +bear to receive it than from any other. + +Notwithstanding Netta's intimations, she did not suspect that any other +motives than those of kindness had prompted the offering of the +beautiful flowers. Nor had she reason to do so; Mr. Phillips' manner +towards her was rather fatherly than lover-like, and though she began +to regard him as a valuable friend, that was the only light in which she +had ever thought of him or believed that he ever regarded her. She +placed the flowers in water, returned to the parlour, and constrained +herself to talk on indifferent subjects until the breaking up of the +circle--part to ride, part to take a drive, and the rest a nap. Among +these last was Gertrude, who made her headache as an excuse to Emily for +this unwonted indulgence. + +In the evening she had an urgent invitation to accompany Dr. Gryseworth, +his daughters, and the Petrancourts to a concert at the United States +Hotel. This she declined. She felt that she could not undergo another +such encounter as that of the morning--she should be sure to betray +herself; and now that the whole day had passed and Willie had made no +attempt to see her, she felt that she would not, for the world, put +herself in his way and run the risk of being recognised by him in a +crowded concert-room. + +Thus the parlour, being half deserted, was very quiet--a great relief to +Gertrude's aching head and troubled mind. Later in the evening an +elderly man, a clergyman, had been introduced to Emily, and was talking +with her; Madam Gryseworth and Dr. Jeremy were entertaining each other, +Mrs. Jeremy was nodding, and Gertrude, believing that she should not be +missed, was gliding out of the room to sit in the moonlight when she met +Mr. Phillips in the hall. + +"What are you here all alone for?" asked he. "Why didn't you go to the +concert?" + +"I have a headache." + +"I saw you had at dinner. Is it no better?" + +"No. I believe not." + +"Come and walk with me on the piazza a little while. It will do you +good." + +She went; and he talked very entertainingly to her, told her a great +many amusing anecdotes, succeeded in making her smile, and even laugh, +and seemed pleased at having done so. He related many amusing things he +had seen and heard since he had been staying at Saratoga in the +character of a spectator, and ended by asking her if she didn't think it +was a heartless show. + +Gertrude asked his meaning. + +"Don't you think it is ridiculous in so many thousand people coming here +to enjoy themselves?" + +"I don't know," answered Gertrude; "but it has not seemed so to me. I +think it's an excellent thing for those who do enjoy themselves." + +"And how many do?" + +"The greater part, I suppose." + +"Pshaw! no they don't. More than half go away miserable, and nearly all +the rest dissatisfied." + +"Do you think so? Now, I thought the charm of the place was seeing so +many happy faces; they have nearly all looked happy to me." + +"Oh, that's all on the surface; and, if you'll notice, those who look +happy one day are wretched enough the next. Yours was one of the happy +faces yesterday, but it isn't to-day, my poor child." + +Then, perceiving that his remark caused the hand which rested on his arm +to tremble, while the eyes which had been raised to his suddenly fell +and hid themselves under their long lashes, he said, "However, we will +trust soon to see it as bright as ever. But they should not have brought +you here. Catskill Mountain was a fitter place for your lively +imagination and reflecting mind." + +"Oh!" exclaimed Gertrude, imagining that Mr. Phillips suspected her to +be smarting under some neglect, feeling of wounded pride, or, perhaps, +serious injury, "you speak harshly; all are not selfish, all are not +unkind." + +"Ah! you are young, and full of faith. Trust whom you can, and as long +as you can. _I_ trust _no one_." + +"No one! Are there none, then, in the whole world whom you love and +confide in?" + +"Scarcely; certainly not more than one. Whom should I trust?" + +"The good, the pure, the truly great." + +"And who are they? How shall we distinguish them? I tell you, my young +friend, that in my experience--and it has been rich, ay, very rich"--and +he set his teeth and spoke with bitterness--"the so-called good, the +honourable, the upright man, has proved but the varnished hypocrite, the +highly finished and polished sinner. Yes," continued he, his voice +growing deeper, his manner more excited, "I can think of one, a +respectable man, a church-member, whose injustice and cruelty made my +life what it has been--a desert, a blank, or worse than that; and I can +think of another, an old, rough, intemperate sailor, over whose head a +day never passed that he did not take the name of his God in vain, yet +had at the bottom of his heart a drop of such pure, unsullied essence of +virtue as could not be distilled from the souls of ten thousand of your +polished rogues. Which, then, shall I trust--the good religious men, or +the low, profane, and abject ones?" + +"Trust in _goodness_, wherever it be found," answered Gertrude; "but oh, +trust _all_ rather than _none_." + +"Your world, your religion, draws a closer line. You are a good child, +and full of hope and charity," said Mr. Phillips, pressing her arm +closely to his side. "I will try and have faith in _you_. But see! our +friends have returned from the concert." + +Alboni had excelled herself; and they were so sorry Gertrude did not go. +"But, perhaps," whispered Netta, "you have enjoyed yourself more at +home." But Gertrude, as she stood leaning unconcernedly upon Mr. +Phillips' arm, looked so innocent of confusion or embarrassment, that +her manner refuted Netta's suspicions. + +"Miss Clinton was there," continued Netta, "and looked beautiful. She +had a crowd of gentlemen about her; but didn't you notice (and she +turned to Mrs. Petrancourt) that one met with such marked favour that I +wonder the rest were not discouraged. I mean that tall, handsome young +man who waited upon her into the hall and went out soon after. She +devoted herself to him while he stayed." + +"The same one, was it not," asked Ellen, "who towards the close of the +concert came in and stood leaning against the wall for some minutes?" + +"Yes," answered Netta; "but he only waited for Alboni to finish singing, +and then approaching Miss Clinton, whispered in her ear. After that she +got up, left her seat, and they both went off, rather to the +mortification of the other gentlemen." + +"Oh, it is not strange, under the circumstances," said Mr. Petrancourt, +"that Miss Clinton should prefer a walk with Mr. Sullivan to the best +music in the world." + +"Why?" asked Netta. "Is he very agreeable? Is he supposed to be the +favoured one?" + +"I should think there was no doubt of it," answered Mr. Petrancourt. "I +believe it is generally thought to be an engagement. He was in Paris +with them during the spring, and they all came home in the same steamer. +Everybody knows it is the wish of Mr. Clinton's heart, and Miss Isabel +makes no secret of her preference." + +"Oh, certainly," interposed Mrs. Pentracourt; "it is an understood +thing." + +What became of Gertrude all this time? Could she, who for six years had +nursed the fond idea that to Willie she was, and should still continue +to be, all in all--could she stand patiently by and hear him thus +disposed of and given to another? She did do it; not consciously, +however, for her head swam round, and she would have fallen but for the +firm support of Mr. Phillips, who held her arm so tightly that, though +he felt, the rest could not see how she trembled. Fortunately, too, none +but he saw her blanched face; and, as she stood in the shadow, he alone +was watching the strained and eager eyes, the parted and rigid lips, the +death-like pallor of her countenance. + +Standing there with her heart beating, and almost believing herself in a +horrid dream, she listened, heard, and comprehended every word. She +could not, however, have spoken or moved for her life, and in an instant +more accident might have betrayed her excited condition. But Mr. +Phillips acted, spoke, and moved for her, and she was spared an exposure +from which her sensitive spirit would have shrunk. + +"Mr. Sullivan!" said he. "Ah! a fine fellow; I know him. Miss Gertrude, +I must tell you an anecdote about that young man;" and moving forward in +the direction in which they had been walking when they met the party +from the concert, he related that he and Mr. Sullivan were, a few years +previous, travelling across an Arabian desert, when the latter proved of +signal service in saving him from a sudden attack by a wandering tribe +of Bedouins. He stopped in his narration and perceived that all danger +of observation was passed, and without ceremony placed her in an +arm-chair just by. "Sit here," said he, "while I bring you a glass of +water." He wrapped her mantle tightly about her and walked quickly away. +Oh, how Gertrude thanked him in her heart for thus considerately leaving +her and giving her time to recover herself! It was the most judicious +thing he could have done, and the kindest. He saw that she would not +faint, and knew that left alone she would soon rally her powers. + +When here returned she was perfectly calm. She tasted the water, but he +did not urge her to drink it; he knew she did not require it. "I have +kept you out too long," said he; "come, you had better go in now." + +She rose; he put her arm once more through his, guided her feeble steps +to a window which opened into her and Emily's room; and then, pausing a +moment, said in a meaning tone, at the same time enforcing his words by +the fixed glance of his piercing eye, "You exhort me, Miss Gertrude, to +have faith in everybody; but I bid you, all inexperienced as you are, to +beware lest you believe too much. Where you have good foundation for +confidence, abide by it, if you can, firmly, but trust nothing which you +have not fairly tested, and rest assured that the idle gossip of a place +like this is utterly unworthy of credit. Good night." What an utter +revulsion of feeling these words occasioned Gertrude! They came to her +with all the force of a prophecy, and struck deep into her heart. + +During their long and regular correspondence no letter had come from +Willie that did not breathe a devoted affection for Gertrude--an +exclusive affection, in which there could be no rivalship. All his +thoughts of home and future happy days were inseparably associated with +her; and although Mrs. Sullivan, with that instinctive reserve which was +one of her characteristics, never broached the subject to Gertrude, her +whole treatment of the latter sufficiently evinced that to her mind the +event of her future union with her son was a thing certain. The bold +declaration on Willie's part, conveyed in the letter received by +Gertrude soon after his mother's death, that his hopes, his prayers, his +labours were now all for her, was not a more convincing proof of the +tender light in which he regarded her than all their previous +intercourse had been. Should Gertrude, then, distrust him? Should she at +once set aside all past evidences of his worth, and give ready credence +to his prompt desertion of his early friend? No! she resolved to banish +the unworthy thought; to cherish still the firm belief that some +explanation would shortly offer itself which would yet satisfy her +aching heart. + +Gertrude continued during the remainder of the evening in an elevated +frame of mind, and she was able to go back to the drawing-room for +Emily, say good night to her friends with a cheerful voice, and before +midnight she sought her pillow and went quietly to sleep. But this +calmness of mind, however, was the result of strong excitement, and +therefore could not last. The next morning she yielded to depressed +spirits, and the effort which she made to rise, dress, and go to +breakfast was almost mechanical. She excused herself from her customary +walk with the doctor, for to that she felt unequal. Her first wish was +to leave Saratoga; she longed to go home, to be in a quiet place, where +so many eyes would not be upon her; and when the doctor came in with the +letters which had arrived by the early mail, she looked at them so +eagerly that he observed it, and said, smilingly, "None for you, Gerty; +but one for Emily, which is the next best thing, I suppose." + +To Gertrude this was the _very_ best thing, for it was a long-expected +letter from Mr. Graham, who had arrived at New York, and desired them to +join him there the following day. Gertrude could hardly conceal her +satisfaction, and Emily, delighted at the prospect of so soon meeting +her father, was eager to prepare for leaving. + +They retired to their own room, and Gertrude's time until dinner was +occupied in packing. During the whole of the previous day she had been +anxiously hoping that Willie would make his appearance at their hotel; +now she dreaded such an event. To meet him in so public a manner, too, +as must here be inevitable, would be insupportable; she would prefer to +be in Boston when he should first recognize her; and, if she tormented +herself yesterday with the fear that he would not come, the dread that +he might do so was a still greater cause of distress to her to-day. + +She was therefore relieved when, after dinner, Mr. Phillips proposed to +drive to the lake. Dr. Gryseworth and one of his daughters had agreed to +take seats in a carriage he had provided, and he hoped she would not +refuse to occupy the fourth. + +At the lake Dr. Gryseworth and his daughter Ellen had been persuaded by +a party whom they had met there to engage in bowling. Mr. Phillips and +Gertrude declined taking part, and stood looking on. As they sat thus, +surveying the beautiful sheet of water, a couple approached and took up +a position near them. Mr. Phillips was screened from their observation +by the trunk of a tree, and Gertrude sufficiently so to be unnoticed, +yet the paleness of her face as they drew near indicated that she saw +and recognized William Sullivan and Isabel Clinton. The words which they +spoke fell distinctly upon her ear. "Shall I then be so much missed?" +asked Isabel, looking earnestly into the face of her companion, who, +with a serious air, was gazing out upon the water. + +"Missed!" replied he, turning towards her and speaking in a slightly +reproachful voice; "how can it be otherwise? Who can supply your place?" + +"But it will be only two days." + +"A short time under ordinary circumstances," said Willie, "but an +eternity----" He here checked himself and made a sudden motion to +proceed on their walk. Isabel followed him, saying, "But you will wait +here until my return?" + +He turned to reply, and this time the reproachful look of his features +was visible to Gertrude as he said, with earnestness, "Certainly; can +you doubt it?" The strange, fixed, unnatural expression of Gertrude's +countenance as she listened to this conversation, to her so deeply +fraught with meaning, was fearful to witness. + +"Gertrude!" exclaimed Mr. Phillips, after watching her for a moment; +"Gertrude, for Heaven's sake do not look so! Speak, Gertrude! What is +the matter?" + +But she did not turn her eyes, did not move a feature of that stony +face; she evidently did not hear him. He took her hand. It was cold as +marble. His face now wore an appearance of distress almost equal to her +own; great tears rolled down his cheeks. Once he stretched forth his +arms as if he would gladly clasp her to his bosom and soothe her like a +little child, but he repressed the emotion. "Gertrude," said he, leaning +forward and fixing his eyes full upon hers, "what have these people done +to you? Why do you care for them? If that young man has injured you--the +rascal!--he shall answer for it;" and he sprung to his feet. The words +and the action brought Gertrude to herself. "No, no!" said she, "he is +not that. I am better now. Do not speak of it; don't tell," and she +looked anxiously in the direction of the bowling-alley. "I am a great +deal better;" and to his astonishment--for the fearful, rigid look upon +her face had frightened him--she rose with composure and proposed going +home. + +He accompanied her silently, and before they were half-way up the hill, +where they had left the carriage, they were overtaken by the rest of +their party, driving toward Saratoga. During the whole drive and the +evening which followed Gertrude preserved this same unnatural composure. +Once or twice before they reached the hotel Dr. Gryseworth asked her if +she felt ill. The very tones of her voice were constrained--so much so +that Emily asked, "What is the matter, my dear child?" + +But she declared herself quite well, and went through all the duties of +the evening, bidding farewell to many of her friends, and arranged with +the Gryseworths to see them in the morning. + +Emily was the more troubled of the two, for she could not be deceived, +and reflected back, in her whole demeanour, the better concealed +sufferings of Gertrude. Gertrude neither knew at the time, nor could +afterwards recall, one-half the occurrences of that evening. She never +could understand what it was that sustained her and enabled her, half +unconsciously, to perform her part in them. How she so successfully +concealed her misery she never could comprehend or explain. + +That Willie was faithless to his first love she could not doubt; and +with this conviction she realised that the stay of her life had fallen. +Uncle True and Mrs. Sullivan were both her benefactors, and Emily was +still a dear and steadfast friend; but all of these had been more or +less dependent upon Gertrude, and although she could ever repose in the +assurance of their love, two had, long before they passed away, come to +lean wholly upon her youthful arm; and the other trusted to her to guide +her uncertain steps, but those steps were tending downwards to the +grave. Upon whom, then, should Gertrude lean? To whom could she with +confidence turn for counsel, protection, support, and love? To whom but +Willie? And Willie had given his heart to another--and Gertrude would +soon be left alone! No wonder, then, that she wept as the broken-hearted +weep, wept until the fountain of her tears was dry, and she felt herself +sick, faint, and exhausted. And then she thought she heard voices, as in +her childhood, whispering, "Gerty!--Gerty!--poor little Gerty!" She sank +upon her knees, her uplifted face, her clasped hands, the sweet +resignation of her countenance gave evidence that in her prayer to God +her soul held deep communion with its Maker, and once more her spirit +was uttering the simple words, "Here am I, Lord!" + +Oh, blessed religion, which can sustain the heart in such an hour as +this! Oh, blessed faith and trust which, when earthly support fails us, +and our strongest earthly stay proves but a rope of sand, lifts the soul +above all other need, and clasps it to the bosom of its God! + +And now a gentle hand is laid upon her head. She turns and sees Emily, +whom she believed to be asleep, but from whom anxiety and the sobs of +Gertrude banished slumber, is standing by her side. + +"Gertrude," said she, "are you in trouble, and did you seek to hide it +from me? Do not turn from me, Gertrude!" and, throwing her arms around +her, she drew her head close to her bosom, and whispered, "Tell me all, +my darling! What is the matter with my poor child?" + +And Gertrude unburdened her heart to Emily, disclosing to her the only +secret she had ever kept from her; and Emily wept as she listened, and +when Gertrude had finished she pressed her again and again to her heart, +exclaiming with an excitement which Gertrude had never before witnessed +in the usually placid blind girl, "Strange, strange, that you, too, +should be thus doomed! Oh, Gertrude, my darling, we may well weep +together; but still, believe me, your sorrow is less bitter than mine!" + +And then in the darkness of that midnight hour was Gertrude's confidence +rewarded by the revelation of that tale of grief and woe which twenty +years before had blighted Emily's youth, and which was still vivid to +her recollection casting over her life a dark shadow, of which her +blindness was but a single feature. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +A TALE OF SORROW. + + +"I was younger than you, Gertrude," said she, "when my trial came, and +hardly the same person in any respect that I have been since you first +knew me. My mother died when I was too young to retain any recollection +of her; but my father soon married again, and in that step-parent I +found a love and care which fully compensated my loss. I can recall her +now as she looked towards the latter part of her life--a tall, delicate, +feeble woman, with a very sweet face. She was a widow when my father +married her, and had one son, who became my sole companion, the partner +of all my youthful pleasures. You told me, many years ago, that I could +not imagine how much you loved Willie, and I then had nearly confided to +you my early history, and to convince you that my own experience taught +me how to understand such a love; but I checked myself, for you were too +young then to know so sad a story as mine. How dear my young playmate +became to me no words can express. The office which each filled, the +influence which each of us exerted upon the other, created mutual +dependence; for though his was the leading spirit, the strong and +determined will, and I was ever submissive to a rule which to my easily +influenced nature was never irksome, there was one respect in which my +bold young protector and ruler ever looked to me for aid. It was to act +as mediator between him and my father; for while the boy was almost an +idol to his mother, he was ever treated with coldness and distrust by my +father, who never appreciated his noble qualities, but seemed always to +regard him with dislike. + +"That my father's sternness towards her son was distressing to our +mother I doubt not; for I remember the anxiety with which she strove to +conceal his faults and the frequent occasions on which she instructed me +to propitiate the parent, who, for my sake, would often forgive the boy, +whose adventurous disposition was continually bringing him into +collision with one of whose severity, when displeased, you can judge. My +step-mother had been poor in her widowhood, and her child having +inherited nothing which he could call his own, was wholly dependent upon +my father's bounty. This was a stinging cause of mortification to the +pride of which even as a boy he had an unusual share; and often have I +seen him irritated at the reception of favours which he well understood +were far from being awarded by a paternal hand. + +"While our mother was spared to us we lived in comparative harmony, but +when I was sixteen years old she suddenly died. Well do I remember the +last night of her life, her calling me to her bedside and saying, +'Emily, my dying prayer is that you will be a guardian angel to my boy!' +God forgive me," ejaculated the tearful blind girl, "if I have been +faithless in the trust! + +"He of whom I am telling you was then about eighteen. He had lately +become a clerk in my father's employ against his will, for he desired a +collegiate education; but my father was determined, and at his mother's +and my persuasion he was induced to submit. My step-mother's death knit +the tie between her son and myself more closely than ever. He continued +an inmate of our house, and we passed a deal of time in the enjoyment of +each other's society; for my father was much from home, and when there, +retired to his library, leaving us to entertain each other. I was then a +school-girl, fond of books, and an excellent student. How often, when +you have spoken of the help Willie was in your studies, have I been +reminded of the time when I received similar encouragement and aid from +my youthful friend, who was ever ready to exert hand and brain in my +behalf! But we were not invariably happy. Often did my father's face +wear a frown which I dreaded to see; while the disturbed and +occasionally angry countenance of his step-son denoted that some storm +had occurred, probably at the counting-house, of which I had no +knowledge, except from its after effects. My office of mediator, too, +was suspended from the fact that the censure arose concerning some +supposed mismanagement of business matters by the young and +inexperienced clerk. Matters went on thus for six months, when it became +evident that my father had either been influenced by insinuations from +some foreign quarter, or had himself conceived a new idea. He is honest +and straightforward in his purposes, whatever they may be, and incapable +of carrying out any species of artifice. We saw that he was resolved to +put a check upon the freedom of intercourse which had subsisted between +the two youthful inmates of the house, to forward which purpose he +introduced in the position of housekeeper Mrs. Ellis, who has continued +with us ever since. The almost constant presence of this stranger, and +the interference of my father with his step-son's familiar intimacy with +me, indicated his intention to destroy the closeness of our friendship. + +"It is true, I lent myself unhesitatingly to a species of petty +deception to elude the vigilance which would have kept us apart. My +father, however, saw more of our man[oe]uvring than we were aware of, +and imagined far more than ever in reality existed. He watched us +carefully, and, contrary to his usual course of proceeding, forbore for +a time any interference. I have since been led to think that he designed +to wean us from each other in a less unnatural manner than that which he +had at first attempted, by taking the earliest opportunity to transfer +his step-son to a situation connected with his own mercantile +establishment in a foreign country, or a distant part of our own; and +forbore, until his plans were ripe, to distress me by giving way to the +feelings of displeasure which were burning within him--for he was, and +had ever been, as kind and indulgent towards his undeserving child as +was consistent with a due maintenance to his authority. + +"Before such a course could be carried out, however, circumstances +occurred, and suspicions became aroused, which destroyed one of their +victims, and plunged the other----" + +Here Emily's voice failed her. She laid her head upon Gertrude's +shoulder and sobbed bitterly. + +"Do not try to tell me the rest, dear Emily," said Gertrude. "It is +enough for me to know that you are so unhappy. Do not distress yourself +by dwelling, for my sake, upon past sorrows." + +"Past!" replied Emily, recovering her voice and wiping away her +tears. "No, they are never past. Nor am I unhappy, Gertrude. It is +but rarely that my peace is shaken; nor would I now allow my weak +nerves to be unstrung by imparting to another the secrets of that +never-to-be-forgotten time of trial, were it not that, since you know so +well how harmoniously and sweetly my life is passing on to its great and +eternal awakening, I desire to prove to my darling child the power of +that heavenly faith which has turned my darkness into marvellous light, +and made afflictions such as mine the blessed harbingers of ever-during +joy. + +"I was suddenly taken ill with a fever. Mrs. Ellis, whom I had always +treated with coldness, and often with disdain, nursed me by night and +day with a care and devotion which I did not expect, and under her +nursing, and the skilful treatment of Dr. Jeremy, I began to recover. +One day, when I was able to be up and dressed for several hours at a +time, I went for change of air and scene into my father's library, and +there lay half reclining upon the sofa. Mrs. Ellis had gone to attend to +household duties, but before she left me she placed within my reach a +small table, upon which were arranged various phials, glasses, etc., and +other things which I might require before her return. It was in an +evening in June, and I lay watching the approach of sunset from an +opposite window. I was oppressed, with a sad sense of loneliness, for +during the past six weeks I had enjoyed no society but that of my nurse +and periodical visits from my father; and felt, therefore, no common +pleasure when my most congenial but now nearly forbidden associate +entered the room. He had not seen me since my illness, and after this +protracted and painful separation our meeting was tender and +affectionate. He had, with all the fire of a hot and ungoverned temper, +a woman's depth of feeling, warmth of heart, and sympathising sweetness +of manner. Well do I remember the expression of his noble face, the +manly tones of his voice, as, seated beside me on the wide couch, he +bathed the temples of my aching head with eau-de-cologne, which he took +from the table near by, at the same time expressing again and again his +joy at once more seeing me. + +"How long we had sat thus I cannot tell, but the twilight was deepening +in the room when we were suddenly interrupted by my father, who entered +abruptly, came towards us with hasty steps, but stopping short when +within a yard or two, confronted his step-son with such a look of angry +contempt as I had never before seen upon his face. The latter rose and +stood before him with a glance of proud defiance, and then ensued a +scene which I have neither the wish nor power to describe. + +"It is sufficient to say that in the double accusation which my excited +parent now brought against the object of his wrath, he urged the fact of +his seeking by mean, base, and contemptible artifice to win the +affections, and with them the expected fortune, of his only child as a +secondary and pardonable crime compared with his deeper, darker, and +just but detected guilt of forgery--forgery of a large amount, and upon +his benefactor's name. + +"To this day, so far as I know," said Emily, with feeling, "that charge +remains uncontradicted; but I did not then, I do not now, and I never +_can_ believe it. Whatever were his faults--and his impetuous temper +betrayed him into many--of this dark crime--though I have not even his +own word of attestation--I dare pronounce him innocent. + +"You cannot wonder, Gertrude, that in my feeble condition I was hardly +capable of realising at the time, far less of retaining, any distinct +recollection of the circumstances that followed my father's words. A few +dim pictures, however, the last my poor eyes ever beheld, are still +engraved upon my memory and visible to my imagination. My father stood +with his back to the light, and from the first moment of his entering +the room I never saw his face again; but the countenance of the object +of his accusation, illumined as it was by the last rays of the golden +sunset, stands ever in the foreground of my recollection. His head was +thrown proudly back; conscious innocence proclaimed itself in his clear, +calm eye, which shrunk not from the closest scrutiny; his hand was +clenched, as if he were vainly striving to repress the passion which +proclaimed itself in the compressed lips, the set teeth, the deep and +angry indignation which overspread his face. He did not +speak--apparently he could not command voice to do so; but my father +continued to upbraid him in language cutting and severe, though I +remember not a word of it. It was fearful to watch the working of the +young man's face, while he stood there listening to taunts and enduring +reproaches which were believed by him who uttered them to be just and +merited, but which wrought the youth to a degree of frenzy which it was +terrible to witness. Suddenly he took one step forward, slowly lifted +the clenched hand which had hitherto hung at his side. I know not +whether he might then have intended to call Heaven to witness his +innocence of the crime, or whether he might have designed to strike my +father; for I sprang from my seat prepared to rush between them, and +implore them for my sake, to desist; but my strength failed me, and, +with a shriek, I sunk back in a fainting fit. + +"Oh, the horror of my awakening! How shall I find words to tell it?--and +yet I must! Listen, Gertrude. He--the poor, ruined boy--sprung to help +me; and, maddened by injustice, he knew not what he did. Heaven is my +witness, I never blamed him; and if, in my agony, I uttered words that +seemed like a reproach, it was because I was too frantic, and knew not +what I said!" + +"What!" exclaimed Gertrude, "he did not----" + +"No, no! he did not--he did _not put_ out my eyes!" exclaimed Emily; "it +was an accident. He reached forward for the eau-de-cologne, which he had +just had in his hand. There were several bottles, and in his haste he +seized one containing a powerful acid which Mrs. Ellis had found +occasion to use in my sick-room. It had a heavy glass stopper--and +he--his hand being unsteady, and he spilt it all----" + +"On your eyes?" shrieked Gertrude. + +Emily bowed her head. + +"Oh, poor Emily!" cried Gertrude, "and wretched, wretched young man!" + +"Wretched indeed!" ejaculated Emily. "Bestow all your pity on him, +Gertrude, for his was the harder fate of the two." + +"Oh, Emily! how intense must have been the pain you endured! How could +you suffer so, and live?" + +"Do you mean the pain from my eyes? That was severe indeed, but the +mental agony was worse!" + +"What became of him?" said Gertrude. + +"I cannot give you an exact account of what followed. I was in no state +to know anything of my father's treatment of his step-son. He banished +him from his sight and knowledge for ever; and it is easy to believe it +was with no added gentleness, since he had now, besides the other crimes +imputed to him, been the cause of his daughter's blindness." + +"And did you never hear from him again?" + +"Yes. Through the good doctor--who alone knew all the circumstances--I +learned that he had sailed for South America; and in the hope of once +more communicating with the poor exile, and assuring him of my continued +love, I rallied from the sickness, fever, and blindness into which I had +fallen; the doctor had even a thought of restoring sight to my eyes. +Several months passed, and my kind friend, who was persevering in his +inquiries, having learned the residence and address of the ill-fated +youth, I was commencing, through the aid of Mrs. Ellis (whom pity had +now won to my service), a letter of love, and an entreaty for his +return, when a fatal seal was put to all my earthly hopes. He died in a +foreign land, alone, unnursed, and uncared for; he died of that +southern disease which takes the stranger for its victim; and I, on +hearing the news of it, sunk back into a more pitiable malady; and--and +alas, for the encouragement of the good doctor had held out of my +gradual restoration to sight!--I wept all his hopes away!" + +Emily paused. Gertrude put her arms around her, and they clung closely +to each other; grief and sorrow made their union dearer than ever. + +"I was then, Gertrude," continued Emily, "a child of the world, eager +for worldly pleasures, and ignorant of any other. For a time, therefore, +I dwelt in utter darkness--the darkness of despair. I began, too, again +to feel my bodily strength restored, and to look forward to a useless +and miserable life. You can form no idea of the utter wretchedness in +which my days were passed. + +"But at last a dawn came to my dark night. It came in the shape of a +minister of Christ, our own dear Mr. Arnold, who opened the eyes of my +understanding, lit the lamp of religion in my now softened soul, taught +me the way to peace, and led my feeble steps into that blessed rest +which even on earth remaineth to the people of God. + +"In the eyes of the world I am still the unfortunate blind girl; cut off +from every enjoyment; but so great is the awakening I have experienced +that to me it is far otherwise, and I am ready to exclaim, like him who +in old time experienced his Saviour's healing power, 'Once I was blind, +but now I see!'" + +Gertrude half forgot her own troubles while listening to Emily's sad +story; and when the latter laid her hand upon her head, and prayed that +she too might be fitted for a patient endurance of trial, and be made +stronger and better thereby, she felt her heart penetrated with that +deep love and trust which seldom come to us except in the hour of +sorrow, and prove that it is through suffering only we are made +perfect. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +THE HOUR OF PERIL. + + +As Mr. Graham had expressed in his letter the intention of being at the +steamboat wharf in New York to meet his daughter and Gertrude on their +arrival, Dr. Jeremy thought it unnecessary to accompany his charges +further than Albany, where he could see them safely on their way, and +then proceed to Boston with his wife over the Western Railroad. + +"Good-bye, Gerty," said the doctor, as he bade them farewell on the deck +of one of the Hudson river-boats. "I'm afraid you've lost your heart in +Saratoga; you don't look quite so bright as you did when we first +arrived there. It can't have strayed far, however, I think, in such a +place as that; so be sure and find it before I see you in Boston." + +It wanted a few minutes only of the time for the boat to start, when a +gay group of fashionables appeared talking and laughing. Among them was +Miss Clinton, whose companions were making her the object of a great +deal of wit and pleasantry, by which, although she feigned to be teased, +her smiling face gave evidence that she felt flattered and pleased. At +length the significant gesture of some of the party, and a +half-smothered hush-h! indicated the approach of some one, and presently +William Sullivan, with a travelling-bag in his hand, a heavy shawl +thrown over one arm, and his grave face, as if he had not recovered from +the chagrin of the previous evening, appeared, passed Gertrude, whose +veil was drawn over her face, and joined Isabel, placing his burden on a +chair which stood near. + +Just then the violent ringing of the bell gave notice to all but the +passengers to quit the boat, and he was compelled to make haste to +depart. As he did so he drew a step nearer Gertrude, a step further from +her whom he was addressing, and the former distinguished the words: +"Then, if you will do your best to return on Thursday I will try not to +be impatient in the meantime." + +A moment more and the boat was on its way; just then a tall figure, who +reached the landing just as she started, had, to the horror of the +spectators, daringly leaped the gap that already divided her from the +shore; after which he sought the gentlemen's saloon, threw himself upon +a couch, drew a book from his pocket, and commenced reading. + +As soon as the boat was fairly under weigh and quiet prevailed in the +neighbourhood, Emily spoke softly to Gertrude, and said---- + +"Didn't I just now hear Isabel Clinton's voice?" + +"She is here," replied Gertrude, "on the opposite side of the deck, but +sitting with her back towards us." + +"Didn't she see us?" + +"I believe she did," answered Gertrude. "She stood looking this way +while her party were arranging their seats." + +"Perhaps she is going to New York to meet Mrs. Graham." + +"Very possible," replied Gertrude. "I didn't think of it before." + +"Who was the gentleman who spoke to her just before the boat started?" + +"Willie," was the tremulous response. + +Emily pressed Gertrude's hand and was silent. She, too, had overheard +his farewell remark, and felt its significance. Several hours passed, +and they had proceeded some distance down the river; for the motion of +the boat was rapid--too rapid, as it seemed to Gertrude, for safety. She +observed several circumstances, which excited so much alarm, that, +effectually aroused from her train of reflection, she had leisure only +to take into view her own and Emily's situation, and its probable +consequence. + +Several times, since they left Albany, had the boat passed and repassed +another of similar size, with living freight, and bound in the same +direction. Occasionally, during their headlong course, the contiguity of +the two boats excited serious alarm. They were racing, and racing +desperately. Some few, regardless of danger, watched with pleased +eagerness the mad career of rival ambition; but by far the majority of +the company, who had reason and sense, looked on in indignation and +fear. The usual stopping places on the river were either recklessly +passed by, or only paused at, while, with indecent haste, passengers +were shuffled backwards and forwards at the risk of life and limb, +their baggage (or somebody's else) unceremoniously flung after them, the +panting, snorting engine in the meantime bellowing with rage at the +check thus unwillingly imposed upon its freedom. + +Gertrude sat with her hand locked in Emily's, anxiously watching every +indication of terror, and endeavouring to judge from the countenances +and words of her most intelligent-looking fellow-travellers the actual +degree of their insecurity. Emily, rendered through her acute hearing, +conscious of the prevailing alarm, was calm, though very pale, and from +time to time questioned Gertrude concerning the vicinity of the other +boat, a collision with which was the principal cause of fear. + +At length their boat for a few moments distanced its competitor; the +assurance of perfect safety was impressively asserted; anxiety began to +be relieved, and most of the passengers gained their wonted composure. +Emily looked pallid, and, as Gertrude fancied, a little faint. "Let us +go below, Emily," she said; "it appears now to be very quiet and safe." + +Gertrude opened her travelling-basket, which contained their luncheon. +It consisted merely of such dry morsels as had been hastily collected +and put up at their hotel, in Albany, by Dr. Jeremy's direction. +Gertrude was hesitating which she could recommend to Emily, when a +waiter appeared, bearing a tray of refreshments, which he placed upon +the table. + +"This is not for us," said Gertrude. "You have made a mistake." + +"No mistake," replied the man. "Orders was for de blind lady and hansum +young miss. I only 'beys orders. Anything furder, miss?" + +Gertrude dismissed the man with the assurance that they wanted nothing +more, and then, turning to Emily, asked, with an attempt at +cheerfulness, what they should do with this Aladdin-like repast. + +"Eat it, my dear, if you can," said Emily; "it is no doubt meant for +us." + +"But to whom are we indebted for it?" + +"To my blindness and your beauty, I suppose," said Emily, smiling. +"Perhaps the chief steward, or master of ceremonies, took pity on our +inability to come to dinner, and so sent the dinner to us." + +The sable waiter, when he came to remove the dishes, really looked sad +to see how little they had eaten. Gertrude drew out her purse, and after +bestowing a fee upon the man, inquired whom she should pay for the meal. + +"Pay, miss!" said the man, grinning. "Bless my stars! de gentleman pays +for all!" + +"Who? What gentleman?" asked Gertrude, in surprise. + +But before he could reply another waiter appeared and beckoned to his +fellow-waiter, who snatched up his tray and trotted off, leaving +Gertrude and Emily to wonder who the gentleman might be. + + + * * * * * + +"What time is it?" asked she, on awaking. + +"Nearly a quarter past three," replied Gertrude, glancing at her watch +(a beautiful gift from a class of her former pupils). + +Emily started up. "We can't be far from New York," said she; "where are +we now?" + +"I think we must be near the Palisades;" said Gertrude; "stay here, I +will go and see." She passed across the saloon, and was ascending the +staircase, when she was alarmed by a rushing sound, mingled with hurried +steps. She kept on, however, and had gained the head of the stairway, +when a man rushed past gasping for breath, and shrieking, "Fire! fire!" +A scene of dismay and confusion ensued too terrible for description. +Shrieks rose upon the air, groans and cries of despair burst from hearts +that were breaking with fear for others, or maddened at the certainty of +their own destruction. Those who had never prayed before poured out +their souls in the fervent ejaculation, "Oh, my God!" + +Gertrude gazed around upon every side. Towards the centre of the boat, +where the machinery, heated to the last degree, had fired the vessel, a +huge volume of flame was visible, darting out its fiery fangs, and +causing the stoutest hearts to shrink and crouch in horror. She gave but +one glance; then bounded down the stairs to save Emily. But she was +arrested at the very onset. One step only had she taken when she was +encircled by two powerful arms, and a movement made to rush with her +upon deck: while a familiar voice gasped forth, "Gertrude, my child! my +own darling! Be quiet--be quiet!--I will save you!" + +She was struggling madly. "No, no!" shouted she; "Emily! Emily! Let me +die! but I must find Emily!" + +"Where is she?" asked Mr. Phillips; for it was he. + +"There, there," pointed Gertrude--"in the cabin. Let me go! let me go!" + +He cast one look around him; then said, in a firm tone, "Be calm, my +child! I can save you both; follow me closely!" + +With a leap he cleared the staircase, and rushed into the cabin. In the +furthest corner knelt Emily, her hands clasped, and her face like that +of an angel. + +Gertrude and Mr. Phillips were by her side in an instant. He stooped to +lift her in his arms, Gertrude at the same time exclaiming, "Come, +Emily, come! He will save us!" But Emily resisted. "Leave me, +Gertrude--leave me, and save yourselves! Oh!" said she, imploringly, +"leave me, and save my child." But ere the words had left her lips she +was borne half way across the saloon; Gertrude followed closely. + +"If we can cross to the bows of the boat we are safe!" said Mr. +Phillips, in a husky voice. + +To do so, however, proved impossible. The centre of the boat was now one +sheet of flame. "Good heavens!" exclaimed he, "we are too late! we must +go back!" + +With much difficulty they regained the saloon. The boat, as soon as the +fire was discovered, had been turned towards the shore, struck upon the +rocks, and parted in the middle. Her bows were brought near to the land, +near enough to almost ensure the safety of such persons as were at the +top part of the vessel. But, alas for those near the stern! + +Mr. Phillips' first thought was to beat down a window-sash, spring upon +the guards, and drag Emily and Gertrude after him. Some ropes hung upon +the guards; he seized one and made it fast to the boat; then turned to +Gertrude, who stood firm by his side. "Gertrude," said he, "I shall swim +to the shore with Emily. If the fire comes too near, cling to the +guards; as a last chance hold on to the rope. Keep your veil flying; I +shall return." + +"No, no!" cried Emily. "Gertrude, go first." + +"Hush, Emily!" exclaimed Gertrude; "we shall both be saved." + +"Cling to my shoulder in the water, Emily," said Mr. Phillips, utterly +regardless of her protestations. He took her once more in his arms; +there was a splash, and they were gone. At the same instant Gertrude was +seized from behind. She turned and found herself grasped by Isabel +Clinton, who, kneeling upon the platform, and frantic with terror, was +clinging so closely to her as utterly to disable them both; she shrieked +out, "Oh, Gertrude! Gertrude! save me!" But Gertrude thus imprisoned, +she was powerless to do anything for her own or Isabel's salvation. She +looked forth in the direction Mr. Phillips had taken, and, to her joy, +she saw him returning. He had deposited Emily on board a boat, and was +now approaching to claim another burden. A volume of flame swept so near +the spot where the two alarmed girls were stationed that Gertrude felt +the scorching heat, and both were almost suffocated with smoke. An +heroic resolution was now displayed by Gertrude. One of them could be +saved; for Mr. Phillips was within a few rods of the wreck. It should be +Isabel! She had called on her for protection, and it should not be +denied! Moreover, Willie loved Isabel. Willie would weep for her loss, +and that must not be. He would not weep for Gertrude--at least, not +much; and, if one must die, it should be she. "Isabel," said +she--"Isabel, do you hear me? Stand up on your feet; do as I tell you, +and you shall be saved. Do you hear me, Isabel?" + +She heard, shuddered; but did not move. Gertrude stooped down, and +wrenching apart the hands which were convulsively clenched, said +sternly, "Isabel, if you do as I tell you, you will be on shore in five +minutes, safe and well; but if you stay there we shall both be burned to +death. For mercy's sake, get up quickly, and listen to me!" Isabel rose, +fixed her eyes upon Gertrude's calm, steadfast face, and said, "What +must I do? I will try." + +"Do you see that person swimming this way?" + +"Yes." + +"He will come to this spot. Hold fast to that piece of rope, and I will +let you gradually down to the water. But, stay!"--and, snatching the +deep blue veil from her own head she tied it round the neck and flung it +over the fair hair of Isabel. Mr. Phillips was within a rod or two. +"Now, Isabel, now!" exclaimed Gertrude, "or you will be too late!" +Isabel took the rope, but shrunk back, appalled at the sight of the +water. One more hot burst of fire gave her renewed courage to brave a +mere seeming danger; and aided by Gertrude, who helped her over the +guards, she allowed herself to be let down to the water's edge. Mr. +Phillips was just in time to receive her, for she was so utterly +exhausted that she could not have clung long to the rope. Gertrude had +no opportunity to follow them with her eye; her own situation was now +all-engrossing. The flames had reached her. She could hardly breathe. +She could hesitate no longer. She seized the piece of rope, and grasping +it with all nor might, leaped over the side of the vessel. How long her +strength would have enabled her thus to cling--how long the guards, as +yet unapproached by the fire, would have continued a sure support for +the cable--there was no opportunity to test; for, just as her feet +touched the cold surface of the water, the huge wheel, which was but a +little distance from where she hung, gave one sudden revolution, +sounding like a death-dirge through the water, which came foaming and +dashing up against the boat, and, as it swept away again, bore with it +the light form of Gertrude! + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +SUSPENSE. + + +Let us now revisit the country seat of Mr. Graham. The old gentleman, +wearied with travels and society not congenial to his years, is pacing +up and down his garden walks; his countenance denoting plainly enough +how glad he is to find himself once more in his cherished homestead. It +is supposed that such satisfaction arose from the circumstance that the +repose of his household is rendered complete by the absence of its +excitable mistress, whom he has left in New York. This was like the good +old times. + +Emily and Gertrude, too, are closely associated with those good old +times; and it adds greatly to the delusion of his fancy to dwell upon +the certainty that they are both in the house, and that he shall see +them both at dinner. Yes, Gertrude is there, as well as the rest, +saved--she hardly knew how--from a watery grave that almost engulfed +her, and established once more in the peaceful and endeared spot, now +the dearest to her on earth. + +When, with some difficulty, restored to consciousness, she was informed +that she had been picked up by some humane persons who had pushed a boat +from the shore to rescue the sufferers; that she was clinging to the +chair, which she had probably grasped when washed away by the sudden +rushing of the water, and that her situation was such that, a moment +more, and it would have been impossible to save her from the flames, +close to which she was drifting. But of all this she had herself no +recollection. From the moment when she committed her light weight to the +frail tenure of the rope until she opened her eyes in a quiet spot, and +saw Emily leaning anxiously over the bed upon which she lay, all had +been a blank to her senses. A few hours from the time of the terrible +catastrophe brought Mr. Graham to the scene, and the next day restored +all three in safety to the old mansion-house in D----. This venerable +habitation, and its adjoining grounds, wore nearly the same aspect as +when they met the admiring eyes of Gerty on the first visit that she +made Miss Graham in her early childhood--that long-expected and +keenly-enjoyed visit, which proved a lasting topic for her young mind to +dwell upon. + +The old house had a look of contentment and repose. The hall door stood +wide open. Mr. Graham's arm-chair was in its usual place; Gertrude's +birds, of which Mrs. Ellis had taken excellent care, were hopping about +on the slender perches of the great Indian cage which hung on the wide +piazza. The old house-dog lay stretched in the sun. Plenty of flowers +graced the parlour, and all was very comfortable. Mr. Graham thought so +as he came up the steps, patted the dog, whistled to the birds, sat down +in the arm-chair, and took the morning paper from the hand of the neat +housemaid. The dear old place was the dear old place still. + +Mr. Graham has been having new experiences; and he is, in many respects, +a changed man. Emily is sitting in her own room. She is paler than ever, +and her face has an anxious expression. Every time the door opens she +starts, trembles, a sudden flush overspreads her face, and twice during +the morning she has suddenly burst into tears. Every exertion, even that +of dressing, seems a labour to her; she cannot listen to Gertrude's +reading, but will constantly interrupt her to ask questions concerning +the burning boat, her own and others' rescue, and every circumstance +connected with the late terrible scene of agony and death. Her nervous +system is shattered, and Gertrude looks at her and weeps. + +Gertrude withdrew, but returned in an hour to help her to dress for +dinner--a ceremony which Miss Graham would never omit, her chief desire +seeming to be to maintain the appearance of health and happiness in the +presence of her father. Gertrude retired to her own room, leaving Emily +to bow her head upon her hands, and utter a few hysterical sobs. +Gertrude is followed by Mrs. Ellis, who seats herself, and in her +exciting style adds to the poor girl's fear and distress by stating the +dreadful effect the recollection of that shocking accident is having +upon poor Emily. "She's completely upset, and if she don't begin to mend +in a day or two there's no knowing what the consequences may be. Emily +is feeble, and not fit to travel; I wish she had stayed at home." + +Gertrude is again interrupted. The housemaid brought her a letter! With +a trembling hand she receives it, fearing to look at the writing or +post-mark. Her first thought is of Willie; but before she could indulge +either a hope or a fear on that score the illusion is dispelled, for, +though the post-mark is New York, and he might be there, the handwriting +is wholly strange. She breaks the seal, and reads:-- + + "MY DARLING GERTRUDE,--My much-loved child--for such you indeed + are, though a father's agony of fear and despair alone wrung from + me the words that claimed you. It was no madness that, in the dark + hour of danger, compelled me to clasp you to my heart, and call you + mine. A dozen times before had I been seized by the same emotion, + and as often had it been subdued and smothered. And even now I + would crush the promptings of nature, and depart and weep my poor + life away alone; but the voice within me has spoken once, and + cannot again be silenced. Had I seen you happy, gay, and + light-hearted, I would not have asked to share your joy, far less + would I have cast a shadow on your path; but you are sad and + troubled, my poor child, and your grief unites the tie between us + closer than that of kindred, and makes you a thousand times my + daughter; for I am a wretched, weary man, and know how to feel for + others' woe. + + "You have a kind and a gentle heart, my child. You have wept once + for the stranger's sorrows--will you now refuse to pity, if you + cannot love, the solitary parent, who, with a breaking heart and a + trembling hand, writes the ill-fated word that dooms him, perhaps, + to the hatred and contempt of the only being on earth with whom he + can claim the fellowship of a natural tie? Twice before have I + striven to utter it, and, laying down my pen, have shrunk from the + cruel task. But, hard as it is to speak, I find it harder to still + the beating of my restless heart; therefore, listen to me, though + it may be for the last time. Is there one being on earth whom you + shudder to think of? Is there one associated only in your mind with + deeds of darkness and of shame? Is there one name which you have + from your childhood learned to abhor and hate; and, in proportion + as you love your best friend, have you been taught to shrink from + and despise her worst enemy? It cannot be otherwise. Ah! I tremble + to think how my child will recoil from her father when she learns + the secret, so long preserved, so sorrowfully revealed, that he is + + "PHILLIP AMORY!" + +As Gertrude finished reading this strange and unintelligible letter her +countenance expressed complete bewilderment--her eyes glistened with +tears, her face was flushed with excitement; but she was evidently at a +total loss to account for the meaning of the stranger's words. She sat +for an instant wildly gazing into vacancy; then, springing suddenly up, +with the letter grasped in one hand, ran to Emily's room, to read the +wonderful contents, and ask her opinion of their hidden meaning. She +stopped, however, when her hand was on the door-lock. Emily was already +ill--it would not do to distress or even disturb her; and, retreating to +her own room, Gertrude sat down to re-peruse the singular letter. + +That Mr. Phillips and the letter-writer were identical she at once +perceived. It was no slight impression that his exclamation and conduct +during the time of their imminent danger on board the boat had left upon +the mind of Gertrude. During the three days that succeeded the accident +the words, "My child! my own darling!" had been continually ringing in +her ears, and haunting her imagination. Now the blissful idea would +flash upon her, that the noble, disinterested stranger, who had risked +his life in her own and Emily's cause, might indeed be her father; and +every fibre of her being had thrilled at the thought, while her head +grew dizzy and confused with the strong sensation of hope that almost +overwhelmed her brain. + +Her first inquiries, on recovering consciousness, had been for the +preserver of Emily and Isabel, but he had disappeared; no trace of him +could be obtained, and Mr. Graham arriving and hurrying them from the +neighbourhood, she had been compelled to abandon the hope of seeing him +again. The same motives which induced her not to consult Emily +concerning the mysterious epistle had hitherto prevented her from +imparting the secret of Mr. Phillips' inexplicable language and manner; +but she had dwelt upon them none the less. + +The first perusal of the letter served only to excite and alarm her. But +as she sat for an hour gazing upon the page, which she read and re-read +until it was blistered with the varying expression of her face denoted +the emotions that, one after another, possessed her; and which at last, +snatching a sheet of paper, she committed to writing with a feverish +rapidity that betrayed how she staggered beneath the weight of +contending hopes and gloomy fears. + + "MY DEAR, DEAR FATHER,--If I may dare to believe that you are so, + and if not that, my best of friends--how shall I write to you, and + what shall I say, since all your words are a mystery? Father! + blessed word. Oh, that my noble friend were indeed my father! Yet + tell me, tell me, how can this be? Alas! I feel a sad presentiment + that the bright dream is all an illusion, an error. I never before + remember to have heard the name of Phillip Amory. My sweet, pure, + and gentle Emily has taught me to love all the world; and hatred + and contempt are foreign to her nature, and, I trust, to my own. + Moreover, she has not an enemy in the wide world, never had, or + could have. One might as well war with an angel of heaven as with a + creature so holy and lovely as she. + + "Nor bid me think of yourself as a man of sin and crime. It cannot + be. It would be wronging a noble nature to believe it, and I say + again it cannot be. Gladly would I trust myself to repose on the + bosom of such a parent; gladly would I hail the sweet duty of + consoling the sorrows of one so self-sacrificing, so kind, so + generous; whose life has been so freely offered for me, and for + others whose existence was dearer to me than my own. When you took + me in your arms and called me your child, your darling child, I + fancied that the excitement of that dreadful scene had for the + moment disturbed your mind and brain so far as to invest me with a + false identity--perhaps confound my image with that of some loved + and absent one. I now believe that it was no sudden madness, but + rather that I have been all along mistaken for another, whose glad + office it may perhaps be to cheer a father's saddened life, while I + remain unrecognized, unsought--the fatherless, motherless one, I am + accustomed to consider myself. If you have lost a daughter, God + grant she may be restored to you, to love you as I would do, were I + so blessed as to be that daughter! And I--consider me not a + stranger; let me be your child in heart; let me love, pray, and + weep for you; let me pour out my soul in thankfulness for the kind + care and sympathy you have already given me. And yet, though I + disclaim it all, and dare not, yes, dare not, dwell for a moment on + the thought that you are otherwise than deceived in believing me + your child, my heart leaps up in spite of me, and I tremble and + almost cease to breathe as there flashes upon me the possibility, + the blissful God-given hopes! No, no! I will not think of it, lest + I could not bear to have it crushed! Oh, what am I writing? I know + not. I cannot endure the suspense long; write quickly, or come to + me, my father--for I will call you so once, though perhaps never + again. + + "GERTRUDE." + +Mr. Phillips--or rather Mr. Amory, for we shall call him by his true +name--had neglected to mention his address. Gertrude did not observe +this circumstance until she was preparing to direct her letter. She for +a moment experienced a severe pang in the thought that her communication +would never reach him. But she was reassured on examining the post-mark, +which was evidently New York, to which she addressed her missive; and +then, unwilling to trust it to other hands, tied on her bonnet, caught +up a veil with which to conceal her agitated face, deposited the letter +herself in the village post-office. + +Gertrude's case was a peculiarly trying one. She had been already, for +a week past, struggling in suspense which agitated her almost beyond +endurance; and now a new cause of mystery had arisen, involving an +almost equal amount of self-questioning and torture. It seemed almost +beyond the power of so sensitive, and so inexperienced a girl to rally +such self-command as would enable her to control her emotions, disguise +them from observation, and compel herself to endure alone and in silence +this cruel destiny. But she did do it, and bravely too. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +TIES--NOT OF EARTH. + + +In a private room of one of those first-class hotels in which New York +city abounds, Phillip Amory sat alone. It was evening, the curtains were +drawn, the gas-lamps burning brightly and giving a cheerful glow to the +room, the comfortable appearance of which contrasted strongly with the +pale countenance and desponding attitude of its solitary inmate, who +leaned upon a table in the centre of the apartment. He had thus sat for +nearly an hour without once moving or looking up. Suddenly he started +up, straightened his commanding figure to its full height, and slowly +paced the room. A slight knock at the door arrested his steps; a look of +annoyance overspread his countenance; he again flung himself into his +chair, and, in reply to the servant's announcing, "A gentleman, sir," +was preparing to say, "I cannot be interrupted"--but it was too late; +the visitor had advanced within the door, which the waiter quietly +closed and repeated. + +The new-comer--a young man--stepped quickly and eagerly forward, but +checked himself, abashed at the coldness of the reception by his host. + +"Excuse me, Mr. Phillips," said William Sullivan, for it was he; "I fear +my visit is an intrusion." + +"Do not speak of it," replied Mr. Amory. "I beg you to be seated;" +politely handing a chair. + +Willie availed himself of the offered seat no further than to lean +lightly upon it with one hand, while he still remained standing. "You +have changed, sir," continued he, "since I last saw you." + +"Changed! Yes, I am," said the other, absently. + +"Your health, I fear, is not----" + +"My health is excellent," said Mr. Amory, interrupting his remark. "It +is a long time, sir, since we met. I have not yet forgotten the debt I +owe you for your timely interference between me and Ali, that Arab +traitor, with his rascally army of Bedouin rogues." + +"Do not name it, sir," said Willie. "Our meeting was fortunate; but the +benefit was as mutual as the danger to which we were alike exposed." + +"I cannot think so. You seemed to have a most excellent understanding +with your own party of guides and attendants, Arabs though they were." + +"True; I have had some experience in Eastern travel, and know how to +manage those inflammable spirits of the desert. But at the time I joined +you, I was myself entering the neighbourhood of hostile tribes, and +might soon have found our party overawed but for having joined forces +with yourself." + +"You set but a modest value upon your conciliatory powers, young man. To +you, who are so well acquainted with the facts in the case, I can hardly +claim the merit of frankness for the acknowledgment that it was only my +own hot temper and stubborn will which exposed us both to the imminent +danger which you were fortunately able to avert. No, no! I must once +more express my gratitude for your invaluable aid." + +"You are making my visit, sir," said Willie, smiling, "the very reverse +of what it was intended to be. I did not come here this evening to +receive but to render thanks." + +"For what, sir?" asked Mr. Amory, abruptly, almost roughly. "You owe me +nothing." + +"The friends of Isabella Clinton, sir, owe you a debt of gratitude which +it will be impossible for them ever to repay." + +"You are mistaken, Mr. Sullivan; I have done nothing which places that +young lady's friends under a particle of obligation to me." + +"Did you not save her life?" + +"Yes; but nothing was further from my intention." + +Willie smiled. "It could have been no accident, I think, which led you +to risk your own life to rescue a fellow-passenger." + +"It was no accident which led to Miss Clinton's safety from destruction. +I am convinced of that. But you must not thank _me_; it is due to +another than myself that she does not now sleep in death." + +"May I ask to whom you refer?" + +"I refer to a dear and noble girl, to whom I swam in that burning wreck +to save. Her veil had been agreed upon as a signal between us. That +veil, carefully thrown over the head of Miss Clinton, whom I found +clinging to the spot assigned to--to her whom I was seeking, deceived +me, and I bore in safety to the shore the burden which I had ignorantly +seized from the gaping waters, leaving my own darling, who had offered +her life as a sacrifice to----" + +"Oh, not to die!" exclaimed Willie. + +"No; to be saved by a miracle. Go thank her for Miss Clinton's life." + +"I thank God," said Willie, with fervour, "that the horrors of such +scenes of destruction are half redeemed by heroism like that." + +The stern countenance of Mr. Amory softened as he listened to the young +man's enthusiastic outburst of admiration at Gertrude's noble +self-devotion. + +"Who is she? Where is she?" continued Willie. + +"Ask me not!" replied Mr. Amory, with a gesture of impatience; "I cannot +tell you if I would. I have not seen her since that ill-fated day." + +His manner seemed to intimate an unwillingness to enter into further +explanation regarding Isabel's rescue, and Willie, perceiving it, stood +for a moment silent and irresolute. Then advancing nearer, he said, +"Though you so utterly disclaim, Mr. Phillips, any participation in Miss +Clinton's escape, I feel that my errand would be but imperfectly +fulfilled if I should fail to deliver the message which I bring to one +who was the final means if not the original cause of her safety. Mr. +Clinton, the young lady's father, desired me to tell you that, in saving +the life of his only surviving child, the last of seven, all of whom but +herself had an early death, you have prolonged his life, and rendered +him grateful to that degree which words on his part are powerless to +express; but that, as long as his feeble life is spared, he shall never +cease to bless your name and pray to heaven for its choicest gifts upon +you and those who dwell next your heart." + +There was a slight moisture in the penetrating eye of Mr. Amory, but a +courteous smile upon his lip, as he said, "All this from Mr. Clinton! +Very gentlemanly, and equally sincere, I doubt not; but you surely do +not mean to thank me wholly in his name, my young friend. Have you +nothing to say for your own sake?" + +Willie looked surprised, but replied, unhesitatingly, "Certainly, sir; +as one of a large circle of acquaintances and friends whom Miss Clinton +honours with her regard, my admiration and gratitude for your +disinterested exertions are unbounded; and not only on her account, but +on that of whom you nobly rescued from a most terrible death." + +"Am I to understand that you speak only as a friend of humanity, and +that you felt no personal interest in any of my fellow-passengers?" + +"I was unacquainted with nearly all of them. Miss Clinton was the only +one I had known for any greater length of time than during two or three +days of Saratoga intercourse; but I should have mourned her death, since +I was in the habit of meeting her familiarly in her childhood, have +lately been continually in her society, and am aware that her father, my +respected partner, an old and invaluable friend, who is now much +enfeebled in health, could hardly have survived so severe a shock as the +loss of an only child, whom he idolises." + +"You speak very coolly, Mr. Sullivan. Are you aware that the prevailing +belief gives you credit for feeling more than a mere friendly interest +in Miss Clinton?" The dilating of Willie's eyes, as he fixed them +inquiringly upon Mr. Amory--the half-scrutinising expression of his +face, as he seated himself in the chair, were sufficient evidence of the +effect of the question unexpectedly put to him. "Sir," said he, "I +either misunderstood you, or the prevailing belief is a most mistaken +one." + +"Then you never before heard of your own engagement." + +"Never, I assure you. Is it possible that so idle a report has obtained +an extensive circulation among Miss Clinton's friends!" + +"Sufficiently extensive for me, a mere spectator of Saratoga life, to +hear it whispered from ear to ear, as a fact worthy of credit." + +"I am surprised and vexed at what you tell me," said Willie. +"Nonsensical and false as such a rumour is, it will, if it should reach +Miss Clinton, be a source of annoyance to her; and on that account, I +regret the circumstances which have probably given rise to it." + +"Do you refer to considerations of delicacy on the lady's part, or have +you the modesty to believe that her pride would be wounded by having her +name thus coupled with that of her father's junior partner, a young man +hitherto unknown to fashionable circles? But, excuse me; perhaps I am +stepping on dangerous ground." + +"By no means, sir; you wrong me if you believe my pride to be of such a +nature. But I have not only reference to both the motives you name, but +to many others, when I assert my opinion of the resentment Miss Clinton +would probably cherish if your remarks should reach her ears." + +"Mr. Sullivan," said Mr. Amory, "are you sure you are not standing in +your own light? Are you aware that undue modesty with false notions of +refinement has oft prevented many a man's good fortune, and is likely to +interfere with your own?" + +"How so, sir? You speak in riddles, and I am ignorant of your meaning." + +"Handsome young fellows, like you, can often command any amount of +property for the asking; but many such chances rarely occur to one +individual; and the world will laugh at you if you waste so fair an +opportunity as you now have." + +"Opportunity for what? You surely do not mean to advise me----" + +"I do, though. I am older than you are, and I know something of the +world. A fortune is not made in a day, nor is money to be despised. Mr. +Clinton's life is almost worn out in toiling after that wealth which +will soon be the inheritance of his daughter. She is young, beautiful, +and the pride of that high circle in which she moves. Both father and +daughter smile upon you; you need not look disconcerted--I speak as +between friends, and you know the truth of that which strangers have +observed, and which I have frequently heard mentioned as beyond doubt. +Why do you hesitate!" + +"Mr. Phillips," said Willie, with embarrassment, "the comments of mere +casual acquaintances, such as most of those with whom Miss Clinton +associated in Saratoga, are not to be depended upon. The relations in +which I stand towards Mr. Clinton have been such as to draw me into +constant intercourse with himself and his daughter. He is almost without +relatives, has scarcely any trustworthy friend at command, and therefore +appears to the world more favourably disposed towards me than would be +found to be the case should I aspire to his daughter's hand. The lady, +too, has so many admirers, that it would be vanity in me to believe----" + +"Pooh, pooh!" exclaimed Mr. Phillips, "tell that, Sullivan, to a greater +novice, a more unsophisticated individual, than I am! It is very +becoming in you to say so; but a few reminders will hardly harm a youth +who has such a low opinion of his own merits. Pray, who was the +gentleman for whose society Miss Clinton was, a few nights since, so +ready to forego the music of Alboni, the crowded hall, and the smiles of +a train of adorers?" + +Willie said, "I remember!--That, then, was one of the causes of +suspicion. I was then a messenger merely, to summon Miss Isabel to the +bedside of her father, by whom I had been watching for hours, and who, +on awakening from a lethargic sleep, which alarmed the physician, +eagerly inquired for his daughter, that I did not hesitate to interrupt +the pleasure of the evening and call her to the post of duty in the +cottage occupied by Mr. Clinton, at the extremity of the grounds, to +which I accompanied her by moonlight." + +Mr. Amory laughed, cast upon Willie that look of benignity which became +his fine countenance, and exclaimed, "So much for watering-place gossip! +I must forbear speaking of any further evidences of a tender interest +manifested by either of you. But believe, dear Sullivan, that though the +young lady's heart be still, like her fortune, in the united keeping of +herself and her father, there is nothing easier than for you to win and +claim them both. You possess business talent indispensable to the elder +party; if, with your handsome face, figure, and accomplishments, you +cannot render yourself equally so to the younger, there is no one to +blame but yourself." + +Willie laughed. "If I had that object in view, I know of no one to whom +I would so soon come for encouragement as to you, sir; but the +flattering prospect you hold out is quite wasted upon me." + +Mr. Amory said, "I cannot believe you will be so foolish as to neglect +the opportunity of taking that stand in life to which your education and +qualities entitle you. Your father was a respectable clergyman; you +profited by every advantage in your youth, and have done yourself such +credit in India as would enable you, with plenty of capital at command, +to take the lead in a few years among mercantile men. A man just +returned from a long residence abroad is thought to be an easy prey to +the charms of the first of his fair countrywomen into whose society he +may be thrown; and it can scarcely be wondered at, if you are subdued by +such winning attractions as are rarely to be met with in this land of +beautiful women. Nor can it be possible that you have for six years +toiled beneath an Indian sun without learning to appreciate the +looked-for but happy termination of your toils, whose crowning blessing +will be the possession of your beautiful bride." + +"Mr. Phillips," said Willie, speaking with decision and energy, which +proved how heart-felt were the words he uttered, "I have not spent many +of the best years of my life toiling beneath a burning sun, and in exile +from all that I held most dear, without being sustained by high hopes, +aims, and aspirations. But you misjudge me greatly if you believe that +the ambition that has spurred me on can find its gratification in those +rewards which you have so vividly presented to my imagination. No, sir! +believe me, I aspire to something higher yet, and should think my best +efforts wasted if my hopes tended not to a still more glorious good." + +"And to what quarter do you look for the fulfilment of such prospects?" +asked Mr. Amory. + +"Not to the gay circles of fashion," replied Willie, "nor yet to that +moneyed aristocracy which awards to each man his position in life. I do +not depreciate an honourable standing in the eyes of my fellow-men; I am +not blind to the advantages of wealth, or to the claims of grace and +beauty; but these were not the things for which I left my home, and it +is not to claim them that I have returned. Young as I am, I have seen +enough of trial to believe that the only blessings worth striving for +are something more enduring, more satisfying, than precarious wealth or +fleeting smiles." + +"To what, then, I ask, do you look forward?" + +"To a _home_, and that not so much for myself as for another, with whom +I hope to share it. A year since"--and Willie's lip trembled, his voice +faltered--"there were others, besides that dear one whose image now +fills my heart, whom I had fondly hoped, and should have rejoiced, to +see reaping the fruits of my exertions. But we were not permitted to +meet again; and now--but pardon me, sir; I would not trouble you with my +private affairs." + +"Go on," said Mr. Amory; "I deserve some confidence in return for the +disinterested advice I have been giving you. Speak to me as to an old +friend; I am much interested in what you say." + +"It is long since I have spoken freely of myself," said Willie, "but +frankness is natural to me, and, since you profess a desire to learn +something of my aim in life, I know of no motive I have for reserve or +concealment. But my position, sir, even as a child, was singular; and +excuse me if I briefly refer to it. I could not have been more than +twelve or fourteen years of age when I began to realise the necessity +which rested upon me. My widowed mother and her aged father were the +only relatives I knew. One was feeble, delicate, and unequal to active +exertion; the other was old and poor, being wholly dependent upon a +small salary for officiating as sexton of a neighbouring church. Yet in +spite of these circumstances they maintained me for several years in +comfort and decency, and gave me an excellent education. + +"At an age when kites and marbles are so engrossing, I had an earnest +desire to relieve my mother and grandfather of a part of their care and +labour; and I obtained a situation, in which I was well treated and well +paid, and which I retained until the death of my excellent master. Then, +for a time, I felt bitterly the want of employment, and became +despondent; a state of mind which was fostered by constant association +with my desponding grandfather, who, having met with great +disappointment in life, encouraged me not, but was ever hinting at the +probability of my failing in every scheme for advancement. + +"I have since thought his doubtings answered a good purpose; for nothing +so urged me on to efforts as the desire to prove the mistaken nature of +his gloomy predictions, and few things have given me more satisfaction +than the assurances I have received during the past few years that he +came at last to a full conviction that my prosperity was established, +and that one of his ill-fated family was destined to escape the trials +of poverty. + +"My mother was a quiet, gentle woman, small in person, with great +simplicity, and some reserve of manner. She loved me like her own soul; +she taught me everything I know of goodness; there is no sacrifice I +would not have made for her happiness. I would have died to save her +life; but we shall never meet again in this world, and I--I--am learning +to be resigned. + +"For these two, and one other, whom I shall speak of presently, I was +ready to go away, and strive, and suffer, and be patient. The +opportunity came and I embraced it. And soon one great object of my +ambition was won; I was able to earn a competency for myself and for +them. And I began to look forward to a day when my long looked-for +return should render our happiness complete. I little thought then that +the sad tidings of my grandfather's death were on their way, and the +news of my mother's slow but sure decline so soon to follow. But they +are both gone; and I should now be so solitary as almost to long to +follow them but for one other, whose love will bind me to earth so long +as she is spared." + +"And she?" exclaimed Mr. Amory, with an eagerness which Willie, +engrossed with his own thoughts, did not observe. + +"Is a young girl," continued Willie, "without family, wealth, or beauty; +but with a spirit so elevated as to make her great--a heart so noble as +to make her rich--a soul so pure as to make her beautiful." + +Mr. Amory's fixed attention, his evident waiting to hear more, +emboldened Willie to add: "There lived in the same house which my +grandfather occupied an old man, a city lamplighter. He was poorer even +than we were, but there never was a better or a kinder-hearted person in +the world. One evening, when engaged in his round of duty, he picked up +and brought home a little ragged child, whom a cruel woman had thrust +into the street to perish with cold, or die a more lingering death in +the almshouse; for nothing but such devoted care as she received from my +mother and Uncle True (so we always called our old friend) could have +saved the half-starved creature from the consequences of long exposure +and ill-treatment. Through their unwearied watching and efforts she was +spared, to repay in after years more than all the love bestowed upon +her. She was then miserably thin, and plain in her appearance, besides +being possessed of a violent temper, which she had never been taught to +restrain, and a stubbornness which resulted from her having long lived +in opposition to all the world. + +"All this, however, did not repel Uncle True, under whose loving +influence new virtues and capacities soon began to manifest themselves. +In the atmosphere of love in which she now lived she soon became a +changed being; and when, in addition to the example and precepts taught +her at home, a divine light was shed upon her life by one who, herself +sitting in darkness, casts a halo forth from her own spirit to illumine +those of all who are blessed with her presence, she became, what she has +ever since been, a being to love and to trust for a lifetime. For +myself, there were no bounds to the affection I soon came to cherish for +the little girl, to whom I was first attracted by compassion merely. + +"We were constantly together; we had no thoughts, no studies, no +pleasures, sorrows, or interests that were not shared. I was her +teacher, her protector, the partner of all her childish amusements; and +she was by turns an advising and sympathising friend. In this latter +character she was indispensable to me, for she had a hopeful nature, and +a buoyancy of spirit which imparted itself to me. I well remember when +my kind employer died, and I was plunged in grief and despair, the +confidence and energy with which she, then very young, inspired me. The +relation between her and Uncle True was beautiful. Boy as I was I could +not but view with admiration the old man's devoted love for the adopted +darling of his latter years (his birdie, as he always called her), and +the grateful affection which she bore him in return. + +"During the first few years she was wholly dependent upon him, and +seemed only a fond, affectionate child; but a time came at last when the +case was reversed, and the old man, stricken with disease, became infirm +and helpless. It was then that the beauty of her woman's nature shone +forth triumphant; and, oh! how gently, child as she was, she guided his +steps as he descended to the grave. Often have I gone to his room at +midnight, fearing lest he might be in need of care which she in her +youth and inexperience would be unable to render; and never shall I +forget the little figure seated calmly by his bedside, at an hour when +many of her years would be shrinking from fears conjured up by the night +and the darkness, with a lamp dimly burning on a table before her, and +she herself, with his hand in hers, sweetly soothing his wakefulness by +her loving words, or with her eyes bent upon her little Bible, reading +to him holy lessons. But all her care could not prolong his life; and +just before I went to India he died, blessing God for the peace imparted +to him through his gentle nurse. + +"It was my task to soothe our little Gerty's sorrows, and do what I +could to comfort her, an office which, before I left the country, I was +rejoiced to transfer to the willing hands of the excellent blind lady +who had long befriended both her and Uncle True. Before I went away, I +solemnly committed to Gerty, who had in one instance proved herself both +willing and able, the care of my mother and grandfather. She promised to +be faithful to her trust; and nobly was that promise kept. In spite of +the unkindness and deep displeasure of Mr. Graham (the blind lady's +father), upon whose bounty she had for a long time been dependent, she +devoted herself heart and hand to the fulfilment of duties which in her +eyes were sacred and holy. In spite of suffering, labour, watching, and +privation, she voluntarily forsook ease and pleasure, and spent day and +night in the patient service of friends whom she loved with a greater +love than a daughter's, for it was that of a saint." + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +THE EXAMINATION. + + +"Certainly," said Mr. Amory, "I can well understand that a man of a +generous spirit could hardly fail to cherish a deep and lasting +gratitude for one who devoted herself so disinterestedly to a toilsome +attendance upon the last hours of beloved friends, to whose wants he +himself was prevented from ministering; and the warmth with which you +eulogise this girl does you credit, Sullivan. She must be a young person +of great excellence to have fulfilled so well a promise of such remote +date that it would probably have been ignored by a less disinterested +friend. + +"I can hardly believe that a young man who has had the ambition to mark +out, and the energy to pursue, such a course on the road to fortune as +you have thus far successfully followed, can have made a serious resolve +to unite himself and his prospects with an insignificant little +playmate, of unacknowledged birth, without beauty or fortune, unless +there is already an engagement, by which he is bound, or he allows +himself to be drawn on to matrimony by the belief that the highest +compliment he can pay (namely, the offer of himself) will alone cancel +the immense obligations under which he labours. May I ask if you are +already shackled by promises?" + +"I am not," replied Willie. + +"Then listen a moment. My motives are friendly when I beg you not to act +rashly in a matter which will affect the happiness of your own life; and +to hear, with patience, too, if you can, the few words which I have to +say on the subject. You must mistake, my young friend, if you believe +that the happiness of Gerty, as you call her--a very ugly name--can be +insured, any more than your own, by an ill-assorted union, of which you +will both find cause to repent. You have not seen her for six years, +think then of all that has happened in the meantime, and beware of +acting with precipitation. You have all this time been living abroad in +active life, growing in knowledge of the world, and its various phases +of society. In India you witnessed a mode of life wholly different from +that which prevails with us, or in European cities; but the +independence, both of character and manner, which you there acquired +fitted you admirably for the polished sphere of Parisian life, to which +you were so suddenly introduced, and in which you met with such marked +success. + +"Notwithstanding the privilege you enjoy of being presented in polite +circles as the friend of a man so well known and so much respected as +Mr. Clinton, you cannot have been insensible to the marked attentions +bestowed upon you by American residents abroad, or unaware of the +advantage you enjoyed, on your return home, from having been known as +the object of such favour. Though I did not meet you in Paris, I was +there at the same time, and became acquainted with facts which you would +have too much modesty to acknowledge. It is also evident that your pride +must have been flattered by the favourable reception you have met, both +abroad and at home, especially from the young and beautiful women who +have honoured you with their smiles, and among whom she whose name the +crowd already associates with your own stands preeminent. + +"When I think of all this, and of those pecuniary hopes you may indulge, +and imagine you flinging all these aside to chivalrously throw yourself +at the feet of your mother's little nurse, I find it impossible to keep +silent and avoid reminding you of the disappointment that must ensue on +finding yourself at once and for ever shut out from participation in +pleasures which have been within your reach and voluntarily discarded. +You must remember that much of the consideration which is paid to a +young bachelor of growing prospects ceases to be awarded to him after +marriage, and is never extended to his bride, unless she be chosen from +the select circles to which he aspires. This unportioned orphan with +whom you propose to share your fate--this little patient +school-mistress----" + +"I did not tell you she had ever been a teacher!" exclaimed Willie, +stopping short in his walk up and down the room--"I did not tell you +anything of the sort! How did you know it?" + +Mr. Amory, who had thus betrayed more knowledge than he had been +supposed to possess, hesitated a moment, but quickly recovering himself +answered, with apparent frankness, "To tell the truth, Sullivan, I have +seen the girl in company with an old doctor." + +"Dr. Jeremy?" asked Willie, quickly. + +"The same." + +"When did you see her? How did it happen?" + +"I happened to see the old gentleman in the course of my travels, and +this Gertrude Flint was with him. He told me a few facts concerning her; +nothing to her disadvantage, however; in warning you against a +misalliance, I speak only in general terms." + +Willie looked at Mr. Amory wondering, and was anxious to learn further +particulars. Mr. Amory went on without giving him a chance to speak. + +"This Gerty, Sullivan, will be a dead weight upon your hands--a constant +drawback to all your efforts to attain fashionable society, in which she +cannot be fitted to shine. You yourself pronounce her to be without +wealth or beauty; of her family you know nothing, and have certainly +little reason to expect that, if discovered, it would do her any credit. +I believe, then, that I only speak from the dictates of common sense +when I bid you beware how you make, in the disposal of yourself, such an +unequal bargain." + +"I am willing to believe, sir," said Willie, "that the arguments you +have adduced upon a question most important to my welfare are based upon +calm reasoning and a disinterested desire to promote my prosperity. I +confess you are the last man, judging from our short acquaintance, from +whom I should have expected such advice, for I had believed you so +indifferent to the applause of the world that they would weigh but +little with you in forming estimates for the guidance of others. Still, +though your suggestions have failed to change my sentiments or +intentions, I thank you for the sincerity and earnestness with which you +have sought to mould my judgment by your own, and will reply to your +arguments with such frankness as will, I think, persuade you that, so +far from following the impulses of a blind enthusiasm, to plunge with +haste into a course of action hereafter to be deplored, I am actuated by +feelings which reason approves, and which have already stood the test of +experience. + +"You speak truly when you impute to me a natural taste for good society; +a taste which poverty, and the retirement in which my boyhood was +passed, gave me little opportunity to manifest, but which had some +influence in determining my aims and ambition in life. The fine houses, +equipages, and clothes of the rich had less charm for my fancy than the +ease, refinement, and elegance of manner which distinguished some few of +their owners who came under my observation; and, much as I desired the +attainment of wealth for the sake of intrinsic advantages, and the means +it would afford of contributing to the happiness of others, it would +have seemed to me divested of its value should it fail to secure to its +possessor a free admittance to the polite and polished circle upon which +I looked with admiring eyes. + +"I needed not, therefore, the social deprivations I experienced in India +to prepare me to enter with eager zest into the excitement and pleasures +of Parisian life, to which, through the kindness of Mr. Clinton, I +obtained, as it seems you are aware, a free and immediate introduction. + +"It is true I was summoned thither at a time when my spirits had been +for months struggling with depression, caused by sad news from home, and +had not, therefore, the least disposition to avail myself of Mr. +Clinton's politeness; but the feebleness of his health, and his +inability to enjoy the gaieties of the place, compelled me to offer +myself as an escort to his daughter, who, fond of society, accepted my +services, thus drawing me into the very whirl and vortex of fashionable +life, in which I soon found much to flatter, bewilder, and intoxicate. I +could not be insensible to the privileges so unexpectedly accorded to +me, nor could my vanity be wholly proof against the assaults made upon +it. Nor was my manliness of character alone at stake. But the soundness +of principle and simplicity of habit implanted in me from childhood, and +hitherto preserved intact, soon found themselves at stake. I had +withstood every kind of gross temptation, but my new associates now +presented it to me in that subtle form which often proves a snare. The +wine-cup could never have enticed me to the disgusting scenes of drunken +revelry; but held in the hands of the polished gentlemen, who had, but a +moment before, been the recipients of popular favour and women's smiles, +it sparkled with a richer lustre, and its bitter dregs were forgotten. +The professed gamester would vainly have sought me for an accomplice; +but I was not equally on my guard against the danger which awaited me +from other unexpected quarters; for how could I believe that my friends, +Mr. Clinton's friends, the ornaments of the sphere in which they moved, +would unfairly win my money, and lead me to ruin? I wonder as I look +back upon my residence in Paris that I did not fall a victim to one of +the snares that were on every side spread for my destruction, and into +which my social disposition and unsophisticated nature rendered me prone +to fall. Nothing but the recollection of my pure-minded and watchful +mother, whose recent death had recalled to my mind her warning +counsels--deemed by me, at the time, unnecessary; but now, springing up +and arming themselves with a solemn meaning--nothing but the +consciousness of her gentle spirit, ever hovering around my path, +saddened by my conflicts, rejoicing in my triumphs, could ever have +given me courage and perseverance to resist, and finally escape, the +pitfalls into which my unwary steps would have plunged me. Had I +approached the outskirts of fashionable life, and been compelled to +linger with longing eyes at the threshold; I might even now be loitering +there, a deceived spectator of joys which it was not permitted to me to +enter and share; or, having gained a partial entrance, be eagerly +employed, in pushing my way onward. + +"But admitted at once into the arcana of a sphere I was eager to +penetrate, my eyes were soon opened to the vain and worthless nature of +the bauble Fashion. Not that I did not meet within its courts the wit, +talent, and refinement which I had hoped to find there, or that these +were invariably accompanied by less attractive qualities. No; I truly +believe there is no class which cannot boast of its heroes and heroines, +and that there are, within the walks of fashionable life, men and women +who would grace a wilderness. Nor do I despise forms and ceremonies +which are becoming in themselves, and conducive to elegance and good +breeding. As long as one class is distinguished by education and refined +manners, and another is marked by ignorance and vulgarity, there must be +a dividing line between the two, which neither perhaps would desire to +overstep." + +"You are young," said Mr. Amory, "to be such a philosopher. Many a man +has turned away with disgust from an aristocracy into which he could +himself gain no admittance; but few renounce it voluntarily." + +"Few, perhaps," replied Willie, "few _young_ men have had to penetrate +its secrets. I may say without treachery, since I speak in general terms +only, that I have seen more ignorance, more ill-breeding, meanness, and +immorality in the so-called aristocracy of our country than I should +have believed it possible would be tolerated there. I have known +instances in which the most accomplished gentleman, or the most +beautiful lady, of a gay circle has given evidence of want of +information on the most common topics. I have seen elegant evening +assemblies disgraced by the greatest rudeness and incivility. I have +seen the lavish expenditure of to-day atoned for by a despicable +parsimony on the morrow; and I have seen a want of principle exhibited +by both sexes, which proves that a high position is no security against +such contamination of the soul as unfits it for an exalted place +hereafter." + +"I have witnessed no less myself," said Mr. Amory; "but my experiences +have not been like those of other men, and my sight has been sharpened +by circumstances. I am still astonished that you should have been awake +to these facts." + +"I was not at first," answered Willie. "It was only gradually that I +recovered from the blinding effect which the glitter and show of Fashion +imposed upon my perceptions. My suspicions of its falsehood and vanities +were based upon instances of selfishness, folly, and cold-heartedness +which came to my knowledge. I could relate thousands of mean deceits, +contemptible rivalries, and neglect of sacred duties which came under my +immediate observation. + +"Especially was I astonished at the effect of an uninterrupted pursuit +of pleasure upon the sensibilities, the tempers, and the domestic +affections of women. Though bearing within my heart an image of female +goodness and purity, this sweet remembrance might possibly have been +driven from its throne and supplanted by one of the lovely faces which +at first bewildered me by their beauty, had these last been the index to +souls of equal perfection. There may be noble and excellent women moving +in the highest walks of life whose beauty and grace are less admirable +than their own high natures; but among those with whom I became +familiarly acquainted there was not one who could in the least compare +with her who was continually present to my memory, who is still, and +ever must be, a model to her sex. + +"Gertrude Flint was the standard by which each in my mind was measured. +How could I help contrasting the folly, the worldliness, and the +cold-heartedness around me with the cultivated mind, the +self-sacrificing and affectionate disposition of one who possesses every +quality that can adorn life? You failed to convince me that Gertrude can +in any way be a drawback to the man who shall be so fortunate as to call +her his. For my own part, I desire no better, no more truly aristocratic +position in life than that to which she is so well entitled, and to +which she would be one of the brightest ornaments--the aristocracy of +true refinement, knowledge, grace, and beauty. You talk to me of wealth. +Gertrude has no money in her purse, but her soul is the pure gold, tried +in the furnace of sorrow and affliction, and thence come forth bright +and unalloyed. You speak of family and an honourable birth. She has no +family, and her birth is shrouded in mystery; but the blood that courses +in her veins would never disgrace the race from which she sprung, and +every throb of her unselfish heart allies her to all that is noble. + +"You are eloquent upon the subject of beauty. When I parted from +Gertrude, she was, in all but character, a mere child, being only +thirteen years of age. Though much altered and improved since the time +when she first came among us, I scarcely think she could have been said +to possess much of what the world calls beauty. It was a matter of which +I seldom thought or cared; and had I been less indifferent on the +subject, she was so dear to me that I should have been unable to form an +impartial judgment of her claims in this respect. + +"I well remember, however, the indignation I once felt at hearing a +fellow-clerk, who had met her in one of our walks, sneeringly contrast +her personal appearance with that of our employer's handsome daughter, +Miss Clinton; and the proportionate rapture with which I listened to the +excellent teacher, Miss Brown, when, being present at a school +examination, I overheard her commenting to a lady upon Gertrude's +wonderful promise in person as well as in mind. Whether the first part +of this promise has been fulfilled I have no means of judging; but as I +recall her dignified and graceful little figure, her large, intelligent, +sparkling eyes, the glow of feeling that lit up her countenance, and the +peaceful, almost majestic expression which purity of soul imparted to +her yet childish features, she stands forth to my remembrance the +embodiment of all that I hold most dear. + +"Six years may have outwardly changed her much; but they cannot have +robbed her of what I prize the most. She has charms over which time can +have no power, a grace that is a gift of Heaven, a beauty that is +eternal. Could I ask for more? Do not believe, then, that my fidelity to +my early playmate is an emotion of gratitude merely. It is true I owe +her much--far more than I can ever repay; but the honest warmth of my +affection for the noble girl springs from the truest love of a purity of +character and singleness of heart which I had never seen equalled. + +"What is there in the foolish walks of Fashion, the glitter of wealth, +the homage of an idle crowd, that could so elevate my spirit and inspire +my exertions as the thought of a peaceful, happy home, blessed by a +presiding spirit so formed for confidence, love, and a communion that +time can never dissolve and eternity will but render more secure and +unbroken?" + +"And she whom you love so well--are you sure----" asked Mr. Phillips, +speaking with a visible effort, and faltering ere he had completed his +sentence. + +"No," answered Willie, anticipating the question. "I know what you would +ask. I am _not_ sure. I have no reason to indulge the hopes I have been +dwelling upon so fondly; but I do not regret having spoken with such +candour; for, should she grieve my heart by her coldness, I should still +be proud to have loved her. Until this time, since I gained my native +land, I have been shackled with duties which, sacred as they were, have +chafed a spirit longing for freedom to follow its own impulses. In this +visit to you, sir, I have fulfilled the last obligation imposed upon me +by my excellent friend, and to-morrow I shall be at liberty to go where +my duty alone prevented me from at once hastening." + +He offered his hand to Mr. Amory, who grasped it with a cordiality very +different from the feeble greeting he had given him on his entrance, +"Good-bye," said he, "You carry with you my best wishes for a success +which you seem to have so much at heart; but some day or other I feel +sure you will be reminded of all I have said to you this evening." + +"Strange man!" thought Willie, as he walked towards his hotel. "How +warmly he shook my hand at parting! and how affectionately he bade me +farewell, notwithstanding the cold reception he gave me, and the +pertinacity with which I rejected his opinions and repelled his advice!" + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +THE LONG LOOKED-FOR RETURNED. + + +"Miss Gertrude," said Mrs. Prime, opening the parlour-door, putting her +head cautiously in, looking round, and then advancing with a stealthy +pace--"my! how busy you are! Lor's sakes alive, if you an't rippin' up +them great curtains of Mrs. Graham's for the wash! I wouldn't be +botherin' with 'em, Miss Gertrude; she won't be here this fortnight, and +Mrs. Ellis will have time enough." + +"Oh, I have nothing else to do, Mrs. Prime; it's no trouble." Then, +looking up pleasantly at the old cook, she added, "It seems very cosy +for us all to be at home--doesn't it?" + +"It seems beautiful!" answered Mrs. Prime; "and I can't help thinking +how nice it would be if we could all live on jist as we are now, without +no more intrusions." + +Gertrude smiled and said, "Everything looks as it used to in old times, +when I first came here. I was quite a child then," continued she, with a +sigh. + +"Gracious me! What are you now?" said Mrs. Prime. "For mercy's sake, +Miss Gertrude, don't you begin to think about growin' old. There's +nothin' like feelin' young to keep young. There's Miss Patty Pace, +now----" + +"I have been meaning to ask after her," exclaimed Gertrude; "is she +alive and well yet?" + +"She!" replied Mrs. Prime; "Lor', she won't never die! Old women like +her, that feel themselves young gals, allers live for ever; but the +baker's boy that fetched the loaves this mornin' brought an arrant from +her, and she wants to see you the first chance; but I wouldn't hurry +either about goin' there or anywhere, Miss Gertrude, till I got rested; +for you an't well, you look so kind o' tired out." + +"Did she wish to see me?" asked Gertrude. "Poor old thing! I'll go and +see her this very afternoon; and you needn't feel anxious about me, Mrs. +Prime--I am quite well." + +Gertrude went. She found Miss Patty nearly bent double with rheumatism, +dressed with less than her usual care, and crouching over a miserable +fire. She was in tolerable spirits, and hailed Gertrude's entrance by a +cordial greeting. Innumerable were the questions she put to Gertrude +regarding her own personal experiences during the past year. + +"So you have not yet chosen a companion," said she, after Gertrude had +responded to all her queries. "That is a circumstance to be regretted. +Not," continued she, with a little smirk, "that it is ever too late in +life for one to meditate the conjugal tie, which is often assumed with +advantage by persons of fifty or more; and certainly you, who are still +in the bloom of your days, need not despair of a youthful swain. +Existence is twofold when it is shared with a congenial partner; and I +had hoped that before now, Miss Gertrude, both you and myself would have +formed such an alliance; for the protection of the matrimonial union is +one of its greatest advantages." + +"I hope you have not suffered from the want of it," said Gertrude. + +"I have, Miss Gertrude, suffered incalculably. But the keenest pangs +have been the sensibilities; yes, the sensibilities--the finest part of +our nature, and that which will least bear wounding." + +"I am sorry to hear that you have been thus grieved," said Gertrude. "I +should have supposed that, living alone, you might have been spared this +trial." + +"Oh, Miss Gertrude!" exclaimed the old lady, lifting up both hands, and +speaking in a pitiable tone--"Oh, that I had the wings of a dove, +wherewith to fly away from my kindred! I fondly thought to have +distanced them, but during the past year they have discovered my +retreat, and I cannot elude their vigilance. Hardly can I recover from +the shock of one visitation--made for the sole purpose of taking an +inventory of my possessions and measuring the length of my days--before +the vultures are again seen hovering round my dwelling. But," exclaimed +she, raising her voice and chuckling as she spoke, "they shall fall into +their own snare; for I will dupe every one of them yet!" + +"I was not aware that you had any relations," said Gertrude; "and it +seems they are such only in name." + +"Name!" said Miss Pace, emphatically. "I am glad at the thought that +they are not honoured with a cognomen which not one of them is worthy to +bear. No, they pass by a different name--a name as plebeian as their own +coarse souls. Three of them stand to each other in a fraternal relation, +yet they are alike hateful to me. One, a contemptible coxcomb, comes +here to overawe me with his presence, which he conceives to be imposing; +calls me aunt--aunt; thus testifying by his speech to a consanguinity +which he blindly fancies makes him nearer akin to my property!" The old +lady almost shrieked the last word. "And the other two are beggars! +always were--always will be; let 'em be--I'm glad of it!" + +"You hear me, Miss Gertrude; you are a young lady of quick +comprehension, and I will avail myself of your contiguity, which, +although you deny the charge, may shortly be interrupted by some eager +lover, to request at your hands a favour, such as I little thought once +I should ever feel compelled to seek. I sent for you to write (Miss +Patty whispered) the last will and testament of Miss Patty Pace." + +The poor woman's trembling voice evinced a deep compassion for herself, +which Gertrude could not help sharing; and she expressed a willingness +to comply with her wishes as far as was in her power, at the same time +declaring her utter ignorance of all the forms of law. + +To Gertrude's astonishment, Miss Patty announced a perfect acquaintance +with all the legal knowledge which the case demanded; and in so complete +a manner did she dictate the words of the important instrument that, +being afterwards properly witnessed, signed, and sealed, it was found in +a few months--at which time Miss Patty died--free from imperfection and +flaw, and proved a satisfactory direction for the disposal of the +inheritance. + +It may be as well to state here, however, that he who was pronounced +sole heir to the valuable property never availed himself of the +bequest, otherwise than to make a careful bestowal of it among her +relatives. The solo inheritor of her estate was William Sullivan, the +knight of the rosy countenance, who with chivalrous spirit captivated +Miss Patty's virgin heart, and gained her lasting favour. But that +chivalrous spirit accepted not a reward so disproportioned to the slight +service he had rendered the old lady. + +Gertrude found it no easy task to gather and transfix in writing the +exact idea which the old woman's rambling dictation was intended to +convey; and it was two or three hours before the manuscript was +completed. + +The sky was overcast, and a drizzling rain began to fall, as she walked +home; but the distance was not great, and the only damage she sustained +was a slight dampness to her garments. Emily perceived it, and said, +"Your dress is quite wet, you must sit by the parlour fire. I shall not +go down until tea-time, but father is there, and will be glad of your +company; he has been alone all the afternoon." + +Gertrude found Mr. Graham sitting in front of a pleasant wood fire, +half-dozing, half-reading. She took a book and a low chair and joined +him. But to avoid the heat she went to the sofa. Soon there was a ring +at the front door bell. The housemaid, who was passing by the door, +opened it, and immediately ushered in a visitor. It was Willie! + +Gertrude rose, but trembling from head to foot, so that she dared not +trust herself to take a step forward. Willie advanced to the centre of +the room, looked at Gertrude, bowed, hesitated, and said, "Miss +Flint!--is she here?" The colour rushed into Gertrude's face. She +attempted to speak, but failed. It was not necessary. The blush was +enough. Willie recognised her, and starting forward, eagerly seized her +hand. + +"Gerty! is it possible?" + +The perfect naturalness and ease of his manner, the warmth with which he +took and retained her hand, reassured the agitated girl. The spell +seemed partially removed. For a moment he became in her eyes the Willie +of old, her dear friend and playmate, and she found voice to exclaim, +"Oh, Willie, you have come at last! I am so glad to see you!" The sound +of their voices disturbed Mr. Graham, who had fallen into a nap. He +turned round in his easy chair, then rose. Willie dropped Gertrude's +hand and stepped towards him. "Mr. Sullivan," said Gertrude, with a +feeble attempt at a suitable introduction. + +They shook hands, and then all three sat down. + +And now all Gertrude's embarrassment returned. It is often the case that +when the best of friends meet after a long separation they salute or +embrace each other, and then, notwithstanding the weight of matter +pressing on the mind of each--sufficient, perhaps, to furnish subjects +of conversation for weeks to come--nothing of importance presents itself +at once, and a pause ensues, which is finally filled up by some trivial +question concerning the journey of the newly-arrived party. She had seen +Willie before; she was aware of his arrival; knew even the steamer in +which he had come; but was anxious to conceal from him this knowledge. +She could not tell him, since he seemed so ignorant of the fact himself, +that they had met before; and she was at an utter loss what to do or say +under the circumstances. Her embarrassment soon communicated itself to +Willie; and Mr. Graham's presence, which was a restraint to both, made +matters worse. Willie, however, first broke the momentary silence. + +"I should hardly have known you, Gertrude. I did not know you. How----" + +"How did you come?" asked Mr. Graham, abruptly, apparently unconscious +that he was interrupting Willie's remark. + +"In the _Europa_," replied Willie. "She got into New York about a week +ago." + +"Out here, I mean," said Mr. Graham, rather stiffly. "Did you come out +in the coach?" + +"Oh, excuse me, sir," replied Willie; "I misunderstood you. No, I drove +out from Boston in a chaise." + +"Did anyone take your horse?" + +"I fastened him in front of the house." + +Willie glanced out of the window (it was now nearly dusk) to see that +the animal was still there. Mr. Graham settled himself in his easy chair +and looked into the fire. "You are changed, too," said Gertrude, in +reply to Willie's unfinished comment. Then, fearing he might feel hurt +at what he must know to be true in more ways than one, the colour which +had retreated mounted once more to her cheeks. But he did not seem to +feel hurt, but replied, "Yes, an Eastern climate makes great changes; +but I think I can hardly have altered more than you have. Why, only +think, Gerty, you were a child when I went away! I suppose I must have +known I should find you a young lady, but I begin to think I never fully +realised it." + +"When did you leave Calcutta?" + +"The latter part of February. I passed the spring months in Paris." + +"You did not write," said Gertrude in a faltering voice. + +"No, I was expecting to come across by every steamer, and wanted to +surprise you." + +Gertrude looked confused, but replied, "I was disappointed about the +letters; but I am very glad to see you again, Willie." + +"You can't be so glad as I am," said he, lowering his voice and looking +at her with great tenderness. "You seem more and more like yourself to +me every minute that I see you. I begin to think, however, that I ought +to have written and told you I was coming." + +Gertrude smiled. Willie's manner was so unchanged, his words so +affectionate, that it seemed unkind to doubt his friendliness, although +to his undivided love she felt she could have no claim. "No," said she, +"I like surprises. Don't you remember, I always did?" + +"Remember? Certainly," replied he; "I have never forgotten anything that +you liked." + +Just at this moment Gertrude's birds, whose cage hung in the window at +which Willie sat, commenced a little twittering noise which they always +made just at night. He looked up. "Your birds," said Gertrude; "the +birds you sent me." + +"Are they all alive and well?" asked he. + +"Yes, all of them." + +"You have been a kind mistress to the little things. They are very +tender." + +"I am very fond of them." + +"You take such care of those you love, dear Gerty, that you are sure to +preserve their lives as long as may be." His tone still more than his +words betrayed the deep meaning with which he spoke. Gertrude was +silent. + +"Is Miss Graham well?" asked Willie. + +Gertrude related, in reply, that her nerves had been recently much +disturbed by the terrible experiences through which she had passed; and +this led to the subject of the recent disaster, at which Gertrude +forebore to mention her having been herself present. Willie spoke with +feeling of the sad catastrophe, and with severity of the reckless +carelessness which had been the cause of it; and said that he had valued +friends on board the boat, but was unaware that Miss Graham, whom he +loved for Gertrude's sake, was among them. + +Conversation between Gertrude and Willie had by this time assumed +something of their former familiarity. He had taken a seat near her on +the sofa, that they might talk unrestrainedly; for although Mr. Graham +might have dropped asleep again, yet it was not easy to forget his +presence. There were many subjects on which it would have seemed natural +for them to speak, had not Gertrude avoided them. The causes of Willie's +sudden return, his probable stay, his future plans in life, and his +reasons for having postponed his visit until he had been in the country +more than a week--all these were inquiries which curiosity would have +suggested; but to Gertrude they all lay under embargo. She neither felt +prepared to receive nor willing to force the confidence on matters which +must be influenced by his engagement with Miss Clinton, and therefore +preserved silence on these topics. And Willie, deeply grieved at this +strange want of sympathy on her part, forebore to thrust upon her notice +these seemingly neglected circumstances. + +They talked of Calcutta life, of Parisian novelties, of Gertrude's +school-keeping, and many other things, but not a word of matters nearest +to the hearts of both. At length a servant announced tea. Mr. Graham +rose and stood with his back to the fire. Willie rose also and prepared +to take leave. Mr. Graham, with frigid civility, invited him to remain, +and Gertrude urged him to do so; but he declined with such decision that +the latter understood that he felt the neglect with which Mr. Graham had +treated him and his visit. In addition to the fact that the old +gentleman disliked young men as a class, and that Willie had intruded +upon the privacy in which he was indulging, there was the bitter +recollection that Gertrude had once forsaken himself and Emily (for so +he in his own mind styled her conscientious choice between conflicting +duties) for the very family of which their visitor was the only +remaining member--a recollection which did not tend to conciliate the +prejudiced man. + +Gertrude accompanied Willie to the door. The rain had ceased, but the +wind whistled across the piazza. It was growing cold. Willie buttoned +his coat, and promised to see Gertrude on the following day. + +"You have no overcoat," said she; "the night is chilly, and you are +accustomed to a hot climate. You had better take this shawl;" and she +took from the hat-tree a heavy Scotch plaid. He thanked her and threw it +over his arm; then, taking both her hands in his, looked her steadily in +the face for a moment, as if he would fain have spoken. But, seeing that +she shrank from his affectionate gaze, he dropped her hands and, with a +troubled expression, bade her good-night. + +Gertrude stood with the handle of the door in her hand until she heard +the sounds of the horse's hoofs as he drove down the road; then retired +to her own room. Well as she had borne up during the longed-for yet +much-dreaded meeting, calmly as she had sustained her part, her courage +all forsook her now, and in looking forward to days, weeks, and months +of frequent intercourse, she felt that the most trying part of the +struggle was yet to come. + +Had Willie changed to her? No; he had come back as he went--generous, +manly, and affectionate. He had manifested the same unaffected warmth of +feeling, the same thoughtful tenderness, he had ever shown. In short, he +was the Willie she had thought of, dreamed of, imagined, and loved. +There was a light tap at her door. Thinking it a summons to the +tea-table, she said, "Jane, I do not wish for any supper." + +"It isn't that," said the girl; "but I have brought you a letter." +Gertrude sprang up and opened the door. + +"A little boy handed it to me and then ran off," said the girl, placing +a large package in her hand. "He told me to give it to you straight +away." + +"Bring me a light," said Gertrude. + +The girl went for a lamp, while Gertrude wondered what a package so +large could contain. She thought no letter could so soon arrive from Mr. +Amory. While she was wondering, Jane brought a lamp, by the light of +which she detected his handwriting; and, breaking the seal, she drew +from the envelope several closely-written pages, whose contents she +perused with the greatest eagerness and excitement. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +THE FATHER'S STORY. + + +"MY DAUGHTER,--My loving, kind-hearted girl. Now that your own words +encourage me with the assurance that my first fear was unfounded--now +that I can appeal to you as to an impartial witness, I will disclose the +story of my life; and, while I prove to you your parentage, will hope +that my unprejudiced child at least will believe, love, and trust her +father, in spite of a world's injustice. + +"I will conceal nothing. I will plunge at once into those disclosures +which I most dread to utter, and trust to after explanation to palliate +the darkness of my tale. + +"Mr. Graham is my step-father, and my blessed mother, long since dead, +was, in all but the tie of nature, a true mother to Emily. Thus allied +to those whom you love best, I am parted from them by a heavy curse; +for, not only was mine the ill-fated hand (oh, hate me not yet, +Gertrude!) which locked poor Emily up in darkness, but I stand accused +in the eyes of my fellow-men of another crime, deep, dark, and +disgraceful. And yet, though living under a ban, wandering up and down +the world a doomed and broken-hearted man, I am innocent as a child of +all intentional wrong, as you will learn, if you can trust to the truth +of the tale I am about to tell. + +"Nature gave and education fostered in me a rebellious spirit. I was the +idol of my invalid mother, who, though she loved me with a love for +which I bless her memory, had not the energy to subdue the passionate +and wilful nature of her boy. But I was neither cruelly nor viciously +disposed; and though my sway at home and among my school-fellows was +alike indisputable, I made many friends, and not a single enemy. But a +sudden check was at length put to my freedom. My mother married, and I +soon came to feel bitterly the check which her husband, Mr. Graham, was +likely to impose upon my boyish independence. Had he treated me with +kindness, had he won my affections (which he might easily have done, for +my sensitive and impassioned nature disposed me to every tender and +grateful emotion), great would have been his influence in moulding my +yet unformed character. + +"But his behaviour towards me was that of chilling coldness and reserve. +He repelled with scorn the first advance on my part which led me, at my +mother's instigation, to address him by the paternal title--an offence +of which I never again was guilty. And yet, while he seemed to ignore +the relationship, he assumed its authority, thus wounding my pride and +exciting opposition to his commands. + +"Two things strengthened my dislike for my overbearing step-father. One +was the consciousness of my dependence upon his bounty; the other a +hint, which I received through a domestic, that Mr. Graham's dislike to +me had its origin in an old enmity between himself and my own father--an +honourable and high-minded man, whom it was ever my greatest pride to be +told that I resembled. + +"Great as was the warfare in my heart, power rested with Mr. Graham; for +I was yet but a child, and necessarily subject to government--nor could +I be deaf to my mother's entreaties that, for her sake, I would learn +submission. It was only, therefore, when I had been most unjustly +thwarted that I broke into direct rebellion; and even then there were +influences ever at work to preserve outward harmony in our household. +Thus years passed on, and though I did not love Mr. Graham more, the +force of habit, the interest afforded by my studies, and increasing +self-control, rendered my life less obnoxious to me than it had once +been. + +"I had one great compensation for my trials--the love I cherished for +Emily, who responded to it with equal warmth on her part. It was not +because she stood between me and her father, a mediator and a friend; +nor because she submitted to my dictation and aided me in all my plans; +it was because our natures were made for each other, and, as they grew +and expanded, were bound together by ties which a rude hand only could +rend asunder. This tenderness and depth of affection became the life of +my life. + +"At length my mother died. I was at that time, sorely against my will, +employed in Mr. Graham's counting-house, and an inmate of his family. +And now, without excuse, my step-father began a course of policy as +unwise as it was cruel; and so irritating to my pride, and so torturing +to my feelings, that it angered me almost to frenzy. He tried to rob me +of the only thing that sweetened and blest my existence--the love of +Emily. I will not here recount the motives I imputed to him, nor the +means he employed. But they were such as to change my former dislike +into bitter hatred and opposition. + +"Instead of submitting to his tyrannical interference, I sought Emily's +society on all occasions, and persuaded the gentle girl to lend herself +to my schemes for thwarting her father's purposes. I did not speak to +her of love; I did not seek to bind her to me by promises; I hinted not +at marriage; a sense of honour forbade it. But, with a boyish +independence, which I fear was the height of imprudence, I sought every +occasion, even in her father's presence, to maintain that constant +familiarity of intercourse which had been the growth of circumstances, +and could not, without force, be restrained. + +"At length Emily was taken ill, and for six weeks I was debarred her +presence. When sufficiently recovered to leave her room, I sought and at +last obtained an opportunity to see her. We had been together in the +library more than an hour when Mr. Graham suddenly entered, and came +towards us with a face whose severity I shall not soon forget. I did not +heed an interruption, for the probable consequences of which I believed +myself prepared. But I was little prepared for the attack actually made +upon me. + +"That he would accuse me of disobedience to wishes which he had hinted +in every possible way, and even intimate more plainly his resolve to +place barriers between Emily and myself, I fully expected, and was ready +with my replies; but when he burst forth with a torrent of ungentlemanly +abuse--when he imputed to me mean and selfish motives, which had never +occurred to my mind--I was struck dumb with surprise and anger. + +"Then, in the presence of the pure-minded girl whom I worshipped, he +charged me with a horrid crime--the crime of forgery--asserting my guilt +as recently discovered, but positive and undoubted. My spirit had raged +before--now it was on fire. I lifted my hand and clenched my fist. What +I would have done I know not. Whether I should have found words to +assert my innocence, and refute a charge utterly false--or whether, my +voice failing me from passion, I should have swept Mr. Graham from my +path, perhaps felled him to the floor, while I strode away to rally my +calmness in the open air--I cannot now conjecture; for a wild shriek +from Emily recalled me to myself, and, turning, I saw her fall fainting +upon the sofa. + +"Forgetting everything but the apparently dying condition into which the +horror of the scene had thrown her I sprang forward to her relief. There +was a table beside her and some bottles upon it. I hastily snatched what +I believed to be a simple restorative, and in my agitation emptied the +contents of the phial in her face. I know not what the exact character +of the mixture could have been; but its matters not--its effect was too +awfully evident. The fatal deed was done--and mine was the hand that did +it! + +"Brought suddenly to consciousness by the intolerable torture that +succeeded, the poor girl sprang screaming from the sofa, flung her arms +wildly above her head, rushed in a frantic manner through the room, and +crouched in a corner. I followed in an agony scarce less than her own; +but she repelled me with her hands, uttering piercing shrieks. Mr. +Graham, who for an instant had looked like one paralysed by the scene, +now rushed forward like a madman. Instead of aiding me in my efforts to +lift poor Emily from the floor, and so far from compassionating my +situation, which was only less pitiable than hers, he, with a fierceness +redoubled at my being the sole cause of the disaster, attacked me with a +storm of cruel reproaches, declaring that I had killed his child. With +words like these, which are still ringing in my ears, he drove me from +the room and the house; a repulsion which I, overpowered by contrition +and remorse, had neither the wish nor the strength to resist. + +"Oh! the terrible night and day that succeeded! I wandered out into the +country, spent the whole night walking beneath the open sky, +endeavouring to collect my thoughts and compose my mind, and still +morning found me with a fevered pulse and excited brain. With the +returning light, however, I began to realise the necessity of forming +some future plan of action. + +"Emily's sad situation, and my intense anxiety to learn the worst +effects of the fatal accident, urged me to hasten with the earliest +morning, either openly or by stealth, to Mr. Graham's house. Everything +also which I possessed--all my money, the residue of my last quarter's +allowance, my clothing, and a few valuable gifts from my mother--were in +the chamber which I had occupied. There seemed to be no other course +left for me than to return thither, and I retracted my steps to the +city, determined, if it were necessary in order to gain the desired +particulars concerning Emily, to meet her father face to face. But as I +drew near the house I hesitated and dared not proceed. Mr. Graham had +exhausted upon me every angry word, had threatened even deeds of +violence should I again cross his threshold; and I feared to trust my +own fiery spirit to a collision in which I might be led on to an open +resistance of the man whom I had already sufficiently injured. In the +terrible work I had but yesterday done--a work of whose fatal effect I +had even then a gloomy foreshadowing--I had blighted the existence of +his worshipped child, and drawn a dark pall over his dearest hopes. It +was enough. I would not for worlds be guilty of the sin of lifting my +hand against the man who, unjust as he had been towards an innocent +youth, had met a retaliation far too severe. + +"Still, I knew his wrath to be unmitigated, was well aware of his power +to excite my hot nature to frenzy, and resolved to beware how I crossed +his path. Meet him I must, to refute the false charges he had brought +against me; but not within the walls of his dwelling, the home of his +suffering daughter. In the counting-house, where the crime of forgery +was said to have been committed, and in the presence of my +fellow-clerks, I would publicly deny the deed, and dare him to its +proof. But first I must either see or hear from Emily before I met the +father at all. I must learn the exact nature and extent of the wrong I +had done him in the person of his child. For this, however, I must wait +until, under cover of the next night's darkness, I could enter the house +unperceived. + +"So I wandered about all day in torment, without having food or rest, +the thought of my poor, darling, tortured Emily ever present to my +wretched thoughts. The hours seemed interminable. I remember that day of +suspense as if it had been a whole year of misery. But night came at +last, cloudy, and the air thickened with a heavy fog which, as I +approached the street where Mr. Graham lived, concealed the house until +I was opposite to it. I shuddered at the sight of the physician's +chaise standing before the door; for I knew that Dr. Jeremy had closed +his visits to Emily more than a week previously, and must have been +summoned to attend her since the accident. Thinking it probable that Mr. +Graham was in the house, I forbore to enter, but stood concealed by the +mist, and watching my opportunity. + +"Once or twice Mrs. Ellis, the housekeeper, passed up and down the +staircase, as I could distinctly see through the sidelights of the door, +and Dr. Jeremy descended, followed by Mr. Graham. The doctor would have +passed hastily out, but Mr. Graham detained him, to question him +regarding his patient, as I judged from the anxiety depicted on my +step-father's countenance. The doctor's back was towards me, and I could +only judge of his replies by the effect they produced on the questioner, +whose haggard appearance became more distressed at every syllable that +fell from the honest and truthful lips of the medical man, whose words +were oracles to all who knew his skill. + +"I needed, therefore, no further testimony to force the conviction that +Emily's fate was sealed; and as I looked with pity upon the afflicted +parent, and shudderingly thought of my agency in the work of +destruction, I felt that the unhappy father could not curse me more +bitterly than I cursed myself. Deeply, however, as I mourned, and have +never ceased to repent, my share in the exciting of that storm wherein +the poor girl had been so cruelly shipwrecked, I could not forget the +part that Mr. Graham had borne in the transaction, or forgive the wicked +injustice and insults which had so unmanned me as to render my hand a +fit instrument only of ruin; and as, after the doctor's departure, I +watched my step-father walk away, and saw by a street-lamp that the look +of pain had passed from his face, giving place to his usual composed and +arrogant expression, and, understood by the loud and measured manner in +which he struck his cane upon the pavement, that he was far from sharing +my humble, penitent mood, I ceased to waste upon him a compassion which +he seemed so little to require or deserve; and, pitying myself only, I +looked upon his stern face with a soul which cherished for him no other +sentiment than that of unmitigated hatred. Do not shrink from me, +Gertrude, as you read this frank confession of my passionate and deeply +stirred nature. You know not, perhaps, what it is to hate; but have you +ever been tried as I was? + +"As Mr. Graham turned the corner of the street, I approached his house, +drew forth a pass-key of my own, by means of which I opened the door, +and went in. It was perfectly quiet, and no person was to be seen in any +of the lower rooms. I passed noiselessly upstairs, and entered a little +chamber at the head of the passage which communicated with Emily's room. +I waited here a long time, hearing no sound and seeing no one. But +fearing that Mr. Graham would shortly return, I determined to ascend to +my own room, collect my money and a few articles of value, and then make +my way to the kitchen, and gain what news I could of Emily from Mrs. +Prime, the cook, a kind-hearted woman, who would, I felt sure, befriend +me. + +"The first part of my object was accomplished; and I had descended the +back staircase to gain Mrs. Prime's premises, when I suddenly met Mrs. +Ellis coming from the kitchen, with a bowl of gruel in her hand. She was +acquainted with all the particulars of the accident, and had been a +witness to my expulsion from the house. She stopped short on seeing me, +gave a slight scream, dropped the bowl of gruel, and prepared to make +her escape, as if from a wild beast, which I doubt not that I resembled; +since wretchedness, fasting, suffering, and desperation must all have +been depicted in my features. I placed myself in her path, and compelled +her to stop and listen to me. But before my eager questions could find +utterance, an outburst from her confirmed my worst fears. + +"'Let me go!' she exclaimed. 'You villain! you will be putting my eyes +out next!' + +'Where is Emily?' I cried. 'Let me see her!' + +"'See her!' replied she. 'You horrid wretch! No! she has suffered enough +from you. She is satisfied herself now.' + +'What do you mean?' shouted I, shaking the housekeeper violently by the +shoulder, for her words seared my very soul, and I was frantic. + +"'I mean that Emily will never see anybody again; and if she had a +thousand eyes, you are the last person upon whom she would wish to +look!' + +"'Does Emily hate me, too?' burst from me then, in the form of a +soliloquy rather than a question. The reply was ready, however. 'Hate +you? Yes--more than that; she cannot find words bad enough for you! She +mutters, even in her pain, 'Cruel!--wicked!' She shudders at the sound +of your name; and we are all forbidden to speak it in her presence.' I +waited to hear no more, but rushed out of the house. That moment was the +crisis of my life. The thunderbolt had fallen upon and crushed me. My +hopes, my happiness, my fortune, my good name, had gone before; but one +solitary light had, until now, glimmered in the darkness. It was Emily's +love. I had trusted in that--that only. It had passed away, and with it +my youth, my faith, my hope of heaven. + +"From that moment I ceased to be myself. Then fell upon me the cloud in +which I have ever since been shrouded, and under which you have seen and +known me. In that instant the blight had come, under the gnawing +influence of which my happy laugh changed to the bitter smile; my frank +and pleasant speech to tones of ill-concealed irony and sarcasm; my hair +became prematurely grey, my features sharp and severe; my fellow-men, to +whom I hoped to prove some day a benefactor, were henceforth the armed +hosts of antagonists, with whom I would wage endless war--and the God +whom I had worshipped--whom I had believed in, as a just and faithful +friend and avenger--who was He?--where was He?--and why did He not right +my cause? What direful and premeditated deed of darkness had I been +guilty of that He should thus desert me? Alas!--I lost my faith in +Heaven! + +"I know not what direction I took on leaving Mr. Graham's house. I have +no recollection of any of the streets through which I passed, though +doubtless they were all familiar; but I paused not until, having reached +the end of a wharf, I found myself gazing down into the deep water, +longing to take one mad leap and lose myself in everlasting oblivion! +But for this final blow, beneath which my manhood had fallen, I would +have cherished my life, at least until I could vindicate its fair fame; +I would never have left a blackened memory for men to dwell upon and for +Emily to weep over. But now what cared I for my fellow-men! And +Emily!--she had ceased to love, and would not mourn; and I longed for +the grave. There are moments in human life when a word, a look, or a +thought, may weigh down the balance in the scales of fate and decide a +destiny. + +"So it was with me. I was incapable of forming any plan for myself; but +accident, as it were, decided for me. I was startled from the apathy +into which I had fallen by the sudden splashing of oars in the water +beneath, and in a moment a little boat was moored to a pier within a rod +of the spot where I stood. I also heard footsteps on the wharf, and, +turning, saw by the light of the moon, which was just appearing from +behind a heavy cloud, a stout seafaring man, with a heavy pea-jacket +under one arm and an old-fashioned carpet-bag in his left hand. He had a +ruddy, good-humoured face, and as he was about to pass me and leap into +the boat, where two sailors, with their oars dipped and ready for +motion, were awaiting him, he slapped me on the shoulder, and exclaimed, +'Well, my fine fellow, will you ship with us?' I answered as readily in +the affirmative; and, with one look in my face, and a glance at my +dress, which seemed to assure him of my station in life and probable +ability to make compensation for the passage, he said, in a laughing +tone, 'In with you, then!' + +"To his astonishment--for he had scarcely believed me in earnest--I +sprang into the boat, and in a few moments was on board of a fine bark, +bound I knew not whither. The vessel's destination was Rio Janeiro--a +fact which I did not learn till we had been two or three days at sea, +and to which I felt wholly indifferent. There was one other passenger +beside myself--the captain's daughter, Lucy Grey, whom during the first +week I scarcely noticed, but who appeared to be as much at home, whether +in the cabin or on deck, as if she had passed her whole life at sea. I +might have made the entire passage without giving another thought to +this young girl--half child, half woman--had not my strange behaviour +led her so to conduct herself which surprised and finally interested me. +My wild and excited countenance, my constant restlessness, avoidance of +food, and indifference to everything about me, excited her wonder and +sympathy. She believed me partially deranged, and treated me +accordingly. She would take a seat on deck directly opposite mine, look +in my face, either ignorant or regardless of my observing her, and then +walk away with a heavy sigh. Occasionally she would offer me some little +delicacy, begging that I would eat; and as, touched by her kindness, I +took food more readily from her hand than any other, these little +attentions became at last habitual. As my manners grew calmer and I +settled into a melancholy which, though equally deep, was less fearful +than the feverish torment under which I had laboured, she became +reserved, and when I began to appear somewhat like my fellow-men, went +regularly to the table, and, instead of pacing the deck all night, spent +a part of it quietly in my state-room, Lucy absented herself wholly from +that part of the vessel where I passed the greater portion of the day, +and I seldom exchanged a word with her, unless I purposely sought her +society. + +"The stormy weather drove me to the cabin, where she usually sat on the +transom reading or watching the troubled waves; and, as the voyage was +long, we were thrown much in each other's way, especially as Captain +Grey, who had invited me to ship with him, and who seemed to take an +interest in my welfare, good-naturedly encouraged an intercourse by +which he probably hoped I might be won from a state of melancholy that +seemed to grieve the jolly ship-master almost as much as it did his +kind-hearted, sensitive child. + +"Lucy's shyness, therefore, wore gradually away, and before our tedious +passage was completed I ceased to be a restraint upon her. She talked +freely with me; for while I maintained a rigid silence concerning my own +past experiences, of which I could scarcely endure to think, she exerted +herself freely for my entertainment, and related with simple frankness +almost every circumstance of her past life. Sometimes I listened +attentively; sometimes, absorbed in my own painful reflections, I would +be deaf to her voice and forgetful of her presence. Then I often +observed that she had suddenly ceased speaking, and, starting from my +reverie and looking quickly up, would find her eyes fixed upon me so +reproachfully that, rallying my self-command, I would try to appear, and +sometimes became, seriously interested in the artless narratives of my +little entertainer. She told me that until she was fourteen years old +she lived with her mother in a little cottage on Cape Cod, their home +being only occasionally enlivened by the return of her father from his +long absences at sea. They would visit the city where his vessel lay, +pass a few weeks in great enjoyment, and then return to mourn the +departure of the cheerful sea-captain, and patiently count the weeks and +months until his return. She told me how her mother died; how bitterly +she mourned her loss, and how her father wept when he came home and +heard the news; how she had lived on shipboard ever since; and how sad +and lonely she felt in time of storms when she sat alone in the cabin +listening to the roar of the winds and waves. + +"Tears would come into her eyes when she spoke of these things, and I +would look upon her with pity as one whom sorrow made my sister. Trial, +however, had not robbed her of an elastic, buoyant spirit; and when, +after the completion of some eloquent tale of early grief, the captain +would approach unseen and surprise her by a sudden joke or sly piece of +mischief, thus provoking her to retaliate, she was always ready for a +war of wits, a laughing frolic, or even a game of romps. Her tears dried +up, her merry voice and playful words would delight her father, and the +cabin would ring with peals of laughter; while I, shrinking from a mirth +sadly at variance with my own happiness, and the sound so discordant to +my sensitive nerves, would retire to brood over miseries for which it +was hopeless to expect sympathy which could not be shared, and with +which I must dwell alone. + +"Such a misanthrope had my misfortunes made me that the sportive +raillery between the captain and his merry daughter, and the musical +laugh with which she would respond to the witticisms of two old sailors, +grated upon my ears like something scarce less than personal injuries; +nor could I have believed it possible that one so little able as Lucy to +comprehend the depth of my sufferings could feel any sincere compassion +for them had I not once or twice been touched to see how her innocent +mirth would give place to sudden sadness of countenance if she chanced +to encounter my woe-begone face, rendered doubly gloomy when contrasted +with the gaiety of herself and of her companions. + +"But I must not linger too long upon the details of our life on +shipboard. I must forbear giving account of a terrific gale that we +encountered, during which, for two days and a night, poor Lucy was half +frantic with fear; while I, careless of outward discomforts and +indifferent to personal danger, was afforded an opportunity to requite +her kindness by such protection and encouragement as I was able to +render. + +"Captain Grey died. We were within a week's sail of our destination when +he was taken ill, and three days before we were safely anchored in the +harbour of Rio he breathed his last. I shared with Lucy the office of +ministering to the suffering man, closed his eyes at last, and carried +the fainting girl in my arms to another part of the vessel. With kind +words and persuasions I restored her to her senses; and then, as the +full consciousness of her desolation rushed upon her, she sunk at once +into a state of hopeless despondency painful to witness. Captain Grey +had made no provision for his daughter. Well might the poor girl lament +her sad fate! for she was without a relative in the world, penniless, +and approaching a strange shore, which afforded no refuge to the orphan. +We buried her father in the sea; and that sad office fulfilled, I sought +Lucy and endeavoured to arouse her to a sense of her situation and +advise with her concerning the future; for we were now so near our port +that in a few hours we might be compelled to leave the vessel and seek +quarters in the city. She listened to me without replying. I hinted at +the necessity of my leaving her, and begged to know if she had any plans +for the future. She answered me only by a burst of tears. I begged her +not to weep. + +"And then, with many sobs, and interrupting herself by frequent +exclamations of vehement sorrow, she threw herself upon my compassion, +and, with child-like artlessness, entreated me not to leave her or, as +she termed it, to desert her. She reminded me that she was alone in the +world; that the moment she stepped foot on shore she should be in a land +of strangers; and, appealing to my mercy, besought me not to leave her +to die alone. + +"What could I do? I had nothing on earth to live for. We were both alike +orphaned and desolate. There was but one point of difference. I could +work and protect her; she could do neither for herself. It would be +something for me to live for; and for her, though but a refuge of +poverty and want, it was better than the exposure and suffering that +must otherwise await her. I told her how little I had to offer; that my +heart even was crushed and broken; but that I was ready to labour in her +behalf, to guard her from danger, to pity, and perhaps in time learn to +love her. The unsophisticated girl had never thought of marriage; she +had sought the protection of a friend, not a husband; but I explained to +her that the latter tie only would obviate the necessity of our parting; +and, in the humility of sorrow, she finally accepted my unflattering +offer. + +"The only confidant to our sudden engagement, the only witness of the +marriage, which within a few hours ensued, was an old, weather-beaten +sailor, who had known and loved Lucy from her childhood--Ben Grant. He +accompanied us on shore and to the church. He followed us to the humble +lodgings with which we contrived for the present to be contented, and +devoted himself to Lucy with self-sacrificing, but in one instance, +alas! (as you will soon learn), with mistaken and fatal zeal. + +"After much difficulty, I obtained employment from a man in whom I +accidentally recognized an old and valued friend of my father. He had +been in Rio several years, and was actively engaged in trade, and +willingly employed me as a clerk, occasionally despatching me from home +to transact business at a distance. My duties being regular and +profitable, we were soon raised above want, and I was enabled to place +my young wife in a situation of comfort. + +"The sweetness of her disposition, the cheerfulness with which she +endured privation, the earnestness with which she strove to make me +happy, were not without effect. I perseveringly rallied from my gloom; I +succeeded in banishing the frown from my brow; and the premature +wrinkles, which her hand would softly sweep away, finally ceased to +return. The few months that I passed with your mother, Gertrude, form a +sweet episode in the memory of my stormy life. I came to love her +much--not as I loved Emily;--that could not be expected--but, as the +solitary flower that bloomed on the grave of all my early hopes, she +cast a fragrance round my path; and her child is not more dear to me, +because a part of myself, than as the memento of the cherished blossom +snatched hastily from my hand and rudely crushed. + +"About two months after your birth, my child, and before your eyes had +ever learned to brighten at the sight of your father, who was +necessarily much from home, the business in which I was engaged called +me in the capacity of an agent to a station some distance from Rio. I +had been absent nearly a month, and had written regularly to Lucy, +informing her of all my movements (though I suspect the letters never +reached her), when the neighbourhood in which I was stationed became +infected with a fatal malaria. For the sake of my family I took every +measure to ward off contagion, but failed. I was seized with fever, and +lay for weeks near death. I was cruelly neglected during my illness; for +I had no friends near me, and my slender purse held out little +inducement for mercenary service; but my sufferings and forebodings on +account of Lucy and yourself were far greater than any which I endured +from my bodily torments, although the latter were great. I had all sorts +of imaginary fears; but nothing, alas! which could compare with the +reality that awaited me when, after my dreadful illness, I made my way, +destitute, ragged, and emaciated, back to Rio. I sought my former home. +It was deserted, and I was warned to flee from its vicinity, as the +fearful disease of fever had nearly depopulated that and the +neighbouring streets. I made every inquiry, but could obtain no +intelligence of my wife and child. I hastened to the charnel-house +where, during the raging of the pestilence, the unrecognized dead were +exposed; but among the disfigured remains it was impossible to +distinguish friends from strangers. I lingered about the city for weeks +in hopes to gain some information concerning Lucy; but could find no one +who had ever heard of her. All day I wandered about the streets and on +the wharves--the latter being places which Ben Grant (in whose faithful +charge I had left your mother and yourself) was in the habit of +frequenting--but not a syllable could I learn of any persons that +answered my description. + +"My first thought had been that they would naturally seek my employer, +to learn, if possible, the cause of my prolonged absence; and on finding +my home empty I had hastened in search of him. But he too had, within a +recent period, fallen a victim to the prevailing distemper. His place of +business was closed and the establishment broken up. I continued my +inquiries until hope died within me. I was told that scarce an inmate of +the fatal neighbourhood where I had left my family had escaped; and +convinced, finally, that my fate was still pursuing me with an +unmitigated wrath, of which this last blow was but a single expression, +that I might have foreseen and expected, I madly agreed to work my +passage in the first vessel which promised me an escape from scenes so +fraught with harrowing recollections. + +"And now commenced a course of wretched wandering. With varied ends in +view, following strongly contrasted employments, and with fluctuating +fortune, I have travelled over the world. My feet have trodden almost +every land. I have sailed on every sea and breathed the air of every +clime. I am familiar with the city and the wilderness, the civilized man +and the savage. I have learned the sad lesson that peace is nowhere, and +friendship, for the most part, but a name. + +"Once during my wanderings I visited the home of my boyhood. Unseen and +unknown I trod a familiar ground and gazed on familiar, though time-worn +faces. I stood at the window of Mr. Graham's library; saw the contented, +happy countenance of Emily--happy in her blindness and her forgetfulness +of the past. A young girl sat near the fire endeavouring to read by its +flickering light. I knew not then what gave such a charm to her +thoughtful features, nor why my eyes dwelt upon them with a rare +pleasure; for there was no voice to proclaim to the father's heart that +he looked on the face of his child. I am not sure that the strong +impulse which prompted me then to enter, acknowledge my identity, and +beg Emily to speak to me a word of forgiveness, might not have prevailed +over the dread of her displeasure; but Mr. Graham at the moment +appeared, cold and implacable as ever; I gazed an instant, then fled +from the house. + +"Although in the various labours which I was compelled to undertake to +earn a decent maintenance, I had more than once met with such success as +to give me temporary independence, and to enable me to indulge in +expensive travelling, I had never amassed a fortune; indeed, I had not +cared to do so, since I had no use for money, except to employ it in the +gratification of my immediate wants. Accident, however, at last thrust +upon me a wealth which I could scarcely be said to have sought. + +"After a year spent in the wilderness of the west, amid adventures the +relation of which now would seem to you almost incredible, I gradually +continued my retreat across the country, and after encountering +innumerable hardships, which had no other object than the indulgence of +my vagrant habits, I found myself in that land which has recently been +termed the land of promise, but which has proved to many a greedy +emigrant a land of deceit. For me, however, who sought it not, it +showered gold. I was among the earliest discoverers of its +treasure-vaults--one of the most successful, though the least laborious, +of the seekers after gain. Nor was it merely, or indeed chiefly, at the +mines that fortune favoured me. With the first results of my labours I +purchased an immense tract of land, little dreaming at the time that +those desert acres were destined to become the streets and squares of a +great and prosperous city. So that without effort, almost without my own +knowledge, I achieved the greatness which springs from untold wealth. +But this was not all. The blessed accident which led me to this golden +land was the means of disclosing a pearl of price--a treasure in +comparison with which California and all its mines shrink, to my mind, +into insignificance. You know how the war-cry went forth to all lands, +and men of every name and nation brought their arms to the field of +fortune. Famine came next, with disease and death in its train; and many +a man, hurrying on to reap the golden harvest, fell by the wayside, +without once seeing the waving of the yellow grain. + +"Half scorning the greedy rabble, I could not refuse in this, my time of +prosperity, to minister to the wants of such as fell in the way; and now +for once my humanity found its own reward. A miserable, ragged, +half-starved, and apparently dying man crept to the door of my tent and +asked in a feeble voice for charity. I did not refuse to admit him into +my narrow domicile and to relieve his sufferings. He was the victim of +want rather than disease, and, his hunger appeased, the savage brutality +of his coarse nature soon manifested itself in the dogged indifference +with which he received a stranger's bounty and the gross ingratitude +with which he abused my hospitality. A few days served to restore him to +his strength; and then, anxious to dismiss my visitor, whose conduct had +already excited suspicions of his good faith, I gave him warning that he +must depart; at the same time placing in his hand a sufficient amount of +gold to insure his support until he could reach the mines which were his +professed destination. + +"He appeared dissatisfied, and begged permission to remain until the +next morning, as the night was near, and he had no shelter provided. To +this I made no objection, little imagining how base a serpent I was +harbouring. At midnight I was awakened from my light and +easily-disturbed sleep to find my lodger busily engaged in rifling my +property and preparing to take an unceremonious leave of my dwelling. +Nor did his villainy end here. Upon my seizing and charging him with the +theft, he snatched a weapon and attempted the life of his benefactor. +But I was prepared to ward off the stroke, and succeeded in a few +moments in subduing my desperate antagonist. He now crouched at my feet +in such abject submission as might be expected from so vile a knave. +Well might he tremble with fear; for the Lynch-law was then in full +force for criminals like him. I should probably have handed the traitor +over to his fate; but, ere I had time to do so, he held out to my +cupidity a bribe so tempting that I forgot the deservings of my knavish +guest in the eagerness with which I bartered his freedom as the price of +its possession. + +"He freely emptied his pockets at my bidding, and restored to me the +gold, for the loss of which I never should have repined. As the base +metal rolled at my feet, there glittered among the coins a jewel as +truly _mine_ as any of the rest, but which, as it met my sight, filled +me with greater surprise than if it had been a new-fallen star. + +"It was a ring of peculiar design and workmanship, which had once been +the property of my father, and after his death had been worn by my +mother until the time of her marriage with Mr. Graham, when it was +transferred to myself. I had ever prized it as a precious heirloom, and +it was one of the few valuables which I took with me when I fled from my +step-father's house. This ring, with a watch and some other trinkets, +had been left in the possession of Lucy when I parted with her at Rio, +and the sight of it once more seemed to me like a voice from the grave. +I eagerly sought to learn from my prisoner the source whence it had been +obtained, but he maintained an obstinate silence. It was now my turn to +plead; and at length the promise of instant permission to depart, +'unwhipped by justice,' at the conclusion of his tale, wrung from him a +secret fraught to me with vital interest. + +"This man was Stephen Grant, the son of my old friend Ben. He had heard +from his father's lips the story of your mother's misfortunes; and the +circumstance of a violent quarrel which arose between Ben and his vixen +wife at the young stranger's introduction to their household impressed +the tale upon his recollection. From his account it appeared that my +long-continued absence from Lucy, during the time of my illness, was +construed by her honest but distrustful counsellor and friend into cruel +desertion. The poor girl, to whom my early life was all a mystery which +she had never shared, and to whom much of my character and conduct was +inexplicable, began soon to feel convinced of the correctness of the old +sailor's suspicions and fears. She had already applied to my employer +for information concerning me; but he, who had heard of the pestilence +to which I was exposed, and fully believed me to be among the dead, +forbore to distress her by a communication of his belief, and replied to +her questionings with an obscurity which served to give new force to her +hitherto uncertain surmises. She positively refused, however, to leave +our home; and, clinging to the hope of my final return thither, remained +where I had left her until the terrible fever began its ravages. Her +small stock of money was by this time consumed; her strength both of +mind and body gave way; and Ben, becoming every day more confident that +the simple-hearted Lucy had been betrayed and forsaken, persuaded her at +last to sell her furniture, and with the sum thus raised flee the +infected country before it should be too late. She sailed for Boston in +the same vessel in which Ben shipped before the mast; and on reaching +that port her humble protector took her to the only home he had to +offer. + +"There your mother's sad fate found a mournful termination; and you, her +infant child, were left to the mercy of the cruel woman who, but for +consciousness of guilt and her fear of its betrayal, would doubtless +have thrust you at once from the miserable shelter her dwelling +afforded. This guilt consisted in a foul robbery committed by Nan and +her infamous son upon your innocent mother, now rendered, through her +feebleness, an easy prey to their rapacity. The fruits of this vile +theft, however, were not participated in by Nan, whose promising son so +far exceeded her in duplicity and craft that, having obtained possession +of the jewels for the alleged purpose of bartering them away, he +reserved such as he thought proper, and appropriated to his own use the +proceeds of the remainder. + +"The antique ring which I now hold in my possession, the priceless relic +of a mournful tragedy, would have shared the fate of the rest but for +its apparent worthlessness. To the luckless Stephen, however, it proved +at last a temporary salvation from the felon's doom which must finally +await that hardened sinner; and to me--ah! to _me_--it remains to be +proved whether the knowledge of the secrets to which it has been the key +will bless my future life or darken it with a heavier curse! +Notwithstanding the information thus gained, and the exciting idea to +which it gave rise, that my child might be still living and finally +restored to me, I could not yet feel any security that these daring +hopes were not destined to be crushed in their infancy, and that my +newly-found treasure might not again elude my eager search. To my +inquiries concerning you, Gertrude, Stephen, who had no longer any +motives for concealing the truth, declared his inability to acquaint me +with any particulars of a later period than the time of your residence +with Trueman Flint. He knew that the lamplighter had taken you to his +home, and was accidentally made aware, a few months later, of your +continuance in that place of refuge from the old man's being such a fool +as to call upon his mother and voluntarily make compensation for the +injury done to her windows in your outburst of childish revenge. + +"I could learn nothing more; but it was enough to inspire all my +energies to recover my child. I hastened to Boston, had no difficulty in +tracing your benefactor, and, though he had been long dead, found many a +truthful witness to his well-known virtues. Nor, when I asked for his +adopted child, did I find her forgotten in the quarter of the city where +she had passed her childhood. More than one grateful voice was ready to +respond to my questioning, and to proclaim the cause they had to +remember the girl who, having experienced the trials of poverty, made it +both her duty and her pleasure of prosperity to administer to the wants +of a neighbourhood whose sufferings she had aforetime both witnessed and +shared. But, alas! to complete the sum of sad vicissitudes with which my +unhappy destiny was already crowded, at the moment when I was assured +of my daughter's safety, and my ears were greeted with the sweet praises +that accompanied the mention of her name, there fell upon me like a +thunderbolt the startling words, 'She is now the adopted child of sweet +Emily Graham, the blind girl.' + +"Oh, strange coincidence! Oh, righteous retribution! which, at the very +moment when I was picturing to myself the consummation of my cherished +hopes, crushed me once more beneath the iron hand of a destiny that +would not be cheated of its victim! My child, my only child, bound by +the gratitude and love of years to one in whose face I scarcely dared to +look, lest my soul should be withered by the expression of condemnation +which the consciousness of my presence would inspire! + +"The seas and lands which had hitherto divided us seemed not, to my +tortured fancy, so insurmountable a barrier between myself and my +long-lost daughter as the dreadful reflection that the only earthly +being whose love I had hoped in time to win had been reared from her +infancy in a household where my name was a thing abhorred. + +"Stung to the quick by the harrowing thought that all my prayers, +entreaties, and explanations could never undo her early impressions, and +that all my labours and all my love could never call forth other than a +cold and formal recognition of my claims, I half resolved to leave my +child in ignorance of her birth and never seek to look upon her face, +rather than subject her to the terrible necessity of choosing between +the friend whom she loved and the father from whose crimes she had +learned to shrink with horror and dread. After struggling long with +contending emotions, I resolved to make one effort to see and recognize +you, Gertrude, and at the same time guard myself from discovery. I +trusted to the change which time had wrought in my appearance to conceal +me effectually from all eyes but those which had known me intimately, +and therefore approached Mr. Graham's house without the slightest fear +of betrayal. I found it empty and apparently deserted. + +"I now directed my steps to the well-remembered counting-house, and here +learned from the clerk that the whole household, including yourself, had +been passing the winter in Paris, and were at present at a German +watering-place. Without further inquiry I took the steamer to +Liverpool, thence hastened to Baden-Baden--a trifling excursion in the +eyes of a traveller of my experience. Without risking myself in the +presence of my step-father, I took an early opportunity to obtain an +introduction to Mrs. Graham, and, thanks to her unreserved conversation, +learned that Emily and yourself were left in Boston, and were under the +care of Dr. Jeremy. + +"On my return voyage, immediately undertaken, I made the acquaintance of +Dr. Gryseworth and his daughter--an acquaintance which proved of great +value in facilitating my intercourse with yourself. Once more arrived in +Boston, Dr. Jeremy's house looked as if closed for the season. A man +making some repairs about the door-step informed me that the family were +absent from town. He was not aware of the direction they had taken, but +the servants were at home and might acquaint me with their route. Upon +this I boldly rung the door-bell. It was answered by Mrs. Ellis, who +nearly twenty years ago had cruelly sounded in my ears the death-knell +of all my hopes in life. I saw that my incognito was secure, as she met +my piercing glance without shrinking or taking flight, as I fully +expected she would do at sight of the ghost of my former self. + +"She replied to my queries as coolly as she had done during the day to +some dozen of the doctor's disappointed patients--telling me that he had +left that morning for New York, and would not be back for two or three +weeks. Nothing could have been more favourable to my wishes than the +chance thus afforded of overtaking your party and, as a travelling +companion, introducing myself gradually to your notice. + +"You know how this purpose was effected; how, now in the rear, and now +in advance, I nevertheless maintained a constant proximity to your +footsteps. To add to the comfort of yourself and Emily, to learn your +plans, forestall your wishes, secure to your use the best of rooms, and +bribe to your service the most devoted of attendants--I spared neither +pains, trouble, nor expense. For much of the freedom with which I +approached you and made myself an occasional member of your circle, I +was indebted to Emily's blindness; for I could not doubt that otherwise +time and its changes would fail to conceal from her my identity, and I +should meet with a premature recognition. Nor until the final act of +the drama, when death stared us all in the face, and concealment became +impossible, did I once trust my voice to her hearing. + +"How closely, during those few weeks, I watched and weighed your every +word and action, seeking even to read your thoughts in your face, none +can tell whose acuteness is not sharpened and vivified by motives so +all-engrossing as mine; and who can measure the anguish of the fond +father who day by day learned to worship his child with a more absorbing +idolatry, and yet dared not clasp her to his heart? + +"Especially when I saw you the victim of grief and trouble did I long to +assert a claim to your confidence; and more than once my self-control +would have given way but for the dread inspired by the gentle +Emily--gentle to all but me. I could not brook the thought that with my +confession I should cease to be the trusted friend and become the +abhorred parent. I preferred to maintain my distant and unacknowledged +guardianship of my child rather than that she should behold in me the +dreaded tyrant who might tear her from the home from which he himself +had been driven. + +"And so I kept silent; and sometimes present to your sight, but still +oftener hid from view, I hovered around your path until that dreadful +day, which you will long remember, when, everything forgotten but the +safety of yourself and Emily, my heart spoke out and betrayed my secret. +And now you know all--my follies, misfortunes, sufferings, and sins! + +"Can you love me, Gertrude? It is all I ask. I seek not to steal you +from your present home--to rob poor Emily of a child whom she values +perhaps as much as I. The only balm my wounded spirit seeks is the +simple, guileless confession that you will at least try to love your +father. + +"I have no hope in this world, and none, alas! beyond, but in yourself. +Could you feel my heart now beating against its prison bars, you would +realize, as I do, that unless soothed it will burst ere long. Will you +soothe it by your pity, my sweet, my darling child? Will you bless it by +your love? If so, come, clasp your arms around me, and whisper to me +words of peace. Within sight of your window, in the old summer-house at +the end of the garden, with straining ear, I wait listening for your +footsteps." + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +THE REUNION. + + +As Gertrude's eyes, after greedily devouring the manuscript, fell upon +its closing words she sprang to her feet, and the next instant she has +run down the staircase, run out of the hall door, and approached the +summer-house from the opposite entrance to that at which Mr. Amory, with +folded arms and a fixed countenance, is watching for her coming. + +So noiseless is her light step, that before he is conscious of her +presence, she has thrown herself upon his bosom and, her whole frame +trembling with the vehemence of long-suppressed agitation, burst into a +torrent of passionate tears, interrupted only by frequent sobs, so deep +and so exhausting that her father, with his arms folded around her, and +clasping her so closely to his heart that she feels its irregular +beating, endeavours to still the tempest of her grief, whispering +softly, as to an infant, "Hush! hush, my child! you frighten me!" + +And, gradually soothed by his gentle caresses, her excitement subsides, +and she is able to lift her face to his and smile upon him through her +tears. They stand thus for many minutes in a silence that speaks far +more than words. Wrapped in the folds of his heavy cloak to preserve her +from the evening air, and still encircled in his strong embrace, +Gertrude feels that their union of spirit is not less complete; while +the long-banished man, who for years has never felt the sweet influence +of a kindly smile, glows with a melting tenderness which hardening +solitude has not the power to subdue. At length Mr. Amory, lifting his +daughter's face and gazing into her glistening eyes, while he gently +strokes the disordered hair from her forehead, asks, in an accent of +touching appeal, "You will love me, then?" + +"Oh, I do! I do!" exclaimed Gertrude, sealing his lips with kisses. His +hitherto unmoved countenance relaxes at this fervent assurance. He bows +his head upon her shoulder, and the strong man weeps. Her +self-possession all restored, at seeing him thus overcome, Gertrude +places her hand in his, and startles him from his position by the firm +and decided tone with which she whispers, "Come!" + +"Whither?" exclaims he, looking up in surprise. + +"To Emily." + +With a half shudder and a mournful shake of the head, he retreats +instead of advancing in the direction in which she would lead him--"I +cannot." + +"But she waits for you; she, too, weeps and longs and prays for your +coming." + +"Emily!--you know not what you are saying!" + +"Indeed, my father; it is you who are deceived. Emily does not hate you; +she never did. She believed you dead long ago; but your voice, though +heard but once, has half robbed her of her reason so entirely does she +love you still. Come, and she will tell you, better than I can, what a +wretched mistake has made martyrs of you both." + +Emily, who had heard the voice of Willie Sullivan, as he bade Gertrude +farewell on the door-step, and rightly conjectured that it was he, +forbore making any inquiries for the absent girl at the tea-table, and +thinking it probable that she preferred to remain undisturbed, retired +to the sitting-room at the conclusion of the meal, where (as Mr. Graham +sought the library) she remained alone for more than an hour. + +The refined taste which always made Emily's dress an index to the soft +purity of her character was never more strikingly developed than when +she wore, as on the present occasion, a flowing robe of white cashmere, +fastened at the waist with a silken girdle, and with full drapery +sleeves, whose lining and border of snowy silk could only have been +rivalled by the delicate hand and wrist which had escaped from beneath +their folds, and somewhat nervously played with the crimson fringe of a +shawl, worn in the chilly dining-room, and thrown carelessly over the +arm of the sofa. Supporting herself upon her elbow, she sat with her +head bent forward, and apparently deep in thought. Once Mrs. Prime +opened the door, looked around the room in search of the housekeeper, +and, not finding her, retreated, saying to herself, "Law! dear sakes +alive! I wish she only had eyes now, to see how like a picter she +looks!" + +A low, quick bark from the house-dog attracted her attention, and steps +were heard crossing the piazza. Before they had gained the door, Emily +was standing upright, straining her ear to catch the sound of every +footfall; and, when Gertrude and Mr. Amory entered, she looked more like +a statue than a living figure, as with clasped hands, parted lips, and +one foot slightly advanced, she silently awaited their approach. One +glance at Emily's face, another at that of her agitated father, and +Gertrude was gone. She saw the completeness of their mutual recognition, +and with instinctive delicacy, forbore to mar by her presence the +sacredness of so holy an interview. As the door closed upon her +retreating figure, Emily parted her clasped hands, stretched them forth +into the dim vacancy, and murmured, "Philip!" + +He seized them between both of his, and with one step forward, fell upon +his knees. As he did so, the half-fainting Emily dropped upon the seat. +Mr. Amory bowed his head upon the hands which, still held tightly +between his own, now rested on her lap, and, hiding his face upon her +slender fingers, tremblingly uttered her name. + +"The grave has given up its dead!" exclaimed Emily. "My God, I thank +thee!" and she flung her arms around his neck, rested her head upon his +bosom, and whispered, in a voice half choked with emotion, +"Philip!--dear, dear Philip! am I dreaming, or have you come back +again?" + +She and Philip had loved each other in their childhood; before that +childhood was passed they had parted; and as children they met again. +During the lapse of many years she had lived among the cherished +memories of the past, she had been safe from worldly contagion, and had +retained all the guileless simplicity of girlhood--all the freshness of +her spring-time; and Philip, who had never willingly bound himself by +any ties save those imposed upon him by necessity, felt his boyhood come +rushing upon him, as, with Emily's soft hand resting on his head, she +blessed Heaven for his safe return. She could not see how time had +silvered his hair and sobered and shaded the face that she loved. + +And to him, as he beheld the face he had half dreaded to encounter +beaming with the holy light of sympathy and love, the blind girl's +countenance seemed encircled with a halo not of earth. And, therefore, +this union had in it less of earth than heaven. Not until, seated beside +each other, with their hands still fondly clasped, Philip had heard from +Emily's lips the history of her hopes, her fears, her prayers, and her +despair; and she, while listening to the sad incidents of his life, had +dropped upon the hand she held many a kiss and tear of sympathy, did +either fully realise the mercy so long delayed, so fully accorded now, +which promised even on earth to crown their days. + +Emily wept at the tale of Lucy's trials and her early death, and when +she learned that it was hers and Philip's child whom she had taken to +her heart, and fostered with the truest affection, she sent up her +silent praise that it had been allotted to her apparently bereaved and +darkened destiny to fulfil so blessed a mission. "If I could love her +more, dear Philip," said she, while the tears trickled down her cheeks, +"I would do so, for your sake, and that of her sweet, innocent, +suffering mother." + +"And you forgive me, then, Emily?" said Philip, as both having finished +their sad recitals of the past, they gave themselves up to the sweet +reflection of their present joy. + +"Forgive? Oh, Philip! what have I to forgive?" + +"The deed that locked you in prison darkness," he mournfully replied. + +"Philip!" exclaimed Emily, "could you for one moment believe that I +attributed that to you?--that I blamed you, for an instant?" + +"Not willingly, I am sure, dear Emily. But, oh, you have forgotten that +in your time of anguish, not only the obtruding thought but the lip that +gave utterance to it, proclaimed how you refused to forgive the cruel +hand that wrought you so much woe!" + +"You cruel, Philip! Never did I so abuse and wrong you. If my unfilial +heart sinfully railed against the cruel injustice of my father, it was +never guilty of such treachery towards you." + +"That fiendish woman lied, then, when she told me that you shuddered at +my very name?" + +"If I shuddered, Philip, it was because I recoiled at the thought of the +wrong you had sustained; and oh, believe me, if she gave you any other +assurance than of my continued love, it was because she laboured under a +sad error." + +"Good heavens!" ejaculated Philip; "how wickedly have I been deceived!" + +"Not wickedly," replied Emily. "Mrs. Ellis was in that instance the +victim of circumstances. She was a stranger among us, and believed you +other than you were; but, had you seen her a few weeks later, sobbing +over her share in the unhappy transaction which drove you to +desperation, and as we then supposed to death, you would have felt that +we had misjudged her, and that she carried a heart of flesh beneath a +stony disguise. The bitterness of her grief was united with remorse at +the recollection of her own harshness. Let us forget the sad events of +the past, and trust that the loving hand which has thus far shaped our +course has but afflicted us in mercy." + +"In mercy!" exclaimed Philip. "What mercy does my past experience give +evidence of, or your life of everlasting darkness? Can you believe it a +loving hand which made me the ill-fated instrument, and you the +life-long sufferer, from one of the dreariest misfortunes that can +afflict humanity?" + +"Speak not of my blindness as a misfortune," answered Emily; "I have +long ceased to think it such. It is only through the darkness of the +night that we discern the lights of heaven, and only when shut out from +earth that we enter the gates of Paradise. With eyes to see the +wonderful working of nature and nature's God, I nevertheless closed them +to the evidences of Almighty love that were around me on every side. +While enjoying the beautiful gifts that were showered on my pathway, I +forgot to praise the Giver; but, with an ungrateful heart, walked +sinfully on, little dreaming of the deceitful snares which entangle the +footsteps of youth. And therefore did he, who is ever over us for good, +arrest with fatherly hand the child who was wandering from the road that +leads to peace; and, though the discipline of his chastening rod was +sudden and severe, mercy tempered justice. From the tomb of my buried +joys sprang hopes that will bloom in immortality. From the clouds and +the darkness broke forth a glorious light. Then grieve not, dear Philip, +over the fate that is far from sad; but rejoice with me in the thought +of that blessed and not far distant awakening, when, with restored and +beautiful vision, I shall stand before God's throne, in full view of +that glorious Presence, from which, but for the guiding light which has +burst upon my spirit through the veil of earthly darkness, I might have +been eternally shut out." + +As Emily finished speaking, and Philip, gazing with awe upon the rapt +expression of her soul-illumined face, beheld the triumph of an immortal +mind, and pondered on the might, the majesty, and power of the influence +wrought by simple piety, the door of the room opened abruptly and Mr. +Graham entered. + +The sound of the well-known footstep disturbed the soaring thoughts of +both, and the flush of excitement which had mounted into Emily's cheeks +subsided into more than her wonted paleness as Philip, rising slowly +from her side, stood face to face with her father. + +Mr. Graham approached with the scrutinizing air of one called upon to +greet a visitor who, though an apparent stranger, may possibly have +claims to recognition, and glanced at his daughter as if hoping she +would relieve the awkwardness by an introduction. But the agitated Emily +maintained perfect silence, and every feature of Philip's countenance +remained immovable as Mr. Graham slowly came forward. + +He had advanced within one step of the spot where Philip stood waiting +to receive him, when, struck by the stern look and attitude of the +latter, he stopped short, gazed one moment into the eagle eyes of his +step-son, then staggered, grasped at the mantel-piece, and would have +fallen, but Philip, starting forward, helped him to his arm-chair. And +yet no word was spoken. At length Mr. Graham, who, having fallen into +the seat, sat still gazing into the face of Mr. Amory, ejaculated in a +tone of wondering excitement, "Philip Amory! Oh, my God!" + +"Yes, father," exclaimed Emily, suddenly rising and grasping her +father's arm; "it is Philip; he whom we have so long believed among the +dead, restored to us in health and safety!" + +Mr. Graham rose from his chair and, leaning heavily on Emily's shoulder, +again approached Mr. Amory, who, with folded arms, stood fixed as +marble. His step tottered with a feebleness never before observable in +the sturdy frame of the old man, and the hand which he extended to +Philip was marked by an unusual tremulousness. But Philip did not offer +to receive the proffered hand, or reply by word to the rejected +salutation. + +Mr. Graham turned towards Emily and, forgetting that this neglect was +shut from her sight, exclaimed half-bitterly, half-sadly, "I cannot +blame him! God knows I wronged the boy!" + +"Wronged him!" cried Philip, in a voice almost fearful. "Yes, wronged +him, indeed! Blighted his life, crushed his youth, half broke his heart, +and wholly blighted his reputation!" + +"No," exclaimed Mr. Graham, who had quailed beneath these accusations, +until he reached the final one; "not that, Philip!--not that! I never +harmed you there; I discovered my error before I had doomed you to +infamy in the eyes of one of your fellow-men." + +"You acknowledge, then, the error?" + +"I do, I do! I imputed to you the deed which proved to have been +accomplished through the agency of my most confidential clerk. I learned +the truth almost immediately; but too late, alas! to recall you. Then +came the news of your death, and I felt that the injury had been +irreparable. But it was not strange, Philip; you must allow that. Archer +had been in my employment more than twenty years. I believed him +trustworthy." + +"No! oh, no!" replied Philip. "It was nothing strange that, a crime +committed, you should have readily ascribed it to me. You thought me +capable only of evil." + +"I was unjust, Philip," answered Mr. Graham, with an attempt to rally +his dignity; "but I had some cause." + +"Perhaps so," responded Philip; "I am willing to grant that." + +"Let us shake hands upon it, then," said Mr. Graham, "and endeavour to +forget the past." + +Philip acceded to this request, though there was but little warmth in +the manner of his compliance. Mr. Graham looked relieved from a burden +which had been oppressing his conscience for years, and, subsiding into +his arm-chair, begged the particulars of Philip's experience during the +last twenty years. + +The outline of the story was soon told, Mr. Graham listening to it with +attention, and inquiring into its particulars with an interest which +proved that, during a lengthened period of regret and remorse, his +feelings had sensibly softened towards the step-son, with every memory +of whom there had come to his heart a pang of self-reproach. + +Mr. Amory was unable to afford any satisfactory explanation of the +report of his own death which had been confidently affirmed by Dr. +Jeremy's correspondent at Rio. Upon a comparison of dates, however, it +seemed probable that the doctor's agent had obtained this information +from Philip's employer, who had every reason to believe that the young +man had perished of the prevailing infection. + +To Philip himself it was almost an equal matter of wonder that his +friends should ever have obtained knowledge of his flight and +destination. But this was easily accounted for, since the vessel in +which he had embarked returned directly to Boston, and there were among +her crew and officers those who could reply to the inquiries which the +benevolent doctor had set on foot some months before, accompanied by the +offer of a liberal reward. + +Notwithstanding the many romantic incidents which were unfolding +themselves, none seemed to produce so great an impression upon Mr. +Graham's mind as the singular circumstance that the child who had been +reared under his roof, and endeared herself to him, in spite of some +clashing of interests and opinions, should prove to be Philip's +daughter. As he left the room at the conclusion of the tale, and sought +the solitude of his library, he muttered to himself, "Singular +coincidence! Very singular! Very!" + +Hardly had he departed before another door was timidly opened, and +Gertrude looked cautiously in. Her father went quickly towards her, and, +passing his arm around her waist, drew her towards Emily, and clasped +them both in a long and silent embrace. + +"Philip," exclaimed Emily, "can you doubt the mercy which has spared us +for such a meeting?" + +"Oh, Emily!" replied he, "I am deeply grateful. Teach me how and where +to bestow my tribute of praise." + +On the hour of sweet communion which succeeded we forbear to dwell--the +silent rapture of Emily, the passionately-expressed joy of Philip, or +the trusting, loving glances which Gertrude cast upon both. It was +nearly midnight when Mr. Amory rose to depart. Emily, who had not +thought of his leaving the spot which she hoped he would now consider +his home, entreated him to remain; and Gertrude, with her eyes, joined +in the eager petition. But he persisted in his resolution with firmness +and seriousness. + +"Philip," said Emily, laying her hand upon his arm, "you have not yet +forgiven my father." She had divined his thoughts. He shrank under her +reproachful tones, and made no answer. + +"But you _will_, dear Philip--you _will_," continued she, in a pleading +voice. + +He hesitated, then glanced at her once more, and replied, "I will, +dearest Emily, I will--in time." + +When he had gone, Gertrude lingered a moment at the door, to watch his +retreating figure, just visible in the light of the waning moon, then +returned to the parlour, and saying, "Oh, what a day this has been!" but +checked herself, at the sight of Emily, who, kneeling by the sofa with +clasped hands, and with her white garments sweeping the floor, looked +the very impersonation of purity and prayer. Throwing one arm around her +neck, Gertrude knelt on the floor beside her, and together they sent up +to the throne of God the incense of thanksgiving and praise! + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +THE RECOMPENSE. + + +When Uncle True died, Mr. Cooper buried his old friend in the ancient +graveyard which adjoined the church where he had long officiated as +sexton. But long before the time-worn building gave place to a modern +structure the hallowed remains of Uncle True had found a quieter +resting-place--even a beautiful piece of undulating woodland in the +neighbourhood of Mr. Graham's country residence, which had been +consecrated as a rural cemetery; and in the loveliest nook of this +beautiful spot the ashes of the good old lamplighter found their final +repose. + +This lot of land, which had been purchased by Willie's liberality, +selected by Gertrude, and by her made fragrant with summer rose and +winter ivy, now enclosed also the forms of Mr. Cooper and Mrs. Sullivan; +and over these three graves Gertrude had planted many a flower and +watered it with her tears. Especially did she view it as a sacred duty +and privilege to mark the anniversary of the death of each by a tribute +of fresh garlands; and, with this pious purpose in view, she left Mr. +Graham's house one beautiful afternoon about a week after the events +narrated in the previous chapter. + +She carried on her arm a basket, containing her offering of flowers; +and, as she had a long walk before her, started at a rapid pace. Let us +follow her, and briefly pursue the train of thought which accompanied +her on her way. She had left her father with Emily. She would not ask +him to join her in her walk, though he had once expressed a desire to +visit the grave of Uncle True, for he and Emily were talking together so +contentedly, it would have been a pity to disturb them; and Gertrude's +reflections were engrossed by the thought of their tranquil happiness. +She thought of herself, too, as associated with them both; of the deep +and long-tried love of Emily, and of the fond outpourings of affection +daily and hourly lavished upon her by her newly-found parent, and felt +that she could scarcely repay their kindness by the devotion of a +lifetime. + +She tried to banish the remembrance of Willie's faithlessness and +desertion. But the painful recollection presented itself continually, +notwithstanding her utmost efforts to repress it; and at last, ceasing +the struggle, she gave herself up for the time to a deep and saddening +reverie. She had received two visits from Willie since the first; but +the second meeting had been in its character very similar, and on the +succeeding occasion the constraint had increased instead of diminishing. +Several times Willie had made an effort to speak and act with the +freedom of former days; but a sudden blush, or sign of confusion and +distress, on Gertrude's part, deterred him from any further attempt to +put to flight the reserve which subsisted in their intercourse. Again, +Gertrude, who had resolved, previous to his last visit, to meet him with +frankness, smiled upon him affectionately at his coming, and offered her +hand with such sisterly freedom, that he was emboldened to take and +retain in his grasp, and was on the point of unburdening his mind of +some weighty secret, when she turned abruptly away, took up some trivial +piece of work, and while she seemed absorbed in it, addressed to him an +unimportant question--a course of conduct which disconcerted him for the +remainder of his stay. + +As Gertrude pondered the distressing results of every visit, she half +hoped he would discontinue them, believing that their feelings would be +less wounded by a total separation than by interviews which must leave +on the mind of each a still greater sense of estrangement. + +Strange, she had not yet acquainted him with the event so interesting to +herself--the discovery of her dearly-loved father. Once she tried to +speak of it, but was so overcome at the idea of imparting to the +confidant of her childhood an experience of which she could scarcely yet +think without emotion, that she paused in the attempt, fearing that, +should she on any topic give way to her sensibilities, she should lose +all restraint over her feelings and lay open her whole heart to Willie. + +But one thing distressed her more than all others. In his first attempt +to throw off all disguise, Willie had more than intimated to her his own +unhappiness; and ere she could find an opportunity to change the subject +and repel a confidence for which she still felt herself unprepared, he +had spoken mournfully over his future prospects in life. + +The only construction which Gertrude could give to this confession was +that it had reference to his engagement with Isabel, and it gave rise to +the suspicion that, infatuated by her beauty, he had impulsively bound +himself to one who could never make him happy. The little scenes to +which she herself had been a witness corroborated this idea, as, on both +occasions of her seeing the lovers and overhearing their words, some +cause of vexation seemed to exist on Willie's part. "He loves her," +thought Gertrude, "and is also bound to her in honour; but he sees +already the want of harmony in their natures. Poor Willie! It is +impossible he should ever be happy with Isabel." + +And Gertrude's sympathising heart mourned not more deeply over her own +griefs than over the disappointment that Willie must be experiencing, if +he had ever hoped to find peace in a union with so overbearing, +ill-humoured, and unreasonable a girl. + +Wholly occupied with these and similar musings, she walked on with a +quickness she was scarcely herself aware of, and soon gained the shelter +of the heavy pines which bordered the entrance to the cemetery. Here she +paused to enjoy the refreshing breeze that played beneath the branches; +and, passing through the gateway, entered a carriage-road at the right, +and proceeded slowly up the ascent. The place, always quiet and +peaceful, seemed unusually still and secluded, and save the occasional +carol of a bird, there was no sound to disturb the perfect silence and +repose. As Gertrude gazed upon the familiar beauties of those sacred +grounds which had been her frequent resort during several years--as she +walked between beds of flowers, inhaled the fragrant and balmy air, and +felt the solemn appeal, the spiritual breathings, that haunted the holy +place--every motion that was not in harmony with the scene gradually +took its flight, and she experienced only that sensation of sweet and +half-joyful melancholy which was awakened by the thought of the happy +dead. + +After a while she left the broad road and turned into a little bypath, +and then again to a narrower foot-track, and gained the shady and +retired spot which had recommended itself to her choice. It was situated +on the slope of a little hill; a huge rock protected it on one side from +the observation of the passer-by, and a fine old oak overshadowed it +upon the other. The iron enclosure, of simple workmanship, was nearly +overgrown by the green ivy, which had been planted there by Gertrude's +hand, and the moss-grown rock was festooned by its tendrils. Upon a +jutting stone beside the grave of Uncle True Gertrude seated herself, +and after a few moments of contemplation sighed heavily, emptied her +flowers upon the grass, and commenced weaving a graceful chaplet, which, +when completed, she placed upon the grave at her feet. With the +remainder of the blossoms she strewed the other mounds; and then, +drawing forth a pair of gardening gloves and a little trowel, she +employed herself for nearly an hour among the flowers and vines with +which she had embowered the spot. Her work finished, she again placed +herself at the foot of the old rock, removed her gloves, pushed back +from her forehead the braids of her hair, and appeared to be resting +from her labours. + +It was seven years that day since Uncle True died, but Gertrude had not +forgotten the kind old man. As she gazed upon the grassy mound that +covered him, and scene after scene rose up before her in which that +earliest friend and herself had whiled away the happy hours, there came, +to embitter the cherished remembrance, the recollection of that third +and seldom absent one who completed the memory of their fireside joys; +and Gertrude, while yielding to the inward reflection, unconsciously +exclaimed aloud, "Oh, Uncle True! you and I are not parted yet; but +Willie is not of us!" + +"Oh, Gertrude," said a reproachful voice close at her side, "is Willie +to blame for that?" She started, turned, saw the object of her thoughts +with his mild sad eye fixed inquiringly upon her, and, without replying +to his question, buried her face in her hands. + +He threw himself upon the ground at her feet, and, as on the occasion of +their first childish interview, gently lifted her bowed head from the +hands upon which it had fallen, and compelled her to look him in the +face, saying at the same time in the most imploring accents, "Tell me, +Gerty, in pity tell me, why I am excluded from your sympathy?" But still +she made no answer, except by the tears that coursed down her cheeks. + +"You make me miserable," continued he. "What have I done that you have +so shut me out of your affection? Why do you look so coldly upon me--and +even shrink from my sight?" added he, as Gertrude, unable to endure his +searching look, turned her eyes in another direction and strove to free +her hands from his grasp. + +"I am not cold--I do not mean to be," said she, her voice half-choked +with emotion. + +"Oh, Gertrude," replied he, relinquishing her hands and turning away, "I +see you have ceased to love me. I trembled when I first beheld you, so +lovely, so beautiful, and so beloved by all, and feared lest some +fortunate rival had stolen your heart from its boyish keeper. But even +then I did not deem that you would refuse me, at least, a _brother's_ +claim to your affection." + +"I will not," exclaimed Gertrude eagerly. "Oh, Willie, you must not be +angry with me! Let me be your sister!" + +He smiled a most mournful smile, and said, "I was right, then; you +feared lest I should claim too much, and discouraged my presumption by +awarding me nothing. Be it so. Perhaps your prudence was for the best; +but, oh Gertrude, it has made me heartbroken." + +"Willie!" exclaimed Gertrude, with excitement, "do you know how +strangely you are speaking?" + +"Strangely?" responded Willie, in a half-offended tone. "Is it so +strange that I should love you? Have I not for years cherished the +remembrance of our past affection, and looked forward to our reunion as +my only hope of happiness? Has not this fond expectation inspired my +labours, and cheered my toils, and endeared to me my life, in spite of +its bereavements? And can you, in the very sight of these cold mounds, +beneath which lie buried all else that I held dear on earth, crush and +destroy without compassion this solitary but all-engrossing----" + +"Willie," interrupted Gertrude, her calmness suddenly restored, and +speaking in a kind but serious tone, "is it honourable for you to +address me thus? Have you forgotten----" + +"No, I have _not_ forgotten," exclaimed he vehemently. "I have not +forgotten that I have no right to distress or annoy you, and I will do +so no more. But oh, Gerty! my sister Gerty (since all hope of a nearer +tie is at an end), blame me not, and wonder not, if I fail at present to +perform a brother's part. I cannot stay in this neighbourhood. I cannot +be the patient witness of another's happiness. My services, my time, my +life, you may command, and in my far-distant home I will never cease to +pray that the husband you have chosen, whoever he be, may prove himself +worthy of my noble Gertrude, and love her one-half as well as I do!" + +"Willie!" said Gertrude, "what madness is this? I am bound by no such +tie as you describe; but what shall I think of your treachery to +Isabel?" + +"To Isabel!" cried Willie, starting up, as if seized with a new idea; +"and has that silly rumour reached _you_ too? and did you put faith in +the falsehood?" + +"Falsehood!" exclaimed Gertrude, lifting her hitherto drooping eyelids +and casting upon him, through their wet lashes, a look of earnest +scrutiny. + +Calmly returning a glance which he had neither avoided nor quailed +under, Willie responded unhesitatingly, and with a tone of astonishment +not unmingled with reproach, "Falsehood! Yes. With the knowledge you +have both of her and myself, could you doubt its being such for a +moment?" + +"Oh, Willie!" cried Gertrude, "could I doubt the evidence of my own eyes +and ears? Had I trusted to less faithful witnesses, I might have been +deceived. Do not attempt to conceal from me the truth, to which my own +observation can testify. Treat me with frankness, Willie! Indeed, +indeed, I deserve it at your hands!" + +"Frankness, Gertrude! it is you only who are mysterious. Could I lay my +whole soul bare to your gaze, you would be convinced of its truth, its +perfect truth, to its first affection. And as to Isabel Clinton, if it +is to her that you have reference, your eyes and your ears have both +played you false, if----" + +"Oh, Willie! Willie!" exclaimed Gertrude, interrupting him; "have you so +soon forgotten your devotion to the belle of Saratoga, your +unwillingness to sanction her temporary absence from your sight, the +pain which the mere suggestion of the journey caused you, and the fond +impatience which threatened to render those few days an eternity?" + +"Stop! stop!" cried Willie, a new light breaking in upon him, "and tell +me where you learned all this?" + +"In the very spot where you spoke and acted. Mr. Graham's parlour did +not witness our first meeting. In the public promenade-ground, on the +shore of Saratoga lake, and on board the steamboat at Albany, did I both +see and recognize you--myself unknown. There, too, did your own words +serve to convince me of the truth of that which from other lips I had +refused to believe." + +"Listen to me, Gertrude," said he, in a fervent and almost solemn tone, +"and believe that in sight of my mother's grave, and in the presence of +that pure spirit (and he looked reverently upward) who taught me the +love of truth, I speak with such sincerity and candour as are fitting +for the ears of angels. I do not question the accuracy with which you +overheard my expostulations and entreaties on the subject of Miss +Clinton's proposed journey, or the impatience I expressed at parting for +her speedy return. I will not pause either to inquire where the object +of all my thoughts could have been at the time that, notwithstanding the +changes of years, she escaped my eager eyes. Let me first clear myself +of the imputation, and then there will be room for all further +explanations. + +"I did feel pain at Miss Clinton's sudden departure for New York, under +a pretext which ought not to have weighed with her for a moment. I did +employ every argument to dissuade her from her purpose; and when my +eloquence had failed to induce the abandonment of the scheme, I availed +myself of every suggestion and motive which possibly might influence her +to shorten her absence. Not because the society of the selfish girl was +essential, or even conducive, to my happiness--far from it--but because +her excellent father, who so worshipped and idolized his only child that +he would have thought no sacrifice too great to promote her enjoyment, +was at the very time, amid all the discomfort of a crowded +watering-place, hovering between life and death, and I was disgusted at +the heartlessness which voluntarily left the fondest of parents deprived +of all female tending, to the charge of a hired nurse and an unskillful +though willing youth like myself. That eternity might, in Miss Clinton's +absence, set a seal to the life of her father was a thought which in my +indignation I was on the point of uttering, but I checked myself, +unwilling to interfere too far in a matter which came not within my +rightful province, and perhaps excite unnecessary alarm in Isabel. If +selfishness mingled at all in my views, dear Gerty, and made me +over-impatient for the return of the daughter to her post of duty, it +was that I might be released from almost constant attendance upon my +invalid friend, and hasten to her from whom I hoped such warmth of +greeting as I was only eager to bestow. Can you wonder, then, that your +reception struck cold upon my throbbing heart?" + +"But you understand the cause of that coldness now," said Gertrude, +looking up at him through a rain of tears, which like a summer +sun-shower reflected itself in rainbow smiles upon her happy +countenance. "You know now why I dared not let my heart speak out." + +"And this was all, then?" cried Willie; "and you are free, and I may +love you still?" + +"Free from all bonds, dear Willie, but those which you yourself clasped +around me, and which have encircled me from my childhood." + +And now, with heart pressed to heart, they pour in each other's ear the +tale of mutual affection, planted in infancy, nourished in youth, +fostered and strengthened amid separation and absence, and perfected +through trial, to bless and sanctify every year of their after life. + +"But, Gerty," exclaimed Willie as, confidence restored, they sat side by +side conversing freely of the past, "how could you think for an instant +that Isabel Clinton would have power to displace you in my regard? I was +not guilty of so great an injustice towards you; for even when I +believed myself supplanted by another, I fancied that other hero of such +shining qualities as could scarcely be surpassed." + +"And who could surpass Isabel?" inquired Gerty. "Can you wonder that I +trembled for your allegiance when I thought of her beauty, her fashion, +her family, and her wealth, and remembered the forcible manner in which +all these were presented to your sight and knowledge?" + +"But what are all these, Gerty, to one who knows her as we do? Do not a +proud eye and a scornful lip destroy the effect of beauty? Can fashion +excuse rudeness, or noble birth cover natural deficiencies? And as to +money, what did I ever want of that, except to employ it for the +happiness of yourself--and them?" and he glanced at the graves of his +mother and grandfather. + +"Oh, Willie! you are so disinterested." + +"Not in this case. Had Isabel possessed the beauty of a Venus and the +wisdom of a Minerva, I could not have forgotten how little happiness +there could be with one who, while devoting herself to the pursuit of +pleasure, had become dead to natural affections and indifferent to the +holiest of duties. Could I see her flee from the bedside of her father +to engage in the frivolities and drink in the flatteries of an idle +crowd--or, when unwillingly summoned thither, shrink from the toils and +watchings imposed by his feebleness--and still imagine that such a woman +could bless and adorn a fireside? Could I fail to contrast her unfeeling +neglect, ill-concealed petulance, flagrant levity, and irreverence of +spirit, with the sweet and loving devotion, the saintly patience, and +the deep and fervent piety of my own Gertrude? I should have been false +to myself, as well as to you, dearest, if such traits of character as +Miss Clinton constantly evinced could have ever weakened my love and +admiration for yourself. And now, to see the little playmate whose image +I cherished so fondly matured into the lovely and graceful woman, her +sweet attractions crowned by so much beauty as to place her beyond +recognition, and still her heart as much my own as ever! Oh, Gerty, it +is too much happiness! Would that I could impart a share of it to those +who loved us both so well!" + +And who can say that they did not share it?--that the spirit of Uncle +True was not there to witness the completion of his many hopeful +prophecies? that the old grandfather was not there to see all his doubts +and fears giving place to joyful certainties? and that the soul of the +gentle mother whose rapt slumbers had even in life foreshadowed such a +meeting, and who, by the lessons she had given her child in his boyhood, +the warnings spoken to his later years, and the ministering guidance of +her disembodied spirit, had fitted him for the struggle with temptation, +sustained him through its trials, and restored him triumphant to the +sweet friend of his infancy--who shall say that even now she hovered not +over them with parted wings, realising the joy prefigured in that dreamy +vision which pictured to her sight the union between the son and the +daughter of her love, when the one, shielded by her fond care from every +danger and snatched, from the power of temptation, should be restored to +the arms of the other who, by a long and patient continuance in +well-doing, had earned so full a recompense, so all-sufficient a reward? + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +ANCHORS FOR WORLD-TRIED SOULS. + + +The sunset hour was near when Gertrude and Willie rose to depart. They +left the cemetery by a different gateway, and in the opposite direction +to that by which Gertrude had entered. Here Willie found the chaise in +which he had come, though the horse had contrived to loosen the bridle +by which he was fastened, had strayed to the side of the road, eaten as +much grass as he wished, and was now sniffing the air, looking up and +down the road, and, despairing of his master's return, seemed on the +point of taking his departure. He was reclaimed, however, without +difficulty, and, as if glad after his long rest to be again in motion, +brought them in half-an-hour to Mr. Graham's door. + +As soon as they came in sight of the house, Gertrude, familiar with the +customary ways of the family, perceived that something unusual was going +forward. Lamps were moving about in every direction; the front door +stood wide open; there was, what she had never seen before, the blaze +of a bright fire discernible through the windows of the best chamber; +and as they drew still nearer she observed that the piazza was half +covered with trunks. + +All these appearances, as she rightly conjectured, betokened the arrival +of Mrs. Graham, and possibly of other company. She might perhaps have +regretted the ill-timed coming of this bustling lady at the moment when +she was eager for a quiet opportunity to present Willie to Emily and her +father, and communicate to them her own happiness; but if such a thought +presented itself it vanished in a moment. Her joy was too complete to be +marred by so trifling a disappointment. "Let us drive up the avenue, +Willie," said she, "to the side-door, so that George may see us and take +your horse to the stable." + +"No," said Willie, as he stopped opposite the front gate; "I can't come +in now--there seems to be a house full of company, and besides I have an +appointment in town at eight o'clock, and promised to be punctual;"--he +glanced at his watch and added, "it is near that already. I did not +think of its being so late; but I shall see you to-morrow morning, may I +not?" She looked her assent, and, with a warm grasp of the hand as he +helped her from the chaise, and a mutual smile of confidence and love, +they separated. + +He drove rapidly towards Boston, and she, opening the gate, found +herself in the arms of Fanny Bruce, who had been impatiently waiting the +departure of Willie to seize her dear Miss Gertrude and, between tears +and kisses, pour out her congratulations and thanks for her happy escape +from that horrid steamboat--for this was the first time they had met +since the accident. + +"Has Mrs. Graham come, Fanny?" asked Gertrude, as they walked up to the +house together. + +"Yes, indeed; Mrs. Graham, and Kitty, and Isabel, and a little girl, and +a sick gentleman--Mr. Clinton, I believe; and another gentleman--but +_he's_ gone." + +"Who has gone?" + +"Oh, a tall, dignified-looking man, with black eyes, and a beautiful +face, and hair as white as if he were old--and he isn't old either." + +"And do you say he has gone?" + +"Yes; he didn't come with the rest. He was here when I came, and he +went away about an hour ago. I heard him tell Miss Emily that he had +agreed to meet a friend in Boston, but perhaps he'd come back this +evening. I hope he will, Miss Gertrude; you ought to see him." + +They had now reached the house, and through the open door Gertrude could +plainly distinguish the loud tones of Mrs. Graham's voice proceeding +from the parlour on the right. She was talking to her husband and Emily, +and was just saying as Gertrude entered, "Oh, it was the most awful +thing I ever heard of in my life! and to think, Emily, of your being on +board, and our Isabel! Poor child! she hasn't got her colour back yet +after the fright. And Gertrude Flint, too! By the way, they say Gertrude +behaved very well. Where is the child?" + +Turning round, she now saw Gertrude, who was just entering the room, +and, going towards her, she kissed her with considerable heartiness and +sincerity; for Mrs. Graham, though somewhat coarse and blunt, was not +without good feelings when the occasion was such as to awaken them. + +Gertrude's entrance having served to interrupt the stream of exclamatory +remarks in which the excitable lady had been indulging for ten minutes +or more, she now bethought herself of the necessity of removing her +bonnet and outside garments, a part of which, being loosed from their +fastenings, she had been dragging after her about the floor. + +"Well!" exclaimed she, "I suppose I had better follow the girls' example +and get some of the dust off from me! I'm half buried, I believe! But +there, that's better than coming on in the horrid steamboat last night, +as my brother Clinton was so crazy as to propose. Where's Bridget? I +want her to take up some of my things." + +"I will assist you," said Gertrude, taking up a little carpet-bag, +throwing a scarf, which had been stretching across the room, over her +arm, and then following Mrs. Graham closely, in order to support the +heavy travelling-shawl which was hanging half off that lady's shoulders. +At the first landing-place, however, she found herself suddenly +encircled in Kitty's warm embrace, and, laying down her burdens, gave +herself up for a few moments to the hugging and kissing that succeeded. + +At the head of the staircase she met Isabel, wrapped in a dressing gown, +with a large pitcher in her hand, and a most discontented expression of +countenance. She set the pitcher on the floor, however, and saluted +Gertrude with a good grace. "I'm glad to see you alive," said she, +"though I cannot look at you without shuddering; it reminds me so of +that dreadful day when we were in such frightful danger. How lucky we +were to be saved, when there were so many drowned! I've wondered ever +since, Gertrude, how you could be so calm; I'm sure I shouldn't have +known what to do if you hadn't been there to suggest. But, oh dear! +don't let us speak of it; it's a thing I cant' bear to think of!" and +with a shudder and shrug of the shoulders, Isabel dismissed the subject +and called somewhat pettishly to Kitty--"Kitty, I thought you went to +get our pitcher filled!" + +Kitty, who, in obedience to a loud call and demand from her aunt, had +hastily run to her room with the little travelling-bag which Gertrude +had dropped on the staircase, now came back quite out of breath, saying, +"I did ring the bell twice. Hasn't anybody come?" + +"No!" replied Belle! "and I should like to wash my face and curl my hair +before tea, if I could." + +"Let me take the pitcher," said Gertrude; "I am going downstairs, and +will send Jane up with the water." + +"Thank you," said Belle, rather feebly; while Kitty exclaimed, "No, no, +Gertrude; I'll go myself." + +But it was too late; Gertrude had gone. + +Gertrude found Mrs. Ellis full of troubles and perplexities. "Only +think," said the astonished housekeeper, "of their coming, five of them, +without the least warning in the world; and here I've nothing in the +house fit for tea; not a bit of rich cake, not a scrap of cold ham. And +of course they're hungry after their long journey, and will want +something nice." + +"Oh, if they are very hungry, Mrs. Ellis, they can eat dried beef and +fresh biscuit and plain cake; and if you will give me the keys I will +get out the preserves and the best silver, and see that the table is set +properly." + +Nothing was a trouble to Gertrude that night. Everything that she +touched went right. Jane caught her spirit and became astonishingly +active; and when the really bountiful table was spread, and Mrs. Ellis, +after glancing around and seeing that all was as it should be, looked +into the beaming eyes and observed the glowing cheek and sunny smile of +the happy girl, she exclaimed, in her ignorance, "Good gracious, +Gertrude, anybody would think you were over-joyed to see all these folks +back again!" + +It wanted but a few moments to tea-time, and Gertrude was selecting +fresh napkins from a drawer in the china-closet, when Kitty Ray peeped +in at the door and finally entered, leading by the hand a little girl +neatly dressed in black. Her face was at first full of smiles; but the +moment she attempted to speak she burst into tears, and throwing her +arms round Gertrude's neck, whispered in her ear, "Oh, Gertrude, I'm so +happy! I came to tell you!" + +"Happy?" replied Gertrude; "then you mustn't cry." + +Upon this Kitty laughed, and then cried again, and then laughed once +more, and in the interval explained to Gertrude that she was +engaged--had been engaged a week to the best man in the world--and that +the child she held by the hand was his orphan niece, and just like a +daughter to him. "And only think," continued she, "it's all owing to +you." + +"To me?" said the astonished Gertrude. + +"Yes; because I was so vain and silly, you know, and liked folks that +were not worth liking, and didn't care much for anybody's comfort but my +own; and, if you hadn't taught me to be something better than that, and +set me a good example, which I've tried to follow ever since, he never +would have thought of looking at me, much less loving me, and believing +I should be a fit mother for little Gracie here," and she looked down +affectionately at the child, who was clinging fondly to her. "He is a +minister, Gertrude, and very good. Only think of such a childish +creature as I am being a minister's wife!" The sympathy which Kitty came +to claim was not denied her, and Gertrude, with her own eyes brimming +with tears, assured her of her participation in her joy. + +In the meantime little Gracie, who still clung to Kitty with one hand, +had gently inserted the other within that of Gertrude, who, looking down +upon her for the first time, recognized the child whom she had rescued +from persecution in the drawing-room at Saratoga. + +Kitty was charmed with the coincidence, and Gertrude, as she remarked +the happy transformation which had already been effected in the +countenance and dress of the little girl, who had been so sadly in want +of female superintendence, felt an added conviction of the wisdom of the +young clergyman's choice. + +Mr. Graham's cheerful parlour had never looked so cheerful as on that +evening. The weather was mild, but a light fire, which had been kindled +on Mr. Clinton's account, did not render the room too warm. It had, +however, driven the young people into a remote corner, leaving the +neighbourhood of the fire-place to Mrs. Graham and Emily, who occupied +the sofa, and Mr. Clinton and Mr. Graham, whose arm-chairs were placed +on the opposite side. + +This arrangement enabled Mr. Graham to converse freely and +uninterruptedly with his guest upon some grave topic of interest, while +his talkative wife entertained herself and Emily by a recapitulation of +her travels and adventures. On a table, at the further extremity of the +room, was placed a huge portfolio of beautiful engravings, recently +purchased and brought home by Mr. Graham, and representing a series of +European views. Gertrude and Kitty were turning them carefully over; and +little Gracie, who was sitting in Kitty's lap, and Fanny, who was +leaning over Gertrude's shoulder, were listening eagerly to the young +ladies' explanations and comments. + +Occasionally Isabel, the only restless or unoccupied person present, +would lean over the table to glance at the likeness of some familiar +spot, and exclaim, "Kitty, there's the shop where I bought my blue +silk!" or, "Kitty, there's the waterfall that we visited in company with +the Russian officers." And now the door opened, and, without any +announcement, Mr. Amory and William Sullivan entered. + +Had either made his appearance singly, he would have been looked upon +with astonishment by the majority of the company; but coming together, +and with an apparently good understanding existing between them, there +was no countenance present which expressed any emotion but that of +surprise. + +Mr. and Mrs. Graham, however, were too much accustomed to society to +betray any further evidence of that sentiment than was contained in a +momentary glance, and, rising, received their visitors with due +politeness and propriety. The former nodded carelessly to Mr. Amory, +whom he had seen in the morning, presented him to Mr. Clinton (without, +however, mentioning the existing connection with himself), and was +preparing to go through the same ceremony to Mrs. Graham, but was saved +the trouble as she had not forgotten the acquaintance formed at +Baden-Baden. + +Willie's knowledge of the company also spared the necessity of +introduction to all but Emily; and that being accidentally omitted, he +gave an arch glance at Gertrude, and, taking an offered seat near +Isabel, entered into conversation with her, Mr. Amory being in like +manner engrossed by Mrs. Graham. + +"Miss Gertrude," whispered Fanny, as soon as the interrupted composure +of the party was once more restored, and glancing at Willie as she +spoke, "that's the gentleman you were out driving with this afternoon. I +know it is," continued she, as she observed Gertrude change colour and +endeavour to hush her, while she looked anxiously round as if the remark +had been overheard; "is it Willie, Gertrude? is it Mr. Sullivan?" + +Gertrude became more and more embarrassed, while the mischievous Fanny +continued to ply her with such questions; and Isabel, who had jealously +noticed that Willie's eyes wandered more than once to the table, turned +on her such a scrutinizing look as rendered her confusion distressing. + +Accident came to her relief, however. The housemaid, with the evening +paper, endeavoured to open the door, against which her chair was placed, +thus giving her an opportunity to rise, receive the paper, and at the +same time an unimportant message. While she was thus engaged, Mr. +Clinton left his chair with the feeble step of an invalid, crossed the +room, addressed a question in a low voice to Willie, and receiving an +affirmatory reply, took Isabel by the hand, and approaching Mr. Amory, +exclaimed, with deep emotion, "Sir, Mr. Sullivan tells me you are the +person who saved the life of my daughter; and here she is to thank you." + +Mr. Amory rose and flung his arm over the shoulder and around the waist +of Gertrude, who was passing on her way to hand the newspaper to Mr. +Graham, and who, not having heard the remark of Mr. Clinton, received +the caress with a sweet smile and an upturned face. "Here," said he, +"Mr. Clinton, is the person who saved the life of your daughter. It is +true that I swam with her to the shore; but it was under the mistaken +impression that I was bearing to a place of safety my own darling child, +whom I little suspected then of having voluntarily relinquished to +another her only apparent chance of rescue." + +"Just like you, Gertrude! Just like you!" shouted Kitty and Fanny in a +breath, each struggling to obtain a foremost place in the little circle +that had gathered round her. + +"My own noble Gertrude!" whispered Emily, as, leaning on Mr. Amory's +arm, she pressed Gertrude's hand to her lips. + +"Oh, Gertrude!" exclaimed Isabel, with tears in her eyes, "I didn't +know. I never thought----" + +"Your child?" cried Mrs. Graham's loud voice, interrupting Isabel's +unfinished exclamation. + +"Yes, my child, thank God!" said Mr. Amory, reverently; "restored at +last to her unworthy father, and--you have no secrets here, my +darling?"--Gertrude shook her head, and glanced at Willie, who now stood +at her side "and gladly bestowed by him upon her faithful and far more +deserving lover." And he placed her hand in Willie's. + +There was a moment's pause. All were impressed with the solemnity of the +action. Then Mr. Graham came forward, shook each of the young couple +heartily by the hand, and, passing his sleeve hastily across his eyes, +sought his customary refuge in the library. + +"Gertrude," said Fanny, pulling Gertrude's dress to attract her +attention, and speaking in a loud whisper, "are you engaged?--are you +engaged to him?" + +"Yes," whispered Gertrude, anxious, if possible, to gratify Fanny's +curiosity and silence her questioning. + +"Oh, I'm so glad! I'm so glad!" shouted Fanny, dancing round the room +and flinging up her arms. + +"And I'm glad, too!" said Gracie, catching the tone of congratulation, +and putting her mouth up to Gertrude for a kiss. + +"And _I_ am glad," said Mr. Clinton, placing his hands upon those of +Willie and Gertrude, which were still clasped together, "that the noble +and self-sacrificing girl, whom I have no words to thank, and no power +to repay, has reaped a worthy reward in the love of one of the few men +with whom a fond father may venture wholly to trust the happiness of his +child." + +Exhausted by so much excitement, Mr. Clinton now complained of sudden +faintness, and was assisted to his room by Willie, who, after waiting to +see him fully restored, returned to receive the blessing of Emily upon +his new hopes, and hear with wonder and delight the circumstances which +attended the discovery of Gertrude's parentage. + +For although it was an appointment to meet Mr. Amory which had summoned +him back to Boston, and he had in the course of their interview +acquainted him with the happy termination of a lover's doubts, he had +not, until the disclosure took place in Mr. Graham's parlour, received +in return the slightest hint of the great surprise which awaited him. He +had felt a little astonishment at his friend's express desire to join +him at once in a visit to Mr. Graham's; but on being informed that he +had made the acquaintance of Mrs. Graham in Germany, he concluded that a +desire to renew his intercourse with the family, and possibly a slight +curiosity to see the lady of his own choice, were the only motives that +had influenced him. + +And now, amid retrospections of the past, thanksgiving for the present, +and hopes and aspirations for the future, the evening passed rapidly +away. + + * * * * * + +"Come here, Gerty!" said Willie, "come to the window, and see what a +beautiful night it is." + +It was indeed a glorious night. Snow lay on the ground. The air was +intensely cold without, as might be judged from the quick movements of +the pedestrians and the brilliant icicles with which everything that had +an edge was fringed. The stars were glittering too as they never +glitter, except on the most intense of winter nights. The moon was just +peeping above an old brown building--the same old corner building which +had been visible from the door-step where Willie and Gerty were wont to +sit in their childhood, and from behind which they had often watched the +coming of the same round moon. + +Leaning on Willie's shoulder, Gertrude stood gazing until the full +circle was visible in a space of clear and cloudless ether. Neither of +them spoke, but their hearts throbbed with the same emotion as they +thought of the days that were past. + +Just then the gasman came quickly up the street, lit, as by an electric +touch, the bright burners that in close ranks lined either side-walk, +and in a moment more was out of sight. + +Gertrude sighed. "It was no such easy task for poor old Uncle True," +said she; "there have been great improvements since his time." + +"There have, indeed!" said Willie, glancing round the well-lit, warm, +and pleasantly-furnished rooms of his own and Gertrude's home, and +resting his eyes at last upon the beloved one by his side, whose beaming +face but reflected back his own happiness--"such improvements, Gerty, as +we only dreamt of once! I wish the dear old man could be here and share +them!" + +A tear started to Gertrude's eye; but, pressing Willie's arm, she +pointed reverently upward to a beautiful, bright star just breaking +forth from a silvery film which had hitherto half overshadowed it; the +star through which Gertrude had ever fancied she could discern the smile +of the kind old man. + +"Dear Uncle True!" said she; "his lamp still burns brightly in heaven, +Willie; and its light is not yet gone out on earth!" + + * * * * * + +In a beautiful town about thirty miles from Boston, and on the shore of +those hill-embosomed ponds which would be immortalized by the poet in a +country less rich than ours with such sheets of blue transparent water, +there stood a mansion-house of solid though ancient architecture. It had +been the property of Philip Amory's paternal grandparents, and the early +home and sole inheritance of his father, who so cherished the spot that +it was only with great reluctance, and when driven to the act by the +spur of poverty, that he was induced to part with the much-valued +estate. + +To reclaim the venerable homestead, repair and judiciously modernize the +house, and fertilize and adorn the grounds, was a favourite scheme with +Philip. His ample means now rendered it practicable; he lost no time in +putting it into execution, and the spring after he returned from his +wanderings saw the work in a fair way to be speedily completed. + +In the meantime Gertrude's marriage had taken place; the Grahams had +removed to their house in town (which, out of compliment to Isabel, who +was passing the winter with her aunt, was more than ever crowded with +gay company), and the bustling mistress was already projecting changes +in her husband's country-seat. + +And Emily, who had parted with her greatest treasure, and found herself +in an atmosphere which was little in harmony with her spirit, murmured +not; but, contented with her lot, neither dreamed of nor asked for +outward change until Philip came to her one day and, taking her by the +hand, said gently-- + +"This is no home for you, Emily. You are as much alone as I in my +solitary farm-house. We loved each other in childhood, our hearts became +one youth, and have continued so until now. Why should we be longer +parted? Your father will not now oppose our wishes; and will you, +dearest, refuse to bless and gladden the lonely life of your grey-haired +lover?" + +But Emily shook her head, while she answered, with her smile of +ineffable sweetness-- + +"Oh no, Philip! do not speak of it! Think of my frail health and my +helplessness." + +"Your health, dear Emily, is improving. The roses are already coming +back to your cheeks; and for your helplessness, what task can be so +sweet to me as teaching you, through my devotion, to forget it! Oh, do +not send me away disappointed, Emily! A cruel fate divided us for years; +do not by your own act prolong that separation! Believe me, a union with +my early love is my brightest, my only hope of happiness!" + +And she did not withdraw the hand which he held, but yielded the other +also to his fervent clasp. + +"My only thought had been, dear Philip," said she, "that ere this I +should have been called to my Father's home; and even now I feel many a +warning that I cannot be very long for earth; but while I stay, be it +longer or shorter, it shall be as you wish. No word of mine shall part +hearts so truly one, your home shall be mine." + +And when the grass turned green, and the flowers sent up their +fragrance, and the birds sang in the branches, and the spring gales blew +soft and made a gentle ripple on the water, Emily came to live on the +hillside with Philip; and Mrs. Ellis came too to superintend all things, +and especially the dairy, which became henceforth her pride. She had +long since tearfully implored, and easily obtained, the forgiveness of +the much-wronged Philip; and proved, by the humility of her voluntary +confession, that she was not without a woman's heart. + +Mrs. Prime pleaded hard for the cook's situation at the farm, but Emily +kindly expostulated with her, saying-- + +"We cannot all leave my father, Mrs. Prime. Who would see to his hot +toast, and the fire in the library?" and the good old woman saw the +matter in the right light and submitted. + +And is the long-wandering, much-suffering, and deeply-sorrowing exile +happy now? He is; but his peace springs not from his beautiful home, his +wide possessions, an honourable repute among his fellow-men, or even the +love of the gentle Emily. + +All these are blessings that he well knows how to prize; but his +world-tried soul has found a deeper anchor yet--a surer refuge from the +tempest and the storm; for, through the power of a living faith, he has +laid hold on eternal life. The blind girl's prayers are answered; her +last, best work is done; she has cast a ray from her blessed spirit into +his darkened soul; and should her call to depart soon come, she will +leave behind one to follow in her footsteps, fulfil her charities, and +do good on earth until such time when he shall be summoned to join her +again in heaven. + +As they go forth in the summer evening to breathe the balmy air, listen +to the winged songster of the grove, and drink in the refreshing +influences of a summer sunset, all things speak of a holy peace to the +new-born heart of him who has so long been a man of sorrow. + +As the sun sinks among gorgeous clouds, as the western light grows dim, +and the moon and the stars come forth in their solemn beauty, they utter +a lesson to his awakened soul; and the voice of nature around, and the +still, small voice within whisper in gentlest, holiest accents-- + +"The sun shall be no more thy light by day, neither for brightness shall +the moon give light unto thee; but the Lord shall be unto thee an +everlasting light, and thy God thy glory." + +"Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; +for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy +mourning shall be ended." + +THE END. + + + + +BURT'S HOME LIBRARY + + +Comprising three hundred and sixty-five titles of standard works, +embracing fiction, essays, poetry, history, travel, etc., selected from +the world's best literature, written by authors of world-wide +reputation. Printed from large type on good paper, and bound in handsome +uniform cloth binding. + +Abbe Constantin. By Ludovic Halevy. + +Abbot, The. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Adam Bede. By George Eliot. + +Æsop's Fables. + +Alhambra, The. By Washington Irving. + +Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. By Lewis Carroll. + +Alice Lorraine. By R. D. Blackmore. + +All Sorts and Conditions of Men. By Besant and Rice. + +Amiel's Journal. Translated by Mrs. Humphrey Ward. + +Andersen's Fairy Tales. + +Anne of Geierstein. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Antiquary, The. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Arabian Nights Entertainments. + +Ardath. By Marie Corelli. + +Armadale. By Wilkie Collins. + +Armorel of Lyonesse. By Walter Besant. + +Around the World in the Yacht Sunbeam. By Mrs. Brassey. + +Arundel Motto. By Mary Cecil Hay. + +At the Back of the North Wind. By George Macdonald. + +Attic Philosopher. By Emile Souvestre. + +Auld Licht Idylls. By James M. Barrie. + +Aunt Diana. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Aurelian. By William Ware. + +Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. + +Averil. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Bacon's Essays. By Francis Bacon. + +Barbara Heathcote's Trial. by Rosa N. Carey. + +Barnaby Rudge. By Charles Dickens. + +Barrack-Room Ballads. By Rudyard Kipling. + +Betrothed, The. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Black Beauty. By Anna Sewell. + +Black Dwarf, The. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Bleak House. By Charles Dickens. + +Bondman, The. By Hall Caine. + +Bride of Lammermoor. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Bride of the Nile, The. By George Ebers. + +Browning's Poems. (Selections.) By Robert Browning. + +Bryant's Poems. (Early.) By William Cullen Bryant. + +Burgomaster's Wife, The. By George Ebers. + +Burns' Poems. By Robert Burns. + +By Order of the King. By Victor Hugo. + +California and Oregon Trail. By Francis Parkman, Jr. + +Cast Up by the Sea. By Sir Samuel Baker. + +Caxtons, The. By Bulwer-Lytton. + +Chandos. By "Ouida." + +Charles Auchester. By E. Berger. + +Character. By Samuel Smiles. + +Charles O'Malley. By Charles Lever. + +Children of the Abbey. By Regina Maria Roche. + +Children of Gibeon. By Walter Besant. + +Child's History of England. By Charles Dickens. + +Christmas Stories. By Charles Dickens. + +Clara Vaughan. By R. D. Blackmore. + +Cloister and the Hearth. By Charles Reade. + +Complete Angler. By Walton and Cotton. + +Confessions of an Opium Eater. By Thomas De Quincey. + +Consuelo. By George Sand. + +Corinne. By Madame De Stael. + +Countess Gisela, The. By E. Marlitt. + +Countess of Rudolstadt. By George Sand. + +Count Robert of Paris. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Cousin Pons. By Honore De Balzac. + +Cradock Nowell. By R. D. Blackmore. + +Cranford. By Mrs. Gaskell. + +Cripps the Carrier. By R. D. Blackmore. + +Crown of Wild Olive, The. By John Ruskin. + +Daniel Deronda. By George Eliot. + +Data of Ethics. By Herbert Spencer. + +Daughter of an Empress, The. By Louisa Muhlbach. + +Daughter of Heth, A. By William Black. + +David Copperfield. By Charles Dickens. + +Days of Bruce. By Grace Aguilar. + +Deemster, The. By Hall Caine. + +Deerslayer, The. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Descent of Man. By Charles Darwin. + +Dick Sand; or, A Captain at Fifteen. By Jules Verne. + +Discourses of Epictetus. Translated by George Long. + +Divine Comedy, The. (Dante.) Translated by Rev. H. F. Carey. + +Dombey & Son. By Charles Dickens. + +Donal Grant. By George Macdonald. + +Donovan. By Edna Lyall. + +Dove in the Eagle's Nest. By Charlotte M. Yonge. + +Dream Life. By Ik Marvel. + +Duty. By Samuel Smiles. + +Early Days of Christianity. By F. W. Farrar. + +East Lynne. By Mrs. Henry Wood. + +Education. By Herbert Spencer. + +Egoist, The. By George Meredith. + +Egyptian Princess, An. By George Ebers. + +Eight Hundred Leagues on the Amazon. By Jules Verne. + +Emerson's Essays. (Complete.) By Ralph Waldo Emerson. + +Emperor, The. By George Ebers. + +Essays of Elia. By Charles Lamb. + +Esther. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Executor, The. By Mrs. Alexander. + +Fair Maid of Perth. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Fairy Land of Science. By Arabella B. Buckley. + +Far from the Madding Crowd. By Thomas Hardy. + +Faust. (Goethe.) Translated by Anna Swanwick. + +Felix Holt. By George Eliot. + +Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World. By E. S. Creasy. + +File No. 113. By Emile Gaboriau. + +Firm of Girdlestone. By A. Conan Doyle. + +First Principles. By Herbert Spencer. + +First Violin. By Jessie Fothergill. + +For Faith and Freedom. By Walter Besant. + +Fortunes of Nigel. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Fragments of Science. By John Tyndall. + +Frederick the Great and His Court. By Louisa Muhlbach. + +French Revolution. By Thos. Carlyle. + +From the Earth to the Moon. By Jules Verne. + +Goethe and Schiller. By Louisa Muhlbach. + +Gold Bug, The, and Other Tales, By Edgar A. Poe. + +Gold Elsie. By E. Marlitt. + +Good Luck. By E. Werner. + +Grandfather's Chair. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. + +Great Expectations. By Chas. Dickens. + +Great Taboo, The. By Grant Allen. + +Great Treason, A. By Mary Hoppus. + +Greek Heroes. Fairy Tales for My Children. By Charles Kingsley. + +Green Mountain Boys, The. By D. P. Thompson. + +Grimm's Household Tales. By The Brothers Grimm. + +Grimm's Popular Tales. By the Brothers Grimm. + +Gulliver's Travels By Dean Swift. + +Guy Mannering. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover. + +Hardy Norseman. A. By Edna Lyall. + +Harold. By Bulwer-Lytton. + +Harry Lorrequer. By Charles Lever. + +Heart of Midlothian. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Heir of Redclyffe. By Charlotte M. Yonge. + +Henry Esmond. By Wm. M. Thackeray. + +Her Dearest Foe. By Mrs. Alexander. + +Heriot's Choice. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Heroes and Hero Worship. By Thomas Carlyle. + +History of a Crime. By Victor Hugo. + +History of Civilization in Europe. By Guizot. + +Holy Roman Empire. By James Bryce. + +Homo Sum. By George Ebers. + +House of the Seven Gables. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. + +Hunchback of Notre Dame. By Victor Hugo. + +Hypatia. By Charles Kingsley. + +Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow. By Jerome K. Jerome. + +Iliad, The. Pope's Translation. + +Initials, The. By the Baroness Tautphoeus. + +In the Counselor's House. By E. Marlitt. + +In the Golden Days. By Edna Lyall. + +In the Schillingscourt. By E. Marlitt. + +It Is Never Too Late to Mend. By Charles Reade. + +Ivanhoe. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Jack's Courtship. By W. Clark Russell. + +Jack Hinton. By Charles Lever. + +Jane Eyre. By Charlotte Bronte. + +John Halifax, Gentleman. By Miss Mulock. + +Joshua. By George Ebers. + +Kenilworth. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Kidnapped. By R. L. Stevenson. + +Kit and Kitty. By R. D. Blackmore. + +Kith and Kin. By Jessie Fothergill. + +Knickerbocker's History of New York. By Washington Irving. + +Knight Errant. By Edna Lyall. + +Koran, The. Translated by George Sale. + +Lamplighter, The. By Maria S. Cummins. + +Lady with the Rubies. By E. Marlitt. + +Last Days of Pompeii. By Bulwer-Lytton. + +Last of the Barons. By Bulwer-Lytton. + +Last of the Mohicans. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Lena Rivers. By Mary J. Holmes. + +Life of Christ. By Frederic W. Farrar. + +Light of Asia, The. By Sir Edwin Arnold. + +Light That Failed, The. By Rudyard Kipling. + +Little Dorrit. By Charles Dickens. + +Longfellow's Poems. (Early.) + +Lorna Doone. By R. D. Blackmore. + +Louise de la Valliere. By Alexandre Dumas. + +Love Me Little, Love Me Long, By Charles Reade. + +Lover or Friend? By Rosa N. Carey. + +Lucile. By Owen Meredith. + +Maid of Sker. By R. D. Blackmore. + +Makers of Florence. By Mrs. Oliphant. + +Makers of Venice. By Mrs. Oliphant. + +Man and Wife. By Wilkie Collins. + +Man in the Iron Mask. By Alexandre Dumas. + +Marquis of Lossie. By George Macdonald. + +Martin Chuzzlewit. By Charles Dickens. + +Mary Anerley. By R. D. Blackmore. + +Mary St. John. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Master of Ballantrae, The. By R. L. Stevenson. + +Masterman Ready. By Captain Marryat. + +Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Translated by George Long. + +Merle's Crusade. By Rosa N. Carey + +Micah Clarke. By A. Conan Doyle. + +Michael Strogoff. By Jules Verne. + +Middlemarch. By George Eliot. + +Midshipman Easy. By Captain Marryat. + +Mill on the Floss. By George Eliot. + +Milton's Poems. By John Milton. + +Mine Own People. By Rudyard Kipling. + +Molly Bawn. By "The Duchess." + +Monastery, The. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Moonstone, The. By Wilkie Collins. + +Mosses from an Old Manse. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. + +Mysterious Island, The. By Jules Verne. + +Natural Law in the Spiritual World. By Henry Drummond. + +Nellie's Memories. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Newcomes, The. By William M. Thackeray. + +Nicholas Nickleby. By Charles Dickens. + +Ninety-Three. By Victor Hugo. + +No Name. By Wilkie Collins. + +Not Like Other Girls. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Odyssey, The. Pope's Translation. + +Old Curiosity Shop. By Charles Dickens. + +Old Mam'selle's Secret. By E. Marlitt. + +Old Mortality. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Old Myddleton's Money. By Mary Cecil Hay. + +Oliver Twist. By Charles Dickens. + +Only a Word. By George Ebers. + +Only the Governess. By Rosa N. Carey. + +On the Heights. By Berthold Auerbach. + +Origin of Species. By Charles Darwin. + +Other Worlds Than Ours. By Richard Proctor. + +Our Bessie By Rosa N. Carey. + +Our Mutual Friend. By Charles Dickens. + +Pair of Blue Eyes, A. By Thos. Hardy. + +Past and Present. By Thomas Carlyle. + +Pathfinder, The. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Pendennis. By William M. Thackeray. + +Pere Goriot. By Honore de Balzac. + +Peveril of the Peak. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Phantom Rickshaw, The. By Rudyard Kipling. + +Phra, the Phoenician. By Edwin L. Arnold. + +Picciola. By X. B. Saintine. + +Pickwick Papers. By Charles Dickens. + +Pilgrim's Progress. By John Bunyan. + +Pilot, The. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Pioneers, The. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Pirate, The. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Plain Tales from the Hills. By Rudyard Kipling. + +Prairie, The. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Pride and Prejudice. By Jane Austen. + +Prime Minister, The. By Anthony Trollope. + +Prince of the House of David. By Rev. J. H. Ingraham. + +Princess of the Moor. By E. Marlitt. + +Princess of Thule, A. By William Black. + +Professor, The. By Charlotte Bronte. + +Prue and I. By George William Curtis. + +Queen Hortense. By Louisa Muhlbach. + +Queenie's Whim. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Quentin Durward. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Redgauntlet. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Red Rover. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Reign of Law. By Duke of Argyle. + +Reveries of a Bachelor. By Ik Marvel. + +Rhoda Fleming. By George Meredith. + +Rienzi. By Bulwer-Lytton. + +Robert Ord's Atonement. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Robinson Crusoe. By Daniel Defoe. + +Rob Roy. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Romance of Two Worlds. By Marie Corelli. + +Romola. By George Eliot. + +Rory O'More. By Samuel Lover. + +Saint Michael. By E. Werner. + +Schonberg-Cotta Family. By Mrs. Andrew Charles. + +Sartor Resartus. By Thomas Carlyle. + +Scarlet Letter, The. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. + +Schopenhauer's Essays. Translated by T. B. Saunders. + +Scottish Chiefs. By Jane Porter. + +Scott's Poems. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Search for Basil Lyndhurst. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Second Wife, The. By E. Marlitt. + +Seekers After God. By F. W. Farrar. + +Self-Help. By Samuel Smiles. + +Sense and Sensibility. By Jane Austen. + +Sesame and Lilies. By John Ruskin. + +Seven Lamps of Architecture. By John Ruskin. + +Shadow of a Crime. By Hall Caine. + +Shadow of the Sword. By Robert Buchanan. + +Shirley. By Charlotte Bronte. + +Silas Marner. By George Eliot. + +Silence of Dean Maitland. By Maxwell Grey. + +Sin of Joost Avelingh. By Maaren Maartens. + +Sir Gibbie. By George Macdonald. + +Sketch Book, The. By Washington Irving. + +Social Departure, A. By Sarah Jeannette Duncan. + +Soldiers, Three, etc. By Rudyard Kipling. + +Son of Hagar, A. By Hall Caine. + +Springhaven. By R. D. Blackmore. + +Spy, The. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Story of an African Farm. By Olive Schreiner. + +Story of John G. Paton. Told for Young Folks. By Rev. James Paton. + +Strathmore. By "Ouida." + +St. Ronan's Well. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Study in Scarlet, A. By A. Conan Doyle. + +Surgeon's Daughter, The. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Swiss Family Robinson. By Jean Rudolph Wyss. + +Tale of Two Cities. By Charles Dickens. + +Tales from Shakespeare. By Charles and Mary Lamb. + +Talisman, The. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Tanglewood Tales. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. + +Tempest and Sunshine. By Mary J. Holmes. + +Tempest Tossed. By Theodore Tilton. + +Ten Nights in a Barroom. By T. S. Arthur. + +Tennyson's Poems. By Alfred Tennyson. + +Ten Years Later. By Alexandre Dumas. + +Terrible Temptation, A. By Charles Reade. + +Thaddeus of Warsaw. By Jane Porter. + +Thelma. By Marie Corelli. + +Thirty Years' War. By Frederick Schiller. + +Thousand Miles Up the Nile. By Amelia B. Edwards. + +Three Guardsmen. By Alexandre Dumas. + +Three Men in a Boat. By Jerome K. Jerome. + +Thrift. By Samuel Smiles. + +Toilers of the Sea. By Victor Hugo. + +Tom Brown at Oxford. By Thomas Hughes. + +Tom Brown's School Days. By Thomas Hughes. + +Tom Burke of "Ours." By Charles Lever. + +Tom Cringle's Log. By Michael Scott. + +Tour of the World in Eighty Days, A. By Jules Verne + +Treasure Island. By Robert Louis Stevenson. + +Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. By Jules Verne. + +Twenty Years After. By Alexandre Dumas. + +Twice Told Tales. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. + +Two Admirals. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Two Years Before the Mast. By R. H. Dana, Jr. + +Uarda. By George Ebers. + +Uncle Max. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Uncle Tom's Cabin. By Harriet Beecher Stowe. + +Undine and Other Tales. By De La Motte Fouque. + +Unity of Nature. By Duke of Argyle. + +Vanity Fair. By Wm. M. Thackeray. + +Vendetta. By Marie Corelli. + +Vicar of Wakefield. By Oliver Goldsmith. + +Vicomte de Bragelonne. By Alexander Dumas. + +Vilette. By Charlotte Bronte. + +Virginians, The. By Wm. M. Thackeray. + +Water Babies, The. By Charles Kingsley. + +Water Witch, The. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Waverley. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Wee Wifie. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Westward Ho! By Charles Kingsley. + +We Two. By Edna Lyall. + +What's Mine's Mine. By George MacDonald. + +When a Man's Single. By J. M. Barrie. + +White Company, The. By A. Conan Doyle. + +Whittier's Poems. (Early). + +Wide, Wide World. By Susan Warner. + +Widow Lerouge, The. By Emile Gaboriau. + +Window in Thrums. By J. M. Barrie. + +Wing and Wing. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Woman in White, The. By Wilkie Collins. + +Won by Waiting. By Edna Lyall. + +Wonder Book, A, For Boys and Girls. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. + +Woodstock. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Wooed and Married. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Wooing O't. By Mrs. Alexander. + +World Went Very Well Then, The. By Walter Besant. + +Wormwood. By Marie Corelli. + +Wreck of the Grosvenor, The By W. Clark Russell. + +Zenobia. By William Ware. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lamplighter, by Maria S. Cummins + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LAMPLIGHTER *** + +***** This file should be named 31869-8.txt or 31869-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/8/6/31869/ + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier, Mary Meehan and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Cummins + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lamplighter + +Author: Maria S. Cummins + +Release Date: April 2, 2010 [EBook #31869] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LAMPLIGHTER *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier, Mary Meehan and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + + + +<h1>The Lamplighter</h1> + +<h2>By MARIA S. CUMMINS</h2> + +<h3>Author of "MABEL VAUGHAN," "EL FUREIDIS," "HAUNTED HEARTS."</h3> + + +<h4>A. L. BURT, PUBLISHER<br /> +52-58 DUANE STREET<br /> +NEW YORK</h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. LIGHT IN DARKNESS.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. COMFORT AND AFFLICTION.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. THE LAW OF KINDNESS.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. FIRST STEPS TO IMPROVEMENT.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. WHERE IS HEAVEN?</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. THE FIRST PRAYER.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. TREASURED WRONGS.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. A NEW FRIEND.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. MENTAL DARKNESS.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. AN EARTHLY MESSENGER OF PEACE.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. PROGRESS OF KNOWLEDGE.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. AN ADVENTURE AND A MISFORTUNE.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. BRIGHTENING PROSPECTS.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. THE MINISTERING ANGEL.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. A NEW HOME.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. WHO ARE HAPPY?</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII. THE RULING PASSION CONTROLLED.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII. THE NURSE.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX. CHANGES.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX. FRUSTRATED PLANS.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI. SELFISHNESS.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII. A FRIEND IN AFFLICTION.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII. CARES MULTIPLIED.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV. THE VISION.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV. MORE CHANGES.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI. JEALOUSY.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII. THE DISAPPOINTED WOOER.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII. TRUE POLITENESS.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX. HAUTEUR.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX. VANITY.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI. THE REJECTED.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">CHAPTER XXXII. ENVY, HATRED, AND MALICE.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">CHAPTER XXXIII. TRAVEL AND A MYSTERY.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">CHAPTER XXXIV. A NEW ACQUAINTANCE.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">CHAPTER XXXV. THE ROCK OF AGES.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">CHAPTER XXXVI. THE INVISIBLE CHARM.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII">CHAPTER XXXVII. A SURPRISE.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII">CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE STRICKEN DEER.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIX">CHAPTER XXXIX. A TALE OF SORROW.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XL">CHAPTER XL. THE HOUR OF PERIL.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLI">CHAPTER XLI. SUSPENSE.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLII">CHAPTER XLII. TIES--NOT OF EARTH.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLIII">CHAPTER XLIII. THE EXAMINATION.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLIV">CHAPTER XLIV. THE LONG LOOKED-FOR RETURNED.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLV">CHAPTER XLV. THE FATHER'S STORY.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLVI">CHAPTER XLVI. THE REUNION.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLVII">CHAPTER XLVII. THE RECOMPENSE.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLVIII">CHAPTER XLVIII. ANCHORS FOR WORLD-TRIED SOULS.</a><br /><br /> +<a href="#BURTS_HOME_LIBRARY">BURT'S HOME LIBRARY</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>THE LAMPLIGHTER</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>LIGHT IN DARKNESS.</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Good God! to think upon a child<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That has no childish days,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No careless play, no frolics wild,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">No words of prayer and praise."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">—<span class="smcap">Landon.</span></span> +</div></div> + + + + + +<p>It was growing dark in the city. Out in the open country it would be +light for half-an-hour or more; but in the streets it was already dusk. +Upon the wooden door-step of a low-roofed, dark, and unwholesome-looking +house, sat a little girl, earnestly gazing up the street. The house-door +behind her was close to the side-walk; and the step on which she sat was +so low that her little unshod feet rested on the cold bricks. It was a +chilly evening in November, and a light fall of snow had made the narrow +streets and dark lanes dirtier and more cheerless than ever.</p> + +<p>Many people were passing, but no one noticed the little girl, for no one +in the world cared for her. She was clad in the poorest of garments; her +hair was long, thick, and uncombed, and her complexion was sallow, and +her whole appearance was unhealthy. She had fine dark eyes; but so large +did they seem, in contrast to her thin, puny face that they increased +its peculiarity without increasing its beauty. Had she had a mother +(which, alas! she had not), those friendly eyes would have found +something in her to praise. But the poor little thing was told, a dozen +times a-day, that she was the worst-looking child in the world, and the +worst-behaved. No one loved her, and she loved no one; no one tried to +make her happy, or cared whether she was so. She was but eight years +old, and alone in the world.</p> + +<p>She loved to watch for the coming of the old man who lit the street-lamp +in front of the house where she lived; to see his bright torch flicker +in the wind; and then when he so quickly ran up his ladder, lit the +lamp, and made the place cheerful, a gleam of joy was shed on a little +desolate heart, to which gladness was a stranger; and though he had +never seemed to see, and had never spoken to her, she felt, as she +watched for the old lamplighter, as if he were a friend.</p> + +<p>"Gerty," exclaimed a harsh voice within, "have you been for the milk?"</p> + +<p>The child made no answer, but gliding off the door-step, ran quickly +round the corner of the house, and hid a little out of sight. "What's +become of that child?" said the woman who spoke, and who now showed +herself at the door.</p> + +<p>A boy who was passing, and had seen Gerty run, and who looked upon her +as a spirit of evil, laughed aloud, pointed to the corner which +concealed her, and walking off with his head over his shoulders, to see +what would happen next, said to himself, "She'll catch it!"</p> + +<p>Gerty was dragged from her hiding-place, and with one blow for her +ugliness and another for her impudence (for she was making faces at Nan +Grant), was despatched down a neighbouring alley for the milk.</p> + +<p>She ran fast, fearing the lamplighter would come and go in her absence, +and was rejoiced, on her return, to catch a sight of him just going up +his ladder. She stood at the foot of it, and was so engaged in watching +the bright flame, that she did not observe the descent of the man; and, +as she was directly in his way, he struck against her, and she fell upon +the pavement. "Hallo, my little one!" exclaimed he, "how's this?" as he +stooped to lift her up. She was on her feet in an instant; for she was +used to hard knocks, and did not mind a few bruises. But the milk was +all spilt.</p> + +<p>"Well! now, I declare!" said the man, "that's too bad!—what'll mammy +say?" and looking into Gerty's face, he exclaimed, "My, what an +odd-faced child!—looks like a witch!" Then, seeing that she looked +sadly at the spilt milk, he kindly said, "She won't be hard on such a +mite as you are, will she? Cheer up, my ducky! never mind if she does +scold you a little. I'll bring you something to-morrow that you'll like; +you're such a lonely-looking thing. And if the old woman makes a row, +tell her I did it.—But didn't I hurt you? What were you doing with my +ladder?"</p> + +<p>"I was seeing you light the lamp," said Gerty, "and I an't hurt a bit; +but I wish I hadn't spilt the milk."</p> + +<p>Just then Nan Grant came to the door, saw what had happened, and pulled +the child into the house, amidst blows and profane, brutal language. The +lamplighter tried to appease her, but she shut the door in his face. +Gerty was scolded, beaten, deprived of her usual crust for her supper, +and shut up in her dark attic for the night. Poor little child! Her +mother had died in Nan Grant's house five years before; and she had been +tolerated there since, not so much because when Ben Grant went to sea he +bade his wife to keep the child until his return—he had been gone so +long that no one thought he would ever come back—but because Nan had +reasons of her own for doing so, and, though she considered Gerty a dead +weight upon her hands, she did not care to excite inquiries by trying to +dispose of her elsewhere.</p> + +<p>When Gerty found herself locked up for the night in the dark +garret—Gerty hated and feared the dark—she stood for a minute +perfectly still, then suddenly began to stamp and scream, tried to beat +open the door, and shouted, "I hate you, Nan Grant! Old Nan Grant, I +hate you!" But nobody came near her; and she grew more quiet, lay down +on her miserable bed, covered her face with her little thin hands, and +sobbed as if her heart would break. She wept until she was exhausted; +and then gradually she became still. By-and-by she took her hands from +her face, clasped them together convulsively, and looked up at a little +glazed window near the bed. It was but three panes of glass unevenly +stuck together. There was no moon; but as Gerty looked up, she saw +shining upon her <i>one</i> bright star. She thought she had never seen +anything half so beautiful. She had often been out of doors when the sky +was full of stars, and had not noticed them much; but this one, all +alone, so large, so bright, and yet so soft and pleasant-looking, seemed +to speak to her; to say, "Gerty! Gerty! <i>poor</i> little Gerty!" She +thought it seemed like a kind face, such as she had a long time ago +seen or dreamt about. Suddenly she asked herself, "Who lit it? Somebody +lit it! Some good person, I know. Oh! how could he get up so high?" And +Gerty fell asleep, wondering who lit the star.</p> + +<p>Poor little, untaught, benighted soul! Who shall enlighten thee? Thou +art God's child, little one! Christ died for thee. Will he not send man +or angel to light up the darkness within, to kindle a light that shall +never go out, the light that shall shine through all eternity!</p> + +<p>Gerty awoke the next morning, not as children wake who are roused by +merry voices, or by a parent's kiss, who have kind hands to help them +dress, and knowing that a nice breakfast awaits them; but she heard +harsh voices below; Nan's son, and two or three boarders had come in to +breakfast, and Gerty's only chance of obtaining any share of the meal +was to be on the spot when they had finished, to take that portion of +what remained which Nan might shove towards her. So she crept +downstairs, waited a little till they had all gone out, and then she +slid into the room. She met with a rough greeting from Nan, who told her +she had better drop that ugly, sour look; eat some breakfast, if she +wanted it, but keep out of her way, and not come near the fire, where +she was at work, or she'd get another dressing, worse than she had last +night. Gerty had not looked for any other treatment, so she was not +disappointed; but, glad of the miserable food left for her on the table, +she swallowed it eagerly, and she took her little old hood, threw on a +ragged shawl, which had belonged to her mother, and ran out of the +house.</p> + +<p>Back of Nan Grant's house was a large wood and coal-yard, and beyond +that a wharf, and the thick, muddy water of a dock. Gerty might have +found many playmates in this place. She sometimes did mingle with the +boys and girls, ragged like herself, who played in the yard; but not +often—there was a league against her among the children of the place. +Poor, ragged, and miserably cared for, as they were, they knew that +Gerty was more neglected and abused. They had often seen her beaten, and +daily heard her called an ugly, wicked child; told that she belonged to +nobody, and had no business in any one's house. Thus they felt their +advantage, and scorned the little outcast. Perhaps this would not have +been the case if Gerty had mingled freely with them, and tried to be on +friendly terms; but, while her mother lived, she did her best to keep +her little girl away from the rude herd. Perhaps that habit of +avoidance, but still more a something in the child's nature, kept her +from joining in their rough sports, after her mother's death had left +her to do as she liked. She seldom had any intercourse with them. Nor +did they abuse her except in words; for, singly, they dared not cope +with her—spirited, sudden, and violent, she had made herself feared as +well as disliked. Once a band of them had united to vex her; but, Nan +Grant coming up just when one of the girls was throwing the shoes, which +she had pulled from Gerty's feet, into the dock, had given the girl a +sound whipping, and put them all to flight. Gerty had not had a pair of +shoes since; but Nan Grant, for once, had done her a good service, and +the children now left her in peace.</p> + +<p>It was a sunshiny, though a cold day, when Gerty sought shelter in the +wood-yard. There was an immense pile of timber in one corner of the +yard, almost out of sight of any of the houses. Of different lengths, +the planks formed, on one side, a series of irregular steps. Near the +top was a little sheltered recess, overhung by some long planks, and +forming a miniature shed, protected by the wood on all sides but one, +and from that looking out upon the water.</p> + +<p>This was Gerty's haven of rest, and the only place from which she never +was expelled. Here, during the long summer days, the little lonesome +child sat brooding over her griefs, her wrongs, and her ugliness; +sometimes weeping for hours. Now and then she would get a little more +cheerful, and enjoy watching the sailors as they laboured on board their +vessels, or rowed to and fro in little boats. The warm sunshine was so +pleasant, and the men's voices so lively, that the poor little thing +sometimes forgot her woes.</p> + +<p>But summer was gone, and the schooner and the sailors were gone too. The +weather was cold, and for a few days had been so stormy, that Gerty had +to stay in the house. Now, however, she made the best of her way to her +little hiding-place; and, to her joy, the sunshine had dried up the +boards, so that they felt warm to her bare feet, and was still shining +so bright and pleasant, that Gerty forgot Nan Grant, forgot how cold +she had been, and how much she dreaded the long winter. Her thoughts +rambled about sometime; but, at last, fixed upon the kind look and voice +of the old lamplighter; and then, for the first time since the promise +was made, it came into her mind that he had engaged to bring her +something the next time he came. She could not believe he would remember +it; but still he might—he seemed to be so sorry for her fall.</p> + +<p>What would he bring? Would it be something to eat? Oh, if it were only +some shoes! Perhaps he did not notice that she had none?</p> + +<p>Gerty resolved to go for her milk in season to be back before it was +time to light the lamp, so that nothing should prevent her seeing him. +The day seemed very long, but darkness came at last; and with it came +True—or rather Trueman Flint, for that was the lamplighter's name. +Gerty was on the spot, though she took good care to elude Nan Grant's +observation.</p> + +<p>True was late about his work that night, and in a great hurry. He had +only time to speak a few words to Gerty; but they were words coming +straight from a good and honest heart. He put his great, smutty hand on +her head in the kindest way, told her how sorry he was she got hurt, and +said. "It was a plaguy shame she should have been whipped, too, and all +for a spill o' milk, that was a misfortin', and no crime."</p> + +<p>"But here," added he, diving into one of his huge pockets, "here's the +critter I promised you. Take good care on't; don't 'buse it; and I'm +thinking, if it's like the mother I've got at home, 'twon't be a little +ye'll be likin' it, 'fore you're done. Good-bye, my little gal;" and he +shouldered his ladder and went off, leaving in Gerty's hands a little +grey-and-white kitten.</p> + +<p>Gerty was so taken by surprise on finding in her arms a live kitten, +something so different from what she had anticipated, that she stood +irresolute what to do with it. There were a many cats, of all sizes and +colours, inhabitants of the neighbouring houses and yard; +frightened-looking creatures, which, like Gerty herself, ran about, and +hid themselves among the wood and coal, seeming to feel, as she did, +great doubts about their having a right to be anywhere. Gerty had often +felt a sympathy for them, but never thought of trying to catch one, and +carry it home; for she knew that food and shelter were grudgingly +accorded to herself, and would not be extended to her pets. Her first +thought, therefore, was to throw the kitten down, and let it run away. +But while she was hesitating, the little animal pleaded for itself in a +way she could not resist. Frightened by its long journey in True Flint's +pocket, it crept from Gerty's arms up to her neck, clung there, and, +with feeble cries, seemed to ask her to take care of it. Its eloquence +prevailed over all fear of Nan Grant's anger. She hugged pussy to her +bosom, and resolved to love and feed it, and keep it out of Nan's sight.</p> + +<p>How much she came in time to love that kitten no words can tell. Her +little, fierce, untamed, impetuous nature had hitherto expressed itself +only in angry passion, sullen obstinacy, and hatred. But there were in +her soul fountains of warm affection, a depth of tenderness never yet +called out, and a warmth and devotion of nature that wanted only an +object upon which to expend themselves.</p> + +<p>So she poured out such wealth of love on the poor kitten as only such a +desolate little heart has to spare. She loved the kitten all the more +for the care she was obliged to take of it, and the trouble it gave her. +She kept it, as much as possible, out among the boards, in her favourite +haunts. She found an old hat, in which she placed her hood, to make a +bed for pussy. She carried it a part of her scanty meals; she braved for +it what she would not have done for herself—for almost every day she +abstracted from the kettle, when she returned with the milk for Nan +Grant, enough for pussy's supper, at the risk of being discovered and +punished, the only risk of harm the poor ignorant child knew or thought +of, in connection with the theft; for her ideas of abstract right and +wrong were utterly undeveloped. So she would play with her kitten for +hours among the boards, talk to it, and tell it how much she loved it. +But in very cold days she was puzzled to know how to keep herself warm +out of doors, and the risk of bringing the kitten into the house was +great. She would then hide it in her bosom, and run with it into her +little garret. Once or twice, when she had been off her guard, her +little playful pet had escaped from her, and scampered through the lower +room and passage. Once Nan drove it out with a broom; but there cats and +kittens were not so uncommon as to excite inquiry.</p> + +<p>How was it that Gerty had leisure to spend all her time at play? Most +children of the poorer class learn to be useful while they are young. +Nan Grant had no babies; and being a very active woman, with but a poor +opinion of children's services, she never tried to find employment for +Gerty, much better satisfied for her to keep out of her sight; so that, +except her daily errand for the milk, Gerty was always idle—a fruitful +source of unhappiness and discontent.</p> + +<p>Nan was a Scotchwoman, not young, and with a temper which, never good, +became worse as she grew older. She had seen life's roughest side, and +had always been a hard-working woman. Her husband was a carpenter, but +she made his house so uncomfortable, that for years he had followed the +sea. She took in washing, and had a few boarders; by which she earned +what might have been an ample support for herself, had it not been for +her son, a disorderly young man, spoilt in early life by his mother's +management, and who, though a skilful workman, squandered his own and a +large part of his mother's earnings. Nan had reason for keeping Gerty, +though they were not so strong as to prevent her often being inclined to +get rid of the encumbrance.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>COMFORT AND AFFLICTION.</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Mercy and love have met thee on thy road,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou wretched outcast!" —<span class="smcap">Wordsworth.</span><br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>Gerty had had her kitten about a month, when she took a violent cold +from exposure to damp and rain; and Nan, fearing she should have trouble +with her if she became seriously ill, bade her stay in the house, and +keep in the warm room. Gerty's cough was fearful; and she would have sat +by the fire all day, had it not been for her anxiety about the kitten. +Towards night the men were heard coming in to supper. Just as they +entered the door of the room where Nan and Gerty were, one of them +stumbled over the kitten, which had slyly come in with them.</p> + +<p>"Cracky! what's this 'ere?" said the man whom they called Jemmy; "a cat, +I vow! Why, Nan, I thought you hated cats!"</p> + +<p>"Well, 'tan't none o' mine; drive it out," said Nan.</p> + +<p>Jemmy tried to do so; but puss, making a circuit round his legs, sprang +forward into the arms of Gerty.</p> + +<p>"Whose kitten's that, Gerty?" said Nan.</p> + +<p>"Mine!" said Gerty, bravely.</p> + +<p>"Well, how long have you kept cats?" asked Nan. "Speak! how came you by +this?"</p> + +<p>Gerty was afraid of the men. She did not like to confess to whom she was +indebted for the kitten; she knew it would only make matters worse, for +Nan had never forgiven True Flint's rough expostulation against her +cruelty in beating the child for spilling the milk, and Gerty could not +think of any other source to which she could ascribe the kitten's +presence, or she would not have hesitated to tell a falsehood; for her +limited education had not taught her a love or habit of truth where a +lie would better serve her turn, and save her from punishment. She was +silent, and burst into tears.</p> + +<p>"Come," said Jemmy, "give us some supper, Nan, and let the gal alone." +Nan complied, ominously muttering, however.</p> + +<p>The supper just finished, an organ-grinder began to play at the door. +The men stepped out to join the crowd, who were watching the motions of +a monkey that danced to the music. Gerty ran to the window to look out. +Delighted with the gambols of the creature, she gazed until the man and +monkey moved off—so intently, that she did not miss the kitten which +had crept down from her arms, and, springing upon the table, began to +devour the remnants of the repast. The organ-grinder was not out of +sight when Gerty saw the old lamplighter coming up the street. She +resolved to watch him light his lamp, when she was startled by a sharp +and angry exclamation from Nan, and turned just in time to see her +snatch her darling kitten from the table. Gerty sprang to the rescue, +jumped into a chair, and caught Nan by the arm; but she firmly pushed +her back, and threw the kitten half across the room. Gerty heard a +sudden splash and a piercing cry. Nan had flung the poor creature into a +large vessel of steaming hot water. The poor animal writhed an instant, +then died in torture.</p> + +<p>Gerty's anger was aroused. Without hesitation, she lifted a stick of +wood, and violently flung it at Nan, and it struck the woman on the +head. The blood started from the wound; but Nan hardly felt the blow, so +greatly was she excited against the child. She sprang upon her, caught +her by the shoulder, and opening the house-door, thrust her out. "Ye'll +never darken my doors again, yer imp of wickedness!" said she, leaving +the child alone in the cold night.</p> + +<p>When Gerty was angry, she always cried aloud—uttering a succession of +piercing shrieks, until she sometimes quite exhausted her strength. When +she found herself in the street she commenced screaming—not from fear +of being turned away from her only home, and left alone at nightfall to +wander about the city, and perhaps freeze before morning—she did not +think of herself for a moment. Horror and grief at the dreadful fate of +the only thing she loved in the world entirely filled her little soul. +So she crouched down against the side of the house, her face hid in her +hands, unconscious of the noise she was making. Suddenly she found +herself placed on Trueman Flint's ladder, which leaned against the +lamp-post. True held her high enough to bring her face opposite his, and +saw his old acquaintance, and kindly asked her what was the matter.</p> + +<p>But Gerty could only gasp and say, "Oh, my kitten! my kitten!"</p> + +<p>"What! the kitten I gave you? Well, have you lost it? Don't cry! +there—don't cry!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! not lost! Oh, poor kitty!" and Gerty cried louder and coughed +so dreadfully, that True was frightened for the child. Making every +effort to soothe her, he told her she would catch her death o' cold, and +she must go into the house.</p> + +<p>"Oh, she won't let me in!" said Gerty "and I wouldn't go if she would."</p> + +<p>"Who won't let you in?—your mother?"</p> + +<p>"No! Nan Grant?"</p> + +<p>"Who's Nan Grant?"</p> + +<p>"She's a horrid, wicked woman, that drowned my kitten in bilin' water."</p> + +<p>"But where's your mother?"</p> + +<p>"I ha'n't got none."</p> + +<p>"Who do you belong to, you poor little thing?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody; and I've no business anywhere!"</p> + +<p>"With whom do you live, and who takes care of you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I lived with Nan Grant; but I hate her. I threw a stick of wood at +her head, and I wish I had killed her!"</p> + +<p>"Hush! hush! you musn't say that! I'll go and speak to her."</p> + +<p>True moved to the door, trying to draw Gerty in; but she resisted so +forcibly that he left her outside, and, walking into the room, where Nan +was binding up her head with a handkerchief, told her she had better +call her little girl in, for she would freeze to death out there.</p> + +<p>"She's no child of mine," said Nan; "she's the worst little creature +that ever lived; it's a wonder I've kept her so long; and now I hope +I'll never lay eyes on her agin—and, what's more, I don't mean. She +ought to be hung for breaking my head! I believe she's got an ill spirit +in her!"</p> + +<p>"But what'll become of her?" said True. "It's a fearful cold night. +How'd you feel, marm, if she were found to-morrow morning all <i>friz</i> up +on your door-step!"</p> + +<p>"How'd I feel! That's your business, is it? S'posen you take care on her +yourself! Yer make a mighty deal o' fuss about the brat. Carry her home, +and try how yer like her. Yer've been here a talkin' to me about her +once afore, and I won't hear a word more. Let other folks see to her, I +say; I've had more'n my share, and as to her freezin', or dyin' anyhow, +I'll risk her. Them children that comes into the world, nobody knows +how, don't go out of it in a hurry. She's the city's property—let 'em +look out for her; and you'd better go, and not meddle with what don't +consarn you."</p> + +<p>True did not wait to hear more. He was not used to an angry woman, who +was the most formidable thing to him in the world. Nan's flashing eyes +and menacing attitude warned him of the coming tempest, and he hastened +away. Gerty had ceased crying when he came out, and looked into his face +with the greatest interest.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "she says you shan't come back."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm so glad!" said Gerty.</p> + +<p>"But where'll you go to?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know! p'raps I'll go with you, and see you light the lamps."</p> + +<p>"But where'll you sleep to-night?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know where; I haven't got any home. I'll sleep out where I can +see the stars. But it'll be cold, won't it?"</p> + +<p>"My goodness! You'll freeze to death, child."</p> + +<p>"Well, what'll become of me, then?"</p> + +<p>"The Lord only knows!"</p> + +<p>True looked at Gerty in perfect wonder. He could not leave her there on +such a cold night; but he hardly knew what he could do with her at home, +for he lived alone, and was poor. But another violent coughing decided +him to share with her his shelter, fire, and food, for one night, at +least. "Come," said he, "with me;" and Gerty ran along by his side, +never asking whither.</p> + +<p>True had a dozen lamps to light before his round was finished. Gerty +watched him light each with as keen an interest as if that were the only +object for which she was in his company; and it was only after they had +walked on for some distance without stopping, that she inquired where +they were going.</p> + +<p>"Going home," said True.</p> + +<p>"Am I going to your home?" said Gerty.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said True, "and here it is."</p> + +<p>He opened a little gate leading into a small yard, which stretched along +the whole length of a two-storied house. True lived in the back part of +it; and both went in. Gerty was trembling with the cold; her little bare +feet were quite blue with walking on the pavements. There was a stove in +the room, but no fire in it. True immediately disposed of his ladder, +torch, etc., in an adjoining shed, and bringing in a handful of wood, he +lit a fire. Drawing an old wooden settle up to the fire, he threw his +great-coat over it, and lifting little Gerty up, he placed her gently +upon the seat. He then prepared supper; for True was an old bachelor, +and did everything for himself. He made tea; then, mixing a great mugful +for Gerty, with plenty of sugar and all his milk, he brought a loaf of +bread, cut her a large slice, and pressed her to eat and drink as much +as she could; for he concluded, from her looks, that she had not been +well fed; and so much pleased did he feel in her enjoyment of the best +meal she had ever had, that he forgot to partake of it himself, but sat +watching her with a tenderness which proved that he was a friend to +everybody, even to the most forlorn little girl in the world.</p> + +<p>Trueman Flint was born in New Hampshire; but, when fifteen years old, +being left an orphan, he had made his way to Boston, where he supported +himself by whatever employment he could obtain; having been a +newspaper-carrier, a cab-driver, a porter, a wood-cutter, indeed, a +jack-at-all-trades; and so honest, capable, and good-tempered had he +always shown himself, that he everywhere won a good name, and had +sometimes continued for years in the same employ. Previous to his +entering upon the service in which we find him, he had been a porter in +a large store, owned by a wealthy and generous merchant. Being one day +engaged in removing some casks, he was severely injured by one of them +falling upon his chest. For a long time no hope was entertained of his +recovery; and when he began to mend, his health returned so gradually +that it was a year before he was able to be at work again. This sickness +swallowed up the savings of years; but his late employer never allowed +him to want for any comforts, provided an excellent physician, and saw +that he was well taken care of.</p> + +<p>But True had never been the same man since. He rose from his sick-bed +debilitated, and apparently ten years older, and his strength so much +enfeebled, that he was only fit for some comparatively light employment. +It was then that his kind master obtained for him the situation of +lamplighter; and he frequently earned considerable sums by sawing wood, +shovelling snow, and other jobs. He was now between fifty and sixty +years old, a stoutly-built man, with features cut in one of nature's +rough moulds, but expressive of much good nature. He was naturally +reserved, lived much by himself, was little known, and had only one +crony, the sexton of a neighbouring church.</p> + +<p>But we left Gertie finishing her supper, and now she is stretched upon +the wide settle, sound asleep, covered up with a warm blanket, and her +head resting upon a pillow. True sits beside her; her little, thin hand +lies in his great palm—occasionally he draws the blanket closer around +her. She breathes hard; suddenly she gives a nervous start, then speaks +quickly; her dreams are evidently troubled. True listens intently to her +words, as she exclaims eagerly, "Oh, don't! don't drown my kitty!" and +then, again, in a voice of fear, "Oh, she'll catch me! she'll catch me!" +once more; and now her tones are touchingly plaintive and +earnest—"Dear, dear, good old man! let me stay with you; do let me +stay!"</p> + +<p>Tears are in Trueman Flint's eyes; he lays his great head on the pillow +and draws Gerty's little face close to his; at the same time smoothing +her long, uncombed hair with his hand. He, too, is thinking aloud—what +does <i>he</i> say? "Catch you!—no, she <i>shan't</i>! Stay with <i>me</i>!—so you +shall, I promise you, poor little birdie! All alone in this big +world—and so am I. Please God, we'll bide together."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>THE LAW OF KINDNESS.</h3> + + +<p>Little Gerty had found a friend and a protector; and it was well she +had, for neglect and suffering had well-nigh cut short her sad +existence. The morning after True took her home, she woke in a high +fever. She looked around, and found she was alone in the room; but there +was a good fire, and preparation for breakfast. For a moment or two she +was puzzled to know where she was, and what had happened to her; for the +room seemed quite strange, it now being daylight. A smile passed over +her face when she recalled the events of the previous night, and thought +of kind old True, and the new home she had found with him. She went to +the window to look out, though her head was giddy, and she could hardly +walk. The ground was covered with snow, and which dazzled Gerty's eyes, +for she suddenly found herself quite blinded—her head grew dizzy, she +staggered and fell.</p> + +<p>Trueman came in a moment after, and was frightened at seeing Gerty +stretched upon the floor, and was not surprised that she had fainted in +trying to walk. He placed her in bed, and soon succeeded in restoring +her to consciousness; but for three weeks she never sat up, except when +True held her in his arms. True was a rough and clumsy man about most +things; but not so in the care of his little charge. He was something of +a doctor and nurse in his simple way; and, though he had never had much +to do with children, his warm heart taught him all that was necessary +for Gerty's comfort.</p> + +<p>Gerty was patient; but would lie awake whole nights suffering from pain +and weariness through long confinement to a sick-bed, without uttering a +groan, lest she might waken True, who slept on the floor beside her, +when he could so far forget his anxiety about her as to sleep at all. +Sometimes, when in great pain, True carried her in his arms for hours; +but Gerty would try to appear relieved before she was so, and feign +sleep that he might put her to bed again and take some rest himself. Her +little heart was full of love and gratitude to her kind protector, and +she spent much time in thinking what she could do for him when she got +well. True was often obliged to leave her to attend to his work; and +during the first week she was much alone, though everything she could +possibly want was put within her reach. At last she became delirious, +and for some days had no knowledge how she was taken care of. One day, +after a long sleep, she woke restored to consciousness, and saw a woman +sitting by her bedside sewing. She sprang up in bed to look at the +stranger, who had not observed her open her eyes, but who started when +she heard her move, and exclaimed, "Oh, lie down, my child! lie down!" +laying her hand gently upon her.</p> + +<p>"I don't know you," said Gerty; "where's my Uncle True?" for that was +the name by which True had told her to call him.</p> + +<p>"He's gone out, dear; he'll be home soon. How do you feel—better?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! much better. Have I been asleep long?"</p> + +<p>"Some time; lie down now, and I'll bring you some gruel—it will be good +for you."</p> + +<p>"Does Uncle True know you are here?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I came in to sit with you while he was away."</p> + +<p>"Come in?—From where?"</p> + +<p>"From my room. I live in the other part of the house."</p> + +<p>"I think you're very good," said Gerty. "I like you. I wonder why I did +not see you when you came in."</p> + +<p>"You were too sick, dear, to notice; but I think you'll soon be better +now."</p> + +<p>The woman prepared the gruel, and, after Gerty had taken it, reseated +herself at her work. Gerty laid down in bed, with her face towards her +new friend, and, fixing her large eyes upon her, watched her while she +sat sewing. At last the woman looked up, and said, "Well, what do you +think I am making?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Gerty; "what are you?"</p> + +<p>The woman held up her work, so that Gerty could see that it was a dark +calico frock for a child.</p> + +<p>"Oh! what a nice gown!" said Gerty. "Who it is for?—your little girl?"</p> + +<p>"No," said the woman, "I haven't got any little girl; I've only got one +child, my boy Willie."</p> + +<p>"Willie; that's a pretty name," said Gerty. "Is he a good boy?"</p> + +<p>"Good? He's the best boy in the world, and the handsomest!" answered the +woman.</p> + +<p>Gerty turned away, and a look so sad came over her countenance, that the +woman thought she was getting tired, and ought to be kept very quiet. +She told her so, and bade her to go to sleep again. Gerty lay still, and +then True came in.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mrs. Sullivan," said he, "you're here still! I'm very much obleeged +to you for stayin'; I hadn't calkerlated to be gone so long. And how +does the child seem to be, marm?"</p> + +<p>"Much better, Mr. Flint. She's come to her reason, and I think, with +care, will do well now. Oh, she's awake," he added, seeing Gerty open +her eyes.</p> + +<p>True came to the bedside, stroked back her hair, now cut short, and felt +her pulse, and nodded his head satisfactorily. Gerty caught his great +hand between both of hers, and held it tight. He sat down on the side of +the bed, and said, "I shouldn't be surprised if she needed her new +clothes sooner than we thought of, marm. It's my opinion we'll have her +up and about afore many days."</p> + +<p>"So I was thinking," said Mrs. Sullivan; "but don't be in too great a +hurry. She's had a very severe sickness, and her recovery must be +gradual. Did you see Miss Graham to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I did see her, poor thing! The Lord bless her sweet face! She +axed a sight o' questions about little Gerty here, and gave me this +parcel of <i>arrer-root</i>, I think she called it. She says it's excellent +in sickness. Did you ever fix any, Mrs. Sullivan, so that you can jist +show me how, if you'll be so good; for I declare I don't remember, +though she took a deal o' pains to tell me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; it's very easy. I'll come in and prepare some by-and-by. I +don't think Gerty'll want any at present; she's just had some gruel. But +father has come home, and I must be seeing about our tea. I'll come in +again this evening, Mr. Flint."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, marm, thank you; you're very kind."</p> + +<p>During the few following days Mrs. Sullivan came in and sat with Gerty +several times. She was a gentle woman, with a placid face, very +refreshing to a child that had long lived in fear, and suffered a great +deal of abuse. One evening, when Gerty had nearly recovered, she was +sitting in True's lap by the fire, carefully wrapped in a blanket. She +had been talking to him about her new acquaintance and friend, when +suddenly she said, "Uncle True, do you know what little girl she's +making a gown for?"</p> + +<p>"For a little girl," said True, "that needs a frock and a many other +things; for she hasn't got any clothes, except a few old rags. Do you +know any such little girl, Gerty?"</p> + +<p>"I guess I do," said Gerty, with a very knowing look.</p> + +<p>"Well, where is she?"</p> + +<p>"An't she in your lap?"</p> + +<p>"What, you!—Why, do you think Mrs. Sullivan would spend her time making +clothes for you?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Gerty hanging her head, "I shouldn't <i>think</i> she would, but +then you <i>said</i>——"</p> + +<p>"Well, what did I say?"</p> + +<p>"Something about new clothes for me."</p> + +<p>"So I did," said True; "they <i>are</i> for you—two whole suits, with shoes +and stockings."</p> + +<p>Gerty opened her large eyes in amazement, and clapped her hands, and +True laughed too.</p> + +<p>"Did she buy them, Uncle True? Is she rich?" asked Gerty.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Sullivan?—no, indeed!" said True. "Miss Graham bought 'em, and is +going to pay Mrs. Sullivan for making them."</p> + +<p>"Who is Miss Graham?"</p> + +<p>"She's a lady too good for this world—that's sartin. I'll tell you +about her some time; but better not now, for it's time you were abed and +asleep."</p> + +<p>One Sabbath, after Gerty was nearly well, she was so much fatigued that +she went to bed before dark, and for three hours slept soundly. On +awaking, she saw that True had company. An old man, much older than +True, was sitting on the opposite side of the stove, smoking a pipe. His +dress, though ancient and homely, was neat; and his hair was white. He +had sharp features, and Gerty thought from his looks he could say sharp +things. She rightly conjectured that he was Mrs. Sullivan's father, Mr. +Cooper; and she did not widely differ from most other people who knew +the old church-sexton. But both his own face and public opinion somewhat +wronged him. His nature was not a genial one. Domestic trials, and the +fickleness of fortune, had caused him to look on the dark side of +life—to dwell upon its sorrows, and frown upon the bright hopes of the +young and the gay. His occupation did not counteract a disposition to +melancholy; his duties in the church were solitary, and in his old age +he had little intercourse with the world, had become severe toward its +follies, and unforgiving toward its crimes. There was much that was good +and benevolent in him, however; and True Flint knew it. True liked the +old man's sincerity; and many a Sabbath evening had they sat by that +same fireside, and discussed questions of public policy, national +institutions, and individual rights. Trueman Flint was the reverse of +Paul Cooper in disposition and temper, being very sanguine, always +disposed to look upon the bright side of things, and ever averring that +it was his opinion 'twould all come out right at last. On this evening +they had been talking on several of such topics; but when Gerty awoke +she found herself the subject of conversation.</p> + +<p>"Where," asked Mr. Cooper, "did you say you picked her up?"</p> + +<p>"At Nan Grant's," said True. "Don't you remember her? she's the same +woman whose son you were called up to witness against, at the time the +church-windows were broken. You can't have forgotten her at the trial, +Cooper; for she blew you up with a vengeance, and didn't spare his +honour the judge either. Well, 'twas just such a rage she was in with +this 'ere child the first time I saw her; and the <i>second</i> time she'd +just turned her out o' doors."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, I remember the she-bear. I shouldn't suppose she'd be any too +gentle to her own child, much less a stranger's; but what are you going +to do with the foundling, Flint?"</p> + +<p>"Do with her?—Keep her, to be sure, and take care on her."</p> + +<p>Cooper laughed rather sarcastically.</p> + +<p>"Well, now, I s'pose, neighbour, you think it's rather freakish in me to +be adoptin' a child at my time o' life; and pr'haps it is; but I'll +explain. She'd a died that night I tell yer on, if I hadn't brought her +home with me; and many times since, what's more, if I, with the help o' +your darter, hadn't took good care on her. Well, she took on so in her +sleep, the first night ever she came, and cried out to me all as if she +never had a friend afore (and probably she never had), that I resolved +then she should stay, at any rate, and I'd take care on her, and share +my last crust with the wee thing, come what might. The Lord's been very +marciful to me, Mr. Cooper, very marciful! He's raised me up friends in +my deep distress. I knew, when I was a little shaver, what a lonesome +thing it was to be fatherless and motherless; and when I see this little +sufferin' human bein' I felt as if, all friendless as she seemed, she +was more specially the Lord's, and as if I could not sarve Him more, and +ought not to sarve Him less, than to share with her the blessings He had +bestowed on me. You look round, neighbour, as if you thought 'twan't +much to share with any one; and 'tan't much there is here, to be sure; +but it's a <i>home</i>,—yes, a <i>home</i>; and that's a great thing to her that +never had one. I've got my hands yet, and a stout heart, and a willin' +mind. With God's help, I'll be a father to the child; and the time may +come when she'll be God's embodied blessin' to me."</p> + +<p>Mr. Cooper shook his head doubtfully, and muttered something about +children, even one's own, not being apt to prove blessings.</p> + +<p>Trueman added, "Oh, neighbour Cooper, if I had not made up my mind the +night Gerty came here, I wouldn't have sent her away after the next day; +for the Lord, I think, spoke to me by the mouth of one of his holy +angels, and bade me persevere in my resolution. You've seen Miss +Graham. She goes to your church regular, with the fine old gentleman her +father. I was at their house shovelling snow, after the great storm +three weeks since, and she sent for me to come into the kitchen. Well +may I bless her angel face, poor thing!—if the world is dark to her she +makes it light to other folks. She cannot see heaven's sunshine outside, +but she's better off than most people, for she's got it in her, I do +believe, and when she smiles it lets the glory out, and looks like God's +rainbow in the clouds. She's done me many a kindness since I got hurt so +bad in her father's store, now five years gone; and she sent for me that +day, to ask how I did, and if there was anything I wanted that she could +speak to the master about. So I told her all about little Gerty; and, I +tell you, she and I both cried 'fore I'd done. She put some money into +my hand, and told me to get Mrs. Sullivan to make some clothes for +Gerty; more than that, she promised to help me if I got into trouble +with the care of her; and when I was going away, she said, 'I'm sure +you've done quite right, True; the Lord will bless and reward your +kindness to that poor child.'"</p> + +<p>True was so excited that he did not notice what the Sexton had observed. +Gerty had risen from her bed and was standing beside True, her eyes +fixed upon his face, breathless with the interest she felt in his words. +She touched his shoulder; he looked round, saw her, and stretched out +his arms. She sprang into them, buried her face in his bosom, and, +bursting into tears, exclaimed, "Shall I stay with you always?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, just as long as I live," said True, "you shall be my child."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>FIRST STEPS TO IMPROVEMENT.</h3> + + +<p>It was a stormy evening. Gerty was standing at the window, watching for +True's returning from his lamplighting. She was neatly dressed, her hair +smooth, her face and hands clean. She was now quite well—better than +for years before her sickness; a pale, slender-looking child, with eyes +and mouth disproportionately large to her other features; her look of +suffering had given place to a happy though rather grave expression. On +the wide window-sill in front of her sat a plump and venerable cat, +parent to Gerty's lost darling, and for that reason very dear to her; +she was quietly stroking its back, while the constant purring that the +old veteran kept up proved her satisfaction at the arrangement.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a rumbling, tumbling sound was heard in the wall. The house was +old, and furnished with ample accommodation for rats. One would have +thought a chimney was falling brick by brick. But it did not alarm +Gerty; she was used to rat-inhabited walls, and accustomed to hearing +such sounds all her life, when she slept in the garret at Nan Grant's. +Not so, however, with the ancient grimalkin, who pricked up her ears, +and gave every sign of a disposition to rush into battle.</p> + +<p>Gerty glanced round the room with an air of satisfaction; then, +clambering upon the window-sill, where she could see the lamplighter as +he entered the gate, she took the cat in her arms, smoothed her dress, +and gave a look of pride at her shoes and stockings, and strove to +become patient. But it would not do; she could not be patient; it seemed +to her that he never came so late before, and she was beginning to think +he never would come at all, when he turned into the gate. He had brought +some person with him. He did not look tall enough to be Mr. Cooper, but +she concluded it must be he, for whoever it was stopped at his door +further up the yard and went it. Impatient as Gerty had been for True's +arrival, she did not run to meet him as usual, but waited until she +heard him come in through the shed, where he was in the habit of +stopping to hang up his ladder and lantern. She then ran and hid behind +the door by which he must enter the room. She evidently had some great +surprise in store for him. The cat was more mindful of her manners, and +went to meet him, rubbing her head against his legs, which was her +customary welcome.</p> + +<p>"Hollo, whiskers," said True, "where's my little gal?"</p> + +<p>He shut the door behind him as he spoke, thus disclosing Gerty to view. +She sprang forward with a bound, laughed, and looked first at her own +clothes and then in True's face, to see what he would think of her +appearance.</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare!" said he, lifting her up in his arms, and carrying her +nearer to the light; "little folks do look famous! New frock, apron, +shoes! got 'em all on! And who fixed your hair? My! you an't none too +handsome, sartain, but you do look famous nice!"</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Sullivan dressed me all up, and brushed my hair; and <i>more +too</i>—don't you see what <i>else</i> she has done?"</p> + +<p>True followed Gerty's eyes as they wandered around the room. He looked +amazed to satisfy her anticipations, great as they had been. He had been +gone since morning, and things had indeed undergone a transformation. +Woman's hands had evidently been at work clearing up and setting to +rights.</p> + +<p>Until Gerty came to live with True his home had never been subjected to +female intrusion. Living alone, and entertaining scarcely any visitors, +he tried to make himself comfortable in his own way, regardless of +appearances. In his humble apartment sweeping day came but seldom, and +spring-cleaning was unknown. The corners of the ceiling were festooned +with cob-webs; the mantle-piece had accumulated a curious medley of +things, while there was no end to the rubbish that had collected under +the grate. During Gerty's illness, a bed made up on the floor for True, +and the various articles required in her sick-room, had increased the +clutter to such an extent that one almost needed a pilot to conduct him +in safety through the apartment.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sullivan was the soul of neatness in her rooms, in her own dress +for simplicity, and freedom from the least speck or stain. It was to +nurse Gerty, and take care of her in True's absence, that she first +entered a room the reverse of her own; the contrast was painful to her, +and it would have been a real pleasure to clear up and put it to rights; +and she resolved as soon as Gerty got well, to exert herself in the +cause of cleanliness and order, which was, in her eyes, the cause of +virtue and happiness, so completely did she identify outward neatness +and purity with inward peace.</p> + +<p>On the day previous to that on which the great cleaning operations took +place, Gerty was observed by Mrs. Sullivan standing in the passage near +her door, and looking wistfully in. "Come in, Gerty," said the kind +little woman; "come in and see me.—Here," added she, seeing how timid +the child felt in intruding into a strange room; "you may sit up here by +the table and see me iron. This is your little dress. I am smoothing it +out, and then your things will all be done! You'll be glad of some new +clothes, shan't you?"</p> + +<p>"Very glad, marm," said Gerty. "Am I to take them away, and keep them +all myself?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Sullivan.</p> + +<p>"I don't know where I'll put 'em all; there an't no place in our +room—at least, no very nice place," said Gerty, glancing at the open +drawer, in which Mrs. Sullivan was placing the little dress, adding it +to a pile of neatly-folded garments.</p> + +<p>"Why, part of them, you know, you'll be wearing," said Mrs. Sullivan; +"and we must find some good place for the rest."</p> + +<p>"You've got good places for things," said Gerty, looking round the room; +"this is a beautiful room."</p> + +<p>"Why, it isn't very different from Mr. Flint's. It's just the same size, +and two front windows like his. My cupboard is the best; yours is only a +three-cornered one; but that's all the difference."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but yours don't look a bit like ours. You haven't got any bed here, +and all the chairs stand in a row, and the table shines, and the floor +is so clean, and the stove is new, and the sun comes in so bright! I +wish our room was like this! I think ours is not half so big. Why, Uncle +True stumbled over the tongs this morning, and he said there wasn't room +to swing a cat."</p> + +<p>"Where were the tongs?" said Mrs. Sullivan.</p> + +<p>"About the middle of the floor, marm."</p> + +<p>"Well, you see I don't keep things in the middle of the floor. I think +if your room were all cleaned up, and places found for everything, it +would look almost as well as mine."</p> + +<p>"I wish it could be made as nice," said Gerty; "but what could be done +with those beds?"</p> + +<p>"I've been thinking about that. There's that little pantry—or +bathing-room, I think it must have been when this house was new, and +rich people lived in it; that's large enough to hold a small bedstead +and a chair or two; 'twould be quite a comfortable little chamber for +you. The rubbish in it might just as well be thrown away."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that'll be nice!" said Gerty; "then Uncle True can have his bed +back again, and I'll sleep on the floor in there."</p> + +<p>"No," said Mrs. Sullivan; "you shan't sleep on the floor. I've got a +very good little cross-legged bedstead that my Willie slept on when he +lived at home; and I'll lend it to you, if you'll take good care of it +and of everything else that is put into your room."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I will," said Gerty. "But can I?" added she, hesitating; "do you +think I can? I don't know how to do anything."</p> + +<p>"You never have been taught to do anything, my child; but a girl eight +years old can do many things if she is patient and tries to learn. I +could teach you to do a great deal that would be useful, and that would +help your Uncle True very much."</p> + +<p>"What could I do?"</p> + +<p>"You could sweep the room every day, you could make the beds, with a +little help in turning them; you could set the table, toast the bread, +and wash the dishes. Perhaps you would not do these things so well at +first; but you would keep improving, and get to be a nice little +housekeeper."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I wish I could do something for Uncle True!" said Gerty; "but how +could I ever begin?"</p> + +<p>"In the first place, you must have things cleaned up for you. If I +thought Mr. Flint would like it, I'd get Kate M'Carty to come in some +day and help us; and I think we could greatly improve his home."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know he'd like it," said Gerty; "'twould be grand! May I help?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, you may do what you can; but Kate'll be the best hand; she's +strong, and knows how to do cleaning very well."</p> + +<p>"Who's she?" said Gerty.</p> + +<p>"Kate?—She's Mrs. M'Carty's daughter in the next house. Mr. Flint does +them many a good turn—saws wood, and so on. They do most of his +washing; but they can't half pay him all the kindness he's done that +family. Kate's a clever girl; she'll be glad to come and work for him +any day. I'll ask her."</p> + +<p>"Will she come to-morrow?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps she will."</p> + +<p>"Uncle True's going to be gone all day to-morrow," said Gerty; "he's +going to get in Mr. Eustace's coal. Wouldn't it be a good time?"</p> + +<p>"Very," said Mrs. Sullivan. "I'll try and get Kate to come to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Kate came. The room was thoroughly cleaned and put in order. Gerty's new +clothes were delivered to her own keeping; she was neatly dressed in one +suit, the other placed in a little chest found in the pantry, and which +accommodated her small wardrobe very well.</p> + +<p>It was the result of Mrs. Sullivan's, Kate's, and Gerty's combined +labour which astonished True on his return from his work; and the +pleasure he manifested made the day a memorable one in Gerty's life, one +to be marked in her memory as long as she lived, as being the first in +which she had known <i>that</i> happiness—perhaps the highest earth, +affords—of feeling that she had been instrumental in giving joy to +another. Gerty had entered heart and soul into the work, when she had +been allowed. She could say with truth, "<i>We</i> did it—Mrs. Sullivan, +Kate, and <i>I</i>." None but a loving heart like Mrs. Sullivan's would have +sympathized in the feeling which made Gerty so eager to help. But <i>she</i> +did, and allotted to her many little services, which the child felt +herself more blessed in being permitted to perform than she would have +done at almost any gift bestowed upon her. She led True about to show +him how cleverly Mrs. Sullivan had made the most of the room and the +furniture; how, by moving the bed into a recess, she had reserved the +whole square-area, and made a parlour of it. It was some time before he +could be made to believe that half of his property had not been spirited +away, so incomprehensible was it to him that so much additional space +and comfort could be acquired by a little system. But his astonishment +and Gerty's delight reached their climax when she took him into the +lumber-closet, now transformed into a snug and comfortable bed-room.</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare! Well, I declare!" was all the old man could say. He +sat down beside the stove, now polished, and made, as Gerty declared, +new, just like Mrs. Sullivan's; warmed his hands, for they were cold +with being out in the frosty evening, and then took a general view of +his reformed domicile, and of Gerty, who was about to set the table, and +toast the bread for supper. Standing on a chair, she was taking down the +cups and saucers from among the regular rows of dishes shining in +three-cornered cupboard, being deposited on the lower shelf, where she +could reach them from the floor, a plate containing some smoothly cut +slices of bread, which the thoughtful Mrs. Sullivan had prepared for +her. True watched her motions for a minute or two, and then indulged in +a short soliloquy. "Mrs. Sullivan's a clever woman, sartain, and they've +made my old house here complete, and Gerty's getting to be like the +apple of my eye, and I'm as happy a man as——"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>WHERE IS HEAVEN?</h3> + + +<p>Here True was interrupted by a sudden and unceremonious opening of the +door. "Here, Uncle True, here's your package. You forgot all about it, I +guess; and I forgot it, too, till mother saw it on the table, where I'd +laid it down. I was so taken up with just coming home, you know."</p> + +<p>"Of course—of course!" said True. "Much obleeged to you, Willie, for +fetchin' it for me. It's brittle stuff it's made of, and most likely I +should have smashed it 'fore I got it home."</p> + +<p>"What is it?—I've been wondering."</p> + +<p>"Why, it's a little knick-knack I've brought home for Gerty here, +that——"</p> + +<p>"Willie! Willie!" called Mrs. Sullivan from the opposite room, "have you +been to tea, dear?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, mother; have you?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes; but I'll get you some."</p> + +<p>"No, no," said True; "Stay and take tea with us, Willie; take tea here, +my boy. My little Gerty is making some famous toast, and I'll have the +tea presently."</p> + +<p>"So I will," said Willie! "No matter about any supper for me, mother, +I'm going to have my tea here with Uncle True. Come, now, let's see +what's in the bundle; but first I want to see little Gerty; mother's +been telling me about her. Where is she? Has she got well? She's been +very sick, hasn't she?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, she's nicely now," said True. "Here, Gerty, look here. Why, +where is she?"</p> + +<p>"There she is, hiding behind the settle," said Willie, laughing. "She +ain't afraid of me, is she?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I didn't know as she was shy," said True; "you silly little +girl," added he, "come out here and see Willie. This is Willie +Sullivan."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to see him," said Gerty.</p> + +<p>"Don't want to see Willie!" said True; "why, you don't know what you're +sayin'. Willie's the best boy that ever was; I 'spect you and he'll be +great friends by-and-by."</p> + +<p>"He won't like me," said Gerty; "I know he won't."</p> + +<p>"Why shan't I like you?" said Willie, approaching the corner where Gerty +had hid herself. Her face was covered with her hands. "I guess I shall +like you first-rate when I see you."</p> + +<p>He stooped down, and, taking her hands from her face and holding them in +his own, he fixed his eyes full upon her, and pleasantly said, "How are +you, cousin Gerty—how do you do?"</p> + +<p>"I an't your cousin!" said Gerty.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you are," said Willie; "Uncle True's your uncle, and mine too!—so +we're cousins—don't you see?—and I want to get acquainted."</p> + +<p>Gerty could not resist Willie's good-natured words and manner. She +suffered him to draw her out of the corner towards the lighter end of +the room. As she came near the lamp, she tried to free her hands in +order to cover her face up again; but Willie would not let her, and, +attracting her attention to the unopened package, he succeeded in +diverting her thoughts from herself, and in a few minutes she was quite +at her ease.</p> + +<p>"There, Uncle True says it's for you," said Willie; "and I can't think +what 'tis, can you?"</p> + +<p>Gerty felt, and looked wonderingly in True's face.</p> + +<p>"Undo it, Willie," said True.</p> + +<p>Willie produced a knife, cut the string, took off the paper, and +disclosed one of those white plaster images, so familiar to every one, +representing the little Samuel in an attitude of devotion.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how pretty!" exclaimed Gerty, full of delight.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't I think?" said Willie; "I might have known what 'twas by +feeling."</p> + +<p>"Why! did you ever see it before?" said Gerty.</p> + +<p>"Not this same one; but I've seen lots just like it."</p> + +<p>"Have you?" said Gerty. "I never did. I think it's the beautifullest +thing that ever was. Uncle True, did you say it was for me? Where did +you get it?"</p> + +<p>"It was by an accident I got it. A few minutes before I met you, Willie, +I was stoppin' at the corner to light my lamp, when I saw one of those +<i>furrin</i> boys with a sight o' these things, and some black ones too, all +set up on a board, and he was walking with 'em a-top of his head. I was +just a wonderin how he kept 'em there, when he hit the board agin my +lamp-post, and the first thing I knew, whack they all went! he'd spilt +them everyone. Lucky enough for him, there was a great bank of soft snow +close to the side-walk, and the most of 'em fell into that and wasn't +hurt. Some went on to the bricks, and were smashed. Well, I kind o' +pitied the feller; for it was late, and I thought like enough he hadn't +had much luck sellin' of 'em, to have so many left on his hands——"</p> + +<p>"On his head, you mean," said Willie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Master Willie, or on the snow," said True; "any way you've a mind +to have it."</p> + +<p>"And I know what you did, Uncle True, just as well as if I'd seen you," +said Willie; "you set your ladder and lantern right down, and helped him +to pick 'em all up—that's just what you'd be sure to do for anybody."</p> + +<p>"This feller, Willie, didn't wait for me to get into trouble; he made +return right off. When they were all set right, he bowed and scraped, +and touched his hat to me, as if I'd been the biggest gentleman in the +land; talkin,' too, he was, all the time, though I couldn't make out a +word of his lingo; and then he insisted on my takin' one o' the figurs. +I wasn't agoin' to take it, for I didn't want it; but I happened to +think little Gerty might like it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I shall like it!" said Gerty. "I shall like it better than—no, not +better, but almost <i>as well</i> as my kitten; not <i>quite</i> as well, because +that was alive, and this isn't; but <i>almost</i>. Oh, an't he a cunning +boy?"</p> + +<p>True, finding that Gerty was wholly taken up with the image, walked +away and began to get the tea, leaving the two children to entertain +each other.</p> + +<p>"You must take care and not break it, Gerty," said Willie. "We had a +Samuel once, just like it, in the shop; and I dropped it out of my hand +on to the counter, and broke it into a million pieces."</p> + +<p>"What did you call it?" asked Gerty.</p> + +<p>"A Samuel; they're all Samuels."</p> + +<p>"What are <i>Sammles</i>?" inquired Gerty.</p> + +<p>"Why, that's the name of the child they're taken for."</p> + +<p>"What do you s'pose he's sittin' on his knee for?"</p> + +<p>Willie laughed. "Why, don't you know?" said he.</p> + +<p>"No," said Gerty; "what is he?"</p> + +<p>"He's praying," said Willie.</p> + +<p>"Is that what he's got his eyes turned up for, too?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course; he looks up to heaven when he prays."</p> + +<p>"Up to where?"</p> + +<p>"To heaven."</p> + +<p>Gerty looked up at the ceiling in the direction in which the eyes were +turned, then at the figure. She seemed very much dissatisfied and +puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Why, Gerty," said Willie, "I shouldn't think you knew what praying +was."</p> + +<p>"I don't," said Gerty; "tell me."</p> + +<p>"Don't you ever pray—pray to God?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't.—Who is God? Where is God?"</p> + +<p>Willie looked inexpressibly shocked at Gerty's ignorance, and answered +reverently, "God is in heaven, Gerty."</p> + +<p>"I don't know where that is," said Gerty. "I believe I don't know +nothin' about it."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't think you did," said Willie. "I <i>believe</i> heaven is up in +the sky; but my Sunday-school teacher says, 'Heaven is anywhere where +goodness is,' or some such thing," he said.</p> + +<p>"Are the stars in heaven?" asked Gerty.</p> + +<p>"They look so, don't they?" said Willie. "They're in the sky, where I +always used to think heaven was."</p> + +<p>"I should like to go to heaven," said Gerty.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, if you're good, you will go some time."</p> + +<p>"Can't any but good folks go?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Then I can't ever go," said Gerty, mournfully.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Willie; "an't you good."</p> + +<p>"Oh no! I'm very bad."</p> + +<p>"What a queer child!" said Willie. "What makes you think yourself so +very bad?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I <i>am</i>," said Gerty, in a very sad tone; "I'm the worst of all. I'm +the worst child in the world."</p> + +<p>"Who told you so?"</p> + +<p>"Everybody. Nan Grant says so, and she says everybody thinks so; I know +it too, myself."</p> + +<p>"Is Nan Grant the cross old woman you used to live with?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. How did you know she was cross?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my mother's been telling me about her. Well, I want to know if she +didn't send you to school, or teach you anything?"</p> + +<p>Gerty shook her head.</p> + +<p>"Why, what lots you've got to learn! What did you used to do when you +lived there?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing."</p> + +<p>"Never did anything; don't know anything; my gracious!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do know one thing," said Gerty. "I know how to toast +bread;—your mother taught me;—she let me toast some by the fire."</p> + +<p>As she spoke, she thought of her own neglected toast, and turned towards +the stove; but she was too late—the toast was made, the supper ready, +and True was just putting it on the table.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Uncle True," said she, "I meant to get the tea."</p> + +<p>"I know it," said True, "but it's no matter; you can get it to-morrow."</p> + +<p>The tears came into Gerty's eyes; she looked very much disappointed, but +said nothing. They all sat down to supper. Willie put the Samuel in the +middle of the table for a centre ornament, and told so many funny +stories that Gerty laughed heartily, forgot that she did not make the +toast herself, forgot her sadness, and showed herself, for once, a merry +child. After tea, she sat beside Willie on the great settle, and, in her +peculiar way, gave him a description of her life at Nan Grant's, winding +up with a touching account of the death of her kitten.</p> + +<p>The two children were in a fair way to become as good friends as True +could possibly wish. True sat on the opposite side of the stove, smoking +his pipe; his elbows on his knees, his eyes bent on the children, and +his ears drinking in all their conversation. He laughed when they +laughed; took long whiffs at his pipe when they talked quietly; ceased +smoking entirely, letting his pipe rest on his knee, and secretly wiping +away a tear, when Gerty recounted her childish griefs. He often heard it +afterwards, but never <i>without crying</i>.</p> + +<p>After Gerty had closed her tale of sorrows, she sat for a moment without +speaking, then becoming excited, as her ungoverned and easily roused +nature dwelt upon its wrongs, she burst forth in a very different tone, +and began uttering the most bitter invectives against Nan Grant. The +child's language expressed unmitigated hatred, and even a hope of future +revenge. True looked troubled at hearing her talk so angrily. Since he +brought her home he had never witnessed such a display of temper, and +had fondly believed that she would always be as quiet and gentle as +during her illness and the few weeks subsequent to it. True's own +disposition was so amiable and forgiving, that he could not imagine that +anyone, and especially a little child, should long retain feelings of +anger and bitterness. Gerty had shown herself so mild and patient since +she had been with him, that it had never occurred to him to dread any +difficulty in the management of the child. Now, however, as he observed +her flashing eyes, and noticed the doubling of her little fist as she +menaced Nan with her future wrath, he had an undefined, half-formed +presentiment of coming trouble in the control of his little charge. For +the moment she ceased, in his eyes, to be the pet and plaything he had +hitherto considered her. He saw in her something which needed a check, +and felt himself unfit to apply it.</p> + +<p>He <i>was</i> totally unfit to cope with a spirit like Gerty's. It was true +he possessed over her one mighty influence—her strong affection for +him, which he could not doubt. It was that which made her so submissive +and patient in her sickness, so grateful for his care and kindness, so +anxious to do something in return. It was that love, illumined by a +higher light, which came in time to sanctify it, that gave her, while +yet a mere girl, a woman's courage, a woman's strength of heart and +self-denial. It was that which cheered the old man's latter years, and +shed joy on his dying bed.</p> + +<p>Willie tried once or twice to stop the current of her abusive language; +but soon desisted, for she did not pay the least attention to him. He +could not help smiling at her childish wrath, nor could he resist +sympathising with her in a degree. But he was conscious that Gerty was +exhibiting a very hot temper, and began to understand what made +everybody think her so bad.</p> + +<p>After Gerty had railed about Nan a little while, she stopped of her own +accord; though an unpleasant look remained on her countenance. It soon +passed away, however; and when, a little later in the evening, Mrs. +Sullivan appeared at the door, Gerty looked bright and happy, listened +with evident delight while True uttered warm expressions of thanks for +the labour which had been undertaken in his behalf, and, when Willie +went away with his mother, said her good night, and asked him to come +again so pleasantly, and her eyes looked so bright, that Willie said, as +soon as they were out of hearing, "She's a queer little thing, an't she, +mother? But I kind o' like her."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>THE FIRST PRAYER.</h3> + + +<p>It would have been difficult to find two children of the poorer class +whose situations in life had presented a greater contrast than those of +Gerty and Willie. Gerty was a neglected orphan; she had received little +of that care, and still less of that love, which Willie had enjoyed. +Mrs. Sullivan's husband was an intelligent country clergyman; but as he +died when Willie was a baby, leaving little property for the support of +his family, the widow and her child went home to her father. The old man +needed his daughter; for death had made sad inroads in his household +since she left it, and he was alone.</p> + +<p>From that time the three had lived together in humble comfort, for, +though poor, industry and frugality secured them from want. Willie was +his mother's pride, her hope, her constant thought. She spared no care +to provide for his physical comfort, his happiness, and his education +and virtue.</p> + +<p>She might well be proud of a boy whose uncommon beauty, winning +disposition, and early evidences of a noble nature, won him friends even +among strangers. It was his broad, open forehead, the clearness and +calmness of his full grey eye, the expressive mouth, so determined and +yet so mild, the well-developed figure and ruddy complexion, proclaiming +high health, which gave promise of power to the future man. No one could +have been in the boy's company half an hour without loving and admiring +him. He had a warm-hearted, affectionate disposition, which his mother's +love and the world's smiles had fostered; an unusual flow of animal +spirits, tempered by a natural politeness towards his superiors; a quick +apprehension; a ready command of language; and a sincere sympathy in +others' pleasures and pains. He was fond of study, and until his twelfth +year his mother kept him constantly at school.</p> + +<p>At that time he had an opportunity to enter into the service of an +apothecary, who did an extensive business, and wanted a boy to assist in +the shop. The wages offered by Mr. Bray were not great, but there was a +prospect of an increased salary; and it was not a chance to be +overlooked. Fond as he was of his books, he had long been eager to be at +work, helping to bear the burden of labour in the family. His mother and +grandfather consented to the plan, and he gladly accepted Mr. Bray's +proposals. He was sadly missed at home; for, as he slept at his +employer's during the week, he rarely could make a passing visit to his +mother, except on Saturday, when he came home at night and passed +Sunday. So Saturday night was Mrs. Sullivan's happy night, and the +Sabbath became a more blessed day than ever.</p> + +<p>When Willie reached his mother's room on the evening of which we have +been speaking, he sat down with her and Mr. Cooper, and for an hour +conversation was brisk with them. Willie had always much to relate +concerning the occurrences of the week. Mrs. Sullivan was interested in +everything that interested Willie, and it was easy to see that the old +grandfather was more entertained by the boy than he was willing to +appear; for though he sat with his eyes upon the floor, and did not seem +to listen, he usually heard all that was said. He seldom made comments, +but would occasionally utter an impatient or contemptuous expression +regarding individuals or the world in general; thereby evidencing want +of confidence in men's honesty and virtue, and this formed a marked +trait in his character. Willie's spirits would receive a momentary +check, for <i>he</i> loved and trusted <i>everybody</i>. Willie did not fear his +grandfather, who had never been severe to him, or interfered with Mrs. +Sullivan's management; but he sometimes felt chilled, though he hardly +knew why, by his want of sympathy with his own warm-heartedness. On the +present occasion the conversation turned upon True Flint and his adopted +child. Mr. Cooper had been unusually bitter, and, as he took his lamp to +go to bed, declared that Gerty would never be anything but a trouble to +Flint, who was a fool not to send her to the almshouse at once.</p> + +<p>There was a pause after the old man left the room; then Willie +exclaimed, "Mother, what makes grandfather hate folks?"</p> + +<p>"Why, he don't, Willie."</p> + +<p>"I don't mean exactly <i>hate</i>—I don't suppose he does <i>that, quite</i>; but +he don't seem to think a great deal of anybody—do you think he does?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes; he does not show it much," said Mrs. Sullivan, "but he thinks a +great deal of you, Willie, and he wouldn't have anything happen to me +for the world; and he likes Mr. Flint, and——"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes; but I don't mean that; he doesn't think there's much goodness +in folks, nor to think anybody's going to turn out well, and——"</p> + +<p>"You're thinking of what he said about little Gerty."</p> + +<p>"Well, she an't the only one. That's what made me speak of it now, but +I've often noticed it before, particularly since I went away from home, +and am only here once a week. Now I think everything of Mr. Bray; and +when I was telling how much good he did, and how kind he was to old Mrs. +Morris and her sick daughter, grandfather looked just as if he didn't +believe it, or didn't think much of it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, Willie, you mustn't wonder much at that. Grandpa's had many +disappointments. You know he thought everything of Uncle Richard, and +there was no end to the trouble he had with him; and there was Aunt +Sarah's husband—he seemed to be such a fine fellow when Sally married +him, but he cheated father at last, so that he had to mortgage his house +in High Street, and finally gave it up entirely. He's dead now, and I +don't want to say anything against him; but he didn't prove what we +expected, and it broke Sally's heart. That was a dreadful trial to +father, for she was the youngest, and his pet. And just after that, +mother was taken down with her death-stroke, and a quack doctor +prescribed for her, and father always thought that did her more hurt +than good. So that he has had a great deal to make him look on the dark +side now, but you mustn't mind it, Willie; you must take care and turn +out well yourself, my son, and then he'll be proud enough; he's as +pleased as he can be when he hears you praised, and expects great things +of you one of these days."</p> + +<p>Here the conversation ended; but Willie added another to his many +resolves, that, if his health and strength were spared, he would prove +to his grandfather that hopes were not always deceitful, and that fears +were sometimes groundless.</p> + +<p>Oh, what a glorious thing it is for a youth when he has ever present +with him a high, a noble, and unselfish motive! What an incentive to +exertion, perseverance, and self-denial! Fears that would otherwise +appal, discouragements that would dishearten, labours that would weary, +opposition that would crush, temptation that would overcome, all, all +lie powerless, when, with a single-hearted and worthy aim, he struggles +for the victory! Persons born in wealth and luxury seldom achieve +greatness. They were not born for labour; and, without labour, nothing +that is worth having can be won. A motive Willie had long had. His +grandfather was old, his mother weak, and both poor. He must be the +staff of their old age; must labour for their support and comfort; he +must do <i>more</i>:—they hoped great things of him; they <i>must</i> not be +disappointed. He did not, however, while arming himself for future +conflict with the world, forget the present, but sat down and learned +his Sunday-school lessons. After which, according to custom, he read +aloud in the Bible; and then Mrs. Sullivan, laying her hand on the head +of her son, offered up a simple, heart-felt prayer for the boy—one of +those mother's prayers which the child listens to with reverence and +love, and remembers for life.</p> + +<p>After Willie went home that evening, and Gerty was left alone with True, +she sat beside him for some time without speaking. Her eyes were +intently fixed upon the white image which lay in her lap. True was not +the first to speak; but finding Gerty unusually quiet, he looked +inquiringly in her face, and said—"Well, Willie's a pretty clever sort +of a boy, isn't he?"</p> + +<p>Gerty answered "Yes" without, however, seeming to know what she was +saying.</p> + +<p>"You like him, don't you?" said True.</p> + +<p>"Very much," said Gerty, in the same absent way. It was not Willie she +was thinking of. True waited for Gerty to talk about her new +acquaintance; but she did not speak for a minute or two. Then looking up +suddenly, she said—"Uncle True, what does Samuel pray to God for?"</p> + +<p>True stared. "Samuel!—pray!—I guess I don't know exactly what you're +saying."</p> + +<p>"Why," said Gerty, holding up the image, "Willie says this little boy's +name is Samuel; and that he sits on his knees, and puts his hands on his +breast <i>so</i>, and looks up, because he's praying to God, that lives up in +the sky. I don't know what he means—<i>way</i> up in the sky—do you?"</p> + +<p>True took the image and looked at it attentively; scratched his head, +and said—"Well, I s'pose he's about right. This 'ere child is prayin', +sartain, though I didn't think on it afore. But I don't jist know what +he calls it a Samuel for. We'll ask him sometime."</p> + +<p>"Well, what does he pray for, Uncle True?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he prays to make him good: it makes folks good to pray to God."</p> + +<p>"Can God make folks good?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. God is very great; He can do anything."</p> + +<p>"How can He <i>hear</i>?"</p> + +<p>"He hears and sees everything in the world."</p> + +<p>"And does He live in the sky?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said True—"in heaven."</p> + +<p>Many more questions Gerty asked, which True could not answer; many +questions that he had never asked himself. True had a humble, loving +heart, and a child-like faith; he had enjoyed but little religious +instruction, but he earnestly tried to live up to the light he had. True +had never inquired into the sources of belief, and he was not prepared +to answer the questions suggested by the inquisitive mind of little +Gerty. He answered her as well as he could, however; and, where he was +at fault, referred her to Willie, who, he told her, went to +Sunday-school, and knew a great deal about such things. All the +information that Gerty could gain amounted to the knowledge of these +facts: that God was in heaven; that His power was great; and that people +were made better by prayer. But her mind was so intent upon the subject, +that the thought even of sleeping in her new room could not efface it. +After she had gone to bed, with the white image hugged close to her +bosom, and True had taken away the lamp, she lay for a long time with +her eyes wide open. Just at the foot of the bed was the window. The sky +was bright with stars; and they revived her old wonder and curiosity as +to the Author of such distant and brilliant lights. As she gazed, there +darted through her mind the thought, "God lit them! Oh, how great He +must be! But a <i>child</i> might pray to Him!" She rose from her little bed, +approached the window, and, falling on her knees and clasping her hands +precisely in the attitude of Samuel, she looked up to heaven. She spoke +no word, but her eyes glistened with a tear that stood in each. Was not +each tear a prayer? She breathed no petition, but she longed for God and +virtue. Was not that very wish a prayer? Her little, uplifted heart +throbbed vehemently. Was not each throb a prayer? And did not God in +heaven, without whom not a sparrow falls to the ground, hear and accept +that first homage of a little, untaught child; and did it not call a +blessing down?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>TREASURED WRONGS.</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Revenge, at first though sweet,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Bitter ere long back on itself recoils."—<span class="smcap">Milton.</span><br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>The next day was Sunday. True generally went to church half the day at +least, with the sexton's family; but Gerty having no bonnet could not +go, and True would not leave her. So they spent the morning wandering +round among the wharves and looking at the ships, Gerty wearing her old +shawl over her head.</p> + +<p>Willie came in the evening to say good-bye before returning to Mr. +Bray's. He was in a hurry, for his master had his doors closed early, +especially on a Sunday night. But Mr. Cooper made his usual visit; and +when he had gone, True, finding Gerty sound asleep on the settle, +thought it a pity to wake her, and laid her in bed with her clothes on.</p> + +<p>She did not wake until morning; and then, surprised and amused at +finding herself dressed, ran out to ask True how it happened. True was +making the fire; and Gerty having been told all about it, helped to get +the breakfast ready, and to put the room in order. She followed Mrs. +Sullivan's instructions, and in a few weeks she learned to make herself +useful in many ways, and, as Mrs. Sullivan had prophesied, gave promise +of becoming a clever little housekeeper. Her active and willing feet +saved True many steps, and she was of essential aid in keeping the rooms +neat, that being her especial ambition. Mrs. Sullivan looked in +occasionally, to praise and assist her; and nothing made Gerty happier +than learning how to do some new thing. She met with a few trials and +discouragements, to be sure. Kate M'Carty thought her the smartest child +in the world, and would oft come in and wash the floor, or do some other +work which required more strength than Gerty possessed.</p> + +<p>One Sunday Gerty, who had a nice little hood, bought by True, was +returning with Mr. Cooper, Mr. Flint, and Willie, from the afternoon +service at church. The two old men were engaged in discussion, and the +children talked earnestly about the church, the minister, the people, +and the music, all of which were new to Gerty, and greatly excited her +wonder.</p> + +<p>As they drew near home, Willie remarked how dark it was growing in the +streets; and then, looking down at Gerty, whom he held by the hand, he +said, "Gerty, do you ever go out with Uncle True, and see him light the +lamps?"</p> + +<p>"No, I never did," said Gerty, "since the first night I came. I've +wanted, but it's been so cold, he would not let me; he said I'd have the +fever again."</p> + +<p>"It won't be cold this evening," said Willie; "it'll be a beautiful +night; and, if Uncle True's willing, we will go with him. I've often +been; you can look into the windows and see folks drinking tea, and +sitting round the fire in their parlours."</p> + +<p>"And I like to see him light those great lamps," said Gerty; "they make +it look so bright and beautiful all around. I hope he'll let us go; I'll +ask him; come," said she, pulling him by the hand.</p> + +<p>"No—wait," said Willie; "he's busy talking with grandpa—we can ask him +at home."</p> + +<p>As soon as they reached the gate she broke away from him, and, rushing +up to True, made known her request. He readily consented, and the three +soon started on the rounds.</p> + +<p>For a time Gerty's attention was so engrossed by the lamplighting that +she could see and enjoy nothing else. But when they reached the corner +of the street, and came in sight of a large apothecary's shop, her +delight knew no bounds. The brilliant colours displayed in the windows +captivated her fancy; and when Willie told her that his master's shop +was similar she thought it must be a fine place to spend one's life in. +Then she wondered why this was open on Sunday, when all the other stores +were closed, and Willie, stopping to explain, they found that True was +some distance in advance. He hurried Gerty along, telling her that they +were now in the finest street they should pass through, and they must +haste, for they had nearly reached the house he most wanted her to see. +When they came up with True, he was placing his ladder against a post +opposite a fine block of buildings. Many of the front windows were +shaded, so that the children could not see in; but some had no curtains, +or they had not yet been drawn. In one parlour there was a pleasant +wood-fire, around which a group were gathered; and here Gerty would fain +have lingered. In another, a brilliant chandelier was lit, and though +the room was vacant, the furniture was so showy, and the whole so +brilliant, that the child clapped her hands in delight, and Willie could +not prevail upon her to leave the spot, until he told her that farther +down the street was another house, equally attractive, where she would +perhaps see some beautiful children.</p> + +<p>"How do you know there'll be children there?" said she, as they walked +along.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, certainly," said Willie; "but I think there will. They +used always to be up at the window when I came with Uncle True, last +winter."</p> + +<p>"How many?" asked Gerty.</p> + +<p>"Three, I believe; there was one little girl with such beautiful curls, +and such a sweet, cunning little face. She looked like a wax doll, only +a great deal prettier."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope we shall see her!" said Gerty, dancing along on the tops of +her toes.</p> + +<p>"There they are!" exclaimed Willie; "all three, I declare, just as they +used to be!"</p> + +<p>"Where?" said Gerty; "where?"</p> + +<p>"Over opposite, in the great stone house. Here, let's cross over. It's +muddy; I'll carry you."</p> + +<p>Willie lifted Gerty carefully over the mud, and they stood in front of +the house. True had not yet come up. It was he that the children were +watching for. Gerty was not the only child that loved to see the lamps +lit.</p> + +<p>It was now quite dark, so that persons in a light room could not see any +one out of doors; but Willie and Gerty had so much better chance to look +in. The mansion was a fine one, evidently the home of wealth. A clear +coal fire, and a bright lamp in the centre of the room, shed abroad +their cheerful blaze. Rich carpets, deeply-tinted curtains, pictures in +gilded frames, and huge mirrors, reflecting the whole on every side, +gave Gerty her first impressions of luxurious life. There was an air of +comfort combined with all this elegance, which made it still more +fascinating to the child of poverty and want. A table was bountifully +spread for tea; the cloth of snow-white damask, the shining plate, above +all, the home-like hissing tea-kettle, had a most inviting look. A +gentleman in gay slippers was in an easy chair by the fire; a lady in a +gay cap was superintending a servant-girl's arrangements at the +tea-table; and the children of the household, smiling and happy, were +crowded together on a window-seat, looking out, as we have just +narrated.</p> + +<p>They were sweet, lovely-looking little creatures; especially a girl, of +the same age as Gerty, the eldest of the three. Her fair hair fell in +long ringlets over a neck as white as snow; she had blue eyes, a cherub +face, and a little round plump figure. Gerty's admiration and rapture +were such, that she could find no expression for them, and directing +Willie's notice first to one thing and then another; "Oh, Willie, isn't +she a darling? and see what a beautiful fire—what a splendid lady! What +is that on the table? I guess it's good! There's a big looking-glass; +and oh, Willie! an't they dear, handsome children?"</p> + +<p>True now came up, and as his torch-light swept along the side-walk Gerty +and Willie became the subjects of notice and conversation. The +curly-haired girl saw them, and pointed them out to the notice of the +other two. Though Gerty could not know what they were saying, she did +not like being stared at and talked about; and hiding behind the post, +she would not move or look up, though Willie laughed at her, and told +her it was now her <i>turn</i> to be looked at. When True moved off, she +began to run, so as to escape observation; but Willie calling to her, +and saying that the children were gone from the window, she ran back to +have one more look, and was just in time to see them taking their places +at the tea-table. Then the servant-girl drew down the window-blinds. +Gerty then took Willie's hand, and they tried to overtake True.</p> + +<p>"Shouldn't you like to live in such a house as that, Gerty!" said +Willie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," said Gerty; "an't it splendid?"</p> + +<p>"I wish I had just such a house," said Willie. "I mean one of these +days."</p> + +<p>"Where will you get it?" exclaimed Gerty, much amazed at so bold a +declaration.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I shall work, and grow rich, and buy it."</p> + +<p>"You can't; it would take a lot o' money!"</p> + +<p>"I know it; but I can earn a lot, and I will, too. The gentleman that +lives in that grand house was a poor boy when he first came to Boston; +and why can't one poor boy get rich as well an another?"</p> + +<p>"How do you suppose he got so much money?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know how <i>he</i> did; there are a great many ways. Some people +think it's all luck, but I guess it's as much smartness as anything."</p> + +<p>"Are you smart?"</p> + +<p>Willie laughed. "An't I?" said he. "If I don't turn out a rich man one +of these days, you may say I an't."</p> + +<p>"I know what I'd do if I was rich," said Gerty.</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Willie.</p> + +<p>"First, I'd buy a great nice chair for Uncle True, with cushions all in +the inside, and bright flowers on it—just exactly like that one the +gentleman was sitting in; and next, I'd have great big lamps, ever so +many all in a bunch, so as to make the room as <i>light</i>—as <i>light</i> as it +could be!"</p> + +<p>"Seems to me you're mighty fond of lights, Gerty," said Willie.</p> + +<p>"I be," said the child. "I hate old, dark, black places; I like stars, +and sunshine, and fires, and Uncle True's torch——"</p> + +<p>"And I like bright eyes!" interrupted Willie; "yours look just like +stars, they shine so to-night. An't we having a good time?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, real."</p> + +<p>And so they went on—Gerty dancing along the side-walk, Willie sharing +in her gaiety and joy, and glorying in the responsibility of +entertaining and protecting the wild little creature. They talked of how +they would spend that future wealth which they both calculated upon one +day possessing; for Gerty had caught Willie's spirit, and she, too, +meant to work and grow rich. Willie said his mother was to wear a gay +cap, like that of the lady they had seen; this made Gerty laugh. She +thought that demure little widow would be ridiculous in a flowered +headgear. Good taste is inborn, and Gerty had it in her. She felt that +Mrs. Sullivan, attired in anything that was not simple, neat, and +sober-looking, would altogether lose her identity. Willie had no selfish +schemes; the generous boy suggested nothing for his own gratification; +it was for the rest he meant to labor, and in and through them that he +looked for his reward. Happy children! What do they want of wealth? What +of anything, material or tangible, more than they now possess? They have +what is worth more than riches or fame—they are full of childhood's +faith and hope. With a fancy and imagination unchecked by +disappointment, they are building those same castles that so many +thousand children have built before, that children will always be +building to the end of time. Far off in the distance they see bright +things, and know not what myths they are. Undeceive not the little +believers, ye wise ones! Check not that God-given hopefulness, which +will, perhaps, in its airy flight, lift them in safety over many a rough +spot in life's road. It lasts not long at the best; then check it not, +for as it dies out the way grows hard.</p> + +<p>They had reached the last lamp-post in the street, but scarcely had they +gone a dozen steps before Gerty stopped short, and, positively refusing +to proceed any further, pulled hard at Willie's hand, and tried to +induce him to retrace his steps.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Gerty?" said he, "are you tired?"</p> + +<p>"No, oh no! but I can't go any further."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, because—because—" and here Gerty putting her mouth close to +Willie's ear, whispered, "there is Nan Grant's; I see the house! I had +forgot Uncle True went there; and I am afraid!"</p> + +<p>"Oho!" said Willie, drawing himself up with dignity, "I should like to +know what you're afraid of, when I'm with you! Let her touch you if she +dares! And Uncle True, too!—I <i>should</i> laugh."</p> + +<p>Very kindly did Willie plead with the child, telling her that Nan would +not be likely to see <i>them</i>, but they might see <i>her</i>; and that was just +what he wanted—nothing he should like better. Gerty's fears were soon +allayed. When they stood in front of the house, Gerty was rather hoping +than otherwise to catch sight of Nan. Nan was standing opposite the +window, engaged in an animated dispute with one of her neighbours. Her +countenance expressed great anger, and her face was now so sufficient an +index to her character, that no one could see her thus and afterwards +question her right to the title of vixen, virago, or scold.</p> + +<p>"Which is she?" said Willie; "the tall one, swinging the coffee-pot in +her hand? I guess she'll break the handle off, if she don't look out."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Gerty, "that's Nan."</p> + +<p>"What's she doing?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, she's fighting with Mrs. Birch; she does always with somebody. She +don't see us, does she?"</p> + +<p>"No, she's too busy. Come, don't let's stop; she's an ugly-looking +woman, just as I knew she was. I've seen enough of her, and I'm sure you +have—come."</p> + +<p>Gerty lingered. Courageous in the knowledge that she was safe and +unseen, she was gazing at Nan, and her eyes glistened, not with the +innocent excitement of a cheerful heart, but with the fire of kindled +passion—a fire that Nan had kindled long ago, which had not yet gone +out, and which the sight of Nan had now revived in full force. Willie, +thinking it was time to be at home, and perceiving Mr. Flint and his +torch far down the street, left Gerty, and started himself, to draw her +on, saying, "Come, Gerty, I can't wait."</p> + +<p>Gerty turned, saw that he was going, then, quick as lightning, stooped, +and picking up a stone, flung it at the window. There was a crash of +broken glass, and an exclamation in Nan's well-known voice; but Gerty +was not there to see the result. The instant she heard the crash her +fears returned, and flying past Willie, she paused not until she was +safe by the side of True.</p> + +<p>Willie did not overtake them until they were nearly home, and then came +running up, exclaiming, breathlessly, "Why, Gerty, do you know what you +did?—You broke the window!"</p> + +<p>Gerty jerked her shoulders from side to side to avoid Willie, pouted, +and declared that was what she meant to do.</p> + +<p>True inquired what window? and Gerty acknowledged what she had done, and +avowed that she did it on purpose. True and Willie were shocked and +silent. Gerty was silent too, for the rest of the walk; there were +clouds on her face, and she felt unhappy in her little heart.</p> + +<p>Willie bade them good night at the house door, and as usual they saw no +more of him for a week.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>A NEW FRIEND.</h3> + + +<p>"Father," said Mrs. Sullivan, one afternoon, as he was preparing to take +a number of articles which he wanted for his Saturday's work in the +church, "why don't you get little Gerty to go with you, and carry some +of your things? You can't take them all at once; and she'd like to go, I +know."</p> + +<p>"She'd only be in the way," said Mr. Cooper; "I can take them myself."</p> + +<p>But when he had swung a lantern and an empty coal hod on one arm, taken +a little hatchet and a basket of chips in his hand, and hoisted a small +ladder over his shoulder, he was fain to acknowledge that there was no +accommodation for his hammer and a large paper of nails. Mrs. Sullivan +called Gerty, and asked her to go and help him carry his tools. Gerty +was pleased with the proposal, and started off with great alacrity.</p> + +<p>When they reached the church the old sexton took them from her hands, +and telling her she could play about until he went home, but to be sure +and do no mischief, he went into the vestry to commence sweeping, +dusting, and building fires. Gerty had ample amusement for some time, to +wander round among the empty aisles and pews, and examine closely what, +hitherto, she had only viewed from a corner of the gallery. Then she +ascended the pulpit, and in imagination addressed a large audience. She +was growing weary and restless, however, when the organist, who had +entered unseen, commenced playing some low, sweet music; and Gerty, +seating herself on the pulpit stairs, listened with the greatest +pleasure. He had not played long before the door opened and two visitors +entered. One was an elderly man, dressed like a clergyman, with hair +thin and grey, and features rather sharp; but remarkable for his +benignant expression of countenance. A young lady, apparently about +twenty-five years of age, was leaning on his arm. She was attired with +great simplicity, wearing a dark brown cloak, and a bonnet of the same +colour, relieved by some light-blue ribbon about the face. She was +somewhat below the middle size, but had a good figure. Her features were +small and regular; her complexion clear but pale; and her light-brown +hair was neatly arranged. She never lifted her eyes as she walked slowly +up the aisle.</p> + +<p>The two approached the spot where Gerty sat, but without perceiving her. +"I am glad you like the organ," said the gentleman; "I am not much of a +judge of music, but they say it is a superior instrument, and that +Hermann plays it remarkably well."</p> + +<p>"Nor is my opinion of any value," said the lady; "for I have little +knowledge of music, much as I love it. But that symphony sounds very +delightful to me; it is a long time since I have heard such touching +strains; or, it may be partly owing to their striking so sweetly on the +solemn quiet of the church this afternoon. I love to go into a large +church on a week-day. It was very kind of you to call for me this +afternoon. How came you to think of it?"</p> + +<p>"I thought you would enjoy it, my dear. I knew Hermann would be playing +about this time; and, besides, when I saw how pale you were looking I +knew the walk would do you good."</p> + +<p>"It has done me good. I was not feeling well, and the clear, cold air +was just what I needed; I knew it would refresh me; but Mrs. Ellis was +busy, and I could not go out alone."</p> + +<p>"I thought I should find the sexton here," said the gentleman. "I want +to speak to him about the light; the afternoons are so short now, and it +is dark so early, I must ask him to open more of the blinds, or I cannot +see to read my sermon to-morrow. He may be in the vestry-room; he is +always about here on Saturday; I will go and look for him."</p> + +<p>Just then Mr. Cooper entered the church, and, seeing the clergyman, came +up, and after receiving his directions about the light, requested him to +go with him somewhere, for the gentleman hesitated, glanced at the young +lady, and then said, "I suppose I ought to go to-day; and, as you say +you are at leisure, it is a pity I should not; but I don't know——"</p> + +<p>Then, turning to the lady, he said, "Emily, Mr. Cooper wants me to go to +Mrs. Glass's with him; and I shall be absent some time. Should you mind +waiting here until I return? She lives in the next street; but I may be +detained, for it's about the library-books being so mischievously +defaced, and I am afraid that her oldest boy had something to do with +it. It ought to be inquired into before to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Oh, go, by all means," said Emily; "don't mind me; it will be a +pleasure to sit here and listen to the music. Mr. Hermann's playing is a +great treat to me, and I don't care how long I wait; so do not hurry on +my account, Mr. Arnold."</p> + +<p>Thus assured, Mr. Arnold led the lady to a chair beneath the pulpit, and +went with Mr. Cooper.</p> + +<p>All this time Gerty had been unnoticed, and had remained very quiet on +the upper stair, secured from sight by the pulpit. Hardly had the doors +closed, however, with a loud bang, when the child got up, and began to +descend the stairs. The moment she moved, the lady, whose seat was very +near, started, and exclaimed, "Who's that?"</p> + +<p>Gerty stood still, and made no reply. Strange the lady did not look up, +though she must have perceived that the movement was above her head. +There was a moment's pause, and then Gerty began again to run down the +stairs. The lady sprang up, and, stretching out her hand, said, "Who is +it?"</p> + +<p>"Me," said Gerty, looking up in the lady's face; "it's only me."</p> + +<p>"Will you stop and speak to me?" said the lady.</p> + +<p>Gerty not only stopped, but came close up to Emily's chair, irresistibly +attracted by the sweetest voice she had ever heard. The lady placed her +hand on Gerty's head, and said, "Who are you?"</p> + +<p>"Gerty."</p> + +<p>"Gerty who?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing else but Gerty."</p> + +<p>"Have you forgotten your other name?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't got any other name."</p> + +<p>"How came you here?"</p> + +<p>"I came with Mr. Cooper, to help him to bring his things."</p> + +<p>"And he's left you here to wait for him, and I'm left too; so we must +take care of each other, mustn't we?"</p> + +<p>Gerty laughed at this.</p> + +<p>"Where were you?—On the stairs?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Suppose you sit down on this step by my chair, and talk with me a +little while: I want to see if we can't find out what your other name +is. Where do you say you live?"</p> + +<p>"With Uncle True."</p> + +<p>"True?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Mr. True Flint I live with now. He took me home to his house one +night, when Nan Grant put me out on the side-walk."</p> + +<p>"Why, are you that little girl? Then I've heard of you before. Mr. Flint +told me all about you."</p> + +<p>"Do you know my Uncle True?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, very well."</p> + +<p>"What's your name?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Emily Graham."</p> + +<p>"O! I know," said Gerty, springing suddenly up, and clapping her hands +together; "I know. You asked him to keep me; he said so—I <i>heard</i> him +say so; and you gave me my clothes; and you're beautiful; and you're +good; and I love you! O! I love you ever so much!"</p> + +<p>As Gerty spoke with a voice full of excitement, a strange look passed +over Miss Graham's face, a most inquiring and restless look, as if the +tones of the voice had vibrated on a chord of her memory. She did not +speak, but, passing her arm around the child's waist, drew her closer to +her. As the peculiar expression passed from her face, and her features +assumed their usual calmness, Gerty, as she gazed at her with a look of +wonder, exclaimed, "Are you going to sleep?"</p> + +<p>"No.—Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because your eyes are shut."</p> + +<p>"They are always shut, my child."</p> + +<p>"Always shut!—What for?"</p> + +<p>"I am blind, Gerty; I can see nothing."</p> + +<p>"Not see!" said Gerty; "can't you see anything? Can't you see me now?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Miss Graham.</p> + +<p>"O!" exclaimed Gerty, drawing a long breath, "<i>I'm so glad</i>."</p> + +<p>"<i>Glad!</i>" said Miss Graham, in the saddest voice that ever was heard.</p> + +<p>"O yes!" said Gerty, "so glad you can't see me!—because now, perhaps, +you'll love me."</p> + +<p>"And shouldn't I love you if I saw you?" said Emily, passing her hand +softly and slowly over the child's features.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" answered Gerty, "I'm so ugly! I'm glad you can't see how ugly +I am."</p> + +<p>"But just think, Gerty," said Emily, in the same sad voice, "how would +you feel if you could not see the light, could not see anything in the +world?"</p> + +<p>"Can't you see the sun, and the stars, and the sky, and the church we're +in? Are you in the dark?"</p> + +<p>"In the dark all the time—day and night in the dark."</p> + +<p>Gerty burst into a paroxysm of tears. "Oh!" exclaimed she, as soon as +she could find voice amid her sobs, "It's too bad! it's too bad!"</p> + +<p>The child's grief was contagious; and, for the first time for years, +Emily wept bitterly for her blindness.</p> + +<p>It was but for a few moments, however. Quickly recovering herself, she +tried to compose the child also, saying, "Hush! hush! don't cry; and +don't say it's too bad! It's not too bad; I can bear it very well. I'm +used to it, and am quite happy."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't be happy in the dark; I should <i>hate</i> to be!" said Gerty. +"I <i>an't</i> glad you're blind; I'm really <i>sorry</i>. I wish you could see me +and everything. Can't your eyes be opened, any way?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Emily; "never; but we won't talk about that any more; we will +talk about you. I want to know what makes you think yourself so very +ugly."</p> + +<p>"Because folks say that I am an ugly child, and that nobody loves ugly +children."</p> + +<p>"Yes, people do," said Emily, "love ugly children, if they are good."</p> + +<p>"But I an't good," said Gerty, "I'm really bad!"</p> + +<p>"But you <i>can be good</i>," said Emily, "and then everybody will love you."</p> + +<p>"Do you think I can be good?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you try."</p> + +<p>"I will try."</p> + +<p>"I <i>hope</i> you will," said Emily. "Mr. Flint thinks a great deal of his +little girl, and she must do all she can to please him."</p> + +<p>She then asked concerning Gerty's former way of life, and became so +interested in the recital of the little girl's early sorrows and trials, +that she was unconscious of the flight of time, and quite unobservant of +the departure of the organist, who had ceased playing, closed his +instrument, and gone away.</p> + +<p>Gerty was very communicative. The sweet voice and sympathetic tones of +Emily went straight to her heart, and though her whole life had been +passed among the poorer and lowest classes of people, she felt no awe +and constraint on her encountering, for the first time, a lady of +polished mind and manners. On the contrary, Gerty clung to Emily as +affectionately, and stroked her soft boa with as much freedom, as if she +had herself been born in a palace. Once or twice she took Emily's +nicely-gloved hand between both her own, and held it tight; her +favourite mode of expressing her warmth of gratitude and admiration. +The excitable but interesting child took no less strong a hold upon Miss +Graham's feelings. The latter perceived how neglected the little one had +been, and the importance of her being educated, lest early abuse, acting +upon an impetuous disposition, should prove destructive to a nature +capable of the best attainments. The two were still entertaining each +other, when Mr. Arnold entered the church hastily. As he came up the +aisle, he called to Emily, saying, "Emily; dear, I fear you thought I +had forgotten you. I have been longer than I intended. Were you not +tired of waiting?"</p> + +<p>"I thought it was but a very little while. I have had company, you see."</p> + +<p>"What, little folks," said Mr. Arnold, good-naturedly. "Where did this +little body come from?"</p> + +<p>"She came to the church this afternoon with Mr. Cooper. Isn't he here +for her?"</p> + +<p>"Cooper?—No: he went straight home after he left me; he's probably +forgotten all about the child. What's to be done?"</p> + +<p>"Can't we take her home? Is it far?"</p> + +<p>"It is two or three streets from here, and directly out of our way; +altogether too far for you to walk."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, it won't tire me; I'm quite strong now, and I would know she +was safe home."</p> + +<p>If Emily could but have seen Gerty's grateful face that moment, she +would indeed have felt repaid for almost any amount of weariness.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>MENTAL DARKNESS.</h3> + + +<p>The blind girl did not forget little Gerty. Emily Graham never forgot +the sufferings, the wants, the necessities of others. She could not see +the world without, but there was a world of love and sympathy within +her, which manifested itself in abundant charity, both of heart and +deed. She loved God with her whole heart, and her neighbour as herself. +Her own great misfortunes and trials were borne without repining; but +the misfortunes and trials of others became her care, the alleviation of +them her greatest delight. Emily was never weary of doing good. But +never had she been so affected as now by any tale of sorrow. Children +were born into the world amid poverty and privation. She could not +account to herself for the interest she felt in the little stranger; but +the impulse to know more of her was irresistible, and sending for True, +she talked a long time with him about the child.</p> + +<p>True was highly gratified by Miss Graham's account of the meeting in the +church, and of the interest the little girl had inspired in one for whom +he felt the greatest admiration and respect. Gerty had previously told +him how she had seen Miss Graham, and had spoken in the most glowing +terms of the dear lady who was so kind to her, and brought her home when +Mr. Cooper had forgotten her, but it had not occurred to the old man +that the fancy was mutual.</p> + +<p>Emily asked him if he didn't intend to send her to school?</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know," said he; "she's a little thing, and an't much used +to being with other children. Besides, I don't exactly like to spare +her."</p> + +<p>Emily suggested that it was time she was learning to read and write; and +that the sooner she went among other children, the easier it would be to +her.</p> + +<p>"Very true, Miss Emily, very true," said Mr. Flint. "I dare say you're +right; and if you think she'd better go, I'll ask her, and see what she +says."</p> + +<p>"I would," said Emily. "I think she might enjoy it, besides improving +very much; and, about her clothes, if there's any deficiency, I'll——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no, Miss Emily!" interrupted True; "there's no necessity; she's +very well on't now, thanks to your kindness."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Emily, "if she should have any wants, you must apply to me. +You know we adopted her jointly, and I agreed to do anything I could for +her; so you must never hesitate—it will be a pleasure to serve either +of you. My father always feels under obligations to you, Mr. Flint, for +faithful service that cost you dear in the end."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Miss Emily," said True, "Mr. Graham has always been my best friend; +and as to that 'ere accident that happened when I was in his employ, it +was nobody's fault but my own; it was my own carelessness, and nobody's +else."</p> + +<p>"I know you say so," said Emily, "but we regretted it very much; and you +mustn't forget what I tell you, that I shall delight in doing anything +for Gerty. I should like to have her come and see me, some day, if she +would like, and you'll let her."</p> + +<p>"Sartain, sartain," said True, "and thank you kindly; she'd be glad to +come."</p> + +<p>A few days after Gerty went with True to see Miss Graham, but the +housekeeper, whom they met in the hall, told them that she was ill and +could see no one. So they went away full of disappointment and regret.</p> + +<p>Emily had taken a severe cold the day she sat so long in the church, and +was suffering with it when they called; but, though confined to her +room, she would have been glad to have a visit from Gerty, and was sorry +that Mrs. Ellis should have sent them away.</p> + +<p>On Saturday evening, when Willie was present, True broached the subject +of Gerty's going to school. Gerty was much displeased with the idea; but +it met with Willie's approbation; and when Gerty learned that Miss +Graham also wished it, she consented, though reluctantly, to begin the +next week, and try how she liked it. So next Monday Gerty went with True +to one of the primary schools, was admitted, and her education began. +When Willie came home the next Sunday, he rushed into True's room, eager +to hear how Gerty liked going to school. She was seated at the table, +with her spelling-book; and she exclaimed, "Oh, Willie! Willie! come and +hear me read!"</p> + +<p>Her performance could hardly be called reading. She had not got beyond +the alphabet, and a few syllables she had learned to spell; but Willie +bestowed upon her much well-merited praise, she had been very diligent. +He was astonished to hear that Gerty liked going to school, liked the +teachers and the scholars, and had a fine time at recess. He had fully +expected that she would dislike the whole business, and go into tantrums +about it—which was the expression he used to denote her fits of +ill-temper. Willie promised to assist her in her studies; and the two +children's literary plans soon became as high-flown as if one had been a +poet-laureate and the other a philosopher.</p> + +<p>For two or three weeks all appeared to go on smoothly. Gerty went +regularly to school, and made rapid progress. Every Saturday Willie +heard her read and spell, assisted, praised, and encouraged her. But he +had heard that, on two occasions, she had nearly had a brush with some +large girls, for whom she began to show symptoms of dislike. This soon +reached a crisis. One day, when the children were in the school-yard, +during recess, Gerty saw True in his working-dress, passing down the +street, with his ladder and lamp-filler. Shouting and laughing, she +pursued and overtook him. She came back in a few minutes, seeming much +delighted, and ran into the yard full of happy excitement. The troop of +large girls, whom Gerty had already had some reason to distrust, had +been observing her, and one of them called out saying——</p> + +<p>"Who's that man?"</p> + +<p>"That's my Uncle True," said Gerty.</p> + +<p>"Your what?"</p> + +<p>"My Uncle, Mr. Flint, that I live with."</p> + +<p>"So you belong to him, do you?" said the girl, in an insolent tone of +voice. "Ha! ha! ha!"</p> + +<p>"What are you laughing at?" said Gerty, fiercely.</p> + +<p>"Ugh! Before I'd live with him!" said the girl—"Old Smutty!"</p> + +<p>The others caught it up, and the laugh and epithet Old Smutty circulated +freely in the corner of the yard where Gerty was standing. Gerty was +furious. Her eyes glistened, she doubled her little fist, and, without +hesitation, came down in battle upon the crowd. But they were too many +for her, and, helpless as she was with passion, they drove her out of +the yard. She started for home on a full run, screaming with all her +might.</p> + +<p>As she flew along the side-walk, she brushed stiffly against a tall, +stiff-looking lady, who was walking slowly in the same direction, with a +much smaller person leaning on her arm. "Bless me!" said the tall lady, +who had almost lost her equilibrium from the suddenness of the shock. +"Why, you horrid little creature!" As she spoke, she grasped Gerty by +the shoulder, and, before she could break away, gave her a slight shake. +This served to increase Gerty's anger, and, her speed gaining in +proportion, it was but a few minutes before she was crouched in a corner +of True's room behind the bed, her face to the wall, and covered with +both her hands. Here she was free to cry as loud as she pleased; for +Mrs. Sullivan was gone out, and there was no one in the house to hear +her.</p> + +<p>But she had not indulged long in her tantrum when the gate at the end of +the yard closed with a bang, and footsteps were heard coming towards Mr. +Flint's door. Gerty's attention was arrested, for she knew by the sound +that a stranger was approaching. With a strong effort she controlled +herself so as to keep quiet. There was a knock at the door, but Gerty +did not reply to it, remaining concealed behind the bed. The knock was +not repeated, but the stranger lifted the latch and walked in.</p> + +<p>"There doesn't seem to be any one at home," said a female voice, "what a +pity."</p> + +<p>"Isn't there? I'm sorry," replied another, in the sweet musical tones of +Miss Graham. Gerty knew the voice at once.</p> + +<p>"I thought you'd better not come here yourself," rejoined the first +speaker, who was no other than Mrs. Ellis, the identical lady whom Gerty +had so frightened and disconcerted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't regret coming," said Emily. "You can leave me here while +you go to your sister's, and very likely Mr. Flint or the little girl +will come home in the meantime."</p> + +<p>"It don't become you, Miss Emily, to be carried round everywhere, and +left, like an express parcel, till called for. You caught a horrid cold +that you're hardly well of now, waiting there in the church for the +minister; and Mr. Graham will be finding fault next."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, Mrs. Ellis; it's very comfortable here; the church must have +been damp, I think. Come, put me in Mr. Flint's arm-chair, and I can +make myself quite contented."</p> + +<p>"Well, at any rate," said Mrs. Ellis, "I'll make up a good fire in this +stove before I go."</p> + +<p>As she spoke, the energetic housekeeper seized the poker, and, after +stirring up the coals, and making free with all True's kindlewood, +waited till the fire burnt up, and then, having laid aside Emily's +cloak, went away with the same firm step with which she had come, and +which had so overpowered Emily's noiseless tread, that Gerty had only +anticipated the arrival of a single guest. As soon as Gerty knew that +Mrs. Ellis had really departed, she suspended her efforts at +self-control, and, with a deep-drawn sigh, gasped out, "O dear! O dear!"</p> + +<p>"Why, Gerty!" exclaimed Emily, "is that you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," sobbed Gerty.</p> + +<p>"Come here."</p> + +<p>The child waited no second bidding, but, starting up, ran, threw herself +on the floor by the side of Emily, buried her face in the blind girl's +lap, and once more commenced crying aloud. Her whole frame was agitated.</p> + +<p>"Why, Gerty," said Emily, "what is the matter?"</p> + +<p>But Gerty could not reply; and Emily desisted from her inquiries until +the little one should be somewhat composed. She lifted Gerty up into her +lap, laid her head upon her shoulder, and with her handkerchief wiped +the tears from her face. Her soothing words and caresses soon quieted +the child, and when she was calm, Emily, instead of recurring at once to +the cause of her grief, questioned her upon other topics. At last, +however, she asked her if she went to school.</p> + +<p>"I <i>have been</i>," said Gerty, raising her head from Emily's shoulder; +"but I won't ever go again!"</p> + +<p>"What!—Why not!"</p> + +<p>"Because," said Gerty, angrily, "I hate those girls; yes, I hate 'em! +ugly things!"</p> + +<p>"Gerty," said Emily, "don't say that; you shouldn't hate anybody."</p> + +<p>"Why shouldn't I?" said Gerty.</p> + +<p>"Because it's wrong."</p> + +<p>"No, it's not <i>wrong</i>; I say it <i>isn't</i>!" said Gerty; "and I do hate +'em; and I hate Nan Grant, and I always shall! Don't <i>you</i> hate +anybody?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Emily, "<i>I don't.</i>"</p> + +<p>"Did anybody ever drown your kitten? Did anybody ever call your father +Old Smutty?" said Gerty. "If they had, I know you'd hate 'em just as I +do."</p> + +<p>"Gerty," said Emily, solemnly, "didn't you tell me, the other day, that +you were a naughty child, but that you wished to be good, and would +try!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Gerty.</p> + +<p>"If you wish to become good and be forgiven, you must forgive others." +Gerty said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Do you not wish God to forgive and love you?"</p> + +<p>"God, who lives in heaven—who made the stars?" said Gerty.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Will he love me, and let me some time go to heaven?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you try to be good and love everybody."</p> + +<p>"Miss Emily," said Gerty, after a moment's pause, "I can't do it, so I +s'pose I can't go."</p> + +<p>Just at this moment a tear fell upon Gerty's forehead. She looked +thoughtfully up into Emily's face, then said—</p> + +<p>"Dear Miss Emily, are you going there?"</p> + +<p>"I am trying."</p> + +<p>"I should like to go with you," said Gerty.</p> + +<p>Still Emily did not speak. She left the child to the working of her own +thoughts.</p> + +<p>"Miss Emily," said Gerty, at last, in the lowest whisper, "I mean to +<i>try</i>, but I don't think I <i>can</i>."</p> + +<p>"God bless you, and help you, my child!" said Emily, laying her hand +upon Gerty's head.</p> + +<p>For fifteen minutes or more not a word was spoken by either. Gerty lay +perfectly still in Emily's lap. By-and-by the latter perceived, by the +child's breathing, that, worn out with the fever and excitement of all +she had gone through, she had dropped into a quiet sleep. When Mrs. +Ellis returned, Emily pointed to the sleeping child, and asked her to +place her on the bed. She did so, and turning to Emily, exclaimed, "My +word, Miss Emily, that's the same rude, bawling little creature that +came so near being the death of us!" Emily smiled at the idea of a child +eight years old overthrowing a woman of Mrs. Ellis' inches, but said +nothing.</p> + +<p>Why did Emily weep long that night, as she recalled the scene of the +morning? Why did she, on bended knees, wrestle so vehemently with a +mighty sorrow? Why did she pray so earnestly for new strength and +heavenly aid? Why did she so beseechingly ask of God His blessing on the +little child? Because she had felt, in many a year of darkness and +bereavement, in many an hour of fearful struggle, in many a pang of +despair, how a temper like that of Gerty's might, in one moment of its +fearful reign, cast a blight upon a lifetime, and write in fearful lines +the mournful requiem of early joy. And so she prayed to heaven for +strength to keep her firm resolve, and aid in fulfilling her undying +purpose, to cure that child of her dark infirmity.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>AN EARTHLY MESSENGER OF PEACE.</h3> + + +<p>The next Sabbath afternoon found Gerty seated on a stool in Emily's +room. Her large eyes were fixed on Emily's face, which always seemed to +fascinate the little girl; so attentively did she watch her features, +the charm of which many an older person than Gerty had felt, but could +not describe. It was not beauty; though once her face was illumined by +beautiful hazel eyes: nor was it fascination of manner, for Emily's +manner and voice were so soft and unassuming that they never took the +fancy by storm. It was not compassion for her blindness, though that +might well excite sympathy. But it was hard to realise that Emily was +blind. It was a fact never forced upon her friend's recollection by any +repining or selfish indulgence on the part of the sufferer; and, as +there was nothing painful in the appearance of her closed lids, shaded +and fringed as they were by her long eyelashes, it was not unusual for +persons to converse upon things which could only be evident to the sense +of sight, and even direct her attention to one object and another, quite +forgetting, for the moment, her sad deprivation: and Emily never sighed, +never seemed hurt at their want of consideration, or showed any lack of +interest in objects thus shut from her gaze, but quite satisfied with +the pictures which she formed in her imagination, would talk pleasantly +upon whatever was uppermost in the minds of her companions. Some said +that Emily had the sweetest mouth in the world, and they loved to watch +its ever varying expression. But true Christians knew the source whence +she derived that power by which her face and voice stole into the hearts +of young and old, and won their love—<i>they</i> would have said the +same as Gerty did, when she sat gazing so earnestly at Emily on the +very Sunday afternoon of which we speak, "Miss Emily, I know you've been +with God."</p> + +<p>Gerty was a strange child; but she had felt Emily's superiority to any +being she had ever seen; and she reposed confidence in what she told +her, allowed herself to be guided by one whom she felt loved her and +sought her good; and, as she sat at her feet, and listened to her gentle +voice while she gave her first lesson upon the distinction between right +and wrong, Emily, though she could not see the little thoughtful face, +knew, by her earnest attention, and by the little hand which had sought +hers, and held it tight, that one great point was won.</p> + +<p>Gerty had not been to school since the day of her battle with the girls. +True's persuasions had failed; she would not go. But Emily understood +the child's nature better than True did, and urged upon her more +forcible motives than the old man had thought of employing, that <i>she</i> +succeeded where <i>he</i> had failed. Gerty considered that her old friend +had been insulted, and that was the chief cause of her indignation with +her schoolmates; but Emily placed the matter in a different light, and +convincing her at last that, if she loved Uncle True, she would show it +much better by obeying his wishes than by retaining her foolish anger, +she finally obtained Gerty's promise that she would go to school the +next morning.</p> + +<p>The next morning True, much pleased, went with her, and inquiring for +the teacher, stated the case to her in his blunt, honest way, and then +left Gerty in her special charge. Miss Browne, who was a young woman of +good sense and good feelings, saw the matter in the right light; and +taking an opportunity to speak privately to the girls who had excited +Gerty's temper by their rudeness, made them so ashamed of their conduct, +that they ceased to molest the child.</p> + +<p>The winter passed away, and spring days came, when Gerty could sit at +the open window, when birds sang in the morning among the trees, and the +sun at evening threw bright rays across True's great room, and Gerty +could see to read almost until bed-time. She had been to school steadily +all winter, and had improved rapidly. She was healthy and well; her +clothes were clean and neat, for her wardrobe was well stocked by Emily, +and the care of it superintended by Mrs. Sullivan. She was bright and +happy too, and tripped round the house so joyously, that True declared +his birdie knew not what it was to touch her heel to the ground, but +flew about on the tips of her toes.</p> + +<p>The old man could not have loved her better had she been his own child; +and he sat by her side on the wide settle, which, in warm weather, was +moved outside the door, and listened patiently and attentively while she +read various pleasing stories. The old man's interest in the story-books +was as keen as if he had been a child himself.</p> + +<p>Emily, who gave these books, knew their influence on the hearts of +children, and most judiciously did she select them. Gerty's life was now +as happy as it had been wretched and miserable. All the days in the week +were joyous; but Saturday and Sunday were marked days; for Saturday +brought Willie home to hear her recite her lessons, walk, laugh, and +play with her. He had so many pleasant things to tell, was so full of +life, so ready to enter into all her plans, and promote her amusement, +that on Monday morning she began to count the days until Saturday would +come again.</p> + +<p>Sunday afternoon Gerty always spent with Emily, listening to her sweet +voice, and imbibing a portion of her sweet spirit. Emily preached no +sermons, nor did she weary the child with precepts. It did not occur to +Gerty that she went there to be <i>taught</i> anything; but gradually the +blind girl imparted light to the child's dark soul, and the lessons that +are divine were implanted in her so naturally, that she realized not the +work that was going on, but long after—when goodness had grown strong +within her, and her first feeble resistance of evil, her first attempts +to keep her childish resolves, had matured into deeply-rooted +principles—she felt, as she looked back, that on those blessed +Sabbaths, sitting at Emily's knee, she had received into her heart the +first beams of that immortal light that never could be quenched.</p> + +<p>It was a grievous trial to Gerty to learn that the Graham's were about +to go into the country for the summer. Mr. Graham had a pleasant +residence about six miles from Boston, to which he resorted as soon as +the planting season commenced; for though devoted to business during the +winter, he had of late years allowed himself much relaxation during the +summer; and ledgers and day-books were to be supplanted by the delights +of gardening. Emily promised Gerty that she should pass a day with her +when the weather was fine; a visit which Gerty enjoyed three months in +anticipation, and more than three in retrospection.</p> + +<p>It was some compensation for Emily's absence that, as the days got long, +Willie was often able to leave the shop and come home for an hour or two +in the evening; and Willie's visits always tended to comfort Gerty.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>PROGRESS OF KNOWLEDGE.</h3> + + +<p>It was one pleasant evening in April that Gerty, who had been to see +Miss Graham and bid her good-bye, before her departure for the country, +stood at the back part of the yard, weeping bitterly. She held in her +hand a book and a new slate, Emily's parting gifts; but she had not +removed the wrapper from the one, and the other was bedewed with tears. +She was so full of grief that she did not hear any one approach, until a +hand was placed upon each of her shoulders; and, as she turned round, +she found herself encircled by Willie's arms, and face to face with +Willie's sunny countenance. "Why, Gerty!" said he, "this is no welcome, +when I've come home on a week-night to stay with you all the evening. +Mother and grandfather are gone out, and when I come to look for you, +you're crying so I can't see your face for tears. Come, come! <i>do</i> leave +off; you don't know how you look!"</p> + +<p>"Willie!", sobbed she, "do you know Miss Emily's gone?"</p> + +<p>"Gone where?"</p> + +<p>"Way off, six miles, to stay all summer!"</p> + +<p>But Willie only laughed. "Six miles!" said he; "that's a terrible way, +certainly!"</p> + +<p>"But I can't see her any more!" said Gerty.</p> + +<p>"You can see her next winter," rejoined Willie.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but that's so long!" said the child.</p> + +<p>"What makes you think so much of her?"</p> + +<p>"She thinks much of me; she can't see me, and she likes me better than +anybody, but Uncle True."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it; I don't believe she likes you half as well as I do. +I <i>know</i> she don't! How can she, when she's blind, and never saw you in +her life, and I see you all the time, and love you better than I do +anybody in the world, except my mother."</p> + +<p>"Do you <i>really</i>, Willie?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do. I always think, when I come home—Now I'm going to see +Gerty; and everything that happens all the week, I think to myself—I +shall tell Gerty that."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't think you'd like me so well."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, because you're so handsome, and I an't handsome a bit. I heard +Ellen Chase tell Lucretia Davis, the other day, that she thought Gerty +Flint was the worst-looking girl in the school."</p> + +<p>"Then she ought to be ashamed of herself," said Willie, "I guess she +an't very good-looking. I should hate the looks of <i>her</i> or any <i>other</i> +girl that said that."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Willie!" exclaimed Gerty, "it's true."</p> + +<p>"No, it an't <i>true</i>," said Willie. "To be sure, you haven't got long +curls, and a round face, and blue eyes, like Belle Clinton's, and +nobody'd think of setting you up for a beauty; but when you've been +running, and have rosy cheeks, and your great black eyes shine, and you +laugh so heartily, I often think you're the brightest-looking girl I +ever saw in my life: and I don't care what other folks think, as long as +I like your looks. I feel just as bad when you cry, or anything's the +matter with you, as if it were myself, and worse."</p> + +<p>Such professions of affection by Willie were frequent, and always +responded to by a like declaration from Gerty. Nor were they mere +professions. The two children loved each other dearly. That they loved +<i>each other</i> there could be no doubt; and if in the spring the bond +between them was already strong, autumn found it cemented by still +firmer ties; for, during Emily's absence, Willie filled her place, and +his own too; and though Gerty did not forget her blind friend, she +passed a most happy summer, and made such progress in her studies at +school that, when Emily returned in October, she could hardly understand +how so much had been accomplished in so short a time.</p> + +<p>Miss Graham's kindly feeling towards her little <i>protégé</i> had increased +by time and absence, and Gerty's visits to Emily became more frequent +than ever. The profit derived from these visits was not all on Gerty's +part. Emily had, during the previous winter, heard her read +occasionally, that she might judge of her proficiency; now she had +discovered that the little girl had attained to a much greater degree of +excellence. She read understandingly, and her accent and intonations +were so admirable that Emily found rare pleasure in listening to her.</p> + +<p>For the child's benefit, and for her own gratification, she proposed +that Gerty should come every day and read to her for an hour. Gerty was +only too happy to oblige her dear Miss Emily, who, in making the +proposal, represented it as a personal favour to herself, and a plan by +which Gerty's eyes could serve for them both. It was agreed that when +True started on his lamplighting expeditions he should take Gerty to Mr. +Graham's, and call for her on his return. Thus Gerty was punctual in her +attendance at the appointed time; and none but those who have tried it +are aware what a large amount of reading may be effected in six months, +if an hour is devoted to it each day. Emily, in her choice of books, did +not confine herself to such as came strictly within a child's +comprehension. She judged that a girl of such keen intelligence as Gerty +was naturally endowed with would be benefited by what was beyond her +comprehension; but that, in the effort she would be called upon to make, +would enlarge her capacity, and be an incentive to her genius. So +history, biography, and books of travels were perused by Gerty at an age +when most children's literary pursuits are confined to stories and +pictures. The child gave the preference to this comparatively solid +reading; and, aided by Emily's explanations, she stored up in her mind +much useful information.</p> + +<p>From the time Gerty was first admitted until she was twelve years old, +she attended the public schools, and was rapidly promoted; but what she +learned with Miss Graham, and acquired by study with Willie at home, +formed nearly as important a part of her education. Willie was very fond +of study, and was delighted at Gerty's participation in his favourite +pursuit. They were a great advantage to each other, for each found +encouragement in the other's sympathy and co-operation. After the first +year or two of their acquaintance, Willie was in his fifteenth year, +and beginning to look quite manly. But Gerty's eagerness for knowledge +had all the more influence upon him; for if the little girl of ten years +was patient and willing to labour at her books until after nine o'clock, +the youth of fifteen must not rub his eyes and plead weariness. When +they had reached these ages, they began to study French together. +Willie's former teacher continued to feel a kindly interest in the boy +who had long been his best scholar, and who would certainly have borne +away from his class the first prizes, had not a higher duty called him +to inferior labours previous to the public exhibition. Finding that +Willie had much spare time, he advised him to learn the French language, +which would prove useful to him—and offered to lend him such books as +he would need at the commencement.</p> + +<p>Willie availed himself of his teacher's advice and his kind offer, and +began to study in good earnest. When he was at home in the evening, he +came into True's room, partly for the sake of quiet and partly for the +sake of being with Gerty, who was at the time occupied with her books. +Gerty had a strong desire to learn French too. Willie wished her to try, +but thought she would not persevere. But to his surprise, she discovered +a wonderful determination, and a decided talent for language; and as +Emily furnished her with books like Willie's, she kept pace with him, +oftentimes translating more during the week than he could find time to +do. On Saturday evening, when they had always had a fine study-time +together, True would sit on his old settle watching Willie and Gerty +side by side, at the table, with their eyes bent on the page, which to +him seemed a labyrinth. Gerty looked out the words with great skill, +her bright eyes diving, as if by magic, into the dictionary, and +transfixing the right word at a glance, while Willie's province was to +make sense. Almost the only occasion when True disturbed them was when +he heard Willie talk about making sense. "Making sense, Willie!" said +the old man; "is that what ye're after? Well, you couldn't do a better +business. I'll warrant you a market for it; there's want enough on't in +the world!"</p> + +<p>It was but natural that, with Emily to advise and direct, and Willie to +aid and encourage, her intellect should rapidly expand and strengthen. +But how is it with that little heart of hers, that, at once warm and +affectionate, impulsive, sensitive, and passionate, now throbs with love +and gratitude, and now again burns as vehemently with the consuming fire +that a sense of wrong, a consciousness of injury to herself or her +friends, would at any moment enkindle? Has she, in two years of happy +childhood, learned self-control? Has she also attained to an enlightened +sense of the distinction between right and wrong, truth and falsehood? +In short, has Emily been true to her self-imposed trust, her high +resolve, to soften the heart and instruct the soul of the little +ignorant one? Has Gerty learned religion? Has she found out God, and +begun to walk patiently in that path which is lit by a holy light and +leads to rest?</p> + +<p>She has <i>begun</i>; and though her footsteps often falter, though she +sometimes turns aside, and, impatient of the narrow way, gives the rein +to her old irritability, she is yet but a child, and there is a +foundation for hopefulness in the sincerity of her good intentions, and +the depth of her contrition when wrong has had the mastery. Emily has +taught her where to place her strong reliance, and Gerty looks to higher +aid than Emily's, and she leans on a mightier arm.</p> + +<p>How much Gerty had improved in the two years that had passed since she +first began to be so carefully instructed and provided for, the course +of our story must develop. We cannot pause to dwell upon the trials and +struggles, the failures and victories, that she experienced. It is +sufficient to say that Miss Graham was satisfied and hopeful, True proud +and over-joyed, while Mrs. Sullivan, and even old Mr. Cooper, declared +she had improved wonderfully in her behaviour and her looks.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>AN ADVENTURE AND A MISFORTUNE.</h3> + + +<p>One Saturday evening in December Willie came in with his French books +under his arm, and, after the first salutations, exclaimed, as he put +the grammar and dictionary on the table, "Oh, Gerty! before we begin to +study, I <i>must</i> tell you and Uncle True the funniest thing that happened +to-day; I have been laughing so at home, as I was telling mother about +it!"</p> + +<p>"I heard you laugh," said Gerty. "If I had not been so busy, I should +have come in to hear what it was that was so very droll. But do tell +us!"</p> + +<p>"Why, you will not think it's anything like a joke when I begin, and I +should not be much amused, if she hadn't been the very queerest old +woman that ever I saw in my life."</p> + +<p>"Old woman!—You haven't told us about one!"</p> + +<p>"But I'm going to," said Willie. "You noticed how everything was covered +with ice this morning. How splendidly it looked, didn't it? I declare, +when the sun shone on that great elm-tree in front of our shop, I +thought I never saw anything so handsome in my life. But, there, that's +nothing to do with my old woman—only that the side-walks were just like +everything else, a perfect glare."</p> + +<p>"I want to hear about your old woman," said Gerty.</p> + +<p>"I was standing at the shop-door, about eleven o'clock, looking out, +when I saw the strangest-looking figure coming down the street. She had +on some kind of a black silk or satin gown, made very scant, and trimmed +all round with some brownish-looking lace—black it had been once, but +it isn't now—then she had a grey cloak, of silk material, that you +certainly would have said came out of the Ark, if it hadn't been for a +little cape, of a different colour, that she wore outside of it, and +which must have been dated a generation further back. Her bonnet! Oh +dear! it was twice as big as anybody's else, and she had a figured lace +veil thrown over one side, that reached nearly to her feet. But her +goggles crowned all; such immense horrid-looking things I never saw. She +had a work-bag made of black silk, with pieces of cloth of all the +colours in the rainbow sewed on to it, zigzag: then her +pocket-handkerchief was pinned to her bag, and a great feather fan—at +this season of the year!—that was pinned on somewhere—by a string, I +suppose—and a bundle-handkerchief, and a newspaper! Oh, gracious! I +can't think of half the things; but they were all pinned together with +great brass pins, and hung in a body on her left arm. Her dress, though, +wasn't the strangest thing about her. What made it funny was her way of +walking: she looked quite old and infirm, and it was evident she could +hardly keep her footing on the ice; and yet she walked with such a +consequential little air! Oh, Gerty, it's lucky you didn't see her! +you'd have laughed from then till this time."</p> + +<p>"Some poor, crazy crittur, wasn't she?" asked True.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" said Willie, "I don't think she was; though queer enough, but +not crazy. Just as she got opposite the shop door her feet slipped, and +she fell flat on the pavement. I rushed out, for I thought the fall +might have killed the poor little thing; and Mr. Bray, and a gentleman +whom he was waiting upon, followed me. She did appear stunned at first; +but we carried her into the shop and she came to her senses in a minute +or two. Crazy you asked if she were, Uncle True! No, not she! She's as +bright as you are! As soon as she opened her eyes, and seemed to know +what she was about, she felt for her work-bag and all its appendages; +counted them up, to see if the number were right, and then nodded her +head very satisfactorily. Mr. Bray poured out a glass of cordial and +offered it to her. By this time she had got her airs and graces back +again; so when he recommended her to swallow the cordial, she retreated +with a little old-fashioned curtsey, and put up both her hands to +express her horror at the idea of such a thing. The gentleman standing +by smiled, and advised her to take it, as it would do her no harm. She +turned round, made another curtsey to him, and asked, in a little +cracked voice, 'Can you assure me, sir, as a gentleman of candour and +gallantry, that it is not an exhilarating potion?' The gentleman could +hardly keep from laughing; but he told her it was nothing that would +hurt her. 'Then,' said she, 'I will venture to sip the beverage; it has +most aromatic fragrance.' She seemed to like the taste as well as the +smell, for she drank every drop of it; she turned to me and said, +'Except upon this gentleman's assurance of the harmlessness of the +liquid, I would not have swallowed it in your presence, my young master, +if it were only for the <i>example</i>. I have set my seal to no temperance +pledge, but I am abstemious because it becomes a lady; it is with me a +matter of choice, a matter of <i>taste</i>.' She now seemed quite restored, +and talked of starting again on her walk; but it was not safe for her to +go alone on the ice, and Mr. Bray thought so, for he asked her where +she was going? She told him, in her roundabout way, that she was going +to pass the day with mistress somebody, that lived near the Common. I +touched Mr. Bray's arm, and said, in a low voice, that if he could spare +me, I'd go with her. He said he shouldn't want me for an hour; so I +offered her my arm and told her I should be happy to wait upon her. You +ought to have seen her then. If I had been a grownup man, and she a +young lady, she couldn't have tossed her head or giggled more. But she +took my arm and we started off. I knew Mr. Bray and the gentleman were +laughing to see us, but I didn't care; I pitied the old lady, and I did +not mean she should get another tumble.</p> + +<p>"Every person we met stared at us; we were such a grotesque looking +couple. She accepted my proffered arm, and clasped her hands together +round it, making a complete handle of her two arms; and so she hung on +with all her might. But I ought not to laugh at the poor thing, for she +needed somebody to help her along, and I'm sure she wasn't heavy enough +to tire me out, if she did make the most of herself. I wonder who she +belongs to. I shouldn't think her friends would let her go about the +streets so, especially such walking as it is to-day."</p> + +<p>"What's her name?" inquired Gerty. "Didn't you find out?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Willie; "she wouldn't tell me. I asked her, but she only +said, in her little cracked voice (and here Willie began to laugh +immoderately), that she was the <i>incognito</i>, and that it was the part of +a true and gallant knight to discover the name of his fair lady. Oh, I +promise you she was a case! Why, you never heard anyone talk so +ridiculously as she did! I asked her how old she was. Mother said that +was very impolite, but it's the only uncivil thing I did or said, as the +old lady would testify herself if she were here."</p> + +<p>"How old is she?" said Gerty.</p> + +<p>"Sixteen."</p> + +<p>"Why, Willie, what do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"That's what she told me," said Willie; "and a true and gallant knight +must believe his fair lady."</p> + +<p>"Poor body!" said True; "she's childish!"</p> + +<p>"No, she isn't Uncle True," said Willie; "you'd think so part of the +time, to hear her run on with her nonsense; and then, the next minute, +she'd speak as sensible as anybody, and say how much obliged she was to +me for being willing to put myself to so much trouble for the sake of an +old woman like her. Just as we turned into Beacon Street we met a school +of girls, blooming beauties, handsome enough to kill, my old lady called +them; and when they came in sight, she seemed to take it for granted I +should get away from her, and run after some of them. But she held on +with a vengeance! It's lucky I had no idea of forsaking her, for it +would have been impossible! Some of them stopped and stared at us—of +course I didn't care how much they stared; but she seemed to think I +should be terribly mortified; and when we had passed them all, she +complimented me again and again on my spirit of conformity, her +favourite expression."</p> + +<p>Here Willie was out of breath. True clapped him upon the shoulder. "Good +boy, Willie?" said he, "clever boy! You always look out for the old +folks, and that's right. Respect for the aged is a good thing; though +your grandfather says it's very much out of fashion."</p> + +<p>"I don't know much about fashion, Uncle True; but I should think it was +a pretty mean sort of a boy that would see an old lady get one fall on +the ice, and not save her from another by seeing her safe home."</p> + +<p>"Willie's always kind to everybody," said Gerty.</p> + +<p>"Willie's either a hero," said the boy, "or else he has got two pretty +good friends—I rather think it's the latter. But, come, Gerty, Charles +the Twelfth is waiting for us, and we must study as much as we can +to-night. We may not have another chance very soon, for Mr. Bray isn't +well this evening; he seems threatened with a fever, and I promised to +go back to the shop after dinner to-morrow. If he should be sick, I +shall have plenty to do without coming home at all."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope Mr. Bray is not going to have a fever," said True and Gerty, +in the same breath.</p> + +<p>"He's such a clever man!" said True.</p> + +<p>"He's so good to you, Willie!" added Gerty.</p> + +<p>Willie hoped not, too; but his hopes gave way to his fears, when he +found on the following day that his kind master was not able to leave +his bed, and the doctor pronounced his symptoms alarming. A typhoid +fever set in, which in a few days terminated the life of the excellent +apothecary.</p> + +<p>The death of Mr. Bray was a dreadful blow to Willie. The shop was +closed, the widow having decided to dispose of the stock, and remove +into the country. Willie was thus left without employment, and deprived +of Mr. Bray's valuable assistance. His earnings had promoted the comfort +of his mother and grandfather, who had thus been enabled to relax their +own labours. The thought of being a burden to them was intolerable to +the independent spirit of the boy; and he tried to obtain another place. +He applied to the different apothecaries in the city, but none of them +wanted a youth of his age. He returned home at night, disappointed, but +not discouraged. If he could not obtain employment with an apothecary, +he would do something else. But what should he do? That was the +question. He had long talks with his mother about it. She felt that his +talents and education entitled him to fill a position equal to that he +had already occupied; and could not endure the thought of his descending +to more menial service. Willie, without pride, thought so too. He knew +he could give satisfaction in a station which required more business +talent than his situation at Mr. Bray's had ever given scope to. So he +had made every possible inquiry, but he had no one to speak a good word +for him, and so he met with no success, and day after day returned home +silent and depressed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>BRIGHTENING PROSPECTS.</h3> + + +<p>This was altogether a new experience to Willie, and a very trying one. +But he bore it bravely; kept all his worst struggles from his anxious +mother and desponding grandfather, and resolved to hope against hope. +Gerty was now his chief comforter. He told her all his troubles, and, +young as she was, she was a wonderful consoler. Always looking on the +bright side, she did much towards keeping up his hopes and strengthening +his resolutions. She knew more than most children of the various ways, +in which she sometimes made valuable suggestions to Willie, of which he +gladly availed himself. Among others, she one day asked him if he had +applied at the agency offices. He had never thought of it—wondered he +had not, but would try. He did so, and for a time was buoyed up with +hopes held out to him; but they proved fleeting, and he was now almost +in despair, when his eye fell upon an advertisement in a newspaper, +which seemed to afford another chance. He showed it to Gerty. It was +just the thing.</p> + +<p>Gerty was so sanguine, that Willie presented himself the next day at the +place specified with a more eager countenance than he had ever yet worn. +The gentleman talked with him some time; asked a great many questions, +hinted his doubts about his capability, and finally declared he was not +eligible. He returned with such a heavy heart that he could not meet his +mother, and so he went to True's room. It was the night before +Christmas. True had gone out, and Gerty was alone. She was preparing a +cake for tea—one of the few branches of the cooking department in which +she had acquired some skill. She was just coming from the pantry, with a +scoop-full of meal in her hand, when Willie entered. He tossed his cap +upon the settle, and leaned his head upon his hands, and this betrayed +the defeat the poor boy had met with. It was so unlike Willie to come in +without speaking—it was such a strange thing to see his bright young +head bowed down with care, and his elastic figure looking tired and old, +that Gerty knew at once his brave heart had given way. She laid down the +scoop, and walking up to him, touched his arm with her hand, and looked +up anxiously into his face. Her sympathetic look was more than he could +bear. He laid his head on the table, and in a minute more Gerty heard +great heavy sobs, each one of which sank deep into her soul. She often +cried herself—it seemed only natural; but Willie—the laughing, happy, +light-hearted Willie—she had never seen <i>him</i> cry; she didn't know he +<i>could</i>. She crept up on the rounds of his chair, and putting her arm +round his neck, whispered, "I shouldn't mind, Willie, if I didn't get +the place; I don't believe it's a <i>good</i> place."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it is, either," said Willie, lifting up his head; "but +what shall I do? I can't get any place, and I can't stay here doing +nothing."</p> + +<p>"We like to have you at home," said Gerty.</p> + +<p>"It's pleasant enough to be at home. I was always glad enough to come +when I lived at Mr. Bray's and was earning something, and could feel as +if anybody was glad to see me."</p> + +<p>"<i>Everybody</i> is glad to see you <i>now</i>."</p> + +<p>"But not as they were <i>then</i>," said Willie; "mother always looks as if +she expected to hear I'd got something to do; and grandfather, I +believe, never thought I should be good for much; and now, as I was +beginning to earn something, and be a help to them, I've lost my +chance!"</p> + +<p>"But that an't your fault, Willie; you couldn't help Mr. Bray's dying. I +shouldn't think Mr. Cooper would blame you for not having anything to do +<i>now</i>."</p> + +<p>"He don't <i>blame</i> me; but if you were in my place you'd feel just as I +do, to see him sit in his arm-chair in the evening, and groan and look +up at me, as much as to say, 'It's <i>you</i> I'm groaning about.'"</p> + +<p>"Have heart," said Gerty; "I think you'll be rich, some time—and <i>then</i> +won't he be astonished!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Gerty! you're a nice child, and I think I can do anything. If ever +I am rich, I promise to go shares with you; but 'tan't so easy. I used +to think I could make money when I grew up; but it's pretty slow +business."</p> + +<p>Here he was on the point of leaning down upon the table again, and +giving himself up to melancholy; but Gerty caught hold of his hands. +"Come," said she, "Willie, don't think any more about it. People have +troubles always, but they get over 'em; perhaps next week you'll be in a +better shop than Mr. Bray's, and we shall be as happy as ever. Do you +know," said she, changing the subject, "it's just two years to-night +since I came here?"</p> + +<p>"Is it?" said Willie. "Did Uncle True bring you home with him the night +before Christmas?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Why, that was Santa Claus carrying you to good things, instead of +bringing good things to you, wasn't it?"</p> + +<p>Gerty did not know anything about Santa Claus, that special friend of +children; and Willie, who had only lately read about him in some book, +undertook to tell her what he knew of the veteran toy-dealer. Finding +the interest of the subject had engaged his thoughts, Gerty returned to +her cooking, listening attentively to his story. When he had finished, +she was kneeling by the stove; her eyes twinkled with such a merry look, +that Willie exclaimed, "What are you thinking of, Gerty, that makes you +look so sly?"</p> + +<p>"I was thinking that perhaps Santa Clans would come for you to-night. If +he comes for folks that need something, I expect he'll come for you, and +carry you to some place where you'll have a chance to grow rich."</p> + +<p>"Very likely," said Willie; "he'll clap me into his bag and trudge off +with me as a present to somebody—some old Cr[oe]sus, that will give me +a fortune for the asking. I do hope he will; for, if I don't get +something to do soon, I shall despair."</p> + +<p>True now came in, and interrupted the conversation by the display of a +fine turkey, a Christmas present from Mr. Graham. He had also a book for +Gerty, a gift from Emily.</p> + +<p>"Isn't that queer," exclaimed Gerty. "Willie was just saying you were my +Santa Clans, Uncle True; and I do believe you are." As she spoke she +opened the book, and in the frontispiece was a portrait of that +individual. "It looks like him, Willie, I declare it does!" shouted she; +"a fur cap, a pipe, and just such a pleasant face; oh, Uncle True, if +you only had a sack full of toys over your shoulder, instead of your +lantern and that great turkey, you would be a complete Santa Claus. +Haven't you got anything for Willie, Uncle True?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I've got a little something; but I'm afeared he won't think much +on't. It's only a bit of a note."</p> + +<p>"A note for me?" inquired Willie. "Who can it be from?"</p> + +<p>"Can't say," said True, fumbling in his pockets; "only just round the +corner I met a man who stopped me to inquire where Mrs. Sullivan lived. +I told him she lived jist here, and I'd show him the house. When he saw +I lived here too, he gave me this little scrap o' paper, and asked me to +hand it to Master William Sullivan. I s'pose that's you, an't it?" He +handed Willie the slip of paper; and the boy, taking True's lantern in +his hand, and holding the note up to the light, read aloud:—"R. H. +Clinton would like to see William Sullivan on Thursday morning, between +ten and eleven o'clock, at No. 13 —— Wharf."</p> + +<p>Willie looked up in amazement. "What does it mean?"? said he; "I don't +know any such person."</p> + +<p>"I know who he is," said True; "why, it's he that lives in the great +stone house in —— street. He's a rich man, and that's the number of +his store—his counting-room rather—on —— Wharf!"</p> + +<p>"What! father to those pretty children we used to see in the window?"</p> + +<p>"The very same."</p> + +<p>"What can he want of me?"</p> + +<p>"Very likely he wants your sarvices," suggested True.</p> + +<p>"Then it's a place!" cried Gerty, "a real good one, and Santa Claus came +and brought it: I said he would! Oh, Willie, I'm so glad!"</p> + +<p>Willie did not know whether to be glad or not. He could not but hope, as +Gerty and True did, that it might prove the dawning of some good +fortune; but he had reasons for believing that no offer from this +quarter could be available to him, and therefore made them both promise +to give no hint of the matter to his mother or Mr. Cooper.</p> + +<p>On Thursday Willie presented himself at the appointed time and place. +Mr. Clinton, a gentlemanly man, received him kindly, asked but few +questions, and telling him that he was in want of a young man to fill +the place of junior clerk in his counting-room, offered him the +situation. Willie hesitated; for, though the offer was most encouraging, +Mr. Clinton made no mention of any salary; and that was a thing the +youth could not dispense with. Seeing that he was undecided, Mr. Clinton +said, "Perhaps you do not like my proposal, or have made some other +engagement?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," answered Willie, quickly. "You are very kind to feel so +much confidence in a stranger as to be willing to receive me, and your +offer is a most welcome one; but I have been in a retail store, where I +obtained regular earnings, which were very important to my mother and +grandfather. I had far rather be in a counting-room like yours, sir, and +I think I might learn to be of use; but I think there are numbers of +boys, sons of rich men, who would be glad to be employed by you, and +would ask no compensation for their services, so that I could not expect +any salary, at least for some years. I should indeed, be well repaid, at +the end of that time, by the knowledge I might gain of mercantile +affairs; but, unfortunately, sir, I can no more afford it than I could +afford to go to college."</p> + +<p>The gentleman smiled. "How did you know so much of these matters, my +young friend?"</p> + +<p>"I have heard, sir, from boys who were at school with me, and are now +clerks in mercantile houses, that they received no pay, and I always +considered it a perfectly fair arrangement; but it was the reason why I +felt bound to content myself with the position I held in an apothecary's +shop, which, though it was not suited to my taste, enabled me to support +myself, and to relieve my mother, who is a widow, and my grandfather, +who is old and poor."</p> + +<p>"Your grandfather is——"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Cooper, sexton of Mr. Arnold's church."</p> + +<p>"Aha!" said Mr. Clinton, "I know him. What you say, William, is true. We +do not pay any salary to our young clerks, and are overrun with +applications at that rate; but I have heard good accounts of you, my boy +(I shan't tell you where I had my information, though I see you look +very curious), and, moreover, I like your countenance, and believe you +will serve me faithfully. So, if you will tell me what you received from +Mr. Bray, I will pay you the same next year, and after that increase +your salary, if I find you deserve it; and you may commence with me on +the first of January."</p> + +<p>Willie thanked Mr. Clinton and departed. The merchant was reminded of +the time when he too, the only son of his mother, and she a widow, had +come alone to the city, sought long for employment, and finding it at +last, had sat down to write and tell her how he hoped soon to earn +enough for himself and her. And the spirits of those mothers who have +wept, prayed, and thanked God over similar communications from +much-loved sons, may know how to sympathise with good Mrs. Sullivan, +when she heard from Willie the joyful tidings. True exclaimed, "Ah! +Master Willie, they needn't have worried about yon, need they? I've told +your grandfather more than once, that I was of the 'pinion 'twould all +come out right at last."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE MINISTERING ANGEL.</h3> + + +<p>"I wonder," said Miss Peekout, as she leaned on the sill of the front +window, and looked up and down the street—"I wonder who that slender +girl is that walks by here every morning, with that feeble-looking old +man leaning on her arm? I always see them at just about this time, when +the weather permits. She's a nice child, and seems to be very fond of +the old man—probably her grandfather. I notice she's careful to leave +the best side of the walk for him, and she watches every step he takes; +she needs to do so, for he totters sadly. Poor little thing! she looks +pale and anxious; I wonder if she takes all the care of the old man!" +But they are now quite out of sight.</p> + +<p>"I <i>wonder</i>," said old Mrs. Grumble, as she sat at her window, a little +further down the street, "if I should live to be old and infirm—(Mrs. +Grumble was over seventy, but as yet suffered from no infirmity but that +of a very irritable temper)—I <i>wonder</i> if anybody would wait upon me, +and take care of me as that little girl does of her grandfather! No, +I'll warrant not! Who can she be?"</p> + +<p>"There, look, Belle!" said one young girl to another, on their way to +school; "there's the girl that we meet every day with the old man. How +can you say you don't think she's pretty? I admire her looks!"</p> + +<p>"You always do manage, Kitty, to <i>admire</i> people that everybody else +thinks are horrid-looking."</p> + +<p>"Horrid-looking!" replied Kitty; "she's anything but <i>horrid-looking</i>! +Do notice, now, Belle, when we meet them, she has the <i>sweetest</i> way of +looking up in the old man's face, and talking to him. I <i>wonder</i> what is +the matter with him! Do see how his arm shakes—the one that's passed +through hers!"</p> + +<p>The two couples are now close to each other, and they pass in silence.</p> + +<p>"<i>Don't you</i> think that she has an interesting face?" said Kitty, +eagerly, as soon as they were out of hearing.</p> + +<p>"She's got handsome eyes," answered Belle. "I don't see anything else +that looks interesting about her. I <i>wonder</i> if she don't hate to walk +in the street with that old grandfather; trudging along so slow, with +the sun shining in her face, and he leaning on her arm, and shaking so +that he can hardly keep on his feet! Catch me doing it."</p> + +<p>"Why, Belle!" exclaimed Kitty, "how can you talk so? I'm sure I pity +that old man dreadfully."</p> + +<p>"Lor!" said Belle, "what's the use of pitying? If you are going to begin +to pity, you'll have to do it all the time. Look,"—Belle touched her +companion's elbow—"there's Willie Sullivan, father's clerk: an't he a +beauty? I want to speak to him."</p> + +<p>But before she could address a word to him, Willie, who was walking very +fast, passed her with a bow, and a pleasant "Good morning, Miss Isabel;" +and ere she had recovered from the surprise and disappointment, was some +rods down the street.</p> + +<p>"Polite!" muttered the pretty Isabel.</p> + +<p>"Why, Belle! do see," said Kitty, who was looking back over her +shoulder, "he's overtaken the old man and my interesting little girl. +Look—look! He's put the old man's other arm through his, and they are +all three walking off together. Isn't that quite a coincidence?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing very remarkable," replied Belle, who seemed a little annoyed. +"I suppose they are persons he's acquainted with. Come, make haste; we +shall be late at school."</p> + +<p>Reader! Do <i>you wonder</i> who they are, the girl and the old man? or have +you already conjectured that they are Gerty and Trueman Flint? True is +no longer the brave, strong, sturdy protector of the lonely child. True +has had a paralytic stroke. His strength is gone, his power even to walk +alone. He sits all day in his arm-chair, or on the old settle, when he +is not out walking with Gerty. The blow suddenly struck down the robust +man, and left him feeble as a child. And the little orphan girl who, in +her weakness, her loneliness, and her poverty, found in him a father and +a mother, she now is all the world to him—his staff, his comfort, and +his hope. During four or five years that he has cherished the frail +blossom, she has been gaining strength for the time when <i>he</i> should be +the leaning, <i>she</i> the sustaining power; and when the time came, she was +ready to respond to the call. With the simplicity of a child, but a +woman's firmness; with the stature of a child, but a woman's capacity; +the earnestness of a child, but a woman's perseverance—from morning +till night, the faithful little nurse and housekeeper labours untiringly +in the service of her first, her best friend. Ever at his side, ever +attending to his wants, and yet most wonderfully accomplishing many +things which he never sees her do, she seems, indeed, to the fond old +man, what he once prophesied she would become—God's embodied blessing +to his latter years, cheering his pathway to the grave.</p> + +<p>Though disease had robbed True's limbs of their power, the blast had +spared his mind, which was clear and tranquil as ever; while his pious +heart was fixed in humble trust on that God whose presence and love he +had ever acknowledged, and on whom he so fully relied, that even in this +bitter trial he was able to say, in perfect submission, "Thy will, not +mine, be done!"</p> + +<p>Only about two months previous to the morning of which we have been +speaking had True been stricken down. He had been in failing health, but +had still been able to attend to his duties until one day in June, when +Gerty went into his room, and found, to her surprise, that he had not +risen, although it was much later than his usual hour. On going to the +bedside and speaking to him, she saw that he looked strangely, and had +lost the power of speech. Bewildered and frightened, she ran to call +Mrs. Sullivan. A physician was summoned, the case pronounced one of +paralysis, and for a time it was feared that it would prove fatal. He +soon, however, began to amend, recovered his speech, and in a week or +two was well enough to walk about with Gerty's assistance.</p> + +<p>The doctor had recommended as much gentle exercise as possible, and +every pleasant morning, before the day grew warm, Gerty presented +herself equipped for those walks, which excited so much observation. At +the same time she made such little household purchases as were +necessary, that she might not go out again and leave True alone.</p> + +<p>On the occasion alluded to, Willie accompanied them as far as the +provision shop; and, having seen True comfortably seated, proceeded to +the Wharf, while Gerty stepped up to the counter to bargain for the +dinner. She purchased a bit of veal suitable for broth, gazed wistfully +at some tempting summer vegetables, turned away and sighed. She held in +her hand the wallet which contained all their money; it had now been in +her keeping for some weeks, and was growing light; it was no use to +think about the vegetables; and she sighed, for she remembered how True +enjoyed the green peas last year. "How much is the meat?" asked she of +the butcher, who named the sum. It was <i>so little</i> that it almost seemed +to Gerty as if he had seen into her purse, and her thoughts too, and +knew how glad she would be that it did not cost any more. As he handed +her the change, he leaned over the counter, and asked, in an undertone, +what kind of nourishment Mr. Flint was able to take.</p> + +<p>"The doctor said any wholesome food."</p> + +<p>"Don't you think he'd relish some green peas? I've got some first-rate +ones, fresh from the country; and, if you'd think he'd eat 'em, I should +like to send you some. My boy shall take round half-a-peck or so, and +I'll put the meat right in the same basket."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Gerty; "he likes green peas."</p> + +<p>"Very well! Then I'll send him some beauties;" and he turned away to +wait upon another customer, so quick that Gerty thought he did not see +how the colour came into her face and the tears into her eyes. But he +<i>did</i> see, and that was the <i>reason</i> he turned away so quickly.</p> + +<p>True had an excellent appetite, enjoyed and praised the dinner +exceedingly, and, after eating heartily of it, fell asleep in his chair. +The moment he awoke, Gerty sprung to his side, exclaiming, "Uncle True, +here's Miss Emily!—here's dear Miss Emily come to visit you."</p> + +<p>"The Lord bless you, my dear, dear young lady!" said True, trying to +rise from his chair and go towards her.</p> + +<p>"Don't rise, Mr. Flint; I beg you will not," said Emily, whose quick ear +perceived the motion. "From what Gerty tells me, I fear you are not +able. Please give me a chair, Gerty, nearer to Mr. Flint."</p> + +<p>She drew near, took True's hand, but looked inexpressibly shocked as she +observed how tremulous it had become.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Miss Emily," said he, "I'm not the same man as when I saw you last; +the Lord has given me a warning, and I shan't be here long."</p> + +<p>"I am so sorry I did not know of this!" said Emily. "I should have come +to see you before, but I never heard of your illness until to-day. +George, my father's man, saw you and Gertrude at a shop this morning, +and he told me. Gertrude should have sent me word."</p> + +<p>Gerty was standing by True's chair, smoothing his grey locks with her +slender fingers. As Emily mentioned her name, he turned and looked at +her. O what a look of love he gave her! Gerty never forgot it.</p> + +<p>"Miss Emily," said he, "'twas no need for anybody to be troubled. The +Lord provided for me His own self. All the doctors and nurses in the +land couldn't have done half so much for me as this little gal o' mine. +It wa'nt at all in my mind, some four or five years gone—when I brought +the little barefoot mite of a thing to my home, and when she was sick +and e'en a'most dyin' in this very room, and I carried her in my arms +night and day—that her turn would come so soon. Ah! I little thought +then, Miss Emily, how the Lord would lay me low—how those same feet +would run about in my service, how her bit of a hand would come in the +dark nights to smooth my pillow, and I'd go about daytimes leaning on +her little arm. Truly God's ways are not like our ways, nor his thoughts +like our thoughts."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Uncle True!" said Gerty, "I don't do much for you, I wish I could +do a great deal more. I wish I could make you strong again."</p> + +<p>"I dare say you do, my darlin', but that can't be in this world; you've +given me what's far better than strength o' body. Yes, Miss Emily," +added he, "it's you we have to thank for all the comfort we enjoy. I +loved my little birdie; but I was a foolish man, and I should ha' spiled +her. You knew better what was for her good, and mine too. You made her +what she is now, one of the lambs of Christ, a handmaiden of the Lord. +If anybody'd told me, six months ago, that I should become a poor +cripple, and sit in my chair all day, and not know who was going to +furnish a living for me or birdie either, I should ha' said I never +could bear my lot with patience, or keep up any heart at all. But I've +learned a lesson from this little one. When I first got so I could +speak, after the shock, and tell what was in my mind, I was so troubled +a' thinkin' of my sad case, and Gerty with nobody to work or do anything +for her, that I said, 'What shall we do now?—what shall we do now?' And +then she whispered in my ear, 'God will take care of us, Uncle True!' +And when I forgot the sayin', and asked, 'Who will feed and clothe us +now!' she said again, 'The Lord will provide.' And, in my deepest +distress, when one night I was full of anxiety about my child, I said +aloud, 'If I die, who will take care of Gerty?' the little thing that I +supposed was sound asleep in her bed, laid her head down beside me, and +said, 'Uncle True, when I was turned out into the dark street all alone, +and had no friends nor any home, my heavenly Father sent you to me; and +now, if He wants you to come to Him, and is not ready to take me too, He +will send somebody else to take care of me the rest of my life.' After +that, Miss Emily, I gave up worryin' any more. Her words, and the +blessed teachin's of the Holy Book that she reads every day, have sunk +deep into my heart, and I'm at peace.</p> + +<p>"I used to think that, if I lived and had my strength spared me, Gerty +would be able to go to school and get a sight o' larnin', for she has a +nateral liking for it, and it comes easy to her. She's but a slender +child, and I never could bear the thought of her bein' driv to hard work +for a livin'; she don't seem made for it, somehow. I hoped, when she +grew up, to see her a school-mistress, like Miss Browne, or somethin' in +that line; but I've done bein' vexed about it now. I know, as she says, +it's all for the best, or it wouldn't be."</p> + +<p>Gerty, whose face had been hid against his shoulder, looked up, and said +bravely, "Oh, Uncle True, I'm sure I can do almost any kind of work. +Mrs. Sullivan says I sew very well, and I can learn to be a milliner or +a dressmaker; that isn't hard work."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Flint," said Emily, "would you be willing to trust your child with +me? If you should die, would you feel as if she were safe in my charge?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Emily," said True, "would I think her safe in angel-keepin'? I +should believe her in little short o' that, if she could have you to +watch over her."</p> + +<p>"Oh, do not say that," said Miss Emily, "or I shall fear to undertake so +solemn a trust. I know that my want of sight, my ill-health, and my +inexperience, almost unfit me for the care of a child like Gerty. But, +since you approve of the teaching I have already given her, and are so +kind as to think a great deal better of me than I deserve, I know you +will at least believe in the sincerity of my wish to be of use to her; +and if it will be any comfort to you to know that in case of your death +I will gladly take Gerty to my home, see that she is well educated, and, +as long as I live, provide for and take care of her, you have my solemn +assurance (and here she laid her hand on his) that it shall be done, and +that to the best of my ability I will try to make her happy."</p> + +<p>Gerty's first impulse was to rush towards Emily, and fling her arms +around her neck; but she was arrested in the act, for she observed that +True was weeping like an infant. In an instant his feeble head was +resting upon her bosom; her hand was wiping away the great tears that +had rushed to his eyes. It was an easy task, for they were tears of +joy—of a joy that had quite unnerved him in his present state of +prostration and weakness.</p> + +<p>The proposal was so utterly foreign to his thoughts or expectations, +that it seemed to him a hope too bright to be relied upon; and, after a +moment's pause, an idea occurring to him which seemed to increase his +doubts, he gave utterance to it in the words—"But your father, Miss +Emily!—Mr. Graham!—he's partickler, and not over-young now. I'm afeard +he wouldn't like a little gal in the house."</p> + +<p>"My father if indulgent to <i>me</i>," replied Emily; "he would not object to +any plan I had at heart, and I have become so much attached to Gertrude +that she would be of great use and comfort to me. I trust, Mr. Flint, +that you will recover a portion, at least, of your health and strength, +and be spared to her for many a year yet; but, in order that you may in +no case feel any anxiety on her account, I take this opportunity to tell +you that, if I should outlive you, she will be sure of a home with me."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Miss Emily!" said the old man, "my time's about out, I feel right +sure o' that; and, since you're willin', you'll soon be called to take +charge on her. I haven't forgot how tossed I was in my mind the day +after I brought her home with me, with thinkin' that p'raps I wasn't fit +to undertake the care of such a little thing, and hadn't ways to make +her comfortable; and then, Miss Emily, do you remember you said to +me, 'You've done quite right; the Lord will bless and reward you?' I've +thought many a time since that you was a true prophet, and that your +words were, what I thought 'em then, a whisper right from heaven! And +now you talk o' doing the same thing yourself; and I, that am just goin' +home to God, and feel as if I read his ways clearer than ever afore, <i>I +tell you</i>, Miss Emily, that you're doin' right, too; and, if the Lord +rewards you as he has done me, there'll come a time when this child will +pay you back in love and care all you ever do for her.—Gerty?"</p> + +<p>"She's not here," said Emily; "I heard her run into her own room."</p> + +<p>"Poor birdie!" said True, "she doesn't like to hear o' my leavin' her; +I'm sad to think how some day soon she'll almost sob her heart away over +her old uncle. Never mind now! I was goin' to bid her be a good child to +you; but I think she will, without biddin'; and I can say my say to her +another time. Good-bye, my dear young lady;"—for Emily had risen to go, +and George, the man-servant, was waiting at the door for her—"if I +never see you again, remember that you made an old man so happy that +he's nothing in this world left to wish for; and that you carry with you +a dyin' man's best blessin', and his prayer that God may grant such +perfect peace to your last days as now He does to mine."</p> + +<p>That evening, when True had already retired to rest, and Gerty had +finished reading aloud in her little Bible, as she always did at +bed-time, True called her to him, and asked her, as he had often done of +late, to repeat his favourite prayer for the sick. She knelt at his +bedside, and with a solemn and touching earnestness fulfilled his +request.</p> + +<p>"Now, darlin', the prayer for the dyin';—isn't there such a one in your +little book?"</p> + +<p>Gerty trembled. There <i>was</i> such a prayer, a beautiful one; and the +thoughtful child, to whom the idea of death was familiar, knew it by +heart—but could she repeat the words? Could she command her voice? Her +whole frame shook with agitation; but Uncle True wished to hear it, it +would be a comfort to him, and she would try. Concentrating all her +energy and self-command, she began; and, gaining strength as she +proceeded, went on to the end. Once or twice her voice faltered, but +with new effort she succeeded, in spite of the great bunches in her +throat; and her voice sounded so clear and calm, that Uncle True's +devotional spirit was not once disturbed by the thought of the girl's +sufferings; for, fortunately, he could not hear how her heart beat and +throbbed, and threatened to burst.</p> + +<p>She did not rise at the conclusion of the prayer—she could not—but +remained kneeling, her head buried in the bedclothes. For a few moments +there was a solemn stillness in the room; then the old man laid his hand +upon her head.</p> + +<p>She looked up.</p> + +<p>"You love Miss Emily, don't you, birdie?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed."</p> + +<p>"You'll be a good child to her when I'm gone?"</p> + +<p>"O, Uncle True!" sobbed Gerty, "you mustn't leave me! I can't live +without you, <i>dear</i> Uncle True!"</p> + +<p>"It is God's will to take me, Gerty; He has always been good to us, and +we mustn't doubt Him now. Miss Emily can do more for you than I could, +and you'll be very happy with her."</p> + +<p>"No, I shan't—I shan't ever be happy again in this world! I never was +happy until I came to you; and now, if you die, I wish I could die too!"</p> + +<p>"You mustn't wish that, darlin'; you are young, and must try to do good +in the world, and bide your time. I'm an old man, and only a trouble +now."</p> + +<p>"No, no, Uncle True!" said Gerty, earnestly; "you are not a trouble—you +never could be a trouble! I wish <i>I'd</i> never been so much trouble to +<i>you</i>."</p> + +<p>"So far from that, birdie, God knows you've long been my heart's +delight! It only pains me now to think that you're a spendin' all your +time, and slavin' here at home, instead of goin' to school, as you used +to; but, O! we all depend on each other so!—first on God, and then on +each other! And that 'minds me, Gerty, of what I was goin' to say. I +feel as if the Lord would call me soon, sooner than you think for now; +and, at first, you'll cry, and be sore vexed, no doubt; but Miss Emily +will take you with her, and she'll tell you blessed things to comfort +you;—how we shall all meet again and be happy in that world where +there's no partin's; and Willie'll do everything he can to help you in +your sorrer; and in time you'll be able to smile again. At first, and +p'raps for a long time, Gerty, you'll be a care to Miss Emily, and +she'll have to do a deal for you in the way o' schoolin', clothin', and +so on; and what I want to tell you is, that Uncle True expects you'll be +as good as can be, and do just what Miss Emily says; and, by-and-by, may +be, when you're bigger and older, you'll be able to do somethin' for +her. She's blind, you know, and you must be eyes for her; and she's not +over strong, and you must lend a helpin' hand to her weakness, just as +you do to mine; and, if you're good and patient, God will make your +heart light at last, while you're only tryin' to make other folks happy; +and when you're sad troubled (for everybody is sometimes), then think of +old Uncle True, and how he used to say, 'Cheer up, birdie, for I'm of +the 'pinion 'twill all come out right at last.' There, don't feel bad +about it; go to bed, darlin', and to-morrow we'll have a nice walk—and +Willie's goin' with us, you know."</p> + +<p>Gerty tried to cheer up, for True's sake, and went to bed. She did not +sleep for some hours; but when, at last, she did fall into a quiet +slumber, it continued unbroken until morning.</p> + +<p>She dreamed that morning was already come; that she and Uncle True and +Willie were taking a pleasant walk; that Uncle True was strong and well +again—his eye bright, his step firm, and Willie and herself laughing +and happy.</p> + +<p>And, while she dreamed the beautiful dream, little thinking that her +first friend and she should no longer tread life's paths together, the +messenger came—a gentle, noiseless messenger—and, in the still night, +while the world was asleep, took the soul of good old True, and carried +it home to God!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>A NEW HOME.</h3> + + +<p>Two months have passed since Trueman Flint's death, and Gertrude has for +a week been domesticated in Mr. Graham's family. It was through the +newspaper that Emily first heard of the little girl's sudden loss, and, +acquainting her father with her plans concerning the child, she found no +opposition to fear from him. He reminded her, however, of the +inconvenience that would attend Gertrude's coming to them at once, as +they were soon to start on a visit to some distant relatives, and would +not return until near the time to remove to the city for the winter. +Emily felt the force of this objection; for, although Mrs. Ellis would +be at home during their absence, she knew that she would be a very unfit +person to console Gertrude in her time of sorrow.</p> + +<p>This thought troubled Emily; and she regretted much that this unusual +journey should take place so inopportunely. But there was no help for +it; for Mr. Graham's plans were arranged, unless she would make +Gertrude's coming, at the very outset, disagreeable. She started for +town, therefore, the next morning, quite undecided what course to +pursue.</p> + +<p>The day was Sunday, but Emily's errand was one of charity and love, and +would not admit of delay; and an hour before the time for morning +service Mrs. Sullivan saw Mr. Graham's carriage stop at the door. She +ran to meet Emily, and guided her into her neat parlour to a comfortable +seat, placed in her hand a fan (for the weather was very warm), and then +told her how thankful she was to see her, and how sorry she felt that +Gertrude was not at home. Emily wonderingly asked where Gertrude was, +and learned that she was out walking with Willie. A succession of +inquiries followed, and a touching story was told by Mrs. Sullivan of +Gertrude's agony of grief, and the fears she had entertained lest the +girl would die of sorrow.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't do anything with her myself," said she. "There she sat, day +after day, last week, on her little stool, by Uncle True's easy-chair, +with her head on the cushion, and I couldn't get her to move or eat a +thing. She didn't appear to hear me when I spoke to her; and if I tried +to move her, she didn't struggle, but she seemed just like a dead weight +in my hands: and I couldn't bear to make her come away into my room, +though I knew it would change the scene, and be better for her. If it +hadn't been for Willie, I don't know what I should have done, I was +getting so worried about the poor child; but he knows how to manage her +better than I do. When he is at home we get along very well, for he +takes her right up in his arms (he's very strong, and she's as light as +a feather), and either carries her into some other room, or out in the +yard; and he contrives to cheer her wonderfully. He persuades her to +eat, and in the evenings, when he comes home from the store, takes long +walks with her. Last evening they went over Chelsea Bridge, where it was +cool and pleasant; and I suppose he diverted her attention and amused +her, for she came home brighter than I've seen her, and quite tired. I +got her to go to bed in my room, and she slept soundly all night, so +that she really looks like herself to-day. They've gone out again this +morning, and, being Sunday, and Willie at home all day, I've no doubt +he'll keep her spirits up, if anybody can."</p> + +<p>"Willie shows very good judgment," said Emily, "in trying to change the +scene for her, and divert her thoughts. I'm thankful she has had such +kind friends. I promised Mr. Flint she should have a home with me when +he was taken away, and not knowing of his death until now, I consider it +a great favour to myself, as well as her, that you have taken such +excellent care of her. I felt sure you have been all goodness, or it +would have given me great regret that I had not heard of True's death +before."</p> + +<p>"O, Miss Emily!" said Mrs. Sullivan, "Gertrude is so dear to us, and we +have suffered so much in seeing her suffer, that it was a kindness to +ourselves to do all we could to comfort her. Why, I think she and Willie +could not love each other better if they were own brother and sister: +and Willie and uncle True were great friends! indeed, we shall all miss +him very much. My old father doesn't say much about it, but I can see +he's very downhearted."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sullivan now informed Emily that a cousin of hers, a farmer's wife, +living about twenty miles from Boston, had invited them all to pass a +week or two with her at the farm; and, as Willie was now to enjoy his +usual summer vacation, they proposed accepting the invitation. She spoke +of Gertrude's accompanying them, and enlarged upon the advantage it +would be to her to breathe the country air, and ramble about the fields +and woods, after all the fatigue and confinement she had endured.</p> + +<p>Emily, finding that Gertrude would be a welcome guest, cordially +approved of the visit, and also arranged with Mrs. Sullivan that she +should remain under her care until Mr. Graham removed to Boston for the +winter. She was then obliged to leave, without waiting for Gertrude's +return, though she left many a kind message for her, and placed in Mrs. +Sullivan's hands a sufficient sum of money to provide for all her +wants.</p> + +<p>Gertrude went into the country, and abundance of novelty, country fare, +healthful exercise, and kindness and sympathy, brought the colour into +her cheek, and calmness and happiness into her heart. Soon after the +Sullivan's return from their excursion, the Grahams removed to the city, +and Gertrude had now been with them about a week. "Are you still +standing at the window, Gertrude. What are you doing, dear?"</p> + +<p>"I'm watching to see the lamps lit, Miss Emily."</p> + +<p>"But they will not be lit at all. The moon will rise at eight o'clock, +and light the streets sufficiently for the rest of the night."</p> + +<p>"I don't mean the street-lamps."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, my child?" said Emily, coming towards the window, and +lightly resting a hand on Gertrude's shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I mean the stars, dear Miss Emily. Oh, how I wish you could see them, +too!"</p> + +<p>"Are they very bright?"</p> + +<p>"O, they are beautiful! and there are so many! The sky is as full as it +can be."</p> + +<p>"How well I remember when I used to stand at this very window, and look +at them as you are doing now! It seems to me as if I saw them this +moment, I know so well how they look."</p> + +<p>"I love the stars—all of them," said Gertrude; "but my own star I love +the best."</p> + +<p>"Which do you call yours?"</p> + +<p>"That splendid one over the church-steeple; it shines into my room every +night, and looks me in the face. Miss Emily (and she spoke in a +whisper), it seems to me as if that star were lit on purpose for me. I +think Uncle True lights it every night. I always feel as if he were +smiling up there, and saying, 'See, Gerty, I'm lighting the lamp for +you.' Dear Uncle True! Miss Emily, do you think he loves me now?"</p> + +<p>"I do, indeed, Gertrude; and I think, if you make him an example, and +try to live as good and patient a life as he did, that he will really be +a lamp to your feet, and as bright a light to your path as if his face +were shining down upon you through the star."</p> + +<p>"I was patient and good when I lived with him; at least, I almost always +was; and I'm good when I'm with you; but I don't like Mrs. Ellis. She +tries to plague me, and she makes me angry, and I don't know what I do +or say. I did not mean to be impertinent to her to-day, and I wish I +hadn't slammed the door; but how could I help it, Miss Emily, when she +told me before Mr. Graham, that I tore up the last night's <i>Journal</i>, +and I <i>know</i> that I did not. It was an old paper that she saw me tying +your slippers up in, and I am almost sure that she lit the library fire +with the <i>Journal</i> herself; but Mr. Graham will always think I did it."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt, Gertrude, that you had reason to feel provoked, and I +believe you when you say that you were not to blame for the loss of the +newspaper. But remember, my dear, that there is no merit in being +patient and good-tempered, when there is nothing to irritate you. I want +you to learn to bear even injustice, without losing your self-control. +Mrs. Ellis has been here a number of years; she has had everything her +own way, and is not used to young people. She felt, when you came, that +it was bringing new care and trouble upon her, and it is not strange +that when things go wrong she should sometimes think you in fault. She +is a very faithful woman, very kind and attentive to me, and very +important to my father. It will make me unhappy if I have any reason to +fear that you and she will not live pleasantly together."</p> + +<p>"I do not want to make you unhappy; I do not want to be a trouble to +anybody," said Gertrude, with some excitement; "I'll go away! I'll go +off somewhere, where you will never see me again!"</p> + +<p>"Gertrude!" said Emily, seriously and sadly. Her hands were still upon +the young girl's shoulders, and, as she spoke, she turned her round, and +brought her face to face with herself. "Gertrude, do you wish to leave +your blind friend? Do you not love me?" So touchingly grieved was the +expression of the countenance that met her gaze, that Gertrude's proud +spirit was subdued. She threw her arms round Emily's neck, and +exclaimed, "No! dear Miss Emily, I would not leave you for all the +world! I will do just as you wish. I will never be angry with Mrs. Ellis +again for your sake."</p> + +<p>"Not for <i>my</i> sake, Gertrude," replied Emily, "for your own sake; for +the sake of duty and of God. A few years ago I should not have expected +you to have been pleasant and amiable towards anyone whom you felt +ill-treated you; but now that you know so well what is right; now that +you are familiar with the life of that blessed Master who, when he was +reviled, reviled not again; now that you have learned faithfully to +fulfil so many important duties; I had hoped that you had learned also +to be forbearing under the most trying circumstances. But do not think, +Gertrude, because I remind you when you have done wrong I despair of +your becoming one day all I wish to see you. What you are experiencing +now being a new trial, you must bring new strength to bear upon it; and +I have such confidence in you as to believe that, knowing my wishes, you +will try to behave properly to Mrs. Ellis on all occasions."</p> + +<p>"I will, Miss Emily, I will. I'll not answer her back when she's ugly to +me, if I have to bite my lips to keep them together."</p> + +<p>"O, I do not believe it will be so bad as that," said Emily, smiling. +"Mrs. Ellis's manner is rather rough, but you will get used to her."</p> + +<p>Just then a voice was heard in the entry, "To see <i>Miss Flint</i>! Really! +Well, <i>Miss Flint</i> is in Miss Emily's room. She's going to entertain +company, is she?" Gertrude coloured, for it was Mrs. Ellis's voice, and +her tone was very derisive. Emily stepped to the door, and opened +it.—"Mrs.Ellis."</p> + +<p>"What say, Emily?"</p> + +<p>"Is there anyone below?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; a young man wants to see Gertrude; it's that young Sullivan, I +believe."</p> + +<p>"Willie!" exclaimed Gertrude, starting forward.</p> + +<p>"You can go down and see him, Gertrude," said Emily, "Come back here +when he's gone; and, Mrs. Ellis, I wish you would step in and put my +room a little in order. I think you will find plenty of pieces for your +rag-bag about the carpet—Miss Randolph always scatters so many when she +is engaged with her dressmaking."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ellis made her collection, and then, seating herself on a couch at +the side of the fire-place, with her coloured rags in one hand and the +white in the other, commenced speaking of Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do with her, Emily?" said she; "send her to +school?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. She will go to Mr. W.'s this winter."</p> + +<p>"Why! Isn't that a very expensive school for a child like her?"</p> + +<p>"It is expensive, certainly; but I wish her to be with the best teacher +I know of, and father makes no objection to the terms. He thinks as I +do, that if we undertake to fit her to instruct others, she must be +thoroughly taught herself. I talked with him about it the first night +after we came into town for the season, and he agreed with me that we +had better put her out to learn a trade at once, than half-educate, make +a fine lady of her, and so unfit her for anything. He was willing I +should manage the matter as I pleased, and I resolved to send her to Mr. +W.'s. So she will remain with us for the present. I wish to keep her +with me as long as I can, not only because I am fond of the child, but +she is delicate and sensitive; and now that she is so sad about old Mr. +Flint's death, I think we ought to do all we can to make her happy; +don't you, Mrs. Ellis?"</p> + +<p>"I always calculate to do my duty," said Mrs. Ellis, rather stiffly. +"Where is she going to sleep when we get settled?"</p> + +<p>"In the little room at the end of the passage."</p> + +<p>"Then, where shall I keep the linen press?"</p> + +<p>"Can't it stand in the back entry? I should think the space between the +windows would accommodate it."</p> + +<p>"I suppose it must," said Mrs. Ellis, flouncing out of the room, and +muttering to herself, "everything turned topsy-turvy for the sake of +that little upstart!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ellis was vexed. She had long had her own way in the management of +all household matters at Mr. Graham's, and had become rather tyrannical. +She was capable, methodical, and neat; accustomed to a small family, and +now for many years quite <i>unaccustomed</i> to children; Gertrude was in her +eyes an intruder—one who must of necessity be in mischief, continually +deranging her most cherished plans.</p> + +<p>She saw in the new inmate a formidable rival to herself in Miss Graham's +affections; and Mrs. Ellis could not brook the idea of being second in +the regard of Miss Emily, who, owing to her peculiar misfortune, and to +her delicate health, had long been her special charge, and for whom she +felt the greatest tenderness. Owing to these circumstances, Mrs. Ellis +was not favourably disposed towards Gertrude; and Gertrude was not yet +prepared to love Mrs. Ellis very cordially.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>WHO ARE HAPPY?</h3> + + +<p>Emily sat alone in her room. Mr. Graham had gone to a meeting of +bank-directors. Mrs. Ellis was stoning raisins in the dining-room. +Willie detained Gertrude in the little library, and Emily was indulging +in a long train of meditation. Her head rested on her hand; her face, +usually so placid, was sad; and her whole appearance denoted +despondency. As thought pressed upon thought, and past sorrows arose in +quick succession, her head gradually sank upon the cushions of the couch +where she sat, and tears slowly trickled through her fingers. Suddenly a +hand was laid softly upon hers. She gave a quick start, as she always +did when surprised, for her unusual pre-occupation of mind had made +Gertrude's approaching step unheard. "Is anything the matter, Miss +Emily?" said Gertrude. "Do you like best to be alone, or may I stay?"</p> + +<p>The sympathetic tone, the delicacy of the child's question, touched +Emily. She drew her towards her, saying, as she did so, "O, yes, stay +with me;" then observing, as she passed an arm round the little girl, +that she trembled, and seemed violently agitated, she added, "But what +is the matter with you, Gerty? What makes you tremble and sob so?"</p> + +<p>At this, Gertrude broke forth with, "O, Miss Emily, I thought you were +crying when I came in, and I hoped you would let me come and cry with +you; for I'm so miserable I can't do anything else."</p> + +<p>Calmed herself by the agitation of the child, Emily tried to discover +the cause of this new affliction. Willie had been to tell her that he +was going away, going out of the country; as Gertrude expressed it, to +the other end of the world—to India. Mr. Clinton was interested in a +mercantile house in Calcutta, and had offered William the most +favourable terms to go abroad as clerk to the establishment. The +prospect was far better than he could hope for by remaining at home; the +salary was sufficient to defray all his own expenses, and provide for +the wants of those who were now becoming more dependent upon him. The +chance, too, of future advancement was great; though the young man's +affectionate heart clung fondly to home and friends, there was no +hesitation in his mind as to the course which both duty and interest +prompted. He agreed to the proposal, and whatever his own struggles were +at the thought of five, or perhaps ten years' banishment, he kept them +manfully to himself, and talked cheerfully about it to his mother and +grandfather.</p> + +<p>"Miss Emily," said Gertrude, when she had acquainted her with the news, +"how can I bear to have Willie go away? How can I live without Willie? +He is so kind, and loves me so much! He was always better than any +brother, and, since Uncle True died, he has done everything in the world +for me. I believe I could not have borne Uncle True's death if it had +not been for Willie; and now how can I let him go away?"</p> + +<p>"It is hard, Gertrude," said Emily, kindly, "but it is no doubt for his +advantage; you must try and think of that."</p> + +<p>"I know it," replied Gertrude—"I suppose it is; but, Miss Emily, you do +not know how I love Willie. We were so much together; and there were +only us two, and we thought everything of each other; he was so much +older than I, and always took such good care of me. O, I don't think you +have any idea what friends we are!"</p> + +<p>Gertrude had unconsciously touched a chord that vibrated through Emily's +whole frame. Her voice trembled as she answered, "<i>I</i>, Gertrude! <i>not +know</i>, my child! I know better than you imagine, how dear he must be to +you. I, too, had——" then she paused abruptly, and there were a few +moments' silence, during which Emily got up, walked hastily to the +window, pressed her aching head against the frosty glass, and then +returning, said, in a low voice which had recovered its usual calmness, +"O Gertrude! in the grief that oppresses you now, you little realise how +much you have to be thankful for. Think, my dear, what a blessing it is +that Willie will be where you can often hear from him, and where he can +have constant news of his friends."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Gerty; "he says he shall write to me and his mother very +often."</p> + +<p>"Then, too," said Emily, "you ought to rejoice at the good opinion Mr. +Clinton must have of Willie: the confidence he must feel in his +uprightness, to place in him so much trust. I think that is very +flattering."</p> + +<p>"So it is," said Gerty; "I did not think of that."</p> + +<p>"And you have lived so happily together," continued Emily, "and will +part in such perfect peace. O Gertrude! Gertrude! such a parting as that +should not make you sad; there are so much worse things in the world. Be +patient, my dear child; do your duty, and perhaps there will some day be +a happy meeting, that will repay you for all you suffer in the +separation."</p> + +<p>Emily's voice trembled as she uttered the last few words. Gertrude's +eyes were fixed upon her friend with a puzzled expression. "Miss Emily," +said she, "I begin to think that everything has trouble."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Gertrude; can you doubt it?"</p> + +<p>"I did not use to think so. I knew I had, but I thought other folks were +more fortunate. I fancied that rich people were all very happy; and, +though you are blind, and that is a dreadful thing, I supposed you were +used to it; and you always looked so pleasant and quiet, I took it for +granted nothing ever vexed you now. And then, Willie!—I believed once +that nothing could make him look sad, he was always so gay; but when he +hadn't any place, I saw him really cry; and then, when Uncle True died, +and now again to-night, when he was telling me about going away, he +could hardly speak, he felt so badly. And so, Miss Emily, since I see +that you and Willie have troubles, and that tears will come, though you +try to keep them back, I think the world is full of trials, and that +every one gets a share."</p> + +<p>"It is the lot of humanity, Gertrude, and we must not expect it to be +otherwise."</p> + +<p>"Then, who can be happy, Miss Emily?"</p> + +<p>"Those, only, my child, who have learned submission; those who, in the +severest afflictions, see the hand of a loving Father, and obedient to +his will, kiss the chastening rod."</p> + +<p>"It is very hard, Miss Emily."</p> + +<p>"It is hard, my child, and therefore few in this world can rightly be +called happy; but if, even in the midst of our distress, we can look to +God in faith and love, we may, when the world is dark around, experience +a peace that is a foretaste of heaven."</p> + +<p>Willie's departure was sudden, and Mrs. Sullivan had only a week in +which to make those arrangements which a mother's thoughtfulness deems +necessary. Her hands were therefore full of work, and Gerty, whom Emily +at once relinquished for the short time previous to the vessel's +sailing, was of great assistance to her. Willie was very busy during the +day, but was always with them in the evening.</p> + +<p>On one occasion, he returned home about dusk, and his mother and +grandfather both being out, and Gertrude having just put aside her +sewing, he said to her, "Come, Gerty, if you are not afraid of taking +cold, come and sit on the door-step with me, as we used to do in old +times; there will be no more such warm days as this, and we may never +have another chance to sit there, and watch the moon rise above the old +house at the corner."</p> + +<p>"O Willie!" said Gertrude, "do not speak of our never being together in +the old place again! I cannot bear the thought; there is not a house in +Boston I could ever love as I do this."</p> + +<p>"Nor I," replied Willie; "but there is one chance in a hundred if I +should be gone five years that there would not be a block of brick +stores in this spot when I come to look for it. I wish I did not think +so, for I shall have many a longing after the old home."</p> + +<p>"But what will become of your mother and grandfather if this house is +torn down?"</p> + +<p>"It is not easy to tell, Gerty, what will become of any of us by that +time; but, if there is any necessity for their moving, I hope I shall be +able to provide a better house than this for them."</p> + +<p>"You won't be here, Willie."</p> + +<p>"I know it, but I shall be always hearing from you, and we can talk +about it by letters, and arrange everything. The idea of any such +changes, after all," added he, "is what troubles me most in going away; +I think they would miss me and need me so much. Gertrude, you will take +care of them, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"I!" said Gertrude, in amazement; "such a child as I!—what can I do?"</p> + +<p>"If I am gone five or ten years, Gerty, you will not be a child all that +time, and a woman is often a better dependence than a man, especially +such a good brave woman as you will be. I have not forgotten the +beautiful care you took of Uncle True; and, whenever I imagine +grandfather or mother old and helpless, I always think of you, and hope +you will be near them; for I know if you are, you will be a greater help +than I could be. So I leave them in your care, Gerty, though you <i>are</i> +only a child yet."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Willie," said Gertrude, "for believing I shall do everything +I can for them. I certainly will, as long as I live. But, Willie, <i>they</i> +may be strong and well all the time you are gone; and I, although I am +so young, may be sick and die—nobody knows."</p> + +<p>"That is true enough," said Willie, sadly; "and I may die myself; but it +will not do to think of that. It seems to me I never should have courage +to go, if I didn't hope to find you all well and happy when I come home. +You must write to me every month, for it will be a much greater task to +mother, and I am sure she will want you to do nearly all the writing; +and, whether my letters come directed to her or you, it will be all the +same, you know. And, Gerty, you must not forget me, darling; you must +love me just as much when I am gone—won't you?"</p> + +<p>"Forget you, Willie! I shall be always thinking of you, and loving you +the same as ever. What else shall I have to do? But you will be off in a +strange country, where everything will be different, and you will not +think half as much of me, I know."</p> + +<p>"If you believe that, Gertrude, it is because you do <i>not</i> know. You +will have friends all around you and I shall be alone in a foreign land; +but every day of my life my heart will be with you and my mother."</p> + +<p>They were now interrupted by Mr. Cooper's return, nor did they +afterwards renew the conversation; but the morning Willie left them, +when Mrs. Sullivan was leaning over a neatly-packed trunk in the next +room, trying to hide her tears, and Mr. Cooper's head was bowed lower +than usual, Willie whispered to Gerty, "Gerty, dear, for my sake take +good care of <i>our</i> mother and grandfather—they are <i>yours</i> almost as +much as mine."</p> + +<p>On Willie's thus leaving home, for the first time, to struggle and +strive among men, Mr. Cooper, who could not yet believe that the boy +would be successful in the war with fortune, gave him many a caution +against indulgent hopes which never would be realised. And Mrs. +Sullivan, with tears, said, "Love and fear God, Willie, and do not +disappoint your mother." We pause not to dwell upon the last night the +youth spent at his home, his mother's last evening prayer, her last +morning benediction, the last breakfast they all took together (Gertrude +among the rest), or the final farewell embrace. And Willie went to sea. +And the pious, loving, hopeful woman, who for eighteen years had +cherished her boy with tenderness and pride, maintained now her wonted +spirit of self-sacrifice, and gave him up without a murmur. None knew +how she struggled with her aching heart, or whence came the power that +sustained her.</p> + +<p>And now began Gertrude's residence at Mr. Graham's, hitherto in various +ways interrupted. She attended school, and laboured diligently at her +studies. Her life was varied by few incidents, for Emily never +entertained much company, and in the winter scarcely any, and Gertrude +formed no intimate acquaintance among her companions. With Emily she +passed many happy hours; they took walks, read books, and talked much +with each other, and Miss Graham found that in Gertrude's observing +eyes, and her feeling and glowing descriptions of everything that came +within their gaze, she was herself renewing her acquaintance with the +outer world. In errands of charity and mercy Gertude was either her +attendant or her messenger; and all the dependants of the family, from +the cook to the little boy who called at the door for the fragments of +broken bread, agreed in loving and praising the child, who, though +neither beautiful nor elegantly dressed, had a fairy lightness of step, +a grace of movement, and a dignity of bearing which impressed them all +with the conviction that she was no beggar in spirit, whatever might be +her birth or fortune. Mrs. Ellis's prejudices against her was still +strong; but, as Gertrude was always civil, and Emily prudently kept them +much apart, no unhappy result ensued.</p> + +<p>She went often to see Mrs. Sullivan, and, as the spring advanced, they +began to look for news of Willie. No tidings had come, however, when the +season arrived for the Grahams to remove into the country for the +summer. A letter written by Gertrude to Willie, soon after they were +established there, will give some idea of her situation and mode of +life.</p> + +<p>After dwelling upon the disappointment of having not yet heard from him, +and giving an account of the last visit she had made to his mother +before leaving the city, she wrote: "But you made me promise, Willie, to +write about myself, and said you should wish to hear everything that +occurred at Mr. Graham's which concerned me in anyway; so if my letter +is more tedious than usual, it is your own fault, for I have much to +tell of our removal to D——, and of the way in which we live here, so +different from our life in Boston. I think I hear you say, when you have +read so far, 'O dear! now Gerty is going to give me a description of Mr. +Graham's country-house!'—but you need not be afraid; I have not +forgotten how, the last time I undertook to do so, you placed your hand +over my mouth to stop me, and assured me you knew the place as well as +if you had lived there all your life, for I oft described it to you. +Everything looks smaller and less beautiful than it seemed to me then; +and, though I will not describe it to you again, I must just tell you +that the entry and piazzas are much narrower than I expected, the rooms +lower, and the garden and summer-houses not nearly so large. Miss Emily +asked me, a day or two ago, how I liked the place, and if it looked as +it used formerly. I told her the truth; and she was not at all +displeased, but laughed at my old recollections of the house and +grounds, and said it was always so with things we had seen when we were +little children.</p> + +<p>"I need not tell you that Miss Emily is kind to me as ever; for nobody +who knows her as you do would suppose she could ever be anything but the +best and loveliest person in the world. I can never do half enough, +Willie, to repay her for all her goodness to me; and yet, she is so +pleased with little gifts, and so grateful for trifling attentions, that +it seems as if everybody might do something to make her happy. I found a +few violets in the grass yesterday, and when I brought them to her she +kissed and thanked me as if they had been so many diamonds; and little +Ben Gately, who picked a hatful of dandelion-blossoms, without a single +stem, and then rang at the front-door bell, and asked for Miss Ga'am, so +as to give them to her himself, got a sweet smile for his trouble, and a +'thank you, Bennie,' that he will not soon forget. Wasn't it pleasant +in Miss Emily, Willie?</p> + +<p>"Mr. Graham has given me a garden, and I mean to have plenty of flowers +for her by-and-by—that is, if Mrs. Ellis doesn't interfere; but I +expect she will, for she does in almost everything. Willie, Mrs. Ellis +is my <i>great</i> trial. She is just the kind of person I cannot endure. I +believe there are some people that other people <i>can't</i> like—and she is +just the sort I can't. I would not tell anybody else so, because it +would not be right, and I do not know that it is right to mention it at +all; but I always tell you everything. Miss Emily talks to me about her, +and says I must learn to love her, and <i>when I do</i> I shall be an angel.</p> + +<p>"There, I know you will think that is some of Gerty's old temper; and +perhaps it is, but you don't know how she tries me; it is in little +things that I cannot tell very easily, and I would not plague you with +them if I could, so I won't write about her any more—I will try to love +her dearly.</p> + +<p>"You will think that now, while I am not going to school, I shall hardly +know what to do with my time; but I have plenty to do. The first week +after we came here I found the mornings very dull. You know I am always +an early riser; but, as it does not agree with Miss Emily to keep early +hours, I never see her until eight o'clock, full two hours after I am up +and dressed. When we were in Boston, I always spent that time studying; +but this spring, Miss Emily, who noticed that I was growing fast, and +heard Mr. Arnold notice how pale I looked, fancied it would not do for +me to spend so much time at my books; and so, when we came to D——, she +planned my study-hours, which are very few, and arranged that they +should take place after breakfast, and in her own room. She always +advised me, if I could, to sleep later in the morning; but I could not, +and was up at my usual time, wandering around the garden. One day I was +quite surprised to find Mr. Graham at work, for it was not like his +winter habits; but he is a queer man. He asked me to come and help him +plant onion-seeds, and I rather think I did it pretty well; for after +that he let me plant a number of things, and label little sticks to put +down by the side of them. At last, to my joy, he offered to give me a +piece of ground for a garden, where I might raise flowers. And so I am +to have a garden. But I am making a very long story, Willie, and have +not time to say a thousand other things that I want to. O! if I could +see you, I could tell you in an hour more than I could write in a week. +In five minutes I expect to hear Miss Emily's bell, and then she will +send for me to come and read to her.</p> + +<p>"I long to hear from you, dear Willie, and pray to God morning and +evening, to keep you in safety, and soon send tidings of you to your +loving <span class="smcap">Gerty</span>."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>THE RULING PASSION CONTROLLED.</h3> + + +<p>A few weeks after the date of this letter, Gerty learned through George, +who went daily to the city to attend to the marketing, that Mrs. +Sullivan had left word at the shop of our old acquaintance, the butcher, +that she had received a letter from Willie, and wanted Gerty to come +into town and see it. Emily was willing to let her go, but afraid it +would be impossible to arrange it, as Charlie, the only horse Mr. Graham +kept, was in use, and she saw no other way of sending her. "Why don't +you let her go in the omnibus?" asked Mrs. Ellis. Gerty looked +gratefully at Mrs. Ellis; it was the first time that lady had ever +seemed anxious to promote her views.</p> + +<p>"I don't think it's safe for her to go alone in the coach," said Emily.</p> + +<p>"Safe!—What, for that great girl!" said Mrs. Ellis, whose position in +the family had no forms of restraint with Miss Graham.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it is?" inquired Emily. "She seems a child to me, to be +sure; but as you say, she is almost grown up, and I dare say is capable +of taking care of herself. Gertrude, are you sure you know the way from +the omnibus-office in Boston to Mrs. Sullivan's?"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly well, Miss Emily."</p> + +<p>A place was therefore secured, and Gertrude set forth on her expedition +with beaming eyes and a full heart. She found Mrs. Sullivan and Mr. +Cooper well, and rejoicing over the tidings from Willie, who, after a +long but agreeable voyage, had reached Calcutta in health and safety. A +description of his new home, his new duties and employers, filled all +the rest of the letter, except what was devoted to affectionate messages +and inquiries, a large share of which were for Gerty. Gertrude dined +with Mrs. Sullivan, and then hastened to the omnibus. She took her seat, +and as she waited for the coach to start, amused herself with the +passers-by. It was nearly three o'clock, and she began to think she +should be the only passenger, when she heard a strange voice proceeding +from a person whose approach she had not perceived. She moved towards +the door, and saw, standing at the back of the coach, the most +singular-looking being she had ever beheld. It was an old lady, small, +and considerably bent with years. She had been vainly endeavouring to +mount the inconvenient vehicle, and now, with one foot upon the lower +step, was calling to the driver to help her. "Sir," said she, in +measured tones, "is this travelling equipage under your honourable +charge?"</p> + +<p>"What say, marm?—Yes, I'm the driver;" saying which, he came up to the +door, opened it, and without waiting for the polite request which was on +the old lady's lips, placed his hand beneath her elbow, and lifted her +into the coach and shut the door. "Bless me!" ejaculated she, as she +seated herself opposite Gertrude, and began to arrange her veil and +other draperies, "that individual is not versed in the art of assisting +a lady, without detriment to her habiliments. O dear, O dear!" added +she, "I've lost my parasol."</p> + +<p>She rose as she spoke; but the sudden starting of the coach threw her +off her balance, and she would have fallen, had it not been for +Gertrude, who caught her by the arm, and reseated her, saying as she did +so, "Do not be alarmed, madam; here is the parasol."</p> + +<p>As she spoke she drew into view the missing article, which, though +nearly the size of an umbrella, was fastened to the old lady's waist by +a green ribbon, and, having slipped out of place, was supposed lost. And +not a parasol only did she bring to light; numerous other articles, +connected with the same green string—a large reticule of various +colours, a black lace cap, a large feather fan, and other articles. +They were partly hidden under a thin black silk shawl, and Gertrude +began to think her companion had been on a pilfering expedition. If so, +however, the culprit seemed remarkably at ease, for, before the coach +had gone many steps, she deliberately placed her feet on the opposite +seat, and proceeded to make herself comfortable. In the first place, +much to Gertrude's horror, she took out all her teeth, and put them in +her work-bag; then drew off a pair of black silk gloves, and replaced +them by cotton ones; removed her lace veil, folded and pinned it to the +green string. She next untied her bonnet, threw over it, as a protection +from the dust, a large cotton handkerchief, and loosing her fan, applied +herself diligently to the use of it, closing her eyes as she did so, +evidently intending to go to sleep. She did fall into a doze, for she +was very quiet, and Gertrude, occupied with observing some heavy clouds +that were rising from the west, forgot to observe her fellow traveller, +until she was startled by a hand suddenly laid upon her own, and an +abrupt exclamation of "My dear young damsel, do not those dark shadows +betoken adverse weather?"</p> + +<p>"I think it will rain very soon," replied Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"This morn, when I ventured forth," soliloquised the old lady, "the sun +was bright, the sky serene; even the winged songsters took part in the +universal joy; and now before I get home, my delicate lace flounces +(glancing at the skirt of her dress) will prove a sacrifice to the +pitiless storm."</p> + +<p>"Does the coach pass your door?" asked Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"No; Oh, no! not within half-a-mile. Does it better accommodate you, my +young miss?"</p> + +<p>"No. I shall have a mile to walk."</p> + +<p>The coach had reached its destination, and the two passengers alighted. +Gertrude would have started at once on her walk, but was prevented by +the old lady, who begged her to wait, as she was going the same way. The +old lady refused to pay the fare demanded by the driver; and declared it +was not the regular fare, and accused the man of an intention to put the +excess into his pocket. Gertrude was impatient, for she was every moment +expecting to see the rain pour in torrents; but the matter being +compromised, she was permitted to proceed. They had walked about a +quarter-of-a-mile, and at a very slow rate, when the rain fell; and now +Gertrude was asked to unloose the huge parasol, and carry it over her +companion and herself. In this way they had walked nearly as much more +of the distance, when the waters began to descend as if all the +reservoirs of heaven were thrown open. Just then Gertrude heard a step +behind them, and, turning, she saw George, Mr. Graham's man, running in +the direction of the house. He recognised her at once, and exclaimed, +"Miss Gertrude, you'll be wet through; and Miss Pace too. Sure, and ye'd +better baith hasten to her house, where ye'll be secure."</p> + +<p>So saying, he caught Miss Pace in his arms, and signing to Gertrude to +follow, rushed across the street, and hurrying on to a cottage near by, +did not stop until he had placed the old lady in safety beneath her own +porch; and Gerty also gained its shelter. Miss Pace was so bewildered +that it took her some minutes to recover her consciousness; and it was +arranged that Gertrude should stop where she was for an hour or two, and +that George should call for her when he passed that way with the +carriage on his return from the depot.</p> + +<p>Miss Patty Pace was not a person of much hospitality. She owned the +cottage which she occupied and lived alone, keeping no servants and +entertaining no visitors. She was herself a famous visitor; and, as but +a small part of her life had been passed in D——, and all her friends +and connexions lived either in Boston or at a much greater distance, she +was a constant frequenter of omnibuses. But though, through her +travelling propensities and her regular attendance at church, she was +well known, Gertrude was perhaps the first visitor who had ever entered +her house.</p> + +<p>Even when she was at her door, she had to take the old lady's key, +unlock and open it herself, and finally lead her hostess into the +parlour, and help her off with her innumerable capes, shawls, and veils. +Once come to a distinct consciousness of her situation, however, and +Miss Patty Pace conducted herself with all the elegant politeness for +which she was remarkable. Suffering a thousand regrets at the trying +experience her own clothes had sustained, she expressed nearly as many +fears lest Gertrude had ruined every article of her dress. It was only +after many assurances from the latter that her boots were scarcely wet +at all, her gingham dress and cape not hurt by rain, and her nice straw +bonnet safe under the scarf she had thrown over it, that Miss Patty +could be prevailed upon to so far forget the duties of a hostess as to +retire, and change her lace flounces for something more suitable for +home wear. As soon as she left the room, Gertrude, whose curiosity was +excited, took a nearer view of many articles, both of ornament and use, +which had attracted her attention, from their singular appearance. Miss +Pace's room was remarkable as its owner. Its furniture, like her +apparel, was made up of the gleanings of every age and fashion. +Gertrude's quick eye was revelling amid the few relics of ancient +eloquence, and the numerous specimens of folly and bad taste, when the +old lady returned.</p> + +<p>A neat though quaint black dress having taken the place of the +much-valued flounces, she now looked more lady-like. She held in her +hand a tumbler of pepper and water, and begged her visitor to drink, +assuring her it would warm her stomach and prevent her taking cold; and +when Gertrude, who could scarcely keep from laughing in her face, +declined the beverage, Miss Patty seated herself, and, while enjoying +the refreshment, carried on a conversation which at one moment satisfied +her visitor she was a women of sense, and the next that she was either +foolish or insane. The impression which Gertrude made upon Miss Patty +was more decided. Miss Patty was delighted with the young miss, and +declared she had an intellect that would do honour to a queen, a figure +that was airy as a gazelle, and motions more graceful than those of a +swan. When George came for Gertrude, Miss Pace was sorry to part with +her, invited her to come again, and she promised to do so.</p> + +<p>The satisfactory news from Willie, and the amusing adventures of the +afternoon, had given to Gertrude such a feeling of buoyancy, that she +bounded into the house, and up the stairs, with that fairy quickness +Uncle True had so loved to see in her, and which, since his death, her +subdued spirits had rarely permitted her to exercise.</p> + +<p>At the door of her room she met Bridget, the housemaid. On inquiring +what was going on there, she learned that during her absence her room +had received a thorough cleaning. Alarmed at the idea of Mrs. Ellis +having invaded her premises, she surveyed the apartment with a slight +feeling of agitation, which, as she continued her observations, swelled +into angry excitement.</p> + +<p>When Gertrude went from Mrs. Sullivan's to Mr. Graham's house in the +city, she took with her a trunk containing her wardrobe, an old bandbox, +which she put on the shelf of a closet in her chamber. There it remained +during the winter, unpacked, and when the family went into the country, +the box went also, carefully protected by its owner, who had put it in a +corner behind the bed, and the evening before her expedition to the city +had been engaged in inspecting its contents, endeared to her by the +charm of old association, and many a tear had the little maiden shed +over her stock of valuables. There was the figure of the Samuel, Uncle +True's first gift, defaced by time and accident. There, too, were his +pipes, dark with smoke and age; but as she thought what comfort they had +been to him, she felt them a consolation to her. She had also his +lantern, for she had not forgotten its pleasant light, the first that +ever fell upon the darkness of her life; also his fur cap, beneath which +she had often seen the kindly smile, and could hardly realise that there +was not one for her still hidden beneath its crown.</p> + +<p>All these things, excepting the lantern and cap, Gertrude had left upon +the mantel-piece; and on entering the room, her eye sought her +treasures. They were gone. The mantel-piece was empty. She ran towards +the corner for the old box. It was gone. To rush after the housemaid and +question her was but the work of an instant.</p> + +<p>Bridget was a new-comer, a stupid specimen, but Gertrude obtained from +her all the information she needed. The image, the pipes, and the +lantern were thrown among a heap of broken glass and crockery, and +smashed to atoms. The cap, said to be moth-eaten, and the other articles +had been cast into the fire at Mrs. Ellis's orders. Gertrude allowed +Bridget to depart, unaware of the greatness of her loss; then, shutting +the door, she wept.</p> + +<p>She rose from the bed suddenly, and started for the door; then, some new +thought seeming to check her, she returned again to the bedside, and, +with a loud sob, fell upon her knees, and buried her face in her hands. +Once or twice she lifted her head, and seemed on the point of rising and +going to face her enemy; but each time something came across her mind +and detained her. It was not fear; oh, no! Gertrude was not afraid of +anybody. It must have been some stronger motive than that. Whatever it +might be, it was something that had a soothing influence, for, after +every fresh struggle, she grew calmer, and rising, seated herself in a +chair by the window, leaned her head on her hand, and looked out. The +shower was over, and the smiles of the refreshed earth were reflected in +a glowing rainbow. A little bird came and perched on a branch of a tree +close to the window, and shouted forth a <i>Te Deum</i>. A Persian +lilac-bush, in full bloom, sent up a delicious fragrance. A wonderful +calm stole into Gertrude's heart, and she felt "the grace that brings +peace succeed to the passions that produce trouble." She had conquered; +she had achieved the greatest of earth's victories, a victory over +herself. The brilliant rainbow, the carol of the bird, the fragrance of +the blossoms, all the bright things that gladdened the earth after the +storm, were not half so beautiful as the light that overspread the face +of the young girl when, the storm within her laid at rest, she looked up +to heaven and her heart sent forth its silent offering of praise.</p> + +<p>The sound of the tea-bell startled her. She bathed her face and brushed +her hair, and went downstairs. There was no one in the dining-room but +Mrs. Ellis; Mr. Graham had been detained in town, and Emily was +suffering severe headache. Gertrude took tea alone with Mrs. Ellis, who, +unaware of the great value Gertrude attached to her old relics, was +conscious she had done an unkind thing.</p> + +<p>Next day Mrs. Prime, the cook, came to Emily's room, and produced the +little basket, made of a nut, saying, "I wonder now, Miss Emily, where +Miss Gertrude is; for I've found her little basket in the coal-hole, and +I guess she'll be right glad on't—'tan't hurt a mite." Emily inquired, +"What basket?" and the cook, placing it in her hands, gave an account of +the destruction of Gertrude's property, which she had herself witnessed +with indignation. She described the distress of Gertrude when +questioning Bridget, which the sympathising cook had heard from her +chamber.</p> + +<p>As Emily listened to the story, she thought the previous afternoon she +heard Gertrude sobbing in her room, but that she concluded that she +mistook. "Go," said she, "and carry the basket to Gertrude; she is in +the little library; but please, Mrs. Prime, don't tell her that you have +mentioned the matter to me." Emily expected for several days, to hear +from Gertrude the story of her injuries; but Gertrude kept her trouble +to herself.</p> + +<p>This was the first instance of complete self-control to Gerty. From this +time she experienced more and more the power of governing herself; and, +with each new effort gaining new strength, became at last a wonder to +those who knew the temperament she had had to contend with. She was now +nearly fourteen years old, and so rapid had been her recent growth that, +instead of being below the usual stature, she was taller than most girls +of her age. Freedom from study, and plenty of air and exercise, +prevented her, however, from suffering from this circumstance. Her +garden was a source of great pleasure to her, and flowers prospering +under her careful training, she had always a bouquet ready to place by +Emily's plate at breakfast-time.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE NURSE.</h3> + + +<p>Mr. Graham's garden was very beautiful, abounding in rich shrubbery, +summer houses, and arbours covered with grape-vines; but a high, broad +fence hid it from public view, and the house, standing back from the +road, was old-fashioned in its appearance. The summer was passing most +happily, and Gertrude, in the enjoyment of Emily's society, and in the +consciousness that she was rendering herself useful and important to +this excellent friend, was finding in every day new causes of +contentment and rejoicing, when a stop was suddenly put to all her +pleasure.</p> + +<p>Emily was taken ill with a fever, and Gertrude, on her entering the +sick-room, to share in its duties, was rudely repulsed by Mrs. Ellis, +who had constituted herself sole nurse, and who declared that the fever +was catching, and Miss Emily did not want her there.</p> + +<p>For three or four days Gertrude wandered about the house, inconsolable. +On the fifth morning after her banishment from the room, she saw Mrs. +Prime, the cook, going upstairs with some gruel; and, giving her some +beautiful rose-buds which she had gathered, she begged her to give them +to Emily, and ask if she might not come in and see her. She lingered +about the kitchen awaiting Mrs. Prime's return, in hopes of some +message, at least, from the sufferer. But when the cook came down the +flowers were still in her hand, and as she threw them on the table, the +kind-hearted woman gave vent to her feelings.</p> + +<p>"Well! folks do say that first-rate cooks and nurses are allers as cross +as bears! 'Tan't for me to say whether it's so 'bout cooks, but 'bout +nurses there an't no sort o'doubt! I would not want to go there, Miss +Gertrude; I'm sure she'd bit your head off."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't Miss Emily take the flowers?" asked Gertrude, looking quite +grieved.</p> + +<p>"Well, she hadn't no word in the matter. You know she couldn't see what +they were; and Mrs. Ellis flung 'em outside the door, vowin' I might as +well bring pison into the room with a fever as roses. I tried to speak +to Miss Emily, but Mrs. Ellis set up such a hush-sh-sh I s'posed she was +goin' to sleep, and jest made the best o' my way out. Ugh! don't she +begin to scold when there's anybody taken sick!"</p> + +<p>Gertrude sauntered out into the garden. She had nothing to do but think +anxiously about Emily, who, she feared, was very ill. Her work and her +books were all in Emily's room, where they were usually kept; the +library might have furnished amusement, but it was locked up. So the +garden was the only thing left for her, and there she spent the rest of +the morning; and many others, for Emily grew worse, and a fortnight +passed away without Gertrude's seeing her, or having any other +intimation regarding her health than Mrs. Ellis's occasional report to +Mr. Graham, who, as he saw the physician every day, and made frequent +visits to his daughter, did not require that particular information +which Gertrude was eager to obtain. Once or twice she had asked Mrs. +Ellis, who replied, "Don't bother me with questions! what do you know +about sickness?"</p> + +<p>One afternoon Gertrude was sitting in a large summer-house at the end of +the garden; her own piece of ground, fragrant with mignonette and +verbena, was close by, and she was busily engaged in tying up some +little papers of seeds, when she was startled by hearing a step beside +her, and looking up, saw Dr. Jeremy, the family physician, entering the +building.</p> + +<p>"Ah! what are you doing?" said the doctor, in a quick manner peculiar to +him. "Sorting seeds, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Gerty, blushing, as she saw the doctor's keen black +eyes scrutinising her face!</p> + +<p>"Where have I seen you before?" asked he, in the same blunt way.</p> + +<p>"At Mr. Flint's."</p> + +<p>"Ah! True Flint's! I remember all about it. You're his girl! Nice girl, +too! And poor True, he's dead! Well, he's a loss to the community! So +this is the little nurse I used to see there. Bless me! how children do +grow!"</p> + +<p>"Doctor Jeremy," asked Gertrude, in an earnest voice, "will you please +to tell me how Miss Emily is?"</p> + +<p>"Emily! she an't very well just now."</p> + +<p>"Do you think she'll die?"</p> + +<p>"Die! No! What should she die for? I won't let her die, if you'll help +me to keep her alive. Why an't you in the house taking care of her?"</p> + +<p>"I wish I might!" exclaimed Gertrude, starting up; "I wish I might!"</p> + +<p>"What's to hinder?"</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Ellis, sir; she won't let me in; she says Miss Emily doesn't want +anybody but her."</p> + +<p>"She's nothing to say about it, or Emily either; it's my business, and I +want you. I'd rather have you to take care of my patients than all the +Mrs. Ellises in the world. She knows nothing about nursing; let her +stick to her cranberry-sauce and squash-pies. So, mind, to-morrow you're +to begin."</p> + +<p>"O, thank you, doctor."</p> + +<p>"Don't thank me yet; wait till you've tried it—it's hard work taking +care of sick folks. Whose orchard is that?"</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Bruce's."</p> + +<p>"Is that her pear-tree?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"By George, Mrs. Bruce, I'll try your pears for you!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, the doctor, a man some sixty-five years of age, stout and +active, sprung over a stone wall, which separated them from the +orchard, and reached the foot of the tree almost at a bound.</p> + +<p>As Gertrude watched the proceeding, she observed the doctor stumble over +some obstacle, and only saved himself from falling by stretching forth +both hands, and sustaining himself against the trunk of the tree. At the +same instant a head, adorned with a velvet smoking-cap, was slowly +lifted from the long grass, and a youth, about sixteen or seventeen +years of age, stared at the intruder.</p> + +<p>Nothing daunted, the doctor at once took the offensive ground towards +the occupant of the place, saying, "Get up, lazy bones! What do you lie +there for, tripping up honest folks?"</p> + +<p>"Whom do you call honest folks, sir?" inquired the youth, apparently +undisturbed by the doctor's epithet and inquiry. He showed much <i>sang +froid</i>.</p> + +<p>"I call myself and my little friend here remarkably honest people," +replied the doctor, winking at Gertrude, who, standing behind the wall +and looking over, was laughing at the way in which the doctor had got +caught. The young man turned, and gave a broad stare at Gertrude's merry +face.</p> + +<p>"Can I do anything for you, sir?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"Yes, certainly," replied the doctor. "I came here to help myself to +pears; but you are taller than I—perhaps, with the help of that +crooked-handled cane of yours, you can reach that best branch."</p> + +<p>"A remarkably honourable and honest errand!" muttered the young man. "I +shall be happy to be engaged in so good a cause." And, drawing down the +branch, so that he could reach it with his hand, shook it vigorously. +The ripe fruit fell on every side; and the doctor, having filled his +pockets, and both his hands, started for the other side of the wall.</p> + +<p>"Have you got enough?" asked the youth, in a very lazy tone of voice.</p> + +<p>"Plenty, plenty," said the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Glad of it," said the boy, indolently throwing himself on the grass, +and still staring at Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"You must be very tired," said the doctor, stepping back a pace or two; +"I'm a physician, and should advise a nap."</p> + +<p>"Are you, indeed!" replied the youth, in the same half-drawling, +half-ironical tone of voice; "then I think I'll take your advice;" and +he threw himself upon the grass, and closed his eyes.</p> + +<p>Having emptied his pockets upon the seat of the summer-house, and +invited Gertrude to partake, the doctor, still laughing at his boyish +feat, looked at his watch. "Half-past four! The cars go in ten minutes. +Who's going to drive me down to the depot?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, sir," replied Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Where's George?"</p> + +<p>"He's gone to the meadow to get in some hay, but he left white Charlie +harnessed in the yard; I saw him fasten him to the chain, after he drove +you up from the cars."</p> + +<p>"Ah! then you can drive me down to the depot."</p> + +<p>"I can't, sir; I don't know how."</p> + +<p>"But you must; I'll show you how. You're not afraid?"</p> + +<p>"O, no, sir; but Mr. Graham——"</p> + +<p>"Never you mind Mr. Graham—do you mind me. I'll answer for your coming +back safe enough."</p> + +<p>Gertrude was naturally courageous; she had never driven before, but, +having no fears, she succeeded admirably, and, being often afterwards +called upon by Dr. Jeremy to perform the same service, she soon became +skilful in the use of the reins.</p> + +<p>Dr. Jeremy was true to his promise of installing Gertrude in Emily's +sick room. The next visit he made to his patient, he spoke in terms of +the highest praise of Gertrude's devotion to her old uncle, and her +capability as a nurse, and asked why she had been expelled from the +chamber.</p> + +<p>"She is timid," said Emily, "and is afraid of catching the fever."</p> + +<p>"Don't believe it," said Dr. Jeremy; "'tan't like her."</p> + +<p>"Do you think not?" inquired Emily, earnestly. "Mrs. Ellis——"</p> + +<p>"Told a lie," interrupted the doctor. "Gerty wants to come and take care +of you, and she knows how as well as Mrs. Ellis any day; it isn't much +you need done. You want quiet, and that's what you can't have with that +great talking woman about. So I'll send her to Jericho to-day, and bring +my little Gertrude up here. She's a quiet little mouse, and has got a +head on her shoulders."</p> + +<p>It is not to be supposed that Gertrude could provide for Emily's wants +any better than Mrs. Ellis; and Emily, knowing this, took care that the +housekeeper should not be sent to Jericho; for, though Dr. Jeremy, a man +of strong prejudices, did not like her, she was excellent in her +department, and could not be dispensed with.</p> + +<p>So, though Emily, Dr. Jeremy, and Gertrude were all made happy by the +free admission of the latter to the sick-room, the housekeeper was never +conscious that anyone knew her ill-will to Gertrude.</p> + +<p>There were care and tenderness in Gertrude, which only the warmest love +could have dictated. When Emily awoke at night from a troubled sleep, +she found a cooling draught ready at her lips, and knew from Mrs. +Ellis's deep snoring that it was not her hand that held it—when she +observed that all day long no troublesome fly was ever permitted to +approach her pillow, her aching head was relieved by hours of patient +bathing, and the little feet that were never weary were always +noiseless—she realised the truth that Dr. Jeremy had brought her a most +excellent medicine. A week or two passed away, and she was able to sit +up, though not yet able to leave her room. A few weeks more, and the +doctor began to insist upon air and exercise. "Drive out two or three +times every day," said he.</p> + +<p>"How can I?" said Emily. "George has so much to do, it will be very +inconvenient."</p> + +<p>"Let Gertrude drive you; she is a capital hand."</p> + +<p>"Gertrude," said Emily, smiling, "I believe you are a great favourite of +the doctor's; he thinks you can do anything. You never drove, did you?"</p> + +<p>"Hasn't she driven me to the depot every day for these six weeks?" +inquired the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible?" asked Emily.</p> + +<p>Upon her being assured this was the case, and the doctor insisting that +there was no danger, Charlie was harnessed into the carriage, and Emily +and Mrs. Ellis went out to drive with Gertrude, an experiment which, +being often repeated, was a source of health to the invalid, and +pleasure to them all. In the early autumn, when Emily's health was +restored, old Charlie was daily called into requisition; sometimes Mrs. +Ellis accompanied them, but, as she was often engaged in household +duties, they oft went by themselves, in a large, old-fashioned buggy, +and Emily declared that Gertrude's learning to drive had proved a great +source of happiness. Once or twice, in the course of the summer and +autumn, Gertrude saw again the lazy youth whom Dr. Jeremy had stumbled +over when he went to steal pears. Once he came and sat on the wall while +she was at work in her garden, professed himself astonished at her +activity, talked a little with her about her flowers, asked some +questions concerning her friend Dr. Jeremy, and ended by requesting to +know her name.</p> + +<p>Gertrude blushed; she was sensitive about her name, and, though she went +by that of Flint, and did not think much about it, she could not fail to +remember, when the question was put to her point-blank, that she had no +surname of her own. Emily had tried to find Nan Grant, in order to learn +from her something of Gertrude's early history; but Nan had left her old +habitation, and for years nothing had been heard of her.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>CHANGES.</h3> + + +<p>It was the twilight of a sultry September day, and, wearied by excessive +heat, Emily sat on the front piazza of her father's house, inhaling a +delicious and refreshing breeze. The western sky was still streaked with +brilliant lines of red, the lingering effects of a gorgeous sunset, +while the moon, now nearly at the full, and triumphing in the close of +day and the commencement of her nightly reign, cast her full beams upon +Emily's white dress, and gave to the beautiful hand and arm, which, +escaping from the draperied sleeve, rested on the side of her rustic +arm-chair, the semblance of polished marble. Ten years had passed since +Emily was introduced to the reader; and yet, so slight were the changes +wrought by time, that she looked little older than on her first meeting +Gertrude in Mr. Arnold's church.</p> + +<p>She had even then experienced much of the sorrows of life, and learned +how to distil from the bitter dregs of suffering a balm for every pain. +Even then, that experience, and the blessed knowledge she had gained +from it, had both stamped themselves upon her countenance; therefore, +time had little power upon her; as she was then so was she now; lovely +in her outward appearance, and still more lovely in heart and life. +Still a close observer might perceive in her a greater degree of +buoyancy of spirit, keenness of interest in what was going on about her, +and evident enjoyment of life, and this was due, as Emily acknowledged, +to her recent close companionship with one to whom she was bound by the +warmest affection, and who, by her sympathy, her constant devotion, her +natural appreciation of the entertaining and the ludicrous, and the +beautiful and true, and her unsparing efforts to bring her much-loved +friend into communion with everything she herself enjoyed, had called +into play faculties which blindness had rendered almost dormant, and +become, what Uncle True bade her be, eyes to her benefactor.</p> + +<p>On the present occasion, as Emily sat alone, her thoughts were sad. She +held her head a little on one side, in a listening attitude, and, as +often as she heard the sound of the gate swinging in the breeze, she +would start, while a look of anxiety, and even pain, would cross her +features.</p> + +<p>At length, some one approaches the gate. None but Emily's quick ear +could have distinguished the light step; but she hears it at once, and, +rising, goes to meet the new comer, whom we must pause to introduce, +for, though an old acquaintance, time has not left her unchanged, and it +would be hard to recognize in her our little quondam Gertrude, for she +has now become a young lady. She is some inches taller than Emily, and +her figure is slight and delicate. Her complexion is dark, but clear, +and rendered brilliant by the rosy hue that flushes her cheeks; but that +may be the effect of her rapid walk from the railroad station.</p> + +<p>Gertrude's eyes have retained their old lustre, and do not now look too +large for her face; and, if her mouth be less classically formed than +the strict rule of beauty would commend, it is atoned for by two rows of +small pearly teeth, which are as regular as a string of beads. Her neat +dress of spotted muslin fits close to her throat, and her black mantle +does not hide the roundness of her taper waist.</p> + +<p>Is Gertrude a beauty? By no means. Hers is a face and form about which +there would be a thousand different opinions, and few would pronounce +her beautiful. But there are faces whose ever-varying expression one +loves to watch—tell-tale faces, that speak the truth and proclaim the +sentiment within; faces that now light up with intelligence, now beam +with mirth, now sadden at the tale of sorrow, now burn with a holy +indignation for that which the soul abhors, and faces sanctified by the +divine presence, when the heart turns from the world and itself, and +looks upward in the spirit of devotion. Such a face was Gertrude's. +There are forms which, though neither dignified nor fairy-like, possess +a grace, an ease, a power of moving airily in their sphere—and such a +form was Gertrude's. Whatever charm these attractions might give +her—and many estimated it highly—it was greatly enhanced by an utter +unconsciousness, on her part, of possessing any attractions at all.</p> + +<p>As she perceived Miss Graham coming to meet her, she quickened her pace, +and joining her near the door-step, where a path led into the garden, +passed her arm affectionately over Emily's shoulder, in a manner which +the latter's blindness, and Gertrude's superior height and ability to +act as guide, had rendered usual, and said, while she drew the shawl +closer around her blind friend, "Here I am again, Miss Emily! Have you +been alone since I went away?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear, most of the time, and have been worried to think you were +travelling about in Boston this excessive warm day."</p> + +<p>"It has not hurt me in the least; I only enjoy this cool breeze all the +more—it is such a contrast to the heat and dust of the city!"</p> + +<p>"But, Gerty," said Emily, stopping short in their walk, "what are you +coming away from the house for? You have not been to tea, my child."</p> + +<p>"I know it, Emily, but I don't want any supper."</p> + +<p>They walked slowly and in perfect silence. At last Emily said, "Well, +Gertrude, have you nothing to tell me?"</p> + +<p>"O yes, a great deal, but——"</p> + +<p>"But you know it will be sad news to me, and so you don't like to speak +it; is it not so?"</p> + +<p>"I ought not to have the vanity, dear Emily, to think it would trouble +you very much; but ever since last evening, when I told you what Mr. W. +said, and what I had in my mind, and you seemed to feel so badly at the +thought of our being separated, I have felt almost doubtful what it was +right for me to do."</p> + +<p>"And I, on the other hand, Gertrude, have been reproaching myself for +allowing you to have any knowledge of my feeling in the matter, lest I +should be influencing you against your duty. I feel that you are right, +Gertrude, and that, instead of opposing, I ought to do everything I can +to forward your plans."</p> + +<p>"Dear Emily!" said Gertrude, "if you thought so from what I told you +yesterday, you would be convinced had you observed all that I have +to-day."</p> + +<p>"Why! Are matters any worse than they were at Mrs. Sullivan's?"</p> + +<p>"Much worse than I described to you. I did not then know all that she +had to contend with; but I have been at their house since I left home +this morning (for Mr. W. did not detain me five minutes), and it does +not seem safe for such a delicate woman as Mrs. Sullivan to be alone +with Mr. Cooper, now that his mind is in such a state."</p> + +<p>"But do you think you can do any good?"</p> + +<p>"I know I can, dear Emily; I can manage him much better than she can, +and do more for his comfort. He is like a child now, and full of whims. +When he can be indulged, Mrs. Sullivan will please him at any amount of +inconvenience, and even danger to herself, not only because he is her +father, and she feels it her duty, but she is afraid of him, he is so +irritable and violent. She tells me he often takes it into his head to +do the strangest things, such as going out late at night, when it is +unsafe, and sleeping with his window wide open."</p> + +<p>"Poor woman!" exclaimed Emily; "what does she do in such cases?"</p> + +<p>"I can tell you, Emily, for I saw an instance of it to-day. When I went +in this morning, he was preparing to make a coal-fire in the grate, +notwithstanding the heat, which was becoming intense in the city."</p> + +<p>"And Mrs. Sullivan?" said Emily.</p> + +<p>"Was sitting on the lower stair, in the front entry, crying."</p> + +<p>"Poor thing!" murmured Emily.</p> + +<p>"She could do nothing with him," continued Gertrude, "and had given up +in despair."</p> + +<p>"She ought to have a strong woman or a man to take care of him."</p> + +<p>"That is what she dreads worse than anything. She says it would kill her +to see him unkindly treated, as he would be sure to be by a stranger; +and, besides, she shrinks from the idea of having anyone in the house to +whom she is unaccustomed. She is very neat and particular in all her +arrangements, has always done her work herself; and declares she would +sooner admit a wild beast into her family than an Irish girl."</p> + +<p>"Her new house has not been a source of much pleasure to her yet, has +it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. She was saying to-day how strange it seemed when she had been +looking forward so long to the comfort of a new tenement, that, just as +she had moved in and got everything furnished to her mind, she should +have this great trial."</p> + +<p>"It seems strange to me," said Emily, "that she did not sooner perceive +its approach. I noticed when I went with you the failure in the old +man's intellect."</p> + +<p>"I had observed it for a long time," remarked Gertrude, "but never spoke +of it to her; and I do not think she was in the least aware of it, until +about their removal, when the breaking-up of old associations affected +his mind."</p> + +<p>"Sad thing!" said Emily. "How old is he?"</p> + +<p>"I believe he is very old; I remember Mrs. Sullivan's telling me some +time ago that he was near eighty."</p> + +<p>"Is he so old as that? Then I am not surprised that these changes have +made him childish."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. Melancholy, as it is, we may come to the same if we live to his +age; and as he seems generally contented, I do not lament it so much on +his own account as Mrs. Sullivan's."</p> + +<p>"Does it seem hard for her to bear up under it?"</p> + +<p>"I think it would not be if she were well; but there is something the +matter with her, and I fear it is more serious than she allows, for she +looks very pale, and has had several alarming ill turns lately."</p> + +<p>"Has she consulted a physician?"</p> + +<p>"No; she doesn't wish for one, and says she shall soon be better; but I +do not feel sure that she will, especially as she takes no care of +herself; and that is one reason I wish to be in town as soon as +possible. I am anxious to have Dr. Jeremy see her, and I can bring it +about without her knowing that he comes on her account."</p> + +<p>"You speak confidently of being in town, Gertrude; so I suppose it is +all arranged."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have not told you, have I, about my visit to Mr. W.? Dear, good +man, how grateful I ought to be to him! He has promised me the +situation."</p> + +<p>"I had no doubt he would, from what you told me he said to you at Mrs. +Bruce's."</p> + +<p>"You hadn't, really! Why, Emily, I was almost afraid to mention it to +him. I couldn't believe he would have sufficient confidence in me; but +he was so kind! I hardly dare tell you what he said about my capacity to +teach, you will think me so vain."</p> + +<p>"You need not tell me, my darling; I know from his own lips how highly +he appreciates your ability."</p> + +<p>"Dear Uncle True always wanted me to be a teacher; it was the height of +his ambition. He would be pleased, wouldn't he, dear Emily?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, proud to see you assistant in a school like Mr. W.'s. But he would +think as I do, that you are undertaking too much. You expect to be +occupied in the school the greater part of every morning, and yet you +propose to be nurse to Mrs. Sullivan, and guardian to her poor old +father. My dear child, you are not used to so much care, and I shall be +constantly troubled for you, lest your own health and strength give +way."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear Emily, there is no cause for any anxiety on my account. I am +well and strong, and capable of all that I have planned for myself. My +only trouble is in leaving you; and I fear you will miss me, and perhaps +feel as if——"</p> + +<p>"I know what you would say, Gertrude. You need not fear that; I am sure +of your affection. I am sure you love me next to your duty, and I would +not that you should give me the preference. So dismiss that thought from +your mind, and do not believe that I would be selfish enough to desire +to retain you. I only wish, my dear, that for the present you had not +thought of entering the school. You might then have gone to Mrs. +Sullivan's, stayed as long as needed, and perhaps found, by the time we +are ready to start on our southern tour, that your services could be +dispensed with; in which case you could accompany us on a journey which +I am sure your health will by that time require."</p> + +<p>"But, dear Emily, how could I do that? I could not propose myself as a +visitor to Mrs. Sullivan, however useful I might intend to be to her; +nor could I speak of nursing to a woman who will not confess that she is +ill. It seemed to me impossible, with all the delicacy and tact in the +world, to bring it about; for I have been with you so long that Mrs. +Sullivan thinks me entirely unfitted for her primitive way of life. It +was only when Mr. W. spoke of his wanting an assistant, and hinted that +he should like to employ me in that capacity, that the present plan +occurred to me. I knew if I told Mrs. Sullivan that I was engaged to +teach there, and that you were not coming to town, and represented to +her that I wanted a boarding-place for the winter, she would insist that +I should go nowhere else."</p> + +<p>"And it proved as you expected?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly; and she showed so much pleasure at the thought of my being +with her, that I realised still more how much she needed some one."</p> + +<p>"She will have a treasure in you, Gertrude."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed! The feeling I have is, that however little I may be able to +accomplish, it will be more than anyone else could do for Mrs. Sullivan. +She has lived so retired that she has not an intimate friend in the +city, and I do not know of anyone, except myself, whom she would +willingly admit under her roof. She is used to me, and loves me; I am no +restraint upon her, and she allows me to assist in whatever she is +doing, although she often says I live a lady's life now, and am not used +to work. She knows, too, that I have an influence over her father; and I +<i>have</i>—strange as it may seem to you—I <i>have</i> more than I know how to +account for myself. I think it is partly because I am not afraid of him, +and am firm in opposing his unreasonable fancies, and partly because I +am more of a stranger than Mrs. Sullivan. But there is another cause; he +associates me in his mind with Willie; for we were for some years +constantly together, both left the house at the same time, and he knows +that it is through me that the correspondence with him is carried on. +Since his mind has been so weak, he thinks continually of Willie, and I +can at any moment, however irritable he may be, make him calm and +quiet, by proposing to tell him the latest news from his grandson. It +does not matter how often I repeat the contents of the last letter, it +is always new to him; and you have no idea, Emily, what power this gives +me. Mrs. Sullivan sees how easily I can guide his thoughts, and I +noticed what a load of care was taken from her mind by having me there +to-day. She looked so happy when I came away to-night, and spoke so +hopefully of the comfort it would be during the winter to have me with +her, that I felt repaid for any sacrifice it has been to me. But when I +came home, and saw you, and thought of your going so far away, and of +the length of time it might be before I should live with you again, I +felt as if——" Gerty could say no more. She laid her head on Emily's +shoulder, and wept.</p> + +<p>Emily soothed her with the greatest tenderness. "We have been very happy +together, Gerty," said she, "and I shall miss you sadly; half the +enjoyment of my life has of late years been borrowed from you. But I +never loved you half so well as I do now, at the time we must part; for +I see in the sacrifice you are making of yourself one of the noblest and +most important traits of character a woman can possess. I know how much +you love the Sullivans, and you have certainly every reason for being +attached to them; but your leaving us at this time, and renouncing +without a murmur the southern tour from which you expected so much +pleasure, proves that my Gerty is the brave, good girl I always hoped +and prayed she might become. You are in the path of duty, Gertrude, and +will be rewarded by the approbation of your own conscience, if in no +other way."</p> + +<p>As Emily finished speaking, they reached a corner of the garden, and +were met by a servant-girl, who announced that Mrs. Bruce and her son +were in the parlour, and had asked for them both.</p> + +<p>"Did you get her buttons in town, Gertrude?" inquired Emily.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I found some that were an excellent match for the dress; she +probably wants to know what success I had; but how can I go in?"</p> + +<p>"I will return to the house with Kate, and you can go in at the +side-door, and reach your own room without being seen. I will excuse +you to Mrs. Bruce for the present; and when you have bathed your eyes, +and feel composed, you can come in and report concerning the errand she +entrusted to you."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>FRUSTRATED PLANS.</h3> + + +<p>When Gertrude entered the room in half-an-hour, her face showed no +mental distress. Mrs. Bruce nodded to her good naturedly from a corner +of the sofa. Mr. Bruce rose and offered his chair at the same time that +Mr. Graham pointed to a vacant window-seat near him, and said kindly, +"Here is a place for you, Gertrude."</p> + +<p>Declining these civilities, she withdrew to an ottoman near an open +glass door, where she was immediately joined by Mr. Bruce, who, seating +himself in an indolent attitude upon the upper row of a flight of steps +which led from the window to the garden, commenced conversation with +her.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bruce—the gentleman who, some years before, wore a velvet +smoking-cap, and took afternoon naps in the grass—had recently returned +from Europe, and, glorifying in the renown acquired from a moustache, a +French tailor, and the possession of a handsome property in his own +right, now viewed himself with more complacency than ever.</p> + +<p>"So you've been in Boston all day, Miss Flint?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, nearly all day."</p> + +<p>"Didn't you find it distressingly warm?"</p> + +<p>"Somewhat so."</p> + +<p>"I tried to go in to attend to some business that mother was anxious +about, and even went down to the depot; but I had to give it up."</p> + +<p>"Were you overpowered by the heat?"</p> + +<p>"I was."</p> + +<p>"How unfortunate!" remarked Gertrude, in a half-compassionate, +half-ironical tone of voice.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bruce looked up, to judge from her countenance whether she were +serious or not; but there being little light in the room, on account of +the warmth of the evening, he could not decide the question, and +therefore replied, "I dislike the heat, Miss Gertrude, and why should I +expose myself to it unnecessarily?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I beg your pardon; I thought you spoke of important business."</p> + +<p>"Only some affair of my mother's. Nothing I felt any interest in, and +she took the state of the weather for an excuse. If I had known that you +were in the cars, as I have since heard, I should certainly have +persevered, in order to have had the pleasure of walking down Washington +Street with you."</p> + +<p>"I did not go down Washington Street."</p> + +<p>"But you would have done so with a suitable escort," suggested the young +man.</p> + +<p>"If I had gone out of my way for the sake of accompanying my escort, the +escort would have been a very doubtful advantage," said Gertrude, +laughing.</p> + +<p>"How very practical you are, Miss Gertrude! Do you mean to say that, +when you go to the city, you always have a settled plan of operations, +and never swerve from your course?"</p> + +<p>"By no means. I trust I am not difficult to influence when there is a +sufficient motive."</p> + +<p>The young man bit his lip. "Then you never act without a motive; pray, +what is your motive in wearing that broad-brimmed hat when you are at +work in the garden?"</p> + +<p>"It is an old habit, adopted some years ago from motives of convenience, +and still adhered to, in spite of later inventions, which would +certainly be a better protection from the sun. I must plead guilty, I +fear, to a little obstinacy in my partiality for that old hat."</p> + +<p>"Why not confess, Miss Gertrude, that you wear it in order to look +fanciful and picturesque, so that the neighbours' slumbers are disturbed +by the thoughts of it? My own morning dreams, for instance, are so +haunted by that hat, as seen in company with its owner, that I am daily +drawn, as if by magnetic attraction, in the direction of the garden. You +will have a heavy account to settle with Morpheus, one of these days, +for defrauding him of his rights; and your conscience too will suffer +for injuries to my health, sustained by continued exposure to early +dews."</p> + +<p>"It is hard to condemn me for such unintentional mischief; but since I +am to experience so much future remorse on account of your morning +visits, I shall take upon myself the responsibility of forbidding them."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you wouldn't be so unkind!—especially after all the pains I have +taken to impart to you the little I know of horticulture."</p> + +<p>"Very little I think it must have been; or I have but a poor memory," +said Gertrude, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Have you forgotten the pains I took yesterday to acquaint you with the +different varieties of roses? Don't you remember how much I had to say +of damask roses and damask bloom; and how before I finished, I could not +find words enough in praise of blushes, especially such sweet and +natural ones as met my eyes while I was speaking?"</p> + +<p>"I know you talked a great deal of nonsense. I hope you don't think I +listened to it all."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Miss Gertrude! It is of no use to say flattering things to you; you +always regard my compliments as jokes."</p> + +<p>"I have told you, several times, that it was most useless to waste so +much flattery upon me. I am glad you are beginning to realise it."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, to ask a serious question, where were you this morning at +half-past seven?"</p> + +<p>"On my way to Boston in the cars."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible?—so early! Why, I thought you went at ten. Then, all +the time I was watching by the garden wall to say good-morning, you were +half-a-dozen miles away. I wish I had not wasted that hour so; I might +have spent it in sleeping."</p> + +<p>"Very true, it is a great pity."</p> + +<p>"And then half-an-hour more here this evening! How came you to keep me +waiting so long?"</p> + +<p>"I was not aware of doing so. I certainly did not take your visit to +myself."</p> + +<p>"My visit certainly was not meant for anyone else."</p> + +<p>"Ben," said Mr. Graham, approaching rather abruptly, and taking part in +the conversation, "are you fond of gardening? I thought I heard you just +now speaking of roses?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; Miss Flint and I were having quite a discussion upon +flowers—roses especially."</p> + +<p>Gertrude, availing herself of Mr. Graham's approach, tried to escape and +join the ladies at the sofa; but Mr. Bruce, who had risen on Mr. +Graham's addressing him, saw her intention, and frustrated it by placing +himself in the way, so that she could not pass him without positive +rudeness. Mr. Graham continued, "I propose placing a small fountain in +the vicinity of Miss Flint's flower garden; won't you walk down with me, +and give your opinion of my plan?"</p> + +<p>"Isn't it too dark, sir, to——"</p> + +<p>"No, no, not at all; there is ample light for our purpose. This way, if +you please;" and Mr. Bruce was compelled to follow where Mr. Graham led, +though, in spite of his acquaintance with Paris manners, he made a wry +face, and shook his head menacingly.</p> + +<p>Gertrude was now permitted to relate to Mrs. Bruce the results of the +shopping which she had undertaken on her account, and display the +buttons, which proved very satisfactory. The gentlemen, soon returning, +took seats near the sofa, and the conversation became general.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Graham," said Mrs. Bruce, "I have been asking Emily about your +visit to the south; and I think it will be a charming trip."</p> + +<p>"I hope so, madame; it will be an excellent thing for Emily, and as +Gertrude has never travelled, I anticipate a great deal of pleasure for +her."</p> + +<p>"Ah! then you are to be of the party, Miss Flint?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Mr. Graham, without giving Gertrude a chance to speak +for herself; "we depend upon Gertrude; couldn't get along without her."</p> + +<p>"It will be delightful for you," continued Mrs. Bruce, her eyes still +fixed on Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"I did expect to go with Mr. and Miss Graham," answered Gertrude, "and +looked forward to the journey with the greatest eagerness; but I have +just decided that I must remain in Boston this winter."</p> + +<p>"What are you talking about, Gertrude?" asked Mr. Graham. "What do you +mean? This is all news to me."</p> + +<p>"And to me, too, sir, or I should have informed you of it before. I +supposed you expected me to accompany you, and there is nothing I should +like so much. I should have told you before of the circumstances that +now make it impossible; but they are of quite recent occurrence."</p> + +<p>"But we can't give you up, Gertrude; I won't hear of such a thing; you +must go with us in spite of circumstances."</p> + +<p>"I fear I shall not be able," said Gertrude, smiling pleasantly, but +still retaining her firmness of expression; "you're very kind, sir, to +wish it."</p> + +<p>"Wish it!—I tell you I insist upon it. You are under my care, child, +and I have a right to say what you shall do."</p> + +<p>Mr. Graham was excited. Gertrude and Emily looked troubled, but neither +spoke.</p> + +<p>"Give me your reasons, if you have any," said Mr. Graham, vehemently, +"and let me know what has put this strange notion into your head."</p> + +<p>"I will explain it to you to-morrow, sir."</p> + +<p>"To-morrow! I want to know now. Tell me what all this means? Here I plan +my business, and make all my arrangements, to give up this winter to +travelling—not so much on my own account as to please both of you, and, +just as all is settled, and we are on the point of starting, Gertrude +says that she has concluded not to go."</p> + +<p>Emily undertook to explain Gertrude's motives, and ended by expressing +her approbation of her course. As soon as she had finished, Mr. Graham, +who had listened very impatiently, and interrupted her with many a +"pish!" and "pshaw!" burst forth with redoubled indignation. "So Gerty +prefers the Sullivans to us, and you seem to encourage her in it! I +should like to know what they have ever done for her, compared with what +I have done."</p> + +<p>"They have been friends of hers for years, and now that they are in +great distress, she does not feel as if she could leave them, and I +confess I do not wonder at her decision."</p> + +<p>"I do. She prefers to make a slave of herself in Mr. W.'s school, and a +greater slave in Mrs. Sullivan's family, instead of staying with us, +where she has been treated like a lady, and like one of our own family."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Graham!" said Gertrude, earnestly, "it is not a matter of +choice, except as I feel it to be a duty."</p> + +<p>"And what makes it a duty? Just because you used to live with them, and +that boy out in Calcutta has sent you home a camel's-hair scarf and a +cage full of miserable little birds, and written you letters, you must +forfeit your own interest to take care of his sick relations! Can their +claim compare with mine? Haven't I given you the best of educations, and +spared not expense for your improvement and happiness?"</p> + +<p>"I did not think, sir," said Gertrude, humbly, and yet with dignity, "of +counting up the favours I had received, and measuring my conduct +accordingly. In that case my obligations to you are immense, and you +would certainly have the greatest claim upon my services."</p> + +<p>"Services! I don't want your <i>services</i>, child. Mrs. Ellis can do quite +as well as you can for Emily, or me either; but I like your <i>company</i>, +and think it is very ungrateful in you to leave us, as you talk of +doing."</p> + +<p>"Father," said Emily, "I thought the object in giving Gertrude a good +education was to make her independent of all the world, and not simply +dependent upon us."</p> + +<p>"Emily," said Mr. Graham, "I tell you it is a matter of feeling—you +don't seem to look upon the thing in the light I do; but you are both +against me, and I won't talk any more about it."</p> + +<p>So saying, Mr. Graham went to his study, and was seen no more that +night.</p> + +<p>Poor Gertrude! Mr. Graham, who had been so generous, who had seldom or +ever spoken harshly to her, and had always treated her with great +indulgence, was now deeply offended. He had called her ungrateful; he +felt that she had abused his kindness, and believed that he and Emily +stood in her imagination secondary to other far less warm-hearted +friends. Deeply wounded, she hastened to say good-night to the no less +afflicted Emily, and, seeking her own room, gave way to feelings that +caused her a sleepless night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>SELFISHNESS.</h3> + + +<p>Left at three years of age dependent upon the charity of a world in +which she was friendless and alone, Gertrude had, during her residence +at Nan Grant's, found little of that charity. But, although her +turbulent spirit rebelled at the treatment she received, she was then +too young to reason upon the subject, or come to any conclusions upon +the hardness and cruelty of humanity; and, had she done so, such +impressions would have been effaced in the home of her kind +foster-father.</p> + +<p>And having, through a similar providence, found in Emily additional +proof of the fact that the tie of kindred blood is not always needed to +bind heart to heart in the closest bonds of sympathy and affection, she +had hitherto, in her unusually happy experience, felt none of the evils +that spring from dependence upon the bounty of strangers.</p> + +<p>From Mr. Graham she had until now experienced only kindness. On her +first coming to live with them, he had taken little notice of her, so +long as she was quiet, well-mannered, and no trouble to anybody, had +been indifferent about her. He observed that Emily was fond of the girl, +and, though he wondered at her taste, was glad that she should be +indulged. But he soon noticed in his daughter's favourite a quickness of +mind and propriety of deportment which created an interest in her that +soon increased to positive partiality, especially when he discovered her +taste for gardening and her love of flowers. Emily formed no plan as to +Gertrude's education to which she did not obtain a ready assent from her +father; and Gertrude, grateful for so much bounty, spared no pains to +evidence her sense of obligation and regard, by treating Mr. Graham with +the greatest respect.</p> + +<p>But, unfortunately for the continuance of these amicable relations, Mr. +Graham had neither the disinterested forbearing spirit of Uncle True, +nor the saintly patience and self-sacrifice of Emily. Mr. Graham was a +liberal and highly respectable man; he had the reputation of being a +high-minded and honourable man; and his conduct justified this report of +him. But he was a <i>selfish</i> man, and often took one-sided views. He had +supported and educated Gertrude—he liked her—she was the person whom +he preferred for a travelling companion for himself and Emily—and he +either <i>could</i> not or <i>would</i> not see that her duty lay in any other +direction.</p> + +<p>During a wakeful and restless night, Gertrude reviewed and considered +her own circumstances. At first her only emotion was one of grief, but +that gradually subsided, as other bitter thoughts rose up in her mind.</p> + +<p>"What right," thought she, "has Mr. Graham to treat me this way—to tell +me I <i>shall</i> go with him on his southern journey, and speak as if my +other friends were ciphers in his estimation, and ought to be in my own? +Does he consider my freedom is to be the price of my education, and am I +no longer able to say yes or no? Emily does not think so; Emily, who +loves and needs me a thousand times more than Mr. Graham, thinks I have +acted rightly, and she assured me that it was my duty to carry out the +plans I had formed. And my solemn promise to Willie! is that to be held +for nothing? No, it would be tyranny in Mr. Graham to insist on my +remaining with them, and I am glad I have resolved to break away from +such thraldom. Besides, I was educated to teach, and Mr. W. says it is +important to commence while my studies are fresh in my mind." So much +said pride; and Gertrude's heart listened awhile to such suggestions. +But not long. She had accustomed herself to view the conduct of others +in that spirit of charity which she desired should be exercised towards +her own, and milder thoughts took the place of these excited feelings.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," said she to herself, "it is, after all, pure kindness that +prompted Mr. Graham's interference. He may think as Emily does, that I +am undertaking too much. It is impossible for him to know how strong my +motives are, how deep I consider my obligations to the Sullivans, and +how much I am needed by them at this time. I had no idea, either, that I +was to be one of the party to the south; for though Emily talked as if +she took it for granted, Mr. Graham never asked me to go, and I could +not suppose it would be any great disappointment to him to refuse; but, +after planning the journey to please us both, I do not wonder at his +being annoyed. He probably feels, too, as if I had been under his +guardianship so long that he has almost a right to decide upon my +conduct. And he <i>has</i> been very indulgent to me—and I a stranger with +no claims! Shall I then decide to give up my teaching, to go to the +south, and leave Mrs. Sullivan to suffer, perhaps die, while I am away? +No, that is impossible. I will never be such a traitor to my own heart, +and my sense of right; sorry as I shall be to offend Mr. Graham, I must +not allow his anger to turn me from my duty."</p> + +<p>Having thus resolved to brave the tempest, and committed her cause to +Him who judgeth righteously, Gertrude tried to compose herself to sleep. +Dreams of a painful nature started her back to consciousness. In some of +these visions she beheld Mr. Graham angry, and threatening her with his +displeasure if she dared to thwart his plans; and then she seemed to see +Willie, the same boyish youth from whom she had parted five years +before, beckoning her with a sad countenance to the room where his pale +mother lay in a swoon, as Gertrude had a few weeks before seen her. +Exhausted by such harassing images, she at length gave up the attempt to +obtain any rest, and rising, seated herself at the window, where, +watching the approach of dawn, she found, in quiet self-communing, the +courage which she felt would be requisite to carry her calmly and firmly +through the next day—a day destined to witness her sad separation from +Emily, and her farewell to Mr. Graham, which would probably be more +distressing. The tyrannical disposition of Mr. Graham was well +understood in his family, each member of which was accustomed to respect +all his wishes and whims; and though he was always indulgent and kind, +none ever braved a temper which, when excited, was so violent. It +cannot, then, be surprising that Gertrude's heart should have failed her +when she stood, half-an-hour before breakfast-time, with the handle of +the dining-room door in her hand, summoning all her energies for another +meeting with the opposer of her plans. She paused but a moment, and then +went in. Mr. Graham was sitting in his arm-chair, and on the +breakfast-table lay the morning paper. It had been Gertrude's habit to +read that paper aloud to the old gentleman at this same hour, and it was +for that purpose she had now come. She advanced toward him with her +usual "Good morning."</p> + +<p>The salutation was returned in a constrained voice. She seated herself, +and leaned forward to take the newspaper. But he placed his hand upon it +to prevent her.</p> + +<p>"I was going to read the news to you, sir."</p> + +<p>"And I do not wish to have you read, or do anything else for me, until I +know whether you have concluded to treat me with the respect I have a +right to demand from you."</p> + +<p>"I certainly never intended to treat you otherwise than with respect, +Mr. Graham."</p> + +<p>"When girls or boys set themselves up in opposition to those older and +wiser than themselves, they manifest the greatest disrespect they are +capable of; but I am willing to forgive the past, if you assure me, as I +think you will, after a night's reflection, that you have returned to a +right sense of your duty."</p> + +<p>"I cannot say, sir, that I have changed my views with regard to what +that duty is."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to tell me," asked Mr. Graham, rising from his chair, and +speaking in a tone which made Gerty's heart quake, "do you mean to tell +me that you have an idea of persisting in your folly?"</p> + +<p>"Is it folly, sir, to do right?"</p> + +<p>"Right! There is a great difference of opinion between you and me as to +what is right in this case."</p> + +<p>"But, Mr. Graham, I think if you knew all the circumstances, you would +not blame my conduct. I have told Emily the reasons that influence me, +and she——"</p> + +<p>"Don't quote Emily to me!" interrupted Mr. Graham; "I don't doubt she'd +give her head to anybody that asked for it; but I hope I know a little +better what is due to myself; and I tell you plainly, Miss Gertrude +Flint, without any more words in the matter, that if you leave my house, +as you propose doing, you leave it with my displeasure; and <i>that</i>, you +may find one of these days, it is no light thing to have +incurred—unnecessarily too, as you are doing."</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry to displease you, Mr. Graham, but——"</p> + +<p>"No, you're not <i>sorry</i>; if you were, you would not walk straight in the +face of my wishes," said Mr. Graham, who began to observe the expression +of Gertrude's face, which, though troubled, had acquired additional +firmness, instead of quailing before his severe and cutting words. "But +I have said enough about a matter which is not worthy of so much notice. +You can go or stay, as you please. I wish you to understand, if you go, +I utterly withdraw my protection and assistance from you. You must take +care of yourself, or trust to strangers. I suppose you expect your +Calcutta friend will support you, perhaps come home and take you under +his especial care; but if you think so, you know little of the world. I +dare say he is married to an Indian by this time, and, if not, has +forgotten you."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Graham," said Gertrude, proudly, "Mr. Sullivan will not probably +return to this country for many years, and I assure you I neither look +to him nor anyone else for support; I intend to earn a maintenance for +myself."</p> + +<p>"A heroic resolve!" said Mr. Graham, contemptuously, "and pronounced +with a dignity I hope you will be able to maintain. Am I to consider, +then, that your mind is made up?"</p> + +<p>"It is, sir," said Gertrude, not a little strengthened for the dreaded +necessity of pronouncing her final resolution by Mr. Graham's sarcastic +speeches.</p> + +<p>"And you go?"</p> + +<p>"I must. I believe it to be my duty, and am, therefore, willing to +sacrifice my own comfort, and, what I assure you I value far more, your +friendship."</p> + +<p>Mr. Graham did not seem to take the least notice of the latter part of +her remark, and so far forgot his usual politeness as to drown her voice +in the violent ringing of the table-bell.</p> + +<p>It was answered by Katy with the breakfast; and Emily and Mrs. Ellis +coming, all seated themselves at the table, and the meal was commenced +in unusual silence and constraint, for Emily had heard the loud tones of +her father's voice, while Mrs. Ellis plainly saw that something +unpleasant had occurred.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Graham had finished eating a hearty breakfast, he turned to +Mrs. Ellis, and invited her to accompany himself and Emily on their +journey to the south, mentioning the probability that they should pass +some weeks in Havana.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ellis accepted the invitation with pleasure, and asked a number of +questions concerning the proposed route and length of absence; while +Emily hid her agitated face behind her tea-cup; and Gertrude, who had +lately been reading <i>Letters from Cuba</i>, and was aware that Mr. Graham +knew the strong interest she felt in the place, pondered in her mind +whether it could be possible that he could be guilty of the mean desire +to vex and mortify her.</p> + +<p>Breakfast over, Emily hastily sought her room, where she was joined by +Gertrude. In answering Emily's inquiries as to the scene which had taken +place, Gertrude forbore to repeat Mr. Graham's most bitter and wounding +remarks; for she saw from her kind friend's countenance how deeply she +participated in her own sense of wrong. She told her, however, that it +was now well understood by Mr. Graham that she was to leave, and, as his +sentiments towards her were far from kindly, she thought it best to go +at once, especially as she could never be more needed by Mrs. Sullivan +than at present. Emily saw the reasonableness of the proposal, assented +to it, and agreed to accompany her to town that afternoon; for, deeply +sensitive at any unkindness manifested towards Gertrude, she preferred +to have her depart thus abruptly, rather than encounter her father's +contemptuous neglect. The remainder of the day was spent by Gertrude in +packing and other preparations, while Emily sat by, counselling the +future conduct of her adopted darling, lamenting the necessity of their +separation, and exchanging with her reiterated assurances of +undiminished affection.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if you could only write to me, dear Emily, during your long +absence, what a comfort it would be," exclaimed Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"With Mrs. Ellis's assistance, my dear," replied Emily, "I will send you +such news as I can of our movements; but, though you may not be able to +hear much from me, you will be ever in my thoughts, and I shall never +forget to commend my beloved child to the protection and care of One who +will be to her a better friend than I can be."</p> + +<p>In the course of the day Gertrude sought Mrs. Ellis, and astonished that +lady by stating that she had come to have a few farewell words with her. +Surprise, however, was soon superseded by the housekeeper's eagerness to +expatiate upon the generosity of Mr. Graham, and the delights of the +excursion in prospect. After wishing her a great deal of pleasure, +Gertrude begged to hear from her by letter during her absence; to which +request Mrs. Ellis only replied by asking if Gertrude thought a Thibet +dress would be uncomfortable on the journey; and, when it was repeated +with great earnestness, she, with equal unsatisfactoriness to the +suppliant for epistolary favours, begged to know how many pairs of +undersleeves she would probably require. Having responded to her +questions, and at last gained her attention, Gertrude obtained from her +a promise to write <i>one</i> letter, which would, she declared, be more than +she had done for years.</p> + +<p>Before leaving the house, Gertrude sought Mr. Graham's study, in hopes +that he would take a friendly leave of her; but on her telling him that +she had come to bid him "Good-bye," he indistinctly muttered the simple +words of that universal formula—so deep in its meaning when coming from +the heart; so chilling when uttered, as on the present occasion, by +stern and nearly closed lips—and turning his back upon her, took up the +tongs to mend his fire. So she went away, with a tear in her eye and a +sadness in her heart.</p> + +<p>A far different scene awaited her in the upper kitchen, where she went +to seek Mrs. Prime and Katy. "Bless yer soul, dear Miss Gertrude!" said +the former, stumbling up the staircase which led from the lower room, +and wiping her hands on her apron—"how we shall miss yer! Why, the +house won't be worth livin' in when you're out of it. My gracious! if +you don't come back, we shall all die out in a fortnight. Why, you're +the life and soul of the place! But there, I guess you know what's +right; so, if you must go, we must bear it—though Katy and I'll cry our +eyes out, for aught I know."</p> + +<p>"Sure, Miss Gairthrue," said Irish Katy, "and it's right gude in you to +be afther comin' to bid us good-bye. I don't see how you gets memory to +think of us all, and I'm shure ye'll never be betther off than what I +wish yer. I can't but think, miss, it'll go to help yer along, that +everybody's gude wishes and blessin' goes with yer."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Katy, thank you," said Gertrude, touched by the simple +earnestness of these good friends. "You must come and see me some time +in Boston; and you too, Mrs. Prime, I shall depend upon it. Good-bye;" +and the good-bye that <i>now</i> fell upon Gertrude's ear was a hearty and a +true one; it followed her through the hall, and as the carriage drove +away she heard it mingling with the rattling of the vehicle.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>A FRIEND IN AFFLICTION.</h3> + + +<p>Passing over Gertrude's parting with Emily, her cordial reception by +Mrs. Sullivan, and her commencement of school duties, we will record the +events of a day in November, about two months after she left Mr. +Graham's.</p> + +<p>Rising with the sun, she made her neat toilet in a room so cold that her +hands were half benumbed; nor did she omit, ere she began the labours of +the day, to supplicate Heaven's blessing upon them. Then, noiselessly +entering the adjoining apartment, where Mrs. Sullivan was still +sleeping, she lit a fire, and performed a similar service at the +cooking-stove, which stood in a comfortable room, where, now that the +weather was cold, the family took their meals. The table was set for +breakfast when Mrs. Sullivan entered, pale, thin, and feeble in her +appearance, and wrapped in a large shawl.</p> + +<p>"Gertrude," said she, "why did you let me sleep so late, while you are +up and at work?"</p> + +<p>"For the very best reason in the world, auntie; because I sleep all the +early part of the night, and am wide awake at day-break, and with you it +is quite the reverse. Besides, I like to get the breakfast; I make such +beautiful coffee. Look!" said she, pouring some into a cup, and then +lifting the lid of the coffee-pot, and pouring it back again; "see how +clear it is! Don't you long for some of it?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sullivan smiled, for, Uncle True having always preferred tea, +Gertrude did not at first know how to make coffee.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Gertrude, "I want you to sit down here and watch the +tea-kettle boil, while I run and see if Mr. Cooper is ready to let me +tie up his cue."</p> + +<p>She went, leaving Mrs. Sullivan to think what a good girl she was; and +presently returning with the old man, she placed a chair for him, and +having waited while he seated himself, and then pinned a napkin about +his throat, she proceeded to place the breakfast on the table.</p> + +<p>While Mrs. Sullivan poured out the coffee, Gertrude removed the skin +from a baked potato, and the shell from a boiled egg, and placing both +on the plate destined for Mr. Cooper, handed him his breakfast in a +state of preparation which obviated the difficulty the old man +experienced in performing these tasks for himself. Poor Mrs. Sullivan +had no appetite, and it was with difficulty Gertrude persuaded her to +eat anything; but a few fried oysters, unexpectedly placed before her, +proved such a temptation that she was induced to eat several, with a +degree of relish she rarely felt for any article of food. As Gertrude +gazed at her languid face, she realized, more than ever, the change +which had come over the active little woman; and confident that nothing +but positive disease could have effected such a transformation, she +resolved that not another day should pass without her seeing a +physician.</p> + +<p>Breakfast over, there were dishes to wash, rooms to be put in order, +dinner to be partially prepared; and all this Gertrude saw accomplished, +chiefly through her own labour, before she went to re-arrange her dress, +previous to her departure for the school where she had now been some +weeks assistant teacher. A quarter before nine she looked in at the +kitchen door, and said, in a cheering tone, to the old man, who was +cowering gloomily over the fire—"Come, Mr. Cooper, won't you go over +and superintend the new church a little while this morning? Mr. Miller +will be expecting you; he said yesterday that he depended on your +company when at work."</p> + +<p>The old man rose, and taking his great-coat from Gertrude, put it on +with her assistance, and accompanied her in a mechanical sort of way, +which implied great indifference about going. As they walked in silence +down the street, Gertrude could not but resolve in her mind the singular +coincidence which had thus made her the almost daily companion of +another infirm old man; nor could she fail to draw a comparison between +the warm-hearted Uncle True, and the gloomy Paul Cooper. Unfavorable as +the comparison was to the latter, it did not diminish the kindness of +Gertrude towards her present charge, who was in her eyes an object of +sincere compassion. They soon reached the new church—a very handsome +edifice. It was not yet finished, and a number of workmen were +completing the interior. A man with a hod full of mortar preceded +Gertrude and her companion up the steps which led to the main entrance, +but stopped inside the porch, on hearing himself addressed by name, and +turned to respond to the well-known voice. "Good morning, Miss Flint," +said he. "I hope you're very well, this fine day. Ah! Mr. Cooper, you've +come to help me a little, I see—that's right. We can't go on very well +without you—you're so used to the place. Here, sir, if you'll come with +me I'll show you what has been done since you were here last; I want to +know how you think we are getting along."</p> + +<p>So saying, he was walking away with the old sexton; but Gertrude asked +him if he would see Mr. Cooper safe home when he passed Mrs. Sullivan's +house on his way to dinner.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Miss Flint," replied the man, "with all pleasure; he has +usually gone with me readily, when you have left him in my care." +Gertrude then hastened to the school, rejoicing that Mr. Cooper would be +safe during the morning; and that Mrs. Sullivan would have the quiet she +so much needed.</p> + +<p>This man was a respectable mason, who had often been in Mr. Graham's +employ, and whose good-will Gertrude had won by the kindness she had +shown his family during the previous winter, when they were sick. In her +daily walk past the church, she had oft seen Mr. Miller at work, and it +occurred to her that, if she could awaken in Mr. Cooper's mind an +interest in the new structure, he might find amusement in watching the +workmen. She had some difficulty in persuading him to visit a building +to the erection of which he had been opposed. Once there, he became +interested in the work, and as Mr. Miller tried to make him comfortable, +and made him believe that he was useful, he gradually acquired a habit +of passing the greater part of every morning in watching the workmen. +Sometimes Gertrude called for him on her return from school; and +sometimes Mr. Miller took him home.</p> + +<p>Since Gertrude had been at Mrs. Sullivan's there was a great alteration +in Mr. Cooper. He was more manageable, and manifested less irritability, +and his favourable change, together with the cheering influence of +Gertrude's society, had produced a beneficial effect upon Mrs. Sullivan; +but within the last few days, her increased debility, and two sudden +attacks of faintness, had awakened Gertrude's fears. She determined, as +soon as she should be released from her school duties, to seek Dr. +Jeremy and request his attendance.</p> + +<p>Of Gertrude's school-duties, she was found by Mr. W. competent to the +performance of them, and that she met with those trials only which all +teachers are subjected, from the idleness or stupidity of their pupils. +On this day she was detained to a later hour than usual, and the clock +struck two as she was ringing Dr. Jeremy's door-bell. The girl who +opened the door knew Gertrude, and telling her that, although the doctor +was just going to dinner, she thought he would see her, asked her into +the office. He advanced to meet Gertrude, holding out both his hands. +"Gertrude Flint, I declare!" exclaimed he. "Why, I'm glad to see you, my +girl. Why haven't you been here before, I should like to know?" Gertrude +explained that she was living with friends, one of whom was very old, +the other an invalid; and that so much of her time was occupied in +school, that she had no opportunity for visiting.</p> + +<p>"Poor excuse," said the doctor; "poor excuse. But, now we've got you +here, we shan't let you go very soon!" and going to the foot of the +staircase, he called out loudly, "Mrs. Jeremy! Mrs. Jeremy! come down to +dinner as quick as you can, and put on your best cap—we've got +company.—Poor soul!" added he, in a lower tone, smiling, "she can't +hurry, can she, Gerty?—she's so fat."</p> + +<p>Gertrude protested against staying to dinner, declaring she must hasten +home, and announcing Mrs. Sullivan's illness and the object of her +visit.</p> + +<p>"An hour can't make much difference," insisted the doctor. "You must +stay and dine with me, and then I'll take you with me in the buggy." +Gertrude hesitated; the sky had clouded over, and a few flakes of snow +were falling; she should have an uncomfortable walk; and, moreover, it +would be better for her to accompany the doctor, as the street in which +she lived was principally composed of new houses, not yet numbered, and +he might have some difficulty in finding the right tenement. Mrs. Jeremy +now entered. Fat she certainly was, uncommonly fat, and flushed with the +excitement of dressing. She kissed Gertrude, and then, seeing that no +one else was present, exclaimed, glancing reproachfully at the +doctor—"Why, Dr. Jeremy!—an't you ashamed of yourself? I never will +believe you again; you made me think there was some great stranger +here."</p> + +<p>"And pray, Mrs. Jeremy, who's a greater stranger in this house than +Gerty Flint?"</p> + +<p>"Sure enough!" said Mrs. Jeremy. "Gertrude <i>is</i> a stranger, and I've got +a scolding in store for her on that very account; but, you know, Dr. +Jeremy, I shouldn't have put on my lilac-and-pink for Gertrude to see; +she likes me just as well in my old yellow, if she did tell me, when I +bought it, the saucy girl, that I'd selected the ugliest cap in Boston. +Do you remember that Gerty?" Gerty laughed heartily at the recollection +of an amusing scene that took place when she went shopping with Mrs. +Jeremy. "But come, Gerty, dinner's ready; take off your cloak and +bonnet, and come into the dining-room; the doctor has much to say, and +has been wanting dreadfully to see you."</p> + +<p>They had been sitting some minutes without a word having been spoken, +when the doctor suddenly commenced laughing till tears came into his +eyes. Gertrude looked at him, inquiringly, and Mrs. Jeremy said, "There, +Gertrude!—for a whole week he had just such a laughing fit, two or +three times a-day. I was as much astonished at first as you are; and I +don't understand now what could have happened between him and Mr. Graham +that was so very funny."</p> + +<p>"Come, wife," said the doctor, "don't you forestall my communication. I +want to tell the story myself. I don't suppose, Gertrude, you've lived +five years at Mr. Graham's without finding out what a cantankerous, +opinionative, obstinate old hulk he is!"</p> + +<p>"Doctor!" said Mrs. Jeremy, "be careful."</p> + +<p>"I don't care, wife; I'll speak my mind with regard to Mr. Graham; and +Gertrude, here, has done the same, I haven't a particle of doubt, only +she's a good girl, and won't say so."</p> + +<p>"I never saw anything that looked like it," said Mrs. Jeremy; "I've seen +as much of him as most folks. I meet him in the street almost every day, +and he looks as smiling as a basket of chips, and makes a beautiful +bow."</p> + +<p>"I dare say," said the doctor; "Gertrude and I know what gentlemanly +manners he has when one does not walk in the very teeth of his +opinions—eh, Gertrude!—but when one does——"</p> + +<p>"In talking politics, for instance," suggested Mrs. Jeremy. "It's your +differences with him on politics that have set you against him so."</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't," replied the doctor. "A man may get angry talking +politics, and be a good-natured man too. I get angry <i>myself</i> on +<i>politics</i>, but that isn't the sort of thing I refer to. It's Graham's +wanting to lay down the law to everybody that comes within ten miles of +him that I can't endure; his dictatorial way of acting as if he were +the Grand Mogul of Cochin China. I thought he'd improved of late years; +he had a serious lesson enough in that sad affair of poor Philip +Amory's; but I believe he's been trying the old game again. Ha! ha! ha!" +shouted the good doctor, leaning forward and giving Gertrude a light tap +on the shoulder—"wasn't I glad when I found he'd met at last with a +reasonable opposition! and that, too, where he least expected it!"</p> + +<p>Gertrude looked her astonishment at his evident knowledge of the +misunderstanding between herself and Mr. Graham. "You wonder where I got +my information; I'll tell you. It was partly from Graham himself; and +what diverts me is to think how hard the old chap tried to hide his +defeat, and persuade me that he'd had his own way, when I saw through +him, and knew that he'd found his match in you."</p> + +<p>"Dr. Jeremy," said Gertrude, "I hope you don't think——"</p> + +<p>"No, my dear, I <i>don't</i> think you a <i>professional pugilist</i>; but I +consider you a girl of sense—one who knows what's right—and will do +what's right, in spite of Mr. Graham; and when you hear my story you +will know the grounds on which I formed my opinion with regard to the +course things had taken. One day—about two months ago—I was summoned +to go and see one of Mr. W.'s children, who had an attack of croup. Mr. +W. was talking with me, when he was called away to see a visitor, and on +his return he mentioned that he had secured your services in his school. +I knew Emily intended you for a teacher, and I was thankful you had got +so good a situation. At Mr. W.'s door I encountered Mr. Graham, and he +entertained me as we went down the street with an account of his plan +for the winter. 'But Gertrude Flint is not going with you,' said +I.—'Gertrude!' said he; 'certainly she is.'—'Are you sure of that?' I +asked. 'Have you invited her?'—'Invited her! No,' was his answer; 'but, +of course, I know she will go, and be glad of the opportunity; it isn't +every girl that is so fortunate.' Now, Gerty, I felt provoked at his way +of speaking, and I answered, in as confident a tone as his own, 'I doubt +whether she will accept the invitation.' Upon that, Mr. Dignity +straightened up, and such a speech as he made! I never can recall it +without being amused, especially when I think of the come-down that +followed so soon after. I can't repeat it; but one would have thought to +hear him that it was not only impossible you should oppose his wishes, +but actual treason in me to suggest such a thing. I knew better than to +tell what I had just heard from Mr. W., but I never felt a greater +curiosity about anything than I did to know how the matter would end. +Two or three times I planned to drive to see Emily, and hear the result; +but a doctor never can call a day his own, and I got prevented. On +Sunday I heard Mrs. Prime's voice in the kitchen (her niece lives here), +and down I went to make my inquiries. She told me the truth, I rather +think; though not, perhaps, all the particulars. It was not more than a +day or two after that before I saw Graham. 'Ah,' said I; 'when do you +start?'—'To-morrow,' replied he. 'Really,' I exclaimed; 'then I shan't +see your ladies again. Will you take a little package from me to +Gertrude?'—'I know nothing about Gertrude,' said he, stiffly.—'What!' +rejoined I, affecting great surprise, 'has Gertrude left you?'—'She +has,' answered he. 'And dared,' continued I, 'to treat you with such +disrespect—to trifle so with your dignity?'—'Dr. Jeremy!' exclaimed +he, 'I don't wish to hear her mentioned; she has behaved as ungratefully +as she has unwisely.'—'Why, about the gratitude, Graham,' said I, 'I +believe you said it would only be an additional favour on your part if +you took her with you, and I think it is wisdom in her to make herself +independent at home. But I really am sorry for you and Emily; you will +miss her so much.'—'We can dispense with your sympathy, sir,' answered +he; 'for that which is no loss.'—'Ah! really,' I replied; 'now, I was +thinking Gertrude's society would be quite a loss.'—'<i>Mrs. Ellis</i> goes +with us,' said he, with emphasis, that seemed to say her company +compensated for all deficiencies.—'Ah!' said I, 'charming woman, Mrs. +Ellis!' Graham looked annoyed, for he is aware that Mrs. Ellis is my +antipathy."</p> + +<p>"Well, you ought to have known better, Dr. Jeremy," said his +kind-hearted wife, "than to have attacked a man so on his weak point: it +was only exciting his temper for nothing."</p> + +<p>"I was taking up the cudgels for Gertrude, wife."</p> + +<p>"And I don't believe Gertrude wants you to take up the cudgels for her. +I have no manner of doubts that she has the kindest of feelings towards +Mr. Graham, this blessed minute."</p> + +<p>"I have, Mrs. Jeremy," said Gertrude; "he has been a most generous and +indulgent friend to me."</p> + +<p>"Except when you wanted to have your own way," suggested the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Which I seldom did when it was in opposition to his wishes. I always +considered it my duty to submit to him, until at last a higher duty +compelled me to do otherwise."</p> + +<p>"And then, my dear," said Mrs. Jeremy, "I dare say it pained you to +displease him; and that is a right woman's feeling, and one that Dr. +Jeremy, in his own heart, can't but approve of, though one would think, +to hear him talk, that he considered it pretty in a young girl to take +satisfaction in browbeating an old gentleman. But don't let us talk any +more about it; he has had his say, and now it's my turn. I want to hear +how you are situated, Gerty, where you live, and how you like teaching."</p> + +<p>Gertrude answered all these questions: and the doctor, who had heard +Mrs. Sullivan spoken of as a friend of True's and Gerty's, made many +inquiries as to her health. It was now snowing fast, and Gertrude's +anxiety to return home in good season being very manifest to her kind +host and hostess, they urged no further delay, and, after she had +promised to repeat her visit, she drove away with the doctor.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>CARES MULTIPLIED.</h3> + + +<p>"I have been thinking," said Gertrude, as she drew near home, "how we +shall manage, doctor, so as not to alarm Mrs. Sullivan."</p> + +<p>"What's going to alarm her?" asked the doctor.</p> + +<p>"You, if she knows at once you are a physician. I think I had better +introduce you as a friend, who brought me home in the storm."</p> + +<p>"Oh! so we are going to act a little farce, are we? Stage manager, +Gertrude Flint—unknown stranger, Dr. Jeremy. I'm ready. What shall I +say first?"</p> + +<p>"I leave that to a wiser head than mine, doctor, and trust entirely to +your own discretion to obtain some knowledge of her symptoms, and only +gradually disclose to her that you are a physician."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes! pretend at first to be only a private individual of an +inquiring mind. I can manage it." As they opened the door, Mrs. Sullivan +rose from her chair with a troubled countenance, and hardly waited for +the introduction to Gertrude's friend before she asked if Mr. Cooper +were not with them.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," replied Gertrude. "Hasn't he come home?"</p> + +<p>Upon Mrs. Sullivan saying that she had not seen him since morning, +Gertrude informed her, with a composure she was far from feeling, that +Mr. Miller had undertaken the care of him, and could, undoubtedly, +account for his absence. She would seek him at once.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm so sorry," said Mrs. Sullivan, "that you should have to go out +again in such a storm; but I feel very anxious about grandpa—don't you, +Gerty?"</p> + +<p>"Not very: I think he's safe in the church. But I'll go for him at once; +you know, auntie, I never mind the weather."</p> + +<p>"Then take my great shawl, dear." And Mrs. Sullivan went to the closet +for her shawl, giving Gertrude an opportunity to beg of Dr. Jeremy that +he would await her return; for she knew that any unusual agitation of +mind would often cause an attack of faintness in Mrs. Sullivan, and was +afraid to have her left alone, to dwell with alarm upon Mr. Cooper's +prolonged absence.</p> + +<p>It was a very disagreeable afternoon, and already growing dark. Gertrude +hastened along the wet footpath, exposed to the blinding storm, and, +after passing through several streets, gained the church. She went into +the building, now nearly deserted by workmen, saw that Mr. Cooper was +not there, and began to fear she should gain no information concerning +him, when she met Mr. Miller coming from the gallery. He looked +surprised at seeing her, and asked if Mr. Cooper had not returned home. +She answered in the negative, and he informed her that his efforts were +insufficient to persuade the old man to go home at dinner-time, and that +he had therefore taken him to his own house; he had supposed that long +before this hour he would have been induced to allow one of the +children to accompany him to Mrs. Sullivan's.</p> + +<p>As it seemed probable that he was still at Mr. Miller's, Gertrude +proceeded thither at once. After an uncomfortable walk, she reached her +destination. She knocked at the door, but there was no response, and +after waiting a moment, she opened it, and went in. Through another door +there was the sound of children's voices, and so much noise that she +believed it impossible to make herself heard, and, therefore, without +further ceremony, entered the room. A band of startled children +dispersed at the sight of a stranger, and ensconced themselves in +corners; and Mrs. Miller, in dismay at the untidy appearance of her +kitchen, hastily pushed back a clothes-horse against the wall, thereby +disclosing to view the very person Gertrude had come to seek, who, in +his usual desponding attitude, sat cowering over the fire. But, before +she could advance to speak to him, her attention was arrested by a most +unexpected sight. Placed against the side of the room, opposite the +door, was a narrow bed, in which some person seemed to be sleeping. +Hardly, however, had Gertrude presented herself in the doorway before +the figure suddenly raised itself, gazed fixedly at her, lifted a hand +as if to ward off her approach, and uttered a piercing shriek.</p> + +<p>The voice and countenance were not to be mistaken, and Gertrude, pale +and trembling, felt something like a revival of her old dread as she +beheld the well-known features of Nan Grant.</p> + +<p>"Go away! go <i>away</i>!" cried Nan, as Gertrude advanced into the room. +Again Gertrude paused, for the wildness of Nan's eyes and the excitement +of her countenance were such that she feared to excite her further. Mrs. +Miller now came forward and said, "Why, Aunt Nancy! what is the matter? +This is Miss Flint, one of the best young ladies in the land."</p> + +<p>"No, 'tan't!" said Nan. "I know better."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Miller now drew Gertrude aside into the shadow of the +clothes-horse, and conversed with her in an undertone, while Nan, +leaning on her elbow, and peering after them, maintained a watchful, +listening attitude. Gertrude was informed that Mrs. Miller was a niece +of Ben Grant's, but had seen nothing of him or his wife for years, +until, a few days previous. Nan had come there in a state of the +greatest destitution, and threatened with the fever under which she was +now suffering. "I could not refuse her a shelter," said Mrs. Miller; +"but, as you see, I have no accommodation for her; and it's not only bad +for me to have her sick here in the kitchen, but, what with the noise of +the children, and all the other discomforts, I'm afraid the poor old +thing will die."</p> + +<p>"Have you a room that you could spare above-stairs?" asked Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Why, there's our Jane," answered Mrs. Miller; "she's a good-hearted +girl as ever lived; she said, right off, she'd give up her room to poor +Aunt Nancy, and she'd sleep in with the other children. I don't feel, +though, as if we could afford to keep another fire agoing, and so I +thought we'd put a bed here for a day or two, and just see how she got +along. But she's looked pretty bad to-day; and now, I'm thinking from +her actions that she's considerable out of her head."</p> + +<p>"She ought to be kept quiet," said Gertrude; "and, if you will have a +fire in Jane's room at my expense, and do what you can to make her +comfortable, I'll send a physician here to see her." Mrs. Miller was +beginning to express the warmest gratitude, but Gertrude interrupted her +with saying, "Don't thank me, Mrs. Miller; Nancy is not a stranger to +me; I have known her before, and, perhaps, feel more interested in her +than you do yourself."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Miller looked surprised; but Gertrude could not stop to enter into +a further explanation. Anxious to speak to Nan, and assure her of her +friendly intentions, she went up to the side of the bed, in spite of the +wild and glaring eyes which were fixed steadily upon her. "Nan," said +she, "do you know me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes! yes!" replied Nan, in a half-whisper, speaking quickly, and +catching her breath; "what have you come for?"</p> + +<p>"To do you good, I hope."</p> + +<p>But Nan still looked incredulous, and in the same undertone, and with +the same nervous accent, inquired, "Have you seen Gerty? Where is she?"</p> + +<p>"She is well," answered Gertrude, astonished at the question, for she +had supposed herself recognised.</p> + +<p>"What did she say about me?"</p> + +<p>"She says that she forgives and pities you, and is in hopes to do +something to help you and make you well."</p> + +<p>"Did she?" said the sick woman; "then you won't kill me?"</p> + +<p>"Kill you?—No, indeed. We are in hopes to make you comfortable and cure +you."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Miller, who had been preparing a cup of tea, now drew near with it +in her hand. Gertrude took it and offered it to Nan, who drank eagerly +of it, staring at her over the edge of the cup. When she had finished, +she threw herself heavily upon the pillow, and began muttering some +indistinct sentences, the only distinguishable word being the name of +her son Stephen. Finding the current of her thoughts thus apparently +diverted, Gertrude now feeling in haste to return and relieve Dr. +Jeremy, who had so kindly agreed to stay with Mrs. Sullivan, moved a +little from the bedside, saying as she did so, "Good-bye, I will come +and see you again."</p> + +<p>"You won't hurt me?" said Nan, starting up.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. I will bring you something you will like."</p> + +<p>"Don't bring Gerty here with you! I don't want to see her."</p> + +<p>"I will come alone," replied Gertrude.</p> + +<p>Nan now laid down, and did not speak again while Gertrude remained in +the house, though she watched her steadily until she was outside the +door. Mr. Cooper made no objection to accompanying his young guide, and +though the severity of the storm was such that they did not escape a +thorough wetting, they reached home in safety.</p> + +<p>Dr. Jeremy, seated with his feet upon the fender, had the contented +appearance of one who is quite at home. He had been talking with Mrs. +Sullivan about the people of a country town where they had both passed +some time in their childhood, and the timid woman had come to feel so +much at her ease in the society of the social and entertaining +physician, that, though he had accidentally disclosed his profession, +she allowed him to question her upon the state of her health, without +any of the alarm she had fancied she should feel at the sight of a +doctor. By the time Gertrude returned, he had made himself well +acquainted with the case, and was prepared, on Mrs. Sullivan's leaving +the room, to provide dry clothes for her father, to report to Gertrude +his opinion.</p> + +<p>"Gertrude," said he, as soon as the door was shut, "that's a very sick +woman."</p> + +<p>"Do you think so, Dr. Jeremy?" said Gertrude, much alarmed, and sinking +into the nearest chair.</p> + +<p>"I do," replied he. "I wish I had seen her six months ago."</p> + +<p>"Why, doctor? Do you date her illness so far back as that?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and much farther. She has borne up under the gradual progress of a +disease which is now, I fear, beyond the aid of medical treatment."</p> + +<p>"Dr. Jeremy," said Gertrude, "you do not mean to tell me that auntie is +going to die and leave me, and her poor old father, and without ever +seeing Willie again, too? Oh, I had hoped it was not nearly so bad as +that!"</p> + +<p>"Do not be alarmed, Gertrude," said the doctor. "I did not mean to +frighten you;—she may live some time yet. I can judge better of her +case in a day or two. But it is absolutely <i>unsafe</i> for you to be here +alone with these two friends of yours—to say nothing of its overtasking +your strength. Has not Mrs. Sullivan the means to keep a nurse, or even +a domestic? She tells me she has no one."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," answered Gerty; "her son supplies her wants most +generously. I know that she never draws nearly the whole of the amount +he is anxious she should expend."</p> + +<p>"Then you must speak to her about getting some one to assist you at +once; for, if you do not, I shall."</p> + +<p>"I intend to do it," said Gertrude. "I have seen the necessity for some +time past; but she has such a dread of strangers, that I hated to +propose it."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," said the doctor; "that's only imagination in her; she would +soon get used to being waited upon."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sullivan now returned, and Gertrude, giving an account of her +unexpected re-encounter with Nan Grant, begged Dr. Jeremy to go the next +day and see her. "It will be a visit of charity," said she, "for she is +probably penniless; and, though staying with your old patients, the +Millers, she is but distantly connected, and has no claim upon them. +That never makes any difference with you, however, I know very well."</p> + +<p>"Not a bit, not a bit," answered the doctor. "I'll go and see her +to-night, if the case requires it, and to-morrow I shall look in to +report how she is, and hear the rest of what Mrs. Sullivan was telling +me about her wakeful nights. But, Gertrude, do you go, child, and change +your wet shoes and stockings. I shall have you on my hands next."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sullivan was delighted with Dr. Jeremy. "So different," said she, +"from common doctors" (a portion of humanity for which she seemed to +have an unaccountable aversion); "so social and friendly! Why, I felt, +Gertrude, as if I could talk to him about my sickness as freely as I can +to you."</p> + +<p>Gertrude joined in the praises bestowed upon her much-valued friend, and +it was tea-time before Mrs. Sullivan was weary of the subject. After the +evening meal was over, and Mr. Cooper had been persuaded to retire to +rest, while Mrs. Sullivan, reclining on the sofa, was enjoying what she +always termed her happiest hour, Gertrude broached the subject +recommended by Dr. Jeremy. Contrary to her expectations, Mrs. Sullivan +no longer objected to the proposal of introducing a domestic into the +family. She was convinced of her own incompetency to perform any active +labour, and was equally opposed to the exertion on Gertrude's part which +had, during the last week, been requisite. Gertrude suggested Jane +Miller as a girl well suited to their wants, and it was agreed that she +should be applied for on the next morning.</p> + +<p>One more glance at Gertrude, and we shall have followed her to the +conclusion of the day. She is alone. It is ten o'clock, and the house is +still. Mr. Cooper is sound asleep. Gertrude has just listened at his +door, and heard his loud breathing. Mrs. Sullivan, under the influence +of a soothing draught recommended by Dr. Jeremy, has fallen into an +unusually quiet slumber. The little Calcutta birds, ten in number, that +occupy a large cage in the window, are nestled side by side on their +slender perch, and Gertrude has thrown a warm covering over them, that +they might not suffer from the cold night air. She has locked the doors, +made all things safe and comfortable, and now sits down to read, to +meditate, and pray. Her trials and cares are multiplying. A great grief +stares her in the face, and a great responsibility; but she shrinks not +from either. No! on the contrary, she thanks God that she is here; that +she had the resolution to forsake pleasure and ease, and in spite of +her own weakness and man's wrath, to place herself in the front of +life's battle, and bravely wait its issues. She thanks God that she +knows where to look for help. But, though her heart is brave and her +faith firm, she has a woman's tender nature; and, as she sits alone she +weeps—weeps for herself, and for him who, far away in a foreign land, +is counting the days, the months, and years which shall restore him to a +mother he is destined never to see again. But remembering that she is to +stand in the place of a child to that parent, and that her hand must +soothe the pillow of the invalid, and minister to all her wants, comes +the stern necessity of self-control—a necessity to which Gertrude has +long since learned to submit—and, rallying all her calmness and +fortitude, she wipes away the tears, and commends herself to Him who is +strength to the weak and comfort to the sorrowing.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE VISION.</h3> + + +<p>It was fortunate for Gertrude that the vacation at Mr. W.'s school was +approaching, when she would be more at leisure to attend to her +multiplied cares. She considered herself favoured in obtaining the +services of Jane, who consented to come and help Miss Gertrude. She did +not, she said, exactly like living out, but couldn't refuse a young lady +who had been so good to them in times past. Gertrude had feared that, +with Nan Grant sick in the house, Mrs. Miller would not be able to give +up her eldest daughter; but Mary, a second girl, having returned home +unexpectedly, one of them could be spared. Under Gertrude's tuition, +Jane was able to relieve Mrs. Sullivan of her household duties, and to +leave Gertrude at liberty to visit Nan, whose fever rendered her claim +for aid the most imperative. In Gertrude's still vivid recollection of +her former sufferings under Nan there was no bitterness, no revenge. If +she remembered the past, it was only to pity and forgive her +persecutor.</p> + +<p>Therefore, night after night found her watching by the bedside of the +sick woman, who, still delirious, had entirely lost the dread she had at +first seemed to feel at her presence. Nan talked much of little +Gerty—sometimes in a way that led Gertrude to believe herself +recognised, but more frequently as if the child were supposed to be +absent; and it was not until a long time after that Gertrude was led to +adopt the correct supposition, which was, that she had been mistaken for +her mother, whom she much resembled, and whom, though tended in her last +sickness by Nan herself, the fevered and conscience-stricken sufferer +believed had come back to claim her child at her hands. It was only the +continued assurances of good-will on Gertrude's part, and her unwearied +efforts to soothe and comfort her, that finally led Nan to the belief +that the injured mother had found her child in safety, and was ignorant +of the wrongs and unkindness she had endured.</p> + +<p>One night—it was the last of Nan's life—Gertrude, who had scarcely +left her during the day, and was still watching, heard her own name +mingled with those of others in a few rapid sentences. She listened +intently, for she was always in hopes, during these ravings, to gain +some information concerning her own early life. Her name was not +repeated, however, and for some time the muttering of Nan's voice was +indistinct. Then, suddenly starting up and addressing herself to some +imaginary person, she shouted aloud, "Stephie! Stephie! give me back the +watch, and tell me what you did with the rings?—They will ask—those +folks!—and what shall I tell them?" Then, after a pause, she said, in a +more feeble, but equally earnest voice, "No, no, Stephie, I never'll +tell—I <i>never, never</i> will!" The moment the words had left her lips, +she started, turned, saw Gertrude standing by the bedside, and with a +frightful look, shrieked, rather than asked, "Did you hear? Did you +hear?—You did," continued she, "and you'll tell! Oh, if you <i>do</i>!" She +was here preparing to spring from the bed, but overcome with exhaustion, +sunk back on the pillow. Summoning Mr. and Mrs. Miller, the agitated +Gertrude, believing that her own presence was too exciting, left the +dying woman to their care, and sought another part of the house. +Learning, about an hour afterwards, from Mrs. Miller, that Nan had +become comparatively calm, but seemed near her end, Gertrude thought it +best not to enter the room again; and, sitting down by the kitchen fire, +pondered over the strange scene she had witnessed. Day was just dawning +when Mrs. Miller came to tell her that Nan had breathed her last.</p> + +<p>Gerty's work of mercy, forgiveness, and Christian love being thus +finished, she hastened home to recruit her strength, and fortify herself +for the labour and suffering yet in store for her. In three weeks from +Nan Grant's death, Paul Cooper was smitten by the Destroyer's hand, and +he, too, was laid to his last rest; and though the deepest feelings of +Gertrude's heart were not in either case fully awakened, it was no +slight call upon the mental and physical endurance of a girl of eighteen +to bear up under the self-imposed duties caused by each event, and that, +too, at a time when her mind was racked by the apprehension of a new and +more intense grief. Emily's absence was also a sore trial to her, for +she was accustomed to rely upon her for advice and counsel, and in +seasons of peculiar distress, to learn patience and submission. Only one +letter had been received from the travellers, and that, written by Mrs. +Ellis, contained little that was satisfactory. It was written from +Havana, where they were boarding in a house kept by an American lady, +and crowded with visitors from Boston, New York, and other northern +cities.</p> + +<p>"It an't so very pleasant, after all, Gertrude," wrote Mrs. Ellis, "and +I wish we were safe home again; and not on my own account either, so +much as Emily's. She feels kind of strange here; and no wonder, for it's +a dreadful uncomfortable sort of a place. The windows have no glass +about them, but are grated like a prison; and there is not a carpet in +the house, nor a fire-place, though sometimes the mornings are cold. +There's a widow here, with a brother and some nieces. The widow is a +flaunting kind of a woman, that I begin to think is either setting her +cap for Mr. Graham, or means to make an old fool of him. She is one of +your loud-talking women, that dress up a good deal, and like to take the +lead; and Mr. Graham is silly enough to follow after her party, and go +to all sorts of rides and excursions;—it's so <i>ridiculous</i>—and he over +sixty-five years old! Emily and I have pretty much done going into the +parlour, for these gay folks don't take any sort of notice of us. Emily +doesn't say a word, or complain a bit, but I know she is not happy here, +and would be glad to be back in Boston; and so should I, if it wasn't +for that horrid steamboat. I liked to have died with sea-sickness, +Gertrude, coming out; and I dread going home so, that I don't know what +to do."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Gertrude wrote frequently to Emily, but, as Miss Graham was dependent +upon Mrs. Ellis's eyesight, and the letters must, therefore, be subject +to her scrutiny, she could not express her innermost thoughts and +feelings as she was wont to do in conversation with her sympathising and +indulgent friend. Every Indian mail brought news from William Sullivan, +who, prosperous in business, and rendered happy even in his exile by the +belief that the friends he loved best were in the enjoyment of the +fruits of his exertions, wrote always in a strain of cheerfulness.</p> + +<p>One Sabbath afternoon, a few weeks after Mr. Cooper's death, found +Gertrude with an open letter in her hand, the numerous post-marks upon +the outside of which proclaimed from whence it came. It had that day +been received, and Mrs. Sullivan, as she lay stretched upon the couch, +had been listening for the third time to the reading of its contents. +The bright hopes expressed by her son, and the gay tone in which he +wrote, all unconscious of the cloud of sorrow that was gathering for +him, formed so striking a contrast to her own reflections, that she lay +with her eyes closed, and oppressed with an unwonted degree of sadness; +while Gertrude, as she glanced at the passage in which Willie dilated +upon the "joy of once more clasping in his arms the dear mother whom he +so longed to see again," and then turned her gaze upon the wasted form +and cheek of that mother, felt a chill at her heart. Dr. Jeremy's first +fears were confirmed, and, her disease still further aggravated by the +anxiety which attended her father's sickness and death, Mrs. Sullivan +was rapidly passing away.</p> + +<p>Whether she was herself aware of this Gertrude had not yet been able to +determine. She had never spoken upon the subject, or intimated a +conviction of her approaching end; and Gertrude was almost inclined to +believe that she was deceiving herself with the expectation of recovery. +All doubt of this was soon removed; for after remaining a short time +engaged in deep thought, or perhaps in prayer, Mrs. Sullivan opened her +eyes, fixed them upon the young attendant, and said, in a calm, distinct +voice—"Gertrude, I shall never see Willie again." Gertrude made no +reply.</p> + +<p>"I wish to write and tell him so myself, or, rather, if you will write +for me, I should like to tell you what to say; and I feel that no time +is to be lost, for I am failing fast, and may not long have strength +enough to do it. It will devolve upon you, my child, to let him know +when all is over; but you have had too many sad duties already, and it +will spare you somewhat to have me prepare him to hear bad news. Will +you commence a letter to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, auntie, if you think it best."</p> + +<p>"I do, Gerty. What you wrote by the last mail was my father's sickness +and death; and there was nothing mentioned likely to alarm him on my +account, was there?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing at all."</p> + +<p>"Then it is time he should be forewarned, poor boy! I do not need Dr. +Jeremy to tell me that I am dying."</p> + +<p>"Did he tell you so?" asked Gertrude, as she went to her desk, and began +to arrange her writing materials.</p> + +<p>"No, Gerty! he was too prudent for that; but I told <i>him</i> and he did not +contradict me. You have known it some time, have you not?" inquired she, +gazing earnestly in the face of Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Some weeks," replied Gertrude, as she spoke imprinting a kiss upon the +pale brow of the sufferer.</p> + +<p>"Why did you not tell me?"</p> + +<p>"Why should I, dear auntie?" said Gertrude. "I knew the Lord could never +call you at a time when your lamp would not be trimmed and burning."</p> + +<p>"Feebly, it burns feebly!" said she.</p> + +<p>"Whose, then, is bright," said Gertrude, "if yours be dim! Have you not, +for years past, been a living lesson of piety? Unless it be Emily, +auntie, I know of no one who seems so fit for heaven."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, Gerty! I am a sinful creature, full of weakness; much as I long +to meet my Saviour, my earthly heart pines with the vain desire for one +more sight of my boy, and all my dreams of heaven are mingled with the +aching regret that the one blessing I most craved on earth has been +denied me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, auntie!" exclaimed Gertrude, "we are all human! Until the mortal +puts on immortality, how can you cease to think of Willie, and long for +his presence in this trying hour! It cannot be a sin—that which is so +natural!"</p> + +<p>"I do not know, Gerty; perhaps it is not; and, if it be, I trust before +I go hence, I shall be blessed with a spirit of perfect submission, to +atone for the occasional murmuring of a mother's heart? Read to me, my +dear, some holy words of comfort; you always seem to open the good book +at the passage I most need. It is sinful, indeed, to me, Gertrude, to +indulge the least repining, blessed as I am in the love and care of one +who is dear to me as a daughter!"</p> + +<p>Gertrude took her Bible, and opening it at the Gospel of St. Mark, her +eye fell upon the account of Our Saviour's agony in the garden of +Gethsemane. She rightly believed that nothing could be more appropriate +to Mrs. Sullivan's state of mind than the touching description of the +struggle of our Lord's humanity; nothing more likely to sooth her +spirit, and reconcile her to the occasional rebellion of her own mortal +nature, then the evident contest of the human with the divine so +thrillingly narrated by the disciple; and that nothing could be more +inspiring than the example of that holy Son of God, who ever to His +thrice-repeated prayer that, if possible, the cup might pass from him, +added the pious ejaculation, "Thy will, not mine, be done." The words +were not without effect; for, when she had finished, she observed that +as Mrs. Sullivan lay still upon her couch, her lips seemed to be +repeating the Saviour's prayer. Not wishing to disturb her meditations, +Gertrude made no reference to the proposed letter to Willie, but sat +silently, and Mrs. Sullivan fell asleep. It was a gentle slumber, and +Gertrude sat and watched with pleasure the peaceful happy expression of +her features. Darkness had come on before she awoke, and so shrouded the +room that Gertrude, who still sat there, was invisible in the gloom. She +started on hearing her name, and, hastily lighting a candle, approached +the couch.</p> + +<p>"O, Gertrude!" said Mrs. Sullivan, "I have had such a beautiful dream! +Sit down by me, my dear, and let me tell it to you; it could not have +been more vivid, if it had all been reality:—"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Dream</span>:—"I thought I was sailing rapidly through the air, and for +some time I seemed to float on and on, over clouds and among bright +stars. The motion was so gentle that I did not grow weary, though in my +journey I travelled over land and sea. At last I saw beneath me a +beautiful city, with churches, towers, monuments, and throngs of gay +people moving in every direction. As I drew nearer, I could distinguish +the faces of these numerous men and women, and among them, in the +crowded street, there was one who looked like Willie. I followed him, +and soon felt sure it was he. He looked older than when we saw him last, +and much as I have always imagined him, since the descriptions he has +given in his letters of the change that has taken place in his +appearance. I followed him through several streets, and at last he +turned into a fine, large building, which stood near the centre of the +city. I went in also. We passed through large halls and beautifully +furnished rooms, and at last stood in a dining-saloon, in the middle of +which was a table covered with bottles, glasses, and the remains of a +rich desert, such as I never saw before. There was a group of young men +round the table, all well-dressed, and some of them fine-looking, so +that at first I was quite charmed with their appearance. I seemed, +however, to have a strange power of looking into their hearts, and +detecting all the evil there was there. One had a very bright, +intelligent face, and might have been thought a man of talent—and so he +was; but I could see better than people usually can, and I perceived, by +a sort of instinct, that all his mind and genius were converted into a +means of duping and deceiving those who were so foolish or so ignorant +as to be ensnared.</p> + +<p>"Another seemed by his wit and drollery to be the charm of the company; +but I could detect marks of intoxication.</p> + +<p>"A third was vainly attempting to look happy; but his soul was bared to +my searching gaze, and I saw that he had the day before lost at the +gaming-table his own and a part of his employer's money, and was +tortured with anxiety lest he might not this evening win it back.</p> + +<p>"There were many others present, and all, more or less, sunk in +dissipation, had reached various stages on the road to ruin. Their +faces, however, looked gay, and, as Willie glanced from one to another, +he seemed pleased and attracted.</p> + +<p>"One of them offered him a seat at the table, and all urged him to take +it. He did so, and the young man at his right filled a glass with bright +wine, and handed it to him. He hesitated, then took it and raised it to +his lips. Just then I touched him on the shoulder. He turned, saw me, +and instantly the glass fell from his hand, and was broken. I beckoned, +and he rose and followed me. The gay circle he had left called loudly +upon him to return; one of them even laid a hand upon his arm, and tried +to detain him; but he would not listen or stay—he shook off the hand, +and we went on. Before we had got outside the building, the man whom I +had first noticed, and whom I knew to be the most artful of the company, +came out from a room near the door, which he had reached by some other +direction, and, approaching Willie, whispered in his ear. Willie +faltered, turned, and would perhaps have gone back; but I stood in front +of him, held up my finger menacingly, and shook my head. He hesitated no +longer, but, flinging aside the tempter, rushed out of the door, and was +instantly down the long flight of steps. I seemed to move with great +rapidity, and was soon guiding my son through the intricate, crowded +streets of the city. Many were the snares we found laid for the unwary. +More than once my watchful eye saved the thoughtless boy by my side from +some pitfall or danger, into which, without me, he would have fallen. +Occasionally I lost sight of him, and had to turn back; once he was +separated from me by the crowd, and missed his way, and once he lingered +to witness or join in some sinful amusements. Each time, however, he +listened to my warning voice, and we went on in safety.</p> + +<p>"At last, however, in passing through a brilliantly-lighted street—for +it was now evening—I suddenly observed that he was absent from my side. +I hunted the streets, and called him by name; but there was no answer. I +then unfolded my wings, and, soaring high above the crowded town, +surveyed the whole, hoping that in that one glance I might, as I had at +first done, detect my boy.</p> + +<p>"I was not disappointed. In a gorgeous hall, dazzlingly lit, and filled +with a fashionable crowd, I beheld Willie. A brilliant young creature +was leaning on his arm, and I saw into her heart, and knew that she was +not blind to his beauty or insensible to his attractions. But, oh! I +trembled for him now! She was lovely and rich, and also fashionable and +admired. But I saw into her soul, and she was proud, cold-hearted, and +worldly; and if she loved Willie, it was his beauty, his winning +manners, and his smile that pleased her—not his noble nature, which she +knew not how to prize. As they promenaded through the hall, and she, +whom crowds were praising, gave all her time and thoughts to him, I, +descending in an invisible shape, and standing by his side, touched his +shoulder. He looked around, but, before he could see his mother's face, +the siren's voice attracted all his attention. Again and again I +endeavoured to win him away; but he heard me not. At length she spoke +some word that betrayed to my high-minded boy the folly and selfishness +of her worldly soul. I seized the moment when she had thus weakened her +hold upon him, and, clasping him in my arms, spread my wings, and soared +far, far away, bearing with me the prize I had toiled after and won. As +we rose into the air, my manly son became in my encircling arms a child +again, and there rested on my bosom the same little head, with its soft, +silken curls, that had nestled there in infancy. Back we flew, over sea +and land, and paused not until, on a soft, grassy slope, under the shade +of green trees, I thought I saw my darling Gerty, and was flying to lay +my precious boy at her feet, when I awoke pronouncing your name."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"And now, Gertrude, the bitterness of the cup I am called upon to drink +is passed away. A blessed angel has ministered unto me. I no longer wish +to see my son again on earth, for I am persuaded that my departure is in +accordance with the schemes of a merciful Providence. I now believe that +Willie's living mother might be powerless to turn him from temptation +and evil; but the spirit of that mother will be mighty still, and in the +thought that she, in her home beyond the skies, is ever watching around +his path, and striving to lead him in the narrow way, he may find a +truer shield from danger, a firmer rest to his tempted soul, than she +could have been while on earth. Now, oh, my Father, I can say, from the +depths of my heart, 'Thy will, not mine, be done!'"</p> + +<p>From this time until her death, which took place about a month +afterward, Mrs. Sullivan's mind remained in a state of perfect +resignation. The last pang had lost its bitterness. In the letter which +she dictated to Willie, she expressed her trust in the goodness and +wisdom of Providence, and exhorted him to cherish the same submissive +love for the All-wise. She reminded him of the early lessons she had +taught him, the piety and self-command, which she had inculcated, and +made it her dying prayer that her influence might be increased, rather +than diminished, and her presence felt to be a continual reality.</p> + +<p>After Gertrude had folded the letter, and left for her duties in school, +Mrs. Sullivan re-opened the sheet, and, with her feeble hand, recounted +the disinterested and loving devotion of Gertrude, thus: "So long, my +son, as you cherish in your heart the memory of your grandfather and +mother, cease not to bestow all the gratitude of which that heart is +capable upon one whose praises my hand is too feeble to portray."</p> + +<p>So slow and gradual was the decline of Mrs. Sullivan, that her death at +last came as an unexpected blow to Gertrude, who, though she saw the +ravages of disease, could not realise that a termination must come to +their work. In the dead hours of the night, with no one to sustain and +encourage her but the frightened Jane, did she watch the departing +spirit of her much-loved friend. "Are you afraid to see me die, +Gertrude?" asked Mrs. Sullivan, an hour before her death. On Gertrude's +answering that she was not—"Then turn me a little towards you," said +she, "that your face, my darling, may be the last to me of earth."</p> + +<p>It was done, and, with her hand locked fast in Gertrude's, and a look +that spoke the deepest affection, she expired.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3>MORE CHANGES.</h3> + + +<p>Not until her work of love was ended did Gertrude become conscious that +her lengthened labours by night and day had worn upon her frame, and +exhausted her strength. For a week after Mrs. Sullivan was in her grave, +Dr. Jeremy feared a severe illness for Gertrude. But, after struggling +with her dangerous symptoms for several days, she rallied; and, though +still pale and worn by care and anxiety, was able to resume her school +duties, and make arrangements for another home.</p> + +<p>Several homes had been offered to her, with a warmth and cordiality +which made it difficult to decline their acceptance; but Gertrude, +though deeply touched by the kindness thus manifested towards her in her +loneliness, preferred to seek a permanent boarding-place, and when the +grounds on which she based her decision were understood by her friends, +they approved her course.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Jeremy at first felt hurt at Gertrude's refusal to live with them +for any length of time that she chose; and the doctor was so peremptory +with his "Come, Gertrude, come right home with us—don't say a word!" +that she was afraid lest, in her weak state of health, she should be +carried off, without a <i>chance</i> to remonstrate. But, after he had taken +upon himself to give Jane orders about packing her clothes and sending +them after her, and then locking up the house, he gave Gertrude an +opportunity to state her reasons for wishing to decline the generous +proposal.</p> + +<p>But all her reasoning upon general principles proved insufficient to +convince the warm-hearted couple. "It was all nonsense about independent +position. She would be perfectly independent with them, and her company +would be such a pleasure that she need feel no hesitation in accepting +their offer, and might be sure she would be conferring a favour, instead +of being the party obliged." At last she was compelled to make use of an +argument which had greatly influenced her own mind, and would, she felt +sure, carry no little weight with it in the doctor's own estimation.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Jeremy," said she, "I hope you will not condemn in me a motive +which has strengthened my firmness in this matter. I should be unwilling +to mention it if I did not know that you are so far acquainted with the +state of affairs between Mr. Graham and myself as to understand and +sympathize with my feelings. You know that he was opposed to my leaving +them and remaining here this winter, and must suspect that, when we +parted, there was not a perfectly good understanding between us. He +hinted that I should never be able to support myself, and should be +driven to a life of dependence; and, since the salary which I receive +from Mr. W. is sufficient for all my wants, I wish to be so situated on +Mr. Graham's return that he will perceive that my assurance that I could +earn my own living was not without foundation."</p> + +<p>"So Graham thought that, without his sustaining power, you would soon +come to beggary—did he? With your talents, too? that's just like him!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no!" replied Gertrude, "I did not say that; but I seemed to him +a mere child, and he did not realise that in giving me an education he +had paid my expenses in advance. It was very natural he should distrust +my capacity—he had never seen me compelled to exert myself."</p> + +<p>"I understand—I understand," said the doctor. "He thought you would be +glad enough to come back to them; yes, yes, just like him!"</p> + +<p>"Well, now," said Mrs. Jeremy, "I don't believe he thought any such +thing. He was provoked, and didn't mind what he said. Ten to one he will +never think of it again, and it seems to me it is only a kind of pride +in Gertrude to care anything about it."</p> + +<p>"I don't know that, wife," said the doctor. "If it <i>is</i> pride, it's an +honourable pride that I like; and I am not sure but, if I were in +Gertrude's place, I should feel just as she does; so I shan't urge her +to do any other ways than she proposes. She can have a boarding-place, +and yet spend much of her time with us."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Jeremy; "and, if you feel set about it, Gerty, +dear, I am sure I shall want you to do whatever pleases you best; but +one thing I do insist on, and that is, that you leave this house, which +must look very dreary, this very day, go home with me, and stay until +you get recruited."</p> + +<p>Gertrude, gladly consenting to a short visit, compromised the matter by +accompanying them without delay, and it was chiefly owing to the +doctor's persevering skill and care bestowed upon his young guest, and +the motherly nursing of Mrs. Jeremy, that she escaped the illness which +had threatened her.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. W., who felt great sympathy for Gertrude, pressed her to +come to their house, and remain until the return of Mr. Graham and +Emily; but, on being assured by her that she was unaware of the period +of their absence, and should not probably reside with them for the +future, they were satisfied that she acted with wisdom and judgment in +at once providing herself with an independent situation.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Arnold, who had been constant in their attentions, both to +Mrs. Sullivan and Gertrude, and were the only persons, except the +physician, who had been admitted to the sick room of the invalid, felt +that they had a peculiar claim to the care of the doubly-orphaned girl, +and urged her to become a member of their household. Mr. Arnold's family +being large, and his house and salary small, true benevolence alone +prompted this proposal; and on Gertrude's acquainting his economical and +prudent wife with the ample means she enjoyed from her own exertions, +and the decision she had formed of procuring an independent home, she +received the warm approbation of both, and found in the latter an +excellent adviser and assistant.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Arnold had a widowed sister who was in the habit of receiving, as +boarders, a few young ladies. Gertrude did not know this lady +personally, but had heard her warmly praised; and she indulged the hope +that through her friend, the minister's wife, she might obtain with her +an agreeable and not too expensive residence. In this she was not +disappointed. Mrs. Warren had fortunately vacant a large front chamber; +and, Mrs. Arnold having recommended Gertrude in the warmest manner, +suitable terms were agreed upon, and the room placed at her disposal. +Mrs. Sullivan had bequeathed to her all her furniture, and Mrs. Arnold +and her daughters insisted that, in consideration of her recent fatigue +and bereavement, she should attend only to her school duties, and leave +to them the furnishing of her room with such articles as she preferred +to have placed there, and superintended the packing away of all other +movables; for Gertrude was unwilling that anything should be sold. On +entering the dining-room the first evening after she took up her +residence at Mrs. Warren's, she expected to meet only strangers at the +tea-table, but was agreeably disappointed at the sight of Fanny Bruce, +who, left in Boston while her mother and brother were spending the +winter in travelling, had now been several weeks an inmate of Mrs. +Warren's house. Fanny was a school-girl, twelve or thirteen years of +age; a near neighbour to Gertrude, had been in the habit of seeing her +often at Mr. Graham's, and had sometimes begged flowers from her, +borrowed books, and obtained assistance in her fancy-work. She admired +Gertrude much; had hailed with delight the prospect of knowing her +better, as she hoped to do at Mrs. Warren's; and when she met the gaze +of her large, dark eyes, and saw a smile of pleasure overspread her +countenance at the sight of a familiar face, she came forward to shake +hands, and beg that Miss Flint would sit next her at the table.</p> + +<p>Fanny Bruce was a girl of good disposition and warm heart, but she had +been much neglected by her mother, whose pride was in her son, the same +Ben of whom we have previously spoken. She had often been left behind in +some boarding-house, while her pleasure-loving mother and indolent +brother passed their time in journeying; and had not always been so +fortunately situated as she was at present.</p> + +<p>Gertrude had not been long at Mrs. Warren's before she observed that +Fanny occupied an isolated position in the family. She was a few years +younger than her companions, three dressy misses, who could not +condescend to admit her into her clique. Although the privacy of her own +room was pleasing to Gertrude's feelings, pity for poor Fanny induced +her to invite her frequently to come and sit with her, and she often so +far forgot her own griefs as to exert herself in providing entertainment +for her young visitor, who considered it a privilege to share Gertrude's +retirement, read her books, and feel confident of her friendship. During +the stormy month of March Fanny spent almost every evening with +Gertrude; and she, who at first felt that she was making a sacrifice of +her comfort and ease by giving another constant access to her apartment, +realised the force of Uncle True's prophecy, that, in her efforts for +the happiness of others, she would at last find her own; for Fanny's +lively and amusing conversation drew Gertrude from brooding over her +sorrows.</p> + +<p>April arrived, and still no news from Emily; Gertrude's heart ached with +longing to once more pour out her griefs on the bosom of that dear +friend, and find her consolation and support. Gertrude had written +regularly, but of late she had not known where to direct her letters; +and since Mrs. Sullivan's death there had been no communication between +her and the travellers. She was sitting at her window one evening, +thinking of those friends lost by absence and by death, when she was +summoned to see Mr. Arnold and his daughter Anne. After the usual +civilities, Miss Arnold said, "Of course you have heard the news, +Gertrude?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Gertrude. "I have heard nothing special."</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Mr. Arnold, "have you not heard of Mr. Graham's +marriage?"</p> + +<p>Gertrude started up in surprise. "Do you really mean so, Mr. Arnold? Mr. +Graham married! When? To whom?"</p> + +<p>"To the widow Holbrook, a sister-in-law of Mr. Clinton's; she has been +staying at Havanna, with a party from the north, and the Grahams met her +there."</p> + +<p>"But, Gertrude," asked Mr. Arnold, "how does it happen you have not +heard of it? It is in all the newspapers—'Married in New Orleans, J. H. +Graham, Esq., to Mrs. Holbrook.'"</p> + +<p>"I have not seen a newspaper for a day or two," replied Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"And Miss Graham's blindness, I suppose, prevents her writing," said +Anne; "but I thought Mr. Graham would send wedding compliments."</p> + +<p>Gertrude made no reply, and Miss Arnold said, "I suppose his bride +engrosses all his attention."</p> + +<p>"Do you know anything of this Mrs. Holbrook?" asked Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Not much," answered Mr. Arnold. "I have seen her occasionally at Mr. +Clinton's. She is a handsome, showy woman, fond of society, I should +think."</p> + +<p>"I have seen her very often," said Anne. "She is a coarse, noisy, +dashing person, just the one to make Miss Emily miserable."</p> + +<p>Gertrude looked distressed, and Mr. Arnold glanced reprovingly at her. +"Anne," said he, "are you sure you speak advisedly?"</p> + +<p>"Belle Clinton is my authority, father. I only judge from what I used to +hear her say at school about her Aunt <i>Bella</i>, as she always used to +call her."</p> + +<p>"Did Isabel represent her aunt so unfavourably?"</p> + +<p>"Not intentionally; she meant the greatest praise, but I never liked +anything she told us about her."</p> + +<p>"We will not condemn her until we can decide upon acquaintance," said +Mr. Arnold; "perhaps she will prove the reverse of what you suppose."</p> + +<p>"Can you tell me anything concerning Emily?" asked Gertrude, "and +whether Mr. Graham is soon to return?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing," said Miss Arnold. "When did you hear from them yourself?"</p> + +<p>Gertrude mentioned the date of the letter from Mrs. Ellis, the account +she had given of a gay party from the north, and suggested that probably +Mrs. Graham was the widow she had described.</p> + +<p>"The same, undoubtedly," said Mr. Arnold.</p> + +<p>Their knowledge of facts were so slight, however, that little remained +to be said concerning the marriage, and other topics of conversation +were introduced. But Gertrude found it impossible to think of any other +subject; the matter was so vitally important to Emily, that her mind +constantly recurred to it. The conversation was interrupted by the +sudden entrance of Dr. and Mrs. Jeremy. The former held in his hand a +sealed letter, directed to Gertrude, in the handwriting of Mr. Graham; +and, as he handed it to her, he rubbed his hands, and looking at Anne +Arnold, exclaimed, "Now, Miss Anne, we shall hear all about these famous +nuptials!"</p> + +<p>Finding her visitors eager to learn the contents of her letter, Gertrude +broke the seal, and hastily perused its contents. The envelope contained +two or three pages closely written by Mrs. Ellis, and also a lengthy +note from Mr. Graham. Surprised as Gertrude was at any communication +from one who had parted from her in anger, her desire was to hear from +Emily, and she preferred the housekeeper's document as most likely to +contain the desired information. It ran as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">New York</span>, <i>March 31, 1852</i>.</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Gertrude</span>,—As there were plenty of Boston folks at the +wedding, you have heard before this of Mr. Graham's marriage. He +married the widow Holbrook, the same I wrote to you about. She was +determined to have him, and she's got him. I don't hesitate to say +he's got the worst of the bargain. He likes a quiet life, and he's +lost the chance of that—poor man!—for she's the greatest hand for +company that ever I saw. She followed Mr. Graham up pretty well at +Havanna, but I guess he thought better of it, and didn't mean to +have her. But when we got to New Orleans, she was there; and she +carried her point, and married him. Emily behaved beautifully; she +never said a word against it, and always treated the lady as +pleasantly as could be; but, dear me! how will our Emily get along +with so many folks about all the time, and so much noise and +confusion? For my part, I an't used to it, and it's not agreeable. +The new lady is civil enough to me, now she's married. I daresay +she thinks it stands her in hand, as long as she's one of the +family, and I've been in it so long. But I suppose you've been +wondering what had become of us, Gertrude, and will be surprised to +find we have got so far as New York, on our way home—<i>my</i> way +home, for I'm the only one that talks of coming at present. I kept +meaning to write while we were in New Orleans, but there was so +much going on I didn't get the chance; and, after that horrid +steamboat from Charleston here, I wasn't good for anything for a +week. But Emily was so anxious that I couldn't put off writing any +longer. Poor Emily isn't very well; I don't mean that she's +downright sick—it's low spirits more than anything. She gets tired +and worried very quick, and easily disturbed, which didn't used to +be the case. It may be the new wife, and all the nieces and other +disagreeable things. She never complains, and nobody would know but +what she was pleased to have her father married again; but she +hasn't seemed happy all winter, and now it troubles me to see how +she looks sometimes. She talks a sight about you, and felt +dreadfully not to get any more letters. But to come to the +principal thing, they are all going to Europe—Emily and all. I +take it, it's the new wife's idea. Mr. Graham wanted me to go, but +I would as soon be hung as venture on the sea again, and I told him +so. So now he has written for you to go with Emily; and if you are +not afraid of sea-sickness, I hope you won't refuse, for it would +be dreadful for her to have a stranger, and you know she always +needs somebody on account of her blindness. I do not think she has +the least wish to go; but she would not ask to be left behind, for +fear her father should think she did not like the new wife.</p> + +<p>"As soon as they sail—the last of April—I shall come back to the +house in D——, and see to things there while they are away. I +write a postscript to you from Emily, and we shall be very +impatient to hear your answer; and I hope you will not refuse to go +with Emily.</p> + +<p>"Yours very truly,</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Sarah H. Ellis.</span>"</p></blockquote> + +<p>The postscript contained the following:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"I need not tell my darling Gertrude how much I have missed her, +and longed to have her with me again; how I have thought of her by +night and day, and prayed God to strengthen and fit her for many +trials and labours. The letter written soon after Mr. Cooper's +death is the last that has reached me, and I do not know whether +Mrs. Sullivan is still living. Write to me at once, my dear child, +if you cannot come to us. Father will tell you of our plans, and +ask you to accompany us to Europe. My heart will be light if I can +take my dear Gerty with me; I trust to you, my love, to decide +aright. You have heard of father's marriage. It is a great change +for us all, but will, I trust, result in happiness. Mrs. Graham +has two nieces, who are with us at the hotel. They are to be of +our party to go abroad, and are, I understand, very beautiful +girls, especially Bella Clinton, whom you saw in Boston some years +ago. Mrs. Ellis is very tired of writing, and I must close with +assuring my dearest Gertrude of the devoted affection of</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Emily Graham.</span>"</p></blockquote> + +<p>It was with great curiosity that Gertrude unfolded Mr. Graham's epistle. +She thought it would be awkward for him to address her, and wondered +much whether he would maintain his authoritative tone, or condescend to +apologise. Had she known him better, she would have been assured that +nothing would ever induce him to do the latter, for he was one of those +persons who never believe themselves in the wrong.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Miss Gertrude Flint</span>,—I am married, and intend to go abroad on the +28th of April. My daughter will accompany us, and as Mrs. Ellis +dreads the sea, I propose that you join us in New York, and attend +the party as a companion to Emily. I have not forgotten the +ingratitude with which you once slighted a similar offer on my +part, and nothing would compel me to give you another opportunity +to manifest such a spirit, but a desire to promote the happiness of +Emily, and a sincere wish to be of service to a young person who +has been in my family so long that I feel a friendly interest in +providing for her. By complying with our wishes, you will remove +the recollection of your past behaviour; and, if you choose to +return to us, I shall enable you to maintain the place and +appearance of a lady. As we sail the last of the month, it is +important you should write and name the day. I will meet you at the +boat. Mrs. Ellis being anxious to return to Boston, I hope you will +come as soon as possible. I enclose a sum of money to cover +expenses. If you have contracted debts, let me know to what amount, +and I will see that all is paid before you leave. Trusting you are +now come to a sense of your duty, I subscribe myself your friend,</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">J. H. Graham.</span>"</p></blockquote> + +<p>Gertrude was sitting near a lamp, whose light fell directly upon her +face, which, as she glanced over Mr. Graham's note, flushed crimson with +wounded pride. Dr. Jeremy observed her colour change, and during the few +minutes that Mr. and Miss Arnold stayed to hear the news, he gave an +occasional glance of defiance at the letter, and as soon as they were +gone, begged to be made acquainted with its contents.</p> + +<p>"He writes," said Gertrude, "to invite me to accompany them to Europe."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" said Dr. Jeremy, with a low whistle; "and he thinks you'll be +silly enough to pack up and start off at a minute's notice!"</p> + +<p>"Why, Gerty," said Mrs. Jeremy, "you'll like to go, shan't you, dear? It +will be delightful."</p> + +<p>"Delightful—nonsense! Mrs. Jeremy," exclaimed the doctor; "what is +there delightful, I want to know, in travelling about with an arrogant +old tyrant, his blind daughter, upstart dashy wife, and her two +fine-lady nieces? A pretty position Gertrude would be in—a slave to the +whims of all that company."</p> + +<p>"Why, Dr. Jeremy," interrupted his wife, "you forget Emily."</p> + +<p>"Emily—to be sure, she's an angel, and never would impose upon anybody, +least of all her own pet; but she'll have to play second fiddle herself, +and I'm mistaken if she doesn't find it very hard to defend her rights +and maintain a comfortable position in her father's enlarged family +circle."</p> + +<p>"So much the more need, then," said Gertrude, "that someone should be +enlisted in her interests, to ward off the approach of every annoyance."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean, then, to put yourself in the breach?" asked the doctor.</p> + +<p>"I mean to accept Mr. Graham's invitation," replied Gertrude, "and join +Emily at once; but I trust the harmony that seems to subsist between her +and her new connections will continue undisturbed, so that I shall have +no cause to take up arms on <i>her</i> account, and on <i>my own</i> I have not a +single fear."</p> + +<p>"Then you think you shall go?" said Mrs. Jeremy.</p> + +<p>"I do," said Gertrude; "nothing but my duty to Mrs. Sullivan and her +father led me to think of leaving Emily. That duty is at an end. I see +from Mrs. Ellis's letters that Emily is not happy; and nothing which I +can do to make her so must be neglected. Only think, Mrs. Jeremy, what a +friend she has been to me."</p> + +<p>"I know it," said Mrs. Jeremy, "and I dare say you will enjoy the +journey, in spite of all the scarecrows the doctor sets up to frighten +you; but it does seem a sacrifice for you to leave your comforts for +such an uncertain sort of life."</p> + +<p>"Sacrifice!" said the doctor; "it's the greatest sacrifice that ever I +heard of! It is not merely giving up a good income of her own earning, +and as pleasant a home as there is in Boston; it is relinquishing all +the independence that she has been striving after, and which she was so +anxious to maintain."</p> + +<p>"No, doctor," said Gertrude, warmly; "nothing that I do for <i>Emily's</i> +sake can be called a sacrifice; it is my greatest pleasure."</p> + +<p>"Gerty always finds her pleasure in doing what is right," remarked Mrs. +Jeremy.</p> + +<p>"The thought," said Gertrude, "that our dear Emily was dependent upon a +stranger for all those little attentions that are only acceptable from +those she loves, would make me miserable; our happiness for years has +been in each other; and when one has suffered, the other has suffered +also. I <i>must</i> go to her; I cannot think of doing otherwise."</p> + +<p>"I wish," muttered Dr. Jeremy, "that your sacrifice would be half +appreciated. But Graham, I'll venture to say, thinks it will be the +greatest favour to take you back again. Perhaps he addressed you as a +beggar; it wouldn't be the first time he's done such a thing. I wonder +what would have induced poor Philip Amory to go back. Has he made any +apology in his letter for past unkindness?"</p> + +<p>"I do not think he considered any to be needed," replied Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Then he didn't make any excuse for his ungentlemanly behaviour? I +declare it's a shame you should be exposed to any more such treatment; +but I always <i>did</i> hear that women were self-forgetful in their +friendship, and I believe it. Gertrude makes an excellent friend. Mrs. +Jeremy, we must cultivate her regard; and sometime or other, perhaps, +make a loud call upon her services."</p> + +<p>"And if ever you do, sir, I shall be ready to respond to it; if there is +a person in the world who owes a debt to society, it is myself. I hear +the world called cold, selfish, and unfeeling; but it has not been so to +me. I should be ungrateful if I did not cherish a spirit of universal +love; how much more so, if I did not feel bound, heart and hand, to +those dear friends who have bestowed upon me such affection as no orphan +ever found before!"</p> + +<p>"Gertrude," said Mrs. Jeremy, "I believe that you were right in leaving +Emily when you did, and that you are right in returning to her now; and, +if your being such a good girl as you are is at all due to her, she +certainly has a great claim upon you."</p> + +<p>"She has a claim, indeed, Mrs. Jeremy! It was Emily who first taught me +the difference between right and wrong——"</p> + +<p>"And she is going to reap the benefit of that knowledge in you," said +the doctor, in continuation of her remark. "That's fair! But if you are +resolved to take this European tour, you will be busy enough with your +preparations. Do you think Mr. W. will be willing to give you up?"</p> + +<p>"I hope so," said Gertrude. "I am sorry to be obliged to ask it of him, +for he has been very indulgent to me, and I have been absent from school +two weeks out of the winter already; but as it will shortly be the +summer vacation, he will, perhaps, be able to supply my place."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Jeremy interested herself in Gertrude's arrangements, offered an +attic-room for the storage of her furniture, gave up to her a dressmaker +she had engaged for herself, and a plan was laid out, by which Gertrude +could start for New York in less than a week.</p> + +<p>Mr. W., on being applied to, relinquished Gertrude, though deeply +regretting to lose so valuable an assistant; and after a few days +occupied in preparation, she bade farewell to the tearful Fanny Bruce, +the bustling doctor, and his kind-hearted wife, all of whom accompanied +her to the railroad station. She promised to write to the Jeremys; and +they agreed to forward her any letters that might arrive from Willie.</p> + +<p>In less than a fortnight from the time of her departure, Mrs. Ellis +returned to Boston, and brought news of the safe conclusion of +Gertrude's journey. A letter received a week after by Mrs. Jeremy +announced that they should sail in a few days. She was, therefore, +surprised when a second epistle was put into her hands, dated the day +succeeding that on which she supposed Mr. Graham's party to have left +the country. It was as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">New York</span>, <i>April 29th</i>.</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">My dear Mrs. Jeremy</span>,—As yesterday was the day on which we +expected to sail for Europe, you will be astonished to hear that we +are yet in New York, and still more so to learn that the foreign +tour is now postponed. Only two days since Mr. Graham was seized +with the gout, and the attack was so violent as to threaten his +life. Although to-day somewhat relieved, and considered by his +physician out of immediate danger, he remains a great sufferer, and +a sea-voyage is pronounced impracticable. His great anxiety is to +be at home; and, as soon as he can bear the journey, we shall +hasten to the house in D——.I enclose a note for Mrs. Ellis. It +contains various directions which Emily is desirous she should +receive; and, as we did not know how to address her, I have sent it +to you, trusting to your kindness to see it forwarded. Mrs. Graham +and her nieces, who had been anticipating much pleasure from going +abroad, are, of course, greatly disappointed. It is particularly +trying to Miss Clinton, as her father has been absent more than a +year, and she was hoping to meet him in Paris.</p> + +<p>"It is impossible that either me or Emily should regret a journey +of which we felt only dread, and, were it not for Mr. Graham's +illness being the cause of its postponement, we should find it hard +not to realise a degree of satisfaction in the prospect of +returning to the dear old place in D——, where we hope to be +established in the course of the next month. I say <i>we</i>, for +neither Mr. Graham nor Emily will hear of my leaving them again.</p> + +<p>"With the kindest regards to yourself, and my friend the doctor,</p> + +<p>"I am, yours very sincerely,</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Gertrude Flint.</span>"</p></blockquote> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>JEALOUSY.</h3> + + +<p>Mr. Graham's country-house boasted a fine, old fashioned entry, with a +door at either end, both of which usually stood open during the warm +weather, admitting a current of air, and rendering the neighbourhood of +the front entrance a favourite resort of the family, during the early +hours of the day, when the sun had no access to the spot. Here, on a +pleasant June morning, Isabel Clinton and her cousin, Kitty Ray, had +made themselves comfortable.</p> + +<p>Isabel had drawn a large arm-chair close to the door-sill, ensconced +herself in it, and was gazing idly down the road. She was a beautiful +girl, tall and well-formed, with a delicate complexion, clear blue eyes, +and rich, light, flowing curls. The same lovely child, whom Gertrude had +gazed upon with rapture, as, leaning against the window of her father's +house, she once watched old True while he lit his lamp, had ripened into +an equally lovely woman. At an early age deprived of her mother, and +left for some years to the care of servants, she soon learned to +appreciate, at more than their true value, her outward attractions; and +her aunt, under whose tutelage she had been since she left school, did +not counteract this undue self-admiration. An appearance of conscious +superiority which distinguished her, and her independent air, might be +attributed to her conviction that Belle Clinton, the beauty and the +heiress, attired in a blue cashmere morning-dress, richly embroidered, +and open in front, for the purpose of displaying an equally rich +flounced cambric petticoat.</p> + +<p>On a low step at her feet sat Kitty Ray, a complete contrast to her +cousin in looks, manners and many points of character. She was a sweet +little creature, lively, playful, and affectionate. She was so small +that her childish manners became her; so full of spirits that her +occasional rudeness claimed pardon on that score; and for all other +faults her warm-heartedness and generous enthusiasm must plead an excuse +to one who wished to love her as she wished and expected to be loved by +everybody. She was a pretty girl, always bright and animated, mirthful +and happy; fond of her cousin Belle, and sometimes influenced by her, +though often enlisting on the opposite side of some contested question. +Unlike Belle, she was seldom well dressed, for she was very careless. On +the present occasion her dark silk wrapper was half-concealed by a +crimson flannel sack, which she held tightly around her, for she said it +was a chilly morning, and she was half-frozen to death—she certainly +would go and warm herself at the kitchen fire, if she did not fear +encountering that <i>she-dragon</i>, Mrs. Ellis; she was sure she did not +see, if they must sit in the doorway, why Belle couldn't come to the +side-door, where the sun shone beautifully. "O, I forgot, though," added +she; "her complexion!"</p> + +<p>"Complexion!" said Belle; "I'm no more afraid of hurting my complexion +than you are; I never freckle, or tan either."</p> + +<p>"But you burn all up, and look like a fright."</p> + +<p>"Well, if I didn't, I shouldn't go there to sit; I like to be at the +front of the house, where I can see the passing. I wonder who those +people are coming up the road."</p> + +<p>Kitty stood up, and looked as Belle pointed. After observing the +approaching couple for a minute or two she exclaimed, "Why, that's +Gertrude Flint! I wonder where she's been! And who can that be with +her? I didn't know there was a beau to be had about here."</p> + +<p>"Beau!" said Belle, sneeringly.</p> + +<p>"And why not a beau, Cousin Belle? I'm sure he looks like one."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't give much for any of her beaux!" said Belle.</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't you?" said Kitty. "Wait until you see who they are; you +near-sighted people shouldn't decide in such a hurry. I can tell you +that he is a gentleman you wouldn't object to walking with yourself; +it's Mr. Bruce, the one we met in New Orleans."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it!" exclaimed Belle, starting up.</p> + +<p>"You will soon have a chance to see for yourself; for he is coming home +with her."</p> + +<p>"<i>He is!</i> What can he be walking with her for?"</p> + +<p>"To show his taste, perhaps. I am sure he could not find more agreeable +company."</p> + +<p>"You and I don't agree about that," replied Belle. "I don't see anything +very agreeable about her."</p> + +<p>"Because you are determined not to, Belle. Everybody else thinks her +charming, and Mr. Bruce is opening the gate for her as politely as if +she were a queen. I like him for that."</p> + +<p>"Do see," said Belle; "she's got on that white cape-bonnet of hers! and +that checked gingham dress! I wonder what Mr. Bruce thinks of her, and +he such a critic in regard to ladies' dress."</p> + +<p>Gertrude and her companion now drew near to the house. The former looked +up, saw the young ladies in the doorway, and smiled pleasantly at Kitty, +who was making strange grimaces and giving insignificant glances over +Belle's shoulder; but Mr. Bruce did not observe either of them; and they +heard him say, as he handed Gertrude a small parcel he had been carrying +for her, "I believe I won't come in; it's such a bore to have to talk to +strangers. Do you work in the garden, mornings, this summer?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Gertrude, "there is nothing left of my garden but the +memory of it."</p> + +<p>"Why, Miss Gertrude!" said the young man, "I hope these new-comers +haven't interfered with——" Here, observing the direction of Gertrude's +eyes, he raised his own, saw Belle and Kitty standing opposite to him; +and compelled now to speak with them, went forward to shake hands, +trusting to his remarks about strangers in general, and these new-comers +in particular, not having been overheard. Although overheard, the young +ladies chose to take no notice of that which they supposed intended for +unknown individuals.</p> + +<p>They were mistaken, however, for Mr. Bruce knew, perfectly well that the +nieces of the present Mrs. Graham were the same girls whom he met at the +south, and was indifferent about renewing his acquaintance. But his +vanity was not proof against the evident pleasure they both manifested +at seeing him again; and he soon engaged in an animated conversation +with them, while Gertrude entered the house. She sought Emily's room, +and was giving an account of her morning's expedition to the village, +and how she had accomplished various commissions and errands, when Mrs. +Ellis came, and said, with distressed voice, "Hasn't Gertrude?—Oh, +there you are! Do tell me what Mrs. Wilkins said about the +strawberries?"</p> + +<p>"I engaged three quarts; hasn't she sent them?"</p> + +<p>"No, but I'm thankful to hear they're coming; I have been so plagued +about the dinner."</p> + +<p>She now came in, and seating herself, exclaimed, "I declare, Emily, such +an ironing as our girls have got to do to-day! You never saw anything +like it! There's no end to the fine clothes Mrs. Graham and her nieces +put into our wash. It's a shame! Rich as they are, they might put out +their washing. I've been helping, <i>myself</i>, as much as I could; but, as +Mrs. Prime says, one can't do everything at once; and I've had to see +the butcher, make puddings and blancmange, and been worried to death all +the time, because I forgot to engage those strawberries. So Mrs. Wilkins +hadn't sent her fruit to market when you got there?"</p> + +<p>"No, but she was in a great hurry getting ready; it would have been gone +in a very short time."</p> + +<p>"Well, that was lucky. I don't know what I should have done without, for +I've no time to hunt up anything else for dessert. I've got just as much +as I can do till dinner-time. Mrs. Graham never kept house before, and +don't know how to make allowance for anything. She comes home from +Boston, expects to find everything in apple-pie order, and never asks or +cares who does the work."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Prime called out, "Mrs. Ellis, the boy has brought your +strawberries, and the stalks an't off; he said they hadn't no time."</p> + +<p>"That's too bad," exclaimed the tired housekeeper. "Who's going to take +the stalks off, I should like to know? Kate is busy, and I can't do it."</p> + +<p>"I will, Mrs. Ellis; let <i>me</i> do it," said Gertrude, following Mrs. +Ellis, who was now half-way downstairs.</p> + +<p>"No, no! don't you, Miss Gertrude," said Mrs. Prime; "they'll only stain +your fingers all up."</p> + +<p>"No matter if they do; my hands are not made of white kid. They'll bear +washing."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ellis was only too thankful for Gertrude's help. Belle and Kitty +were doing their best to entertain Mr. Bruce, who, sitting on the +door-steps, from time to time cast his eyes down the entry, and up the +staircase, in hopes of Gertrude's reappearance; and despairing of it, he +was about to depart, when his sister Fanny came running up the yard, and +rushed past the assembled trio for the house.</p> + +<p>Her brother, however, stretched out his arm, caught her, and before he +let her go whispered something in her ear.</p> + +<p>"Who is that wild Indian?" asked Kitty Ray, as Fanny ran across the +entry and disappeared.</p> + +<p>"A sister of mine," answered Ben, in a nonchalant manner.</p> + +<p>"Why! is she?" inquired Kitty, with interest; "I have seen her here +several times, and never took any notice of her. I didn't know she was +<i>your</i> sister. What a pretty girl she is."</p> + +<p>"Do you think so?" said Ben; "sorry I can't agree with you. I think +she's a fright."</p> + +<p>Fanny now reappeared, and stopping a moment on her way upstairs called +out, without any ceremony, "She says she can't come, she's busy."</p> + +<p>"Who?" asked Kitty, in her turn catching Fanny and detaining her.</p> + +<p>"Miss Flint."</p> + +<p>Mr. Bruce coloured slightly, and Belle Clinton observed it.</p> + +<p>"What is she doing?" inquired Kitty.</p> + +<p>"Picking strawberries."</p> + +<p>"Where are you going, Fanny?"</p> + +<p>"Upstairs."</p> + +<p>"Do they let you go all over the house?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Flint said I might go up and bring down the birds."</p> + +<p>"What birds?"</p> + +<p>"Her birds. I am going to hang them in the sun, and they'll sing +beautifully."</p> + +<p>She went, and soon returned with a cage containing the little monias +sent by Willie from Calcutta.</p> + +<p>"There Kitty," cried Belle; "those are the birds that wake us so early +every morning."</p> + +<p>"Very likely," said Kitty; "bring them here. Goodness! what little +creatures they are!—do look at them, Mr. Bruce—they are sweetly +pretty."</p> + +<p>"Put them down on the door-step, Fanny," said Ben, "so that we can see +them better."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid you'll frighten them," replied Fanny; "Miss Gertrude doesn't +like to have them frightened."</p> + +<p>"No, we won't," said Ben; "we're disposed to be very friendly to Miss +Gertrude's birds. Where did she get them? Do you know, Fanny?"</p> + +<p>"Why, they are Indian birds; Mr. Sullivan sent them to her."</p> + +<p>"Who is he?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he is a very particular friend; she has letters from him every +little while."</p> + +<p>"What Mr. Sullivan?" asked Belle. "Do you know his Christian name?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose it's William," said Fanny. "Miss Emily always calls the birds +little Willies."</p> + +<p>"Belle!" exclaimed Kitty, "that's your William Sullivan."</p> + +<p>"What a favourite man he seems to be!" said Mr. Bruce, in a tone of +sarcasm; "the property of one beautiful lady and the particular friend +of another."</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you mean, Kitty," said Belle, tartly. "Mr. Sullivan +is a junior partner of my father's, but I have not seen him for years."</p> + +<p>"Except in your dreams, Belle," suggested Kitty. "You forget."</p> + +<p>"Do you dream about Mr. Sullivan?" asked Fanny, fixing her eyes on Belle +as she spoke. "I mean to go and ask Miss Gertrude if she does."</p> + +<p>"Do," said Kitty; "I'll go with you."</p> + +<p>They ran across the entry into the dining room, and put the question at +the same time. Taken by surprise, Gertrude neither blushed nor looked +confused, but answered, quietly, "Yes, sometimes; but what do you know +of Mr. Sullivan?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing," answered Kitty; "only <i>some others do</i>, and we are +inquiring around to see how many there are;" and she ran back in triumph +to tell Belle she might as well be frank, like Gertrude, and plead +guilty to the weakness; it looked so much better than blushing and +denying it.</p> + +<p>But it would not do to joke with Belle any longer; she was offended, and +did not conceal the fact. Mr. Bruce felt annoyed, and soon left, leaving +the two cousins to settle their difficulty as best they could. As soon +as he had gone, Belle folded up her work, and walked upstairs to her +room with great dignity, while Kitty stayed behind to laugh over the +matter, and improve her opportunity to make friends with Fanny Bruce; +for Kitty laboured under the idea that in cultivating the acquaintance +of the sister she should advance her cause.</p> + +<p>She therefore called Fanny to sit beside her, put her arm round her +waist, and commenced talking about Gertrude, and the origin and extent +of the intimacy which seemed to exist between her and the Bruce family. +Fanny, who was always communicative, willingly informed her of the +circumstances which had attached her so strongly to a friend who was +some years her senior.</p> + +<p>"And your brother," said Kitty, "he has known her some time, hasn't he?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose so," answered Fanny, carelessly.</p> + +<p>"Does he like her?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know; I should think he would; I don't see how he can help it."</p> + +<p>"What did he whisper to you when you came up the steps?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he bade me ask Miss Gertrude if she wasn't coming back to see him +again, and tell her he was tired to death waiting for her."</p> + +<p>Kitty pouted and looked vexed. "Has Miss Flint been in the habit of +receiving company here, and been treated like an equal?"</p> + +<p>"Of course she has," answered Fanny, with spirit; "why shouldn't she? +She's the most perfect lady I ever saw, and mother says she has +beautiful manners, and I must take pattern by her."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Miss Gertrude!" called she, as Gertrude, who had been to place the +strawberries in the refrigerator, crossed the back part of the long +entry, "Are you ready now?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Fanny, I shall be in a moment," answered Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Ready for what?" inquired Kitty.</p> + +<p>"To read," said Fanny. "She is going to read the rest of Hamlet to Miss +Emily; she read the first three acts yesterday, and Miss Emily let me +sit in her room and hear it. I can't understand it when I read it +myself, but when I listen to Miss Gertrude it seems quite plain. She's a +splendid reader, and I came in to-day on purpose to hear the play +finished."</p> + +<p>Kitty's last companion having deserted her, she lay on the entry sofa +and fell asleep. She was wakened by her aunt, who returned from the city +a short time before dinner—"I say Kitty Ray, wake up and go dress for +dinner! I saw Belle at the chamber window looking like a beauty. I wish +you'd take half the pains she does to improve your appearance."</p> + +<p>Kitty yawned, and, after delaying a little, followed Mrs. Graham's +directions. It was Kitty's policy, after giving offence to her cousin +Belle, to appear utterly unconscious of the existence of any unkind +feelings; and, though Belle often manifested some degree of sulkiness, +she was too dependent upon Kitty's society to retain that disposition +long. They were soon chatting together as usual.</p> + +<p>"Belle," said Kitty, as she stood arranging her hair at the glass, "do +you remember a girl we used to meet every morning on our way to school, +walking with a paralytic old man?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Do you know, I think it was Gertrude Flint. She has altered very much, +to be sure; but the features are still the same, and there certainly +never was but one such pair of eyes."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt she is the same person," said Belle, composedly.</p> + +<p>"Did you think of it before?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, as soon as Fanny spoke of her knowing Willie Sullivan."</p> + +<p>"Why, Belle, why didn't you speak of it?"</p> + +<p>"Lor', Kitty, I don't feel so much interest in her as you and some +others do."</p> + +<p>"What others?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Mr. Bruce; don't you see he is half in love with her?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't see any such thing; he has known her for a long time (Fanny +says so), and, of course, he feels a respect for a girl that the Grahams +make so much account of. But I don't believe he'd think of such a thing +as being in love with a poor girl like her, with no family connections +to boast of."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he didn't <i>think</i> of being."</p> + +<p>"Well, he <i>wouldn't</i> be. She isn't the sort of person that would suit +him. He has been in society a great deal, not only at home, but in +Paris; and he would want a wife that was very lively and fond of +company, and knew how to make a show with money."</p> + +<p>"A girl, for instance, like Kitty Ray."</p> + +<p>"How ridiculous, Belle! just as if people couldn't talk without thinking +of themselves all the time! What do I care about Ben Bruce?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know that you care anything about him; but I wouldn't pull all +the hair out of my head about it, as you are doing. There's the +dinner-bell."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<h3>THE DISAPPOINTED WOOER.</h3> + + +<p>Twilight found Gertrude and Emily seated at a window which commanded a +delightful western view. Gertrude had been describing to her blind +friend the gorgeous picture presented to her vision by the masses of +brilliantly-painted cloud; and Emily, as she listened to the glowing +description, experienced a participation in Gertrude's enjoyment. The +glory had now faded away, save a long strip of gold which skirted the +horizon; and the stars as they came out, one by one, seemed to look in +at the chamber window with a smile of recognition.</p> + +<p>In the parlour below there was company from the city, and the sound of +mirth and laughter came up on the evening breeze; so mellowed, however, +by distance, that it contrasted with the peace of the quiet room, +without disturbing it.</p> + +<p>"You had better go down, Gertrude," said Emily; "they appear to be +enjoying themselves, and I love to hear your laugh mingling with the +rest."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, dear Emily!" said Gertrude; "I prefer to stay with you: they +are nearly all strangers to me."</p> + +<p>"As you please, my dear; but don't let me keep you from the young +people."</p> + +<p>"You can never keep me with you, dear Emily, longer than I wish to stay; +there is no society I love so well." And so she stayed, and they resumed +their pleasant conversation. They were interrupted by Katy, whom Mrs. +Graham sent to announce a new visitor—Mrs. Bruce—who had inquired for +Emily.</p> + +<p>"I suppose I must go down," said Emily; "you'll come too, Gertrude?"</p> + +<p>"No, I believe not, unless she asked for me. Did she, Katy?"</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Graham was only afther mintioning Miss Emily," said Katy.</p> + +<p>"Then I will stay here," said Gertrude; and Emily, finding it to be her +wish, went without her. There was soon another loud ring at the +door-bell. It seemed to be a reception evening, and this time Gertrude's +presence was particularly requested, to see Dr. and Mrs. Jeremy.</p> + +<p>When she entered the parlour a great number of guests were assembled, +and every seat occupied. As she came in alone, and unexpected by most of +the company, all eyes were turned upon her. Contrary to the expectation +of Belle and Kitty, who were watching her with curiosity, she manifested +no embarrassment, but glancing leisurely at the various groups, until +she recognised Mrs. Jeremy, crossed the large saloon with characteristic +grace, and as much ease as if she were the only person present. After +greeting that lady with her usual cordiality, she turned to speak to the +doctor; but he was sitting next Fanny Bruce, in the window-seat, and was +half-concealed by the curtain. Before he came Mrs. Bruce nodded +pleasantly from the opposite corner, and Gertrude went to shake hands +with her; Mr. Bruce, who formed one in a gay circle of young ladies and +gentlemen collected in that part of the room, and who had been observing +Gertrude's motions so attentively as to make no reply to a question put +to him by Kitty Ray, now offered his chair, saying, "Miss Gertrude, do +take this seat."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Gertrude, "but I see my friend the doctor on the other +side of the room; he expects me to speak to him, so don't let me disturb +you."</p> + +<p>Dr. Jeremy now came half-way across the room to meet her, and led her +into the recess formed by the window, and placed her in his own seat +next to Fanny Bruce. To the astonishment of all who knew him, Ben Bruce +brought his own chair, and placed it for the doctor opposite to +Gertrude. So much respect for age was not anticipated from the man of +fashion.</p> + +<p>"Is that a daughter of Mr. Graham's?" asked a young lady of Belle +Clinton, who sat next her.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," replied Belle; "she is a person to whom Miss Graham gave +an education, and now she lives here to read to her and be a sort of +companion; her name is Flint."</p> + +<p>"What did you say that young lady's name was?" asked a dashing +lieutenant, addressing Isabel.</p> + +<p>"Miss Flint."</p> + +<p>"Flint, ah! she's a genteel-looking girl. How peculiarly she dresses her +hair!"</p> + +<p>"Very becoming, however, to that style of face," remarked the young lady +who had first spoken. "Don't you think so?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," replied the lieutenant; "something becomes her; she +makes a fine appearance. Bruce," said he, as Mr. Bruce returned, after +his unusual effort of politeness, "who is that Miss Flint?—I have been +here two or three times, and I never saw her before."</p> + +<p>"Very likely," said Mr. Bruce; "she won't always show herself. Isn't she +a fine-looking girl?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't made up my mind yet; she's got a splendid figure; but who is +she?"</p> + +<p>"She's a sort of adopted daughter of Mr. Graham's, I believe, a +<i>protégée</i> of Miss Emily's."</p> + +<p>"Ah, poor thing! An orphan?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose so," said Ben, biting his lips.</p> + +<p>"Pity!" said the young man; "poor thing! but she's good-looking, +particularly when she smiles; there is something very attractive about +her face."</p> + +<p>There certainly was to Ben, for, a moment after, Kitty Ray missed him +from the room, and immediately espied him, standing on the piazza, and +leaning through the open window to talk with Gertrude, Dr. Jeremy, and +Fanny. The conversation soon became very lively; there seemed to be a +war of wits going on; the doctor, especially, laughed very loud, and +Gertrude and Fanny often joined in the merry peal. Kitty endured it as +long as she could, and then ran, joined the party, and heard what they +were having so much fun about.</p> + +<p>But it was all an enigma to Kitty. Dr. Jeremy was talking with Mr. Bruce +concerning something which had happened many years ago; there was a +great deal about a fool's cap, with a long tassel, and taking afternoon +naps in the grass; the doctor was making queer allusions to some old +pear-tree, and traps set for thieves, and kept reminding Gertrude of +circumstances which attended their first acquaintance with each other +and with Mr. Bruce.</p> + +<p>Kitty was beginning to feel that she had placed herself in the position +of an intruder, and began to feel embarrassed, when Gertrude touched her +arm, and making room for her next herself, motioned to her to sit down, +saying, as she did so, "Dr. Jeremy is speaking of the time when he (or +he and I, as he chooses to have it) went fruit-stealing in Mrs. Bruce's +orchard, and were unexpectedly caught by Mr. Bruce."</p> + +<p>"You mean, my dear," interrupted the doctor, "that Mr. Bruce was +discovered by us. Why, it's my opinion he would have slept until this +time if I hadn't given him such a thorough waking up."</p> + +<p>"My first acquaintance with you was certainly the greatest awakening of +my life," said Ben, speaking as if to the doctor, but looking meaningly +at Gertrude; "that was not the only nap it cost me. How sorry I am, Miss +Gertrude, that you've given up working in the garden, as you used to! +Pray, how does it happen?"</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Graham has had it remodelled," replied Gertrude, "and the new +gardener neither needs nor desires my services. He has his own plans, +and it is not well to interfere with the professor of an art; I should +be sure to do mischief."</p> + +<p>"I doubt whether his success compares with yours," said Ben. "I do not +see anything like the same quantity of flowers in the room that <i>you</i> +used to have."</p> + +<p>"I think," said Gertrude, "that he is not as fond of cutting them as I +was. I did not care so much for the appearance of the garden as for +having plenty of flowers in the house; but with him it is the reverse."</p> + +<p>Kitty made remark to Mr. Bruce on the subject of gardening, and +Gertrude, turning to Dr. Jeremy, continued in conversation with him, +until Mrs. Jeremy rose to go, when she said, "Dr. Jeremy, have you given +Gertrude her letter?"</p> + +<p>"Goodness me!" exclaimed the doctor. Then feeling in his pocket, he drew +forth an evidently foreign document, the envelope literally covered with +various coloured post-office stamps. "See here, Gerty, genuine Calcutta; +no mistake!"</p> + +<p>Gertrude took the letter, and, as she thanked the doctor, her +countenance expressed pleasure at receiving it; a pleasure, however, +somewhat tempered by sadness, for she had heard from Willie but once +since he learned the news of his mother's death, and that letter had +been such an outpouring of his vehement grief, that the sight of his +handwriting almost pained her, as she anticipated something like a +repetition of the outburst.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bruce, who kept his eyes upon her, and expected to see her change +colour, and look disconcerted, on the letter being handed to her in the +presence of so many witnesses, was reassured by the composure with which +she took it, and held it openly in her hand, while she bade the doctor +and his wife good evening. She followed them to the door, and was +retreating to her own apartment, when she was met by Mr. Bruce, who had +noticed the movement, and now entered from the piazza in time to arrest +her steps, and ask if her letter was of such importance that she must +deny the company the pleasure of her society in order to study its +contents.</p> + +<p>"It is from a friend of whose welfare I am anxious to hear," said +Gertrude, gravely. "Please excuse me to your mother, if she inquires for +me; and, as the rest of the guests are strangers, I shall not be missed +by them."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Miss Gertrude," said Mr. Bruce, "it's no use coming here to see +you, you are so frequently invisible. What part of the day is the most +likely to find you disengaged?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly any part," said Gertrude. "I am always a busy character; but +good night, Mr. Bruce—don't let me detain you from the other young +ladies;" and Gertrude ran upstairs, leaving Mr. Bruce uncertain whether +to be vexed with himself or her.</p> + +<p>Contrary to Gerty's expectations, William Sullivan's letter proved very +soothing to the grief she had felt on his account. His spirit had been +so crushed by the death of his grandfather, and by his second and still +greater loss, that his first communication to Gertrude had alarmed her, +from its despairing tone; she had feared lest his Christian fortitude +would give way to the force of his double affliction. She was much +relieved to find that he wrote in a calmer strain; that he had taken to +heart his mother's last entreaty and prayer for a submissive disposition +on his part; and that, although deeply afflicted, he was schooling +himself to patience and resignation.</p> + +<p>The three closely-written pages were devoted to fervent expressions of +gratitude to Gertrude for the kindness and love which had comforted the +last days of his much-regretted friends. He prayed that Heaven would +bless her, and reward her self-denying efforts, and closed with saying, +"You are all that is left to me, Gertrude. If I loved you before, my +heart is now bound to you by ties stronger than those of earth; my +hopes, my labours, my prayers, are all for you. God grant that we may +some day meet again!"</p> + +<p>For an hour Gertrude sat lost in meditation; her thoughts went back to +her home at Uncle True's, and the days when she and Willie passed so +many happy hours in close companionship, little dreaming of the long +separation so soon to ensue. She was startled at last from her reverie +by the voices of Mrs. Graham's visitors, who were now taking leave.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bruce and her son lingered a little, until the carriages had left +with the guests for the city, and, as they were making their farewells +on the door-step, beneath Gertrude's window, she heard Mrs. Graham say, +"Remember, Mr. Bruce, we dine at two; and, Miss Fanny, we shall hope to +see you also."</p> + +<p>Mr. Bruce's attentions to her had that day been marked; and the +professions of admiration he had whispered in her ear had been still +more so. Both these attentions and this admiration were unsought and +undesired; neither were they flattering to the high-minded girl, who was +superior to coquetry, and whose self-respect was wounded by the assured +manner in which Mr. Bruce made his advances. As a youth of seventeen, +she had marked him as indolent and ill-bred. Her sense of justice, +however, would have obliterated this recollection, had his character and +manner been changed on the renewal of their acquaintance, some years +after. But this was not the case, for outward polish could not cloud +Gertrude's discernment; and she perceived that his old characteristics +remained, rendered more glaring by ill-concealed vanity. As a boy, he +had stared at Gertrude from impudence, and inquired her name out of idle +curiosity; as a youthful coxcomb he had resolved to flirt with her, +because his time hung heavy on his hands. But, to his surprise, he found +the country girl quite insensible to the flattery and notice which many +a city belle had coveted; and that when he tried raillery, he usually +proved the disconcerted party.</p> + +<p>It was something new to Mr. Bruce to find any lady thus indifferent to +his merits; and proved such an awakening to his ambition, that he +resolved to recommend himself to Gertrude, and consequently improved +every opportunity of gaining admittance to her society. But while +labouring to inspire her with a due appreciation of himself, he fell +into his own snare; for though he failed in awakening Gertrude's +interest, he could not be equally insensible to her attractions. Even +the dull intellect of Ben Bruce was capable of measuring her vast +superiority to most girls of her age; and her vivacious originality was +a contrast to the insipidity of fashionable life, which at length +completely charmed him.</p> + +<p>His earnestness and perseverance began to annoy the object of his +admiration before he left Mr. Graham's in the autumn; and she was glad +soon after to hear that he had accompanied his mother to Washington, as +it insured her against meeting him again for months to come.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bruce regretted losing sight of Gertrude, but amid the gaiety of +southern cities wasted his time with tolerable satisfaction. He was +reminded of her again on meeting the Graham party at New Orleans, and it +is some credit to his understanding to say, that in the comparison which +he constantly drew between her and the vain daughters of fashion, she +stood higher than ever in his estimation. He did not hesitate to tell +her so on the morning already mentioned, when, with evident +satisfaction, he had recognized and joined her; and, the increased +devotion of his words and manner, which now took a tone of truth in +which they had before been wanting, alarmed Gertrude, and led to a +serious resolve to avoid him on all possible occasions.</p> + +<p>On the day succeeding the one of which we have been speaking, Mr. Graham +returned from the city about noon, and joined the young ladies in the +entry, unfolded his newspaper, and, handing it to Kitty, asked her to +read the news. "What shall I read?" said Kitty, taking the paper rather +unwillingly.</p> + +<p>"The leading article, if you please."</p> + +<p>Kitty turned the paper inside and out, looked hastily up and down its +pages, and then declared her inability to find it. Mr. Graham was +astonished, and pointed in silence to the paragraph. She began, but had +scarcely read a sentence before Mr. Graham stopped her, saying, "Don't +read so fast—I can't hear a single word!" She now drawled so +intolerably that he interrupted her again, and bade her give the paper +to her cousin.</p> + +<p>Belle took it from the pouting Kitty, and finished the article—not, +however, without being once or twice compelled to go back and read more +intelligibly.</p> + +<p>"Do you wish to hear anything more, sir?" asked she.</p> + +<p>"Yes; won't you turn to the ship-news, and read me the list by the +steamer?" Belle, more fortunate than Kitty, found the place, and +commenced. "At Canton, April 30th, ship Ann Maria, Ray, <i>d-i-s-c-g</i>. +What does that mean?"</p> + +<p>"Discharging, of course; go on."</p> + +<p>"S-l-d—a-b-t 13th," spelt Belle, looking dreadfully puzzled all the +while.</p> + +<p>"Stupid!" muttered Mr. Graham, almost snatching the paper out of her +hands; "not know how to read ship-news! Where's Gertrude? Where's +Gertrude Flint? She's the only girl I ever saw that did know anything. +Won't you call her, Kitty?"</p> + +<p>Kitty went, though reluctantly, to call Gertrude, and told her for what +she was wanted. Gertrude was astonished; since the day when she had +persisted in leaving his house, Mr. Graham had never asked her to read +to him; but, obedient to the summons, she presented herself, and, taking +the seat which Belle had vacated near the door, commenced with the +ship-news, and, without asking questions, turned to various items of +intelligence, taking them in the order which she knew Mr. Graham +preferred.</p> + +<p>The old gentleman, leaning back in his easy-chair, and resting his gouty +foot upon an ottoman opposite to him, looked amazingly satisfied; and +when Belle and Kitty had gone off to their room, he remarked, "This +seems like old times, doesn't it, Gertrude?" He closed his eyes, and +Gertrude was soon aware that he had fallen asleep. Seeing that, as he +sat, it would be impossible for her to pass without waking him, she laid +down the paper, and was preparing to draw some work from her pocket, +when she observed a shadow in the doorway, and, looking up, saw the +person whom she had yesterday resolved to avoid.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bruce was staring in her face, with an indolent air of ease and +confidence, which she always found very offensive. He had in one hand a +bunch of roses, which he held up to her admiring gaze. "Very beautiful!" +said Gertrude, as she glanced at the little branches, covered with a +luxurious growth of moss rose-buds, both pink and white.</p> + +<p>She spoke in a low voice, fearing to awaken Mr. Graham. Mr. Bruce, in a +whisper, remarked, as he dangled them above her head, "I thought they +were pretty when I gathered them, but they suffer from the comparison. +Miss Gertrude," and he gave a meaning look at the roses in her cheeks.</p> + +<p>Gertrude, to whom this was a stale compliment, coming from Mr. Bruce, +took no notice of it, but, rising, advanced to make her exit by the +front-door, saying, "I will go across the piazza, Mr. Bruce, and send +the ladies word that you are here."</p> + +<p>"O, pray, don't!" said he, putting himself in her way. "It would be +cruel; I haven't the slightest wish to see them." He so effectually +prevented her, that she was unwillingly compelled to retreat from the +door and resume her seat. As she did so, she took her work from her +pocket, her countenance in the meantime expressing vexation.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bruce looked triumphant.</p> + +<p>"Miss Gertrude," said he, "will you oblige me by wearing these flowers +in your hair to-day?"</p> + +<p>"I do not wear gay flowers," replied Gertrude, without lifting her eyes +from the piece of muslin on which she was employed.</p> + +<p>Supposing this to be on account of her mourning (for she wore a plain +black dress), he selected the white buds from the rest, and, presenting +them to her, begged that, for his sake, she would display them in +contrast with her dark silken braids.</p> + +<p>"I am much obliged to you," said Gertrude; "I never saw more beautiful +roses, but I am not accustomed to be so much dressed, and, believe me, +you must excuse me."</p> + +<p>"Then you won't take my flowers?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly I will, with pleasure," said she, rising, "if you will let me +get a glass of water, and place them in the parlour, where we can all +enjoy them."</p> + +<p>"I did not cut my flowers, and bring them here for the benefit of the +whole household," said Ben, in a half-offended tone. "If you won't wear +them, Miss Gertrude, I will offer them to somebody that will."</p> + +<p>This, he thought, would alarm her, for his vanity was such that he +attributed her behaviour wholly to coquetry.</p> + +<p>"I will punish her," thought he, as he tied the roses together again, +and arranged them for presentation to Kitty, who he knew would be +flattered to receive them.</p> + +<p>"Where's Fanny to-day," asked Gertrude, anxious to divert the +conversation.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," answered Ben, which implied that he had no idea of +talking about Fanny.</p> + +<p>"How attentive you are to your work!" said he, at last: "your eyes +seemed nailed to it. I wish I were as attractive as that piece of +muslin!"</p> + +<p>"I wish you were as inoffensive," thought Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"I do not think you take much pains to entertain me," added he, "when +I've come here on purpose to see you."</p> + +<p>"I thought you came by Mrs. Graham's invitation," said Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"And didn't I have to court Kitty for an hour in order to get it?"</p> + +<p>"If you obtained it by artifice," said Gertrude, smiling, "you do not +deserve to be entertained."</p> + +<p>"It is much easier to please Kitty than you," remarked Ben.</p> + +<p>"Kitty is very amiable and pleasant," said Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Yes; but I'd give more for one smile from you than——"</p> + +<p>Gertrude now interrupted him with, "Ah! here is an old friend coming to +see us; please let me pass, Mr. Bruce?"</p> + +<p>The gate at the end of the yard swung to as she spoke, and Ben, looking +in that direction, saw the person whom Gertrude seemed desirous to go +and meet.</p> + +<p>"Don't be in such a hurry to leave me!" said Ben; "that little crone, +whose coming seems to give you so much satisfaction, can't get here this +half hour, at the rate she is travelling."</p> + +<p>"She is an old friend," replied Gertrude, "I must go and welcome her." +Her countenance expressed so much earnestness that Mr. Bruce was ashamed +to persist in his incivility, and, rising, permitted her to pass. Miss +Patty Pace was over-joyed at seeing Gertrude, and commenced waving, in a +theatrical manner, a huge feather fan, her favourite mode of salutation. +As she drew near, Miss Patty took her by both hands, and stood talking +with her some minutes. They entered the house at the side door, and Ben, +thus disappointed of Gertrude's return, sallied into the garden in hopes +to attract the notice of Kitty.</p> + +<p>Ben Bruce had such confidence in the power of wealth and a high station +in fashionable life that it never occurred to him to doubt that Gertrude +would gladly accept his hand and fortune if they were placed at her +disposal. Many a worldly-wise mother had sought his acquaintance; many a +young lady of property and rank had received his attention with favour, +and believing, as he did, that he had money enough to purchase. He +determined to win Gertrude's good opinion and affection; and although +more interested in her than he was aware of himself, he at present made +that his ultimate object. He felt conscious that as yet she had given no +evidence of his success; and having resolved to resort to some new means +of winning her, he, with a too common baseness, fixed upon a method +which was calculated, if successful, to end in the mortification, if not +the unhappiness, of a third party. He intended, by marked devotion to +Kitty Ray, to excite the jealousy of Gertrude.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>TRUE POLITENESS.</h3> + + +<p>A half-hour before dinner Mrs. Graham and her nieces, Mr. Bruce, his +sister Fanny, and Lieutenant Osborne, as they sat in the large room, had +their curiosity much excited by the merriment which existed in Emily's +room. Gertrude's clear laugh was distinguishable, and even Emily joined +in the outburst, while another person appeared to be of the party, as a +most singular voice mingled with the rest.</p> + +<p>Kitty ran to the entry two or three times to listen, and at last +returned with the announcement that Gertrude was coming down stairs with +the very queen of witches. Presently Gertrude opened the door, which +Kitty had slammed behind her, and ushered in Miss Patty Pace, who +advanced with measured, mincing steps to Mrs. Graham, and, stopping in +front of her, made a low curtsey.</p> + +<p>"How do you do, ma'am?" said Mrs. Graham, half inclined to believe that +Gertrude was playing off a joke upon her.</p> + +<p>"This, I presume, is the mistress," said Miss Patty.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Graham acknowledged her claim to that title.</p> + +<p>"A lady of presence!" said Miss Patty, to Gertrude, in an audible +whisper, pronouncing each syllable with a manner and emphasis peculiar +to herself. Then, turning to Belle, who was shrinking into the shadow of +a curtain, she approached her, held up both her hands in astonishment, +and exclaimed, "Miss Isabella, as I still enjoy existence! and radiant, +too, as the morning! Bless my heart! how your youthful charms have +expanded!"</p> + +<p>Belle had recognised Miss Pace the moment she entered the room, but was +ashamed to acknowledge the acquaintance of so eccentric an individual, +and would have still feigned ignorance, but Kitty now came forward, +exclaiming, "Why, Miss Pace, where did you come from?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Catharina," said Miss Pace, taking her hands in an ecstasy of +astonishment, "<i>then you know me</i>! Blessings on your memory of an old +friend!"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, I knew you in a minute; you're not so easily forgotten, I +assure you. Belle, don't you remember Miss Pace? It's at your house I've +always seen her."</p> + +<p>"Oh, is it she?" said Belle, with a poor attempt to conceal the fact +that she had any previous knowledge of a person who had been a frequent +visitor at her father's house, and was held in esteem by both her +parents.</p> + +<p>"I apprehend," said Miss Patty to Kitty, in the same loud whisper, "that +she carries a proud heart." Then, without having appeared to notice the +gentlemen, who were directly behind her, she added, "Sparks, I see Miss +Catharina, young sparks! Whose?—yours or hers?"</p> + +<p>Kitty laughed, for she saw that the young men heard her, and were much +amused, and replied without hesitation, "O mine, Miss Patty, mine, both +of 'em!" Miss Patty now looked around the room, and, missing Mr. Graham, +advanced to his wife, saying, "And where, madam, is the bridegroom?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Graham, a little confused, replied that her husband would be in +presently, and invited Miss Pace to be seated.</p> + +<p>"No, mistress, I am obliged to you; I have an inquiring mind, and, with +your leave, will take a survey of the apartment. I love to see +everything that is modern." She then examined the pictures upon the +walls, but had not proceeded far before she turned to Gertrude and +asked, loud enough to be heard, "Gertrude, my dear, what have they done +with the second wife?" Gertrude looked surprised, and Miss Pace +corrected her remark, saying, "Oh, it is the counterfeit that I have +reference to; the original, I am aware, departed long since; but where +is the counterfeit of the second Mrs. Graham? It always hung here, if my +memory serves me."</p> + +<p>Gertrude whispered a reply to this question, and Miss Pace then uttered +the following soliloquy: "The garret! well, 'tis the course of nature; +what is new obliterates <i>the recollection, even</i>, of the old."</p> + +<p>She now linked her arm in Gertrude's, and made her the companion of her +survey. When they had completed the circuit of the room, she stopped in +front of the group of young people, all of whom were eyeing her with +great amusement, and claimed the acquaintance of Mr. Bruce, and asked to +be introduced to that member of the war department, as she styled +Lieutenant Osborne. Kitty introduced her with great formality, and at +the same time presented the lieutenant to Gertrude. A chair was now +brought, Miss Patty joined their circle and entertained them until +dinner time. Gertrude again sought Emily's room.</p> + +<p>At the table, Gertrude sat next to Emily, whose wants she always made +her care, and with Miss Patty on the other side, had no time or +attention to bestow on anyone else; much to the chagrin of Mr. Bruce, +who was anxious she should observe his assiduous devotion to Kitty, +whose hair was adorned with the moss-rose buds, and her face with +smiles.</p> + +<p>Belle was also made happy by the marked admiration of the young officer. +Occasionally, some remark made by Miss Pace irresistibly attracted the +attention of every one at the table, and extorted either the laughter it +was intended to excite, or a mirth which, though perhaps ill-timed, it +was impossible to repress.</p> + +<p>Mr. Graham treated Miss Patty with politeness and attention, and Mrs. +Graham spared no pains to bring out the old lady's conversational +powers. She found that Miss Patty was acquainted with everybody, and +made most amusing comments upon almost every person who became the topic +of conversation. Mr. Graham at last led her to speak of herself and her +lonely mode of life; and Fanny Bruce, who sat next, asked her bluntly, +why she never got married.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my young miss," said she, "we all wait our time, and I may take a +companion yet."</p> + +<p>"You should," said Mr. Graham. "Now you have property, Miss Pace, and +ought to share it with some nice thrifty man."</p> + +<p>"I have but an insignificant trifle of worldly wealth," said Miss Pace, +"and am not as youthful as I have been; but I may suit myself with a +companion, notwithstanding. I approve of matrimony, and have my eye upon +a young man."</p> + +<p>"<i>A young man!</i>" exclaimed Fanny Bruce, laughing.</p> + +<p>"O yes, Miss Frances," said Miss Patty; "I am an admirer of youth, and +of everything that is modern. Yes, I cling to life—I cling to life."</p> + +<p>"Certainly," remarked Mrs. Graham. "Miss Pace must marry somebody +younger than herself; someone to whom she can leave all her property, if +he should happen to outlive her."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mr. Graham; "at present you would not know how to make a +will, unless you left all your money to Gertrude, here; I rather think +she would make good use of it."</p> + +<p>"That would certainly be a consideration to me," said Miss Pace; "I +should dread the thought of having my little savings squandered. Now, I +know there's more than a sufficiency of pauper population; and plenty +that would be glad of legacies; but I have no intention of bestowing on +such. Why, sir, nine-tenths of them will <i>always</i> be poor. No, no! I +shouldn't give to such! No, no! I have other intentions."</p> + +<p>"Miss Pace," asked Mr. Graham, "what has become of General Pace's +family?"</p> + +<p>"<i>All dead!</i>" replied Miss Patty, promptly, "<i>all dead!</i> I made a +pilgrimage to the grave of that branch of the family. It was a touching +scene," said she in a pathetic tone. "There was a piece of grassy +ground, belted about with an iron railing, and in the centre a beautiful +white marble monument, in which they were all buried; it was pure as +alabaster, and on it was inscribed these lines:</p> + +<blockquote><p>'Pace.'"</p></blockquote> + +<p>"What were the lines?" inquired Mrs. Graham.</p> + +<p>"Pace, ma'am, Pace; nothing else."</p> + +<p>Solemn as was the subject, a universal titter pervaded the circle: and +Mrs. Graham, perceiving that Kitty and Fanny would soon burst into +uncontrollable fits of laughter, made the move for the company to quit +the table.</p> + +<p>The gentlemen did not care to linger, and followed the ladies into the +wide entry, the coolness of which invited every one to loiter there +during the heat of the day. Miss Patty and Fanny Bruce compelled the +unwilling Gertrude to join the group there assembled; and Mrs. Graham, +who could not forego her afternoon nap, was the only one who absented +herself.</p> + +<p>So universal was the interest Miss Patty excited, that all private +dialogue was suspended, and close attention given to whatever topic the +old lady was discussing.</p> + +<p>Belle maintained a slightly scornful expression of countenance, and +tried with partial success to divert Lieutenant Osborne's thoughts into +another channel; but Kitty was so delighted with Miss Pace's +originality, that she made no attempt at any exclusive conversation, +and, with Mr. Bruce sitting beside her and joining in her amusement, +looked more than contented.</p> + +<p>Dress and fashion, two favourite themes with Miss Patty, were now +introduced, and, after discoursing upon her love of the beautiful, as +witnessed in the mantua-making and millinery arts, she deliberately left +her seat, and going towards Belle (who wished to avoid her), began to +examine the material of her dress, and requested her to rise and permit +her to further inspect the mode in which it was made, declaring the +description of so modern a master-piece of art would be a feast to the +ears of some of her junior acquaintances.</p> + +<p>Belle indignantly refused to comply, and shook off the hand of the old +lady as if there had been contamination in her touch.</p> + +<p>"Do stand up, Belle," said Kitty, in an undertone; "don't be so cross."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you stand up yourself," said Belle, "and show off your own +dress, for the benefit of her low associates?"</p> + +<p>"She didn't ask me," replied Kitty, "but I will, with pleasure, if she +will condescend to look at it. Miss Pace," continued she gaily, placing +herself in front of the inquisitive Miss Patty, "do admire my gown at +your leisure, and take a pattern of it, if you like, I should be proud +of the honour."</p> + +<p>For a wonder, Kitty's dress was pretty and well worthy of observation. +Miss Patty made many comments, and her curiosity being satisfied, +commenced retreating towards the place she had left, first glancing +behind her to see if it was still vacant, and then moving towards it +with a backward motion, consisting of a series of curtseys.</p> + +<p>Fanny Bruce, who stood near, observing that she had made an exact +calculation how many steps would be required to reach her seat, placed +her hand on the back of the chair, as if to draw it away; and encouraged +by a look and smile from Isabel, moved it, slightly, but still enough to +endanger the old lady's safety.</p> + +<p>On attempting to regain it, Miss Pace stumbled, and would have fallen, +but Gertrude—who had been watching Fanny's proceedings—sprang forward +in time to fling an arm around her, and place her safely in the chair, +casting at the same time a reproachful look at Fanny, who, much +confused, turned to avoid Gertrude's gaze, and in doing so accidentally +trod on Mr. Graham's gouty toes, which drew from him an exclamation of +pain.</p> + +<p>"Fan," said Mr. Bruce, who had observed the latter accident only, "I +wish you could learn politeness."</p> + +<p>"Whom am I to learn it from?" asked Fanny, pertly,—"you?"</p> + +<p>Ben looked provoked, but forbore to reply; while Miss Pace, who had +recovered her composure, said—"Politeness! Ah, a lovely but rare +virtue; perceptibly developed, however, in the manners of my friend +Gertrude, which I hesitate not to affirm would well become a princess."</p> + +<p>Belle curled her lip, and smiled disdainfully. "Lieutenant Osborne," +said she, "don't you think Miss Devereux has beautiful manners?"</p> + +<p>"Very fine," replied the lieutenant; "the style in which she receives +company, on her reception-day, is elegance itself."</p> + +<p>"Who are you speaking of?" inquired Kitty; "Mrs. Harry Noble?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Devereux, we were remarking upon," said Belle; "but Mrs. Noble is +also very stylish."</p> + +<p>"I think she is," said Mr. Bruce; "do you hear, Fanny?—we have found a +model for you,—you must imitate Mrs. Noble."</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything about Mrs. Noble," retorted Fanny; "I'd rather +imitate Miss Flint. Miss Gertrude," said she, "how <i>shall</i> I learn +politeness?"</p> + +<p>"Do you remember," asked Gertrude, speaking low, "what your music-master +told you about learning to <i>play</i> with expression? I should give you the +same rule for improvement in politeness."</p> + +<p>Fanny blushed deeply. "What is that?" said Mr. Graham; "Fanny, what is +Gertrude's rule for politeness."</p> + +<p>"She only said," answered Fanny, "that it was the same my music-master +gave me last winter."</p> + +<p>"And what did <i>he</i> say?" inquired her brother.</p> + +<p>"I asked Mr. Hermann," said Fanny, "how I should learn to play with +expression, and he said, 'You must cultivate your <i>heart</i>, Miss Bruce, +you must cultivate your <i>heart</i>.'"</p> + +<p>This new direction for the attainment of a great accomplishment was +received with countenances that indicated as great a variety of +sentiments as there was difference of character among Fanny's audience. +Mr. Graham bit his lip, and walked away; for <i>his</i> politeness was +founded on no such rule, and he knew that Gertrude's <i>was</i>. Belle looked +glorious disdain; Mr. Bruce and Kitty, puzzled and half amused; while +Lieutenant Osborne proved himself not quite callous to a noble truth, by +turning upon Gertrude a glance of admiration. Emily's face evidenced how +fully she coincided in the opinion thus unintentionally made public, and +Miss Patty expressed her approbation.</p> + +<p>"Miss Gertrude's remark is a verity," said she. "The only politeness +which is trustworthy is the spontaneous offering of the heart. Perhaps +this goodly company of masters and misses would condescend to give ear +to an old woman's tale of a rare instance of true politeness, and the +fitting reward it met."</p> + +<p>All expressed strong desire to hear Miss Patty's story, and she began: +"On a winter's day, some years ago, an old woman, of many foibles and +weaknesses, but with a keen eye and her share of worldly wisdom—Miss +Patty Pace by name—started, by special invitation, for the house of one +worshipful Squire Clinton, the honoured parent of Miss Isabella, the +fair damsel yonder. Every tall tree in our good city was spangled with +frost work, more glittering far than gems that sparkle in Golconda's +mine, and the side-walk were a snare to the feet of the old and unwary.</p> + +<p>"I lost my equilibrium, and fell. Two gallant gentlemen lifted and +carried me to a neighboring apothecary's emporium, restored my scattered +wits, and, revived me with a fragrant cordial. I went on my way with +many a misgiving, however, and scarcely should I have reached my +destination with bones unbroken, had it not been for a knight with a +rosy countenance, who overtook me, placed my old arm within his own more +strong and youthful one, and protected my steps to the end of my +journey. No slight courage either, my young misses, did my noble escort +need, to carry him through what he had undertaken. Paint to your +imagination a youth, fresh and beautiful as a sunbeam, straight as an +arrow—a perfect Apollo—linked to the little bent body of poor Miss +Patty Pace. I will not spare myself, young ladies; for, had you seen me +then, you would have considered me now vastly ameliorated in outer +presentment. My double row of teeth were stowed away in my pocket, my +frisette was pushed back from my head by my recent fall, and my +gogs—the same my father wore before me—covered my face, and they alone +attracted attention, and created some excitement. But he went on +unmoved; and, in spite of many a captivating glance and smile from rows +of beautiful young maidens whom we met, and many a sneer from youths of +his own age, he sustained my feeble form with as much care as if I had +been an empress, and accommodated his buoyant step to the slow movement +which my infirmities compelled. Ah! what a spirit of conformity he +manifested! my knight of the rosy countenance! Could you have seen him, +Miss Catharina, or you, Miss Frances, your palpitating hearts would have +taken flight for ever. He was a paragon, indeed.</p> + +<p>"Whither his own way tended I cannot say, for he moved in conformity to +mine, and left me not until I was safe at the abode of Mistress Clinton. +I hardly think he coveted my old heart, but I sometimes believe it +followed him, for truly he is still a frequent subject of my +meditations."</p> + +<p>"Ah! then <i>that</i> was his reward!" exclaimed Kitty.</p> + +<p>"Not so, Miss Kitty; guess again."</p> + +<p>"I can think of <i>nothing so desirable</i>, Miss Patty."</p> + +<p>"His <i>fortune in life</i>, Miss Catharina—that was his reward; it may be +that he cannot yet estimate the full amount of his recompense."</p> + +<p>"How so?" exclaimed Fanny.</p> + +<p>"I will briefly narrate the rest. Mistress Clinton encouraged me always +to converse much in her presence. She knew my taste was disposed to +humour me, and I was pleased to be indulged. I told my story, and +enlarged upon the merits of my noble youth, and his wonderful spirit of +conformity. The squire, a gentleman who estimates good breeding, was +present, with his ears opened, when I recommended my knight, with all +the eloquence I could command; he was amused, interested, pleased. He +promised to see the boy, and did so; the noble features spake for +themselves, and gained him a situation as clerk; from which he has since +advanced in the ranks, until now he occupies the position of partner and +confidential agent in a creditable and wealthy house. Miss Isabella, it +would rejoice my heart to hear the latest tidings from Mr. William +Sullivan."</p> + +<p>"He is well, I believe," said Isabella, sulkily. "I know nothing to the +contrary."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Gertrude knows," said Fanny. "Gertrude knows all about Mr. +Sullivan; she will tell you."</p> + +<p>All turned, and looked at Gertrude, who, with face flushed, and eyes +glistening with the interest she felt in Miss Patty's narrative, stood +leaning upon Emily's chair. Miss Patty now appealed to her, much +surprised, however, at her having any knowledge of her much admired +young escort. Gertrude drew near, and answered all her questions without +the least hesitation or embarrassment.</p> + +<p>Gertrude gave Miss Pace an account of the curiosity which Willie and his +friends had felt concerning the original author of his good fortune; and +the old lady was so delighted at hearing the various conjectures about +Mr. Clinton's unexpected summons, and of the matter being attributed to +the agency of Santa Claus, that she loudly laughed. Miss Pace was just +taxing Gertrude with messages of remembrance to be despatched in her +next letter to Willie, when Mrs. Graham presented herself, and arrested +the attention of the whole company by exclaiming, in her abrupt manner +and loud tones—"What! are you all here? I thought you were bound for a +walk in the woods. Kitty, what has become of your cherished scheme of +climbing Sunset Hill?"</p> + +<p>"I proposed it, aunt, an hour ago, but Belle insisted it was too warm. +<i>I</i> think the weather is just right for a walk."</p> + +<p>"It will soon be growing cool," said Mrs. Graham, "and I think you had +better start; it is some distance, if you go round through the woods."</p> + +<p>"Who knows the way?" asked Kitty.</p> + +<p>No one responded to the question, and all professed ignorance; much to +the astonishment of Gertrude, who believed that every part of the woody +ground and hill beyond were familiar to Mr. Bruce. She did not stay, +however, to hear any further discussion of their plans; for Emily was +beginning to suffer from headache and weariness, and Gertrude insisted +that she should seek the quiet of her own room, and she went with her. +She was just closing the chamber door, when Fanny called from the +staircase, "Miss Gertrude ain't you going for a walk with us?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Gertrude; "not to-day."</p> + +<p>"Then I won't go," said Fanny, "if you don't. Why don't you go, Miss +Gertrude?"</p> + +<p>"I shall walk with Miss Emily, by-and-bye, if she is well enough; you +can accompany us, if you like, but you would enjoy going to Sunset Hill +much more."</p> + +<p>Meantime a whispered consultation took place below, in which someone +suggested that Gertrude was well acquainted with the path which the +party wished to follow through the woods. Belle opposed her being +invited to join them; Kitty hesitated between her liking for Gertrude +and her fears regarding Mr. Bruce's allegiance; Lieutenant Osborne +forbore to urge what Belle disapproved; and Mr. Bruce remained silent, +trusting to the final necessity of her being invited to act as guide, in +which capacity he had purposely concealed his own ability to serve. This +necessity was so obvious, that, as he had foreseen, Kitty was at last +despatched to find Gertrude and make known their request.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<h3>HAUTEUR.</h3> + + +<p>Gertrude would have declined, and made her attendance upon Emily an +excuse for non-compliance; but Emily, believing that the exercise would +be beneficial to Gertrude, interfered, and begged her to agree to +Kitty's proposal; and, on the latter declaring that the expedition must +otherwise be given up, she consented to join it. To change her slippers +for thick walking boots occupied a few minutes only; a few more were +spent in a vain search for her flat hat, which was missing from the +closet where it usually hung.</p> + +<p>"What are you looking for?" said Emily, hearing Gertrude twice open the +door of the closet.</p> + +<p>"My hat! but I don't see it. I believe I shall have to borrow your +sun-bonnet again," and she took up a white sun-bonnet, the same she had +worn in the morning, and which now lay on the bed.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, my dear," said Emily.</p> + +<p>"I shall begin to think it mine before long," said Gertrude, gaily, as +she ran off, "I wear it so much more than you do." Emily now called from +the staircase, "Gertrude, my child, have you thick shoes? It is always +very wet in the meadow beyond Thornton place." Gertrude assured her that +she had; but fearing that the others were less carefully equipped, +inquired of Mrs. Graham whether Belle and Kitty were insured against the +dampness they might encounter.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Graham declared they were not. "I have some very light +india-rubbers," said Gertrude; "I will take them with me, and Fanny and +I shall be in time to warn them before they come to the place."</p> + +<p>It was an easy matter to overtake Belle and the lieutenant, for they +walked very slowly, and seemed not unwilling to be left in the rear. The +reverse was the case with Mr. Bruce and Kitty, who appeared purposely to +keep in advance; Kitty hastening her steps from her reluctance to allow +an agreeable <i>tête-à-tête</i> to be interfered with, and Ben from a desire +to give Gertrude a fair opportunity to observe his devotion to Kitty, +which increased the moment <i>she</i> came in sight.</p> + +<p>They had now passed the Thornton farm, and only one field separated them +from the meadow, which was in the centre a complete quagmire, and only +passable to the thickly-shod, by keeping close to the wall, and thus +skirting the field. Gertrude and Fanny were some distance behind, and +nearly out of breath with a pursuit in which the others had gained so +great advantage. As they were passing the farm-house, Mrs. Thornton came +to the door and addressed Gertrude, who, foreseeing that she would be +detained some minutes, bade Fanny run on, acquaint her brother and Kitty +with the nature of the soil in advance, and begged them to wait at the +bars until the rest of the party came up. Fanny was too late, +notwithstanding the haste she made; they were half across the meadow +when she reached the bars, proceeding in perfect safety, for Mr. Bruce +was conducting Kitty by the only practicable path, close under the wall, +proving to Gertrude, who in a few moments joined Fanny, that he was no +stranger to the place. When they were half-way across, they encountered +some obstacle, for Kitty stood poised on one foot and clinging to the +wall, while Mr. Bruce placed a few stepping-stones across the path. He +then helped her over, and they went on, their figures soon disappearing +in the grove beyond.</p> + +<p>Isabel and the lieutenant were so long making their appearance that +Fanny became very impatient, and urged Gertrude to leave them to their +fate. They at last turned the corner near the farm-house, and came on, +Belle maintaining her leisurely pace. "Are you lame, Miss Clinton?" +called out Fanny, so soon as they were within hearing.</p> + +<p>"Lame!" said Belle; "what do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Why, you walk so slow," said Fanny; "I thought something must be the +matter with your feet."</p> + +<p>Belle disdained any reply, and, tossing her head, entered the damp +meadow, in close conversation with her devoted young officer, not +deigning even to look at Gertrude, who, without appearing to notice her +haughtiness, took Fanny's hand, and, turning away from the direct path, +to make the circuit of the field, said to Belle, with calm courtesy of +manner, "This way, if you please, Miss Clinton; we have been waiting to +guide you through this wet meadow."</p> + +<p>"Is it wet?" asked Belle, in alarm, glancing down at her delicate +slipper. She then added, in a provoked tone, "I should have thought you +would have known better than to bring us this way. I shan't go across."</p> + +<p>"Then you can go back," said the pert Fanny; "nobody cares."</p> + +<p>"It was not my proposition," remarked Gertrude, mildly, though with a +heightened colour; "but I think I can help you through the difficulty. +Mrs. Graham was afraid you had worn thin shoes, and I brought you a pair +of india-rubbers."</p> + +<p>Belle took them, and, without the grace to express any thanks, said, as +she unfolded the paper in which they were wrapped, "Whose are they?"</p> + +<p>"Mine," replied Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe I can keep them on," muttered Belle; "they'll be +immense, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Allow me," said the lieutenant; and, taking one of the shoes, he +stooped to place it on her foot, but found it difficult to do so, as it +was too small. Belle, perceiving it, bent down to perform, the office +for herself, and treated Gertrude's property with such angry violence +that she snapped the strap which passed across the instep, and even +then only succeeded in partially forcing her foot into the shoe.</p> + +<p>Meantime, as she bent forward, Fanny's attention was attracted by a very +tasteful broad-brimmed hat, which she wore jauntily on one side of her +head, and which Fanny recognised as Gertrude's. It was a somewhat +fanciful article of dress, that Gertrude would hardly have thought of +purchasing for herself, but which Mr. Graham had brought home to her the +previous summer to replace a common garden hat which he had accidentally +crushed. As the style of it was simple and in good taste, she had been +in the habit of wearing it often in her country walks, and kept it hung +in the closet, where it had been found and appropriated by Belle. It had +been seen by Fanny in Gertrude's room at Mrs. Warren's; she had also +been permitted to wear it on one occasion, when she took part in a +charade. Having heard Gertrude say it was missing, she was astonished to +see it adorning Belle; and, as she stood behind her, made signs to +Gertrude, and performed a series of pantomimic gestures expressive of an +intention to snatch it from Miss Clinton's head, and place it on that of +its rightful owner.</p> + +<p>Gertrude's gravity nearly gave way. She shook her head at Fanny, held up +her finger, made signs to her to forbear, and, with a face whose +laughter was only concealed by the deep white bonnet which she wore, +took her hand, and hastened with her along the path, leaving Belle and +her beau to follow.</p> + +<p>"Fanny," said she, "you must not make me laugh so; if Miss Clinton had +seen us she would have been very much hurt."</p> + +<p>"She has no business to wear your hat," said Fanny, "and she shan't."</p> + +<p>"Yes, she shall," replied Gertrude; "she looks beautiful in it, I am +delighted to have her wear it, and you must not intimate to her that it +is mine."</p> + +<p>The walk through the woods was delightful, and Gertrude and her young +companion, in the quiet enjoyment of it, had almost forgotten that they +were members of a gay party, when they suddenly came in sight of Kitty +and Mr. Bruce. They were sitting at the foot of an old oak, Kitty +earnestly engaged in the manufacture of an oak-wreath, which she was +just fitting to her attendant's hat; while he himself, when Gertrude +first caught sight of him, was leaning against the tree in a careless +attitude. But as soon as he perceived their approach, he bent forward, +inspected Kitty's work, and when they came within hearing, was uttering +a profusion of thanks and compliments, which he took care should reach +Gertrude's ears, and Kitty received with manifest pleasure—a pleasure +which was still further enhanced by her perceiving that Gertrude had +apparently no power to withdraw his attention from her. Poor, simple +Kitty! she believed him honest while he bought her heart with +counterfeits. "Miss Gertrude," said Fanny, "I wish we could go into some +pine woods, so that I could get some cones to make baskets and frames +of."</p> + +<p>"There are plenty of pines in that direction," said Gertrude, pointing +with her finger.</p> + +<p>"Why can't we go and look for cones?" asked Fanny; "we could get back by +the time Belle Clinton reaches this place."</p> + +<p>Gertrude and Fanny started off, having first tied their bonnets to the +branch of a tree. They were gone some time, for Fanny found plenty of +cones, but was at a loss how to carry them home. "I have thought," said +she, at last; "I will run back and borrow brother Ben's handkerchief; +or, if he won't let me have it, I'll take my own bonnet and fill it +full." Gertrude promised to await her return, and she ran off. When she +came near the spot where she had left Kitty and Mr. Bruce, she heard +several voices and loud laughter. Belle and the lieutenant had arrived, +and they were having great sport about something. Belle was standing +with the white cape bonnet in her hand. She had bent it completely out +of shape, so as to give it the appearance of an old woman's cap, had +adorned the front with white-weed and dandelions, and finally pinned on +a handkerchief to serve as a veil. She held it up on the end of the +lieutenant's cane, and was endeavouring to obtain a bid for Miss Flint's +bridal bonnet.</p> + +<p>Fanny listened a moment with an indignant countenance, then advanced +with a bound, as if just running from the woods. Kitty caught her frock +as she passed, and exclaimed, "Why, Fanny, are you here? Where's +Gertrude?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, she's in the pine woods!" replied Fanny, "and I'm going back; she +only sent me to get her hat, the sun's so warm where we are."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes!" said Belle, "her Paris hat. Please give it to her, with our +compliments."</p> + +<p>"No, that isn't hers," said Fanny; "<i>that</i> is Miss Emily's. <i>This</i> is +hers;" and she laid her hand upon the straw head-dress which the +gentlemen had but a moment before been assuring Belle was vastly +becoming, and, without ceremony, snatched it from her head.</p> + +<p>Belle's eyes flashed angrily. "What do you mean?" said she; "you saucy +little creature! Give me that hat!" and she stretched out her hand to +take it.</p> + +<p>"I shan't do any such thing!" said Fanny; "it's Gertrude's hat. She +looked for it this afternoon, but concluded it was either lost or +stolen, and so borrowed Miss Emily's cape-bonnet; but she'll be very +glad to find it, and I'll carry it to her. I rather think," said she, +looking over her shoulder, as she ran off, "I rather think Miss Emily +would be willing you should wear her bonnet home, if you'll be careful, +and not bend it."</p> + +<p>A few moments of anger to Belle, laughter from Kitty and Mr. Bruce, and +concealed amusement on Lieutenant Osborne's part, and Gertrude came +hastily from the woods, with the hat in her hand, Fanny following her; +and, taking advantage of Belle's position, with her back towards her, +resumed her pantomimic threats and insinuations. "Miss Clinton," said +Gertrude, as she replaced the hat in her lap, "I am afraid Fanny has +been very rude in my name. I did not send her for either hat or bonnet, +and shall be pleased to have you wear this as often as you like."</p> + +<p>"I don't want it," said Belle, scornfully; "I'd no idea it belonged to +you."</p> + +<p>"Certainly not; I am aware of it," said Gertrude. "But I trust that will +not prevent you making use of it for to-day, at least." Without urging +the matter further, she proposed that they should hasten on to the top +of the hill, which they could not otherwise reach before sunset; and set +the example by moving forward in that direction, Fanny accompanying her, +and busying herself as she went by stripping the decorations from +Emily's despised bonnet; Belle tying an embroidered handkerchief under +her chin; and Mr. Bruce swinging on his arm the otherwise neglected +hat.</p> + +<p>Belle did not recover her temper during the evening; the rest found +their excursion agreeable, and it was nearly dark when they reached the +Thornton farm on their return. Here Gertrude left them, telling Fanny +that she had promised to stop and see Jenny Thornton, one of her +Sunday-school class, who was in a fever, and refusing to let her remain, +as her mother might not wish her to enter the house, where several of +the family were sick. About an hour after, as Gertrude was walking home +in some haste, she was joined near Mr. Graham's house by Mr. Bruce, who, +with her hat still hanging on his arm, seemed to have been awaiting her +return. She started on his abruptly joining her, for it was so dark that +she did not at once recognise him, and supposed it might be a stranger.</p> + +<p>"Miss Gertrude," said he, "I hope I don't alarm you."</p> + +<p>"Oh no," said she, reassured by the sound of his voice; "I did not know +who it was."</p> + +<p>He offered his arm, and she took it; for his recent devotion to Kitty +had served in some degree to relieve her of any fear she had felt lest +his attentions carried meaning with them; and concluding that he liked +to play beau-general, she had no objection to his escorting her home.</p> + +<p>"We had a very pleasant walk this evening," said he; "at least, I had. +Miss Kitty is a very entertaining companion."</p> + +<p>"I think she is," replied Gertrude; "I like her frank, lively manners +much."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you found Fanny rather poor company. I should have joined +you occasionally, but I could hardly find an opportunity to quit Miss +Kitty, we were so much interested in what we were saying."</p> + +<p>"Fanny and I are accustomed to each other, and very happy together," +said Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Do you know we have planned a delightful drive for to-morrow?"</p> + +<p>"No; I was not aware of it."</p> + +<p>"I suppose Miss Kay expects I shall ask her to go with me; but +supposing, Miss Gertrude, I should give you the preference, and ask you, +what should you say?"</p> + +<p>"That I was much obliged to you, but had an engagement to take a drive +with Miss Emily," replied Gertrude, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" said he, in a suppressed and provoked tone; "I thought you +would like it; but Miss Kitty, I doubt not will accept. I will go in and +ask her. Here is your hat."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Gertrude, and would have taken it; but Ben still held +it by one string, and said——</p> + +<p>"Then you won't go, Miss Gertrude?"</p> + +<p>"My engagement with Miss Emily cannot be postponed on any account," +answered Gertrude, thankful that she had so excellent a reason for +declining.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" said Mr. Bruce; "you could go with me if you chose; and if +you don't, I shall certainly invite Miss Kitty."</p> + +<p>The weight he seemed to attach to this threat astonished Gertrude. "Can +it be possible," thought she, "that he expects thus to pique and annoy +me?" and she replied by saying, "I shall be happy if my declining prove +the means of Kitty's enjoying a pleasant drive; she is fond of variety, +and has few opportunities here to indulge her taste."</p> + +<p>They now entered the house. Mr. Bruce sought Kitty in the recess of the +window, and Gertrude, not finding Emily present, stayed but a short time +in the room—long enough, however, to observe Mr. Bruce's exaggerated +devotion to Kitty, which was marked by others beside himself. Kitty +promised to accompany him the next day, and did so. Mrs. Graham, Mrs. +Bruce, Belle, and the lieutenant, went also in another vehicle, and +Emily and Gertrude took a different direction, and driving white Charlie +in the old-fashioned buggy, rejoiced in their quiet independence.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<h3>VANITY.</h3> + + +<p>Days and weeks passed on, and no marked event took place in Mr. Graham's +household. The weather became intensely warm, and no more walks and +drives were planned. The lieutenant left the city, and Isabel, who could +neither endure with patience excessive heat nor want of society, grew +more irritable than ever.</p> + +<p>To Kitty, however, these summer days were fraught with interest. Mr. +Bruce visited constantly at the house, and had great influence upon her +outward demeanour and her inward happiness, which fluctuated as his +attentions were freely bestowed or altogether suspended. No wonder the +poor girl was puzzled to understand one whose conduct was certainly +inexplicable to any but those initiated into his motives. Believing, as +he did, that Gertrude would in time show a disposition to win him back, +he was anxious only to carry his addresses to Kitty to such a point as +would excite a serious alarm in the mind of the poor <i>protégée</i> of the +Grahams, who dared to slight his proffered advances. Acting then as he +did almost wholly with reference to Gertrude, it was only in her +presence, or under such circumstances that he was sure it would reach +her ears, that he manifested a marked interest in Kitty; and his +behaviour was, therefore, in the highest degree, unequal, leading the +warm-hearted Kitty to believe one moment that he felt for her almost the +tenderness of a lover, and the next to suffer under the apprehension of +having unconsciously wounded or offended him. Unfortunately, too, Mrs. +Graham took every opportunity to congratulate her upon her conquest, +thereby increasing the simple girl's confidence in the sincerity of Mr. +Bruce's admiration.</p> + +<p>Gertrude, whose eyes were soon opened to the existing state of things, +was filled with apprehension on account of Kitty, for whose peace and +welfare she felt great concern. The suspicions to which Mr. Bruce's +conduct gave rise were soon strengthened into convictions; for, on +several occasions, after he had offered Kitty proofs of devotion, he +tested their effect upon Gertrude by some attention to herself; +intimating that she had it in her power to rob Kitty of all claim upon +his favour.</p> + +<p>Gertrude availed herself of every opportunity to acquaint him with the +truth, that he could not render himself more odious in her eyes than by +the use of such mean attempts to mortify her; but attributing her warmth +to jealousy, which he desired to excite, the selfish young man +persevered in his course of wickedness. As he only proffered his +attentions, and made no offer of his heart and hand, Kitty, having +forgotten that she had a few weeks back looked upon Gertrude as a rival, +now chose her for her bosom friend; and the transparency of her +character was such that she betrayed her secret to Gertrude. Though no +one but Gertrude appeared to observe it, Kitty was wonderfully +changed;—the gay, laughing, careless Kitty had now her fits of +musing—her sunny face was subject to clouds, that flitted across it, +and robbed it of all its brightness. If she found Gertrude sitting alone +in her room she would approach, throw her arm around her, and talk on +her favourite topic. She would relate the complimentary speeches and +polite attentions of Mr. Bruce, talk about him for an hour, and question +Gertrude as to her opinion of his merits. She would ask if Gertrude +really supposed he meant all he said, and add, that of course she didn't +believe he did—it was all nonsense. And if Gertrude avowed the same +opinion, and declared it was best not to trust his flatteries, poor +Kitty's face would fail, and she would give her reasons for <i>sometimes</i> +thinking he was sincere—he had such a <i>truthful, earnest</i> way of +speaking.</p> + +<p>At last Mr. Bruce tried Gertrude's firmness by offering to her +acceptance a rich ring. Not a little surprised at his presumption, she +declined it without ceremony, and the next day saw it on the finger of +Kitty, who was eager to give an account of its presentation.</p> + +<p>"And did you <i>accept</i> it?" asked Gertrude, with such a look of +astonishment, that Kitty observed it, and evaded an acknowledgment of +having done so, by saying, with a blushing countenance, that she agreed +to wear it a little while.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't," said Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Because, in the first place, I do not think it is in good taste to +receive such rich gifts from gentlemen; and then, again, if strangers +notice it, you may be subjected to unpleasant, significant remarks."</p> + +<p>"What would you do with it?" asked Kitty.</p> + +<p>"I should give it back."</p> + +<p>Kitty looked very undecided; but concluded to offer it to Mr. Bruce, and +tell him what Gertrude said. She did so, and that gentleman, little +appreciating Gertrude's motives, and believing her only desirous of +making difficulty between him and Kitty, jumped at the conclusion that +her heart was won at last. He was disappointed, therefore, when, on his +next meeting with her, she treated him as she had invariably done of +late, with cool civility; indeed, it seemed to him that she was more +insensible than ever to his attractions, and hastily quitted the house, +much to the distress of Kitty.</p> + +<p>"Shall I," thought he, "marry this poor girl? Shall I, who have a +handsome fortune, and additional expectations to make a brilliant +alliance, condescend to share my wealth with this adopted child of the +Grahams? If she were one atom less charming, I would disappoint her, +after all! I wonder how she'd feel if I should marry Kitty! I dare say +that she would come to my wedding, bend her slender neck as gracefully +as ever, and say, '<i>Good evening, Mr. Bruce</i>,' as calmly as she does +now, every time I go to the house! But, as <i>Mrs. Bruce</i>, I should be +proud of that manner, certainly. I wonder how I ever got in love with +her; I'm sure I don't know. She isn't handsome; mother thinks she isn't, +and so does Belle Clinton. But Lieutenant Osborne noticed her the minute +she came into the room; and Fan raves about her beauty. I don't know +what I think myself; I believe she's bewitched me, so that I'm not +capable of judging; but, if it isn't beauty, it's something more than +mere good looks."</p> + +<p>About this time, Mrs. Graham and Mrs. Bruce, with their families, +received cards for a <i>levée</i> at the house of an acquaintance five miles +distant. Mrs. Bruce, who had a close carriage, invited both the cousins +to go; and, as Mr. Graham's carriage, when closed, would only +accommodate himself and lady, the proposal was acceded to.</p> + +<p>The prospect of a gay assembly revived Isabel's drooping spirits. Her +rich evening dresses were brought out, and she stood before her mirror, +and tied on first one wreath, and then another, and looked so beautiful +in each that it was difficult to choose. Kitty, who stood by, went to +consult Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Gertrude," said Kitty, "what shall I wear this evening? I've been +trying to get Belle to tell me, but she never will hear what I ask her, +when she's thinking about her own dress! She's dreadfully selfish."</p> + +<p>"Who advises <i>her</i>?" asked Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nobody; she always decides for herself; but then she has so much +taste, and I haven't the least in the world! So do tell me, Gertrude, +what had I better wear to-night?"</p> + +<p>"I'm the last person you should ask, Kitty; I never went to a +fashionable party in my life."</p> + +<p>"That doesn't make any difference. I'm sure if you did go, you'd look +better than any of us; and I'm not afraid to trust to your opinion, for +I never in my life saw you wear anything that didn't look genteel—even +your gingham morning-gown has a sort of stylish air."</p> + +<p>"Stop, stop, Kitty; you are going too far; you must keep within bounds +if you want me to believe you."</p> + +<p>"Well then," said Kitty, "to say nothing of yourself (for you're +superior to flattery, Gertrude—<i>somebody</i> told me so)—who furnishes +Miss Emily's wardrobe? Who selects her dresses?"</p> + +<p>"I have done so lately, but——"</p> + +<p>"I thought so!—I thought so!" interrupted Kitty. "I knew poor Miss +Emily was indebted to you for always looking so nice and so beautiful."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, Kitty, you are mistaken; I have never seen Emily better +dressed than she was the first time I met her; and her beauty is not +borrowed from art—it is all her own."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know she is lovely, and everybody admires her; but no one can +suppose she would take pains to wear such pretty things, and put them on +so gracefully, just to please herself."</p> + +<p>"It is not done merely to please herself; it was to please her father +that Emily first made the exertion to dress with taste as well as +neatness. I have heard that, for some time after she lost her eyesight, +she was disposed to be very careless; but, having accidentally +discovered that it was an additional cause of sorrow to him, she roused +herself at once, and, with Mrs. Ellis's assistance, contrived always +afterwards to please him in that particular. But you observe, Kitty, she +never wears anything showy or conspicuous."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, that is what I like; but, Gertrude, hasn't she always been +blind?"</p> + +<p>"No; until she was sixteen she had beautiful eyes, and could see as well +as you can."</p> + +<p>"What happened to her? How did she lose them?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>"Didn't you ever ask?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Why not?—how queer!"</p> + +<p>"I heard that she didn't like to speak of it."</p> + +<p>"But she would have told you; she worships you."</p> + +<p>"If she had wished me to know, she would have told without my asking."</p> + +<p>Kitty stared at Gertrude, wondering much at such unusual delicacy and +consideration, and instinctively admiring a forbearance of which she was +conscious she should herself have been incapable.</p> + +<p>"But your dress!" said Gertrude, smiling at Kitty's abstraction.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! I had almost forgotten what I came here for," said Kitty. +"What shall it be, then—thick or thin; pink, blue, or white?"</p> + +<p>"What has Isabel decided upon?"</p> + +<p>"Blue—a rich blue silk; that is her favourite colour, always; but it +doesn't become me."</p> + +<p>"No, I should think not," said Gertrude; "but come, Kitty, we will go to +your room and see the dresses, and I will give my opinion."</p> + +<p>Kitty's wardrobe having been inspected, a delicate white crape was fixed +upon. And now her head-dresses did not prove satisfactory. "I cannot +wear any of them," said Kitty; "they look so mean by the side of +Isabel's; but oh!" exclaimed she, glancing at a box which lay on the +dressing-table, "these are just what I should like! Oh, Isabel, where +did you get these beautiful carnations?" and she took up some flowers +which were, indeed, a rare imitation of nature, and, displaying them to +Gertrude, added that they were just what she wanted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Kitty," said Isabel, angrily, "don't touch my flowers! you will +spoil them!" and snatching them from her, she replaced them in the box, +and deposited them in the bureau, and locked them up—an action which +Gertrude witnessed with astonishment, mingled with indignation.</p> + +<p>"Kitty," said she, "I will arrange a wreath of natural flowers for you, +if you wish."</p> + +<p>"Will you, Gertrude?" said the disappointed and provoked Kitty. "Oh that +will be delightful. I should like it of all things! And, Isabel, you +cross old miser, you can keep all your wreaths to yourself!"</p> + +<p>Gertrude prepared a head-dress for Kitty; and tastefully mingled the +choicest productions of the garden, that, when Isabel saw her cousin +look so beautiful with it, she felt a sharp pang of jealousy of Kitty +and dislike to Gertrude.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<h3>THE REJECTED.</h3> + + +<p>Emily was not well this evening. It was often the case, lately, that +headache, weariness, or a nervous shrinking from noise and excitement +sent her to her own room or to her couch at an early hour. After Mrs. +Graham and her nieces had gone downstairs to await Mr. Graham's +pleasure, and Mrs. Bruce's arrival, Gertrude returned to Emily, and +found her suffering more than usual from her head. She was easily +induced to seek the only infallible cure—sleep; and Gertrude, seating +herself on the bedside, as she was frequently in the habit of doing, +bathed her temples until she fell into a quiet slumber. The noise of +Mrs. Bruce's carriage disturbed her a little; but she was soon in so +sound a sleep that, when Mr. and Mrs. Graham departed, the loud voice of +the latter did not startle her in the least. Gertrude sat some time +longer without changing her position, then, quietly rising, and +arranging everything for the night, according to Emily's wishes, she +closed the door, sought a book in her own room, and, entering the +parlour, seated herself at a table to enjoy the rare opportunity for +stillness and repose. But she soon left her seat, and going towards the +glass doors and leaning her head upon her hands, was absorbed in +meditation.</p> + +<p>She had not long sat thus when she heard a footstep in the room, and, +turning, saw Mr. Bruce beside her. She started, and exclaimed, "Mr. +Bruce! is it possible? I thought you had gone to the wedding."</p> + +<p>"No, there were greater attractions for me at home. Could you believe, +Miss Gertrude, I should find any pleasure in a party which did not +include yourself?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly should not have the vanity to suppose the reverse?" replied +Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"I wish you had a little more vanity, Miss Gertrude. Perhaps then you +would believe what I say."</p> + +<p>"I am glad you have the candour to acknowledge, Mr. Bruce, that, without +that requisite, one would find it impossible to put faith in your fair +speeches."</p> + +<p>"I acknowledge no such thing. I only say to you what any other girl but +yourself would be willing enough to believe; but how shall I convince +you that I am serious, and wish to be so understood?"</p> + +<p>"By addressing me with simple truthfulness, and sparing me those words +and attentions which I wish to convince you are unacceptable to me and +unworthy of yourself."</p> + +<p>"But I have a meaning, Gertrude, a <i>deep</i> meaning. I have been trying +long to find an opportunity to tell you of my resolve, and you <i>must</i> +listen to me now;" for he saw her change colour and look anxious and +uneasy. "You must give me an answer at once, and one that will, I trust, +be favourable to my wishes. You like plain speaking; and I will be plain +enough, now that my mind is made up. My relatives and friends may talk +and wonder as much as they please at my choosing a wife who has neither +money nor family to boast of; but I will defy them all, and offer +without hesitation to share my prospects with you. What is money good +for, if it does not make a man independent to do as he pleases? And, as +to the world, I don't see but that you can hold your head as high as +anybody, Gertrude; so, if you've no objection to make, we'll play at +cross purposes no longer;" and he endeavoured to take her hand.</p> + +<p>But Gertrude drew back; the colour flushed her cheeks, and her eyes +glistened as she fixed them upon his face, with an expression of +astonishment and pride. The penetrating look of those dark eyes spoke +volumes, and Mr. Bruce replied to their inquiring gaze in these words: +"I hope you are not displeased at my frankness."</p> + +<p>"With your frankness," said Gertrude, calmly; "no, that is a thing that +never displeases me. But what I have unconsciously done to inspire you +with so much confidence, that, while you defend yourself for defying the +wishes of your friends, you hardly give me a voice in the matter?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing," said Bruce; "but I thought you had laboured under the +impression that I was disposed to trifle with your affections, and had +therefore kept aloof and maintained a distance towards me which you +would not have done had you known I was in earnest; but, believe me, I +only admired you the more for behaving with so much dignity, and if I +have presumed upon your favour, you must forgive me."</p> + +<p>The expression of wounded pride vanished from Gertrude's face. "He knows +no better," thought she; "I should pity his vanity and ignorance, and +sympathize in his disappointment; and, in disclaiming with a +positiveness which left no room for self-deception, any interest in Mr. +Bruce beyond that of an old acquaintance and well-wisher, she +nevertheless softened her refusal by the choice of the mildest language. +She felt gratitude and consideration were due to the man who, however +little she might esteem <i>him</i>, had paid <i>her</i> the highest honour;" and, +though her regret in the matter was tempered by the thought of Kitty, +and the strangeness of Mr. Bruce's conduct towards her, now rendered +doubly inexplicable, she did not permit that reflection to prevent her +from maintaining the demeanour of a perfect lady, who, in giving pain to +another, laments the necessity of so doing. But she almost felt as if +her thoughtfulness for his feelings had been thrown away, when she +perceived the spirit in which he received her refusal.</p> + +<p>"Gertrude," said he, "you are either trifling with me or yourself. If +you are still disposed to coquet with me, I shall not humble myself to +urge you further; but if, on the other hand, you are so far forgetful of +your own interests as deliberately to refuse such a fortune as mine, I +think it's a pity you haven't got some friend to advise you. Such a +chance doesn't occur every day, especially to poor school-mistresses; +and if you are so foolish as to overlook it, you'll never have another."</p> + +<p>Gertrude's <i>old temper</i> rose at this insulting language; but her +feelings had been too long under strict regulation to yield, and she +replied in a tone which, though slightly agitated, was far from being +angry, "Allowing I could so far forget <i>myself</i>, Mr. Bruce, I would not +do <i>you</i> such an injustice as to marry you for your fortune. I do not +despise wealth, for I know the blessing it may often be; but my +affections cannot be bought with gold;" and as she spoke she moved +towards the door.</p> + +<p>"Stay!" said Mr. Bruce, catching her hand; "listen to me one moment; let +me ask you one question. Are you jealous of my late attentions to +another?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Gertrude; "but I confess I have not understood your +motives."</p> + +<p>"Did you think," asked he, "that I care for silly Kitty? Did you believe +that I had any other desire than to show you that my devotion was +acceptable elsewhere? No, I never had the least particle of regard for +her; my heart has been yours all the time, and I only danced attendance +upon <i>her</i>, in hopes to win a glance from <i>you</i>—an <i>anxious</i> glance, if +might be. Oh, I have wished that you would show only one quarter of the +pleasure that she did in my society; would blush and smile as she did; +would look sad when I was dull, and laugh when I was merry; so that I +might flatter myself that your heart was won. But as to <i>loving</i> +her,—pooh! Mrs. Graham's poodle-dog might as well try to rival you as +that soft——"</p> + +<p>"Stop! stop!" exclaimed Gertrude; "for <i>my</i> sake, if not for your <i>own</i>! +Oh, how——" She could say no more; but, sinking into a seat, burst into +tears, and hiding her face in her hands, as had been her habit in +childhood, wept without restraint.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bruce stood by in utter amazement; at last he approached her, and +asked, in a low voice, "What is the matter? what have I done?"</p> + +<p>It was some minutes before she could reply; then, lifting her head, and +tossing the hair from her forehead, she displayed features expressive +only of the deepest grief, and said, in broken accents, "What have you +done? Oh, how can you ask? She is gentle, and amiable, and affectionate. +She loves everybody, and trusts everybody. You have <i>deceived</i> her, and +<i>I</i> was the cause of it. Oh, how, how could you do it!"</p> + +<p>Ben exclaimed, "She will get over it." "Get over <i>what</i>!" said Gertrude; +"her love for you? Perhaps so; I know not how deep it is. But, think of +her happy, trusting nature, and how it has been betrayed! Think how she +believed your flattering words, and how hollow they were, all the while! +Think how her confidence has been abused! how that fatherless and +motherless girl, who had a claim to the sympathy of all the world, has +been taught a lesson of distrust."</p> + +<p>"I didn't think you would take it so," said Ben.</p> + +<p>"How else could I view it?" asked Gertrude; "could you expect that such +a course would win my respect?"</p> + +<p>"You take it very seriously, Gertrude; such flirtations are common."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to hear it," said Gertrude. "To my mind, unversed in the +ways of society, it is a dreadful thing to trifle thus with a human +heart. Whether Kitty loves you is not for me to say; but what opinion, +alas! will she have of your sincerity?"</p> + +<p>"I think you're rather hard, Miss Gertrude, when it was my love for you +that prompted my conduct."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I am," said Gertrude. "It is not my place to censure; I speak +only from the impulse of my heart. One orphan girl's warm defence of +another is but natural. Perhaps she views the thing lightly, and does +not <i>need</i> an advocate; but, oh, Mr. Bruce, do not think so meanly of my +sex as to believe that one woman's heart can be won to love and +reverence by the author of another's betrayal! She were less than woman +who could be so false to her sense of right and honour."</p> + +<p>"Betrayal!—Nonsense! you are very high-flown."</p> + +<p>"So much so, Mr. Bruce, that half-an-hour ago I could have wept that you +should have bestowed your affection where it met with no requital; and +if now I wept for the sake of her whose ears have listened to false +professions, and whose peace has, to say the least, been <i>threatened</i> on +my account, you should attribute it to the fact that my sympathies have +not been exhausted by contact with the world."</p> + +<p>A short silence ensued. Ben went a step or two towards the door, then +stopped, came back, and said, "After all, Gertrude Flint, I believe the +time will come when your notions will grow less romantic, and you will +look back to this night and wish you had acted differently." He +immediately left the room, and Gertrude heard him shut the hall-door +with a bang.</p> + +<p>A moment after the silence that ensued was disturbed by a slight sound +which seemed to proceed from the recess in the window. Gertrude started, +and, as she went towards the spot, heard a smothered sob. She lifted a +curtain, and there, upon the window-seat, her head buried in the +cushions, and her little slender form distorted into a strange attitude, +sat, or rather crouched, poor Kitty Ray.</p> + +<p>"Kitty?" cried Gertrude. At the sound of her voice Kitty sprung suddenly +from her recumbent posture, threw herself into Gertrude's arms, laid her +head upon her shoulder, and though she did not, <i>could</i> not weep, shook +with an agitation uncontrollable. Her hand which grasped Gertrude's was +cold; her eyes fixed; and at intervals the same hysterical sound which +had at first betrayed her in her hiding-place alarmed her young +protector, to whom she clung. Gertrude supported her to a seat, and +then, folding the slight form to her bosom, chafed the cold hands, and +again and again kissing the rigid lips, succeeded in restoring her to +something like composure. For an hour she lay thus, receiving Gertrude's +caresses with evident pleasure, and now and then returning them +convulsively, but speaking no word and making no noise. Gertrude, with +the truest delicacy, refrained from asking questions, or recurring to a +conversation, the whole of which had been thus overheard and +comprehended; but, patiently waiting until Kitty grew more calm, +prepared for her a soothing draught; and then, finding her completely +prostrated, both in mind and body, passed her arm around her waist, +guided her upstairs, and took her into her own room, where, if she +proved wakeful, she would be spared the scrutiny of Isabel. Still +clinging to Gertrude, the poor girl, to whose relief tears came at last, +sobbed herself to sleep. Gertrude, though nearly the same age as Kitty, +had seen too much trouble to enjoy in times of disquiet the privilege of +sinking easily to repose. She felt under the necessity, too, of +remaining awake until Isabel's return, that she might inform her what +had become of Kitty, whom she would be sure to miss from the room which +they both occupied. It was past midnight when Mrs. Graham and her niece +returned home, and Gertrude went immediately to inform the latter that +her cousin was asleep in her room. The noise of the carriage, however, +had awakened the sleeper, and when Gertrude returned she was rubbing her +eyes, and trying to collect her thoughts. Suddenly the recollection of +the scene of the evening flashed upon her, and with a deep sigh she +exclaimed, "Oh, Gertrude, I have been dreaming of Mr. Bruce! Should you +have thought he would have treated me so?"</p> + +<p>"No, I should not," said Gertrude; "but I wouldn't dream about him, +Kitty, nor think of him any more; we will both go to sleep and forget +him."</p> + +<p>"It is different with you," said Kitty, with simplicity. "He loves you, +and you do not care for him; but I—I——" Here her feelings overpowered +her, and she buried her face in her pillow.</p> + +<p>Gertrude approached, laid her hand kindly upon the head of the poor +girl, and finished the sentence for her.</p> + +<p>"You have such a large heart, Kitty, that he found some place there, +perhaps; but it is too good a heart to be shared by the mean and base. +You must think no more of him—he is not worthy of your regard."</p> + +<p>"I can't help it," said Kitty; "I am silly, just as he said."</p> + +<p>"No, you are not," said Gertrude, encouragingly; "and you must prove it +to him."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Let him see that, with all her softness, Kitty Ray is brave; that she +believes not his flattery, and values his professions at just what they +are worth."</p> + +<p>"Will you help me, Gertrude? You are my best friend; you took my part, +and told him how wicked he had been to me. May I come to you for comfort +when I can't make believe happy any longer to him, and my aunt, and +Isabel?"</p> + +<p>Gertrude's fervent embrace assured her.</p> + +<p>"You will be as bright and as happy as ever in a few weeks," said she; +"you will soon cease to care for a person whom you no longer respect."</p> + +<p>Kitty disclaimed the possibility of ever being happy again; but Gertrude +was more hopeful. She saw that Kitty's outburst of sobs and tears was +like an impetuous grief, but that the deepest recesses of her nature +were safe. She felt a deep compassion for her, and many fears lest she +would want sufficient strength of mind to behave with dignity and +womanly pride in her future intercourse with Mr. Bruce.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, the trial was spared her by Mr. Bruce's absenting himself +from the house, and in a few days leaving home for the remainder of the +summer; and, as this circumstance involved his own and Mrs. Graham's +family in wonder as to the cause of his sudden departure, Kitty's trials +were in the perpetual questionings from her aunt and cousin as to her +share in this occurrence. Had she quarrelled with him?—and why? Kitty +denied that she had; but she was not believed.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Graham and Isabel were aware that Kitty's refusing at the last +moment to attend the wedding <i>levée</i> was owing to her having learned, +just before the carriage drove to the door, that Mr. Bruce was not to be +one of the party; and, as they got her to confess that he had passed a +part of the evening at the house, they came to the conclusion that some +misunderstanding had arisen between the lovers.</p> + +<p>Isabel was too well acquainted with Kitty's sentiments to believe she +had voluntarily relinquished an admirer who had evidently been highly +prized; and she also saw that the sensitive girl winced under every +allusion to the deserter. Where was her affection? For she made Mr. +Bruce and his disappearance her constant topic; and, on the slightest +difference between herself and Kitty, she distressed the latter by +cutting sarcasm relative to her late love-affair. Kitty would then seek +refuge with Gertrude, and claim her sympathy; and she not only found in +her a friendly listener to her woes, but invariably acquired in her +society greater strength and cheerfulness than she could elsewhere rally +to her aid.</p> + +<p>Many a time, when Isabel had been tantalising Kitty beyond what her +patience could endure, a little figure would present itself at the door +of Miss Graham's room, and with the sweetest of voices say, "I hear you, +Kitty; come in, my dear; we shall be glad of your pleasant company;" and +seated by the side of Gertrude, learning from her some little art in +needlework, listening to an agreeable book, or Emily's more agreeable +conversation, Kitty passed hours which were never forgotten, so peaceful +were they, so serene, so totally unlike any she had ever spent before.</p> + +<p>None could live in familiar intercourse with Emily, listen to her words, +observe the radiance of her heavenly smile, and breathe in the pure +atmosphere that environed her very being, and not carry away with them +the <i>love</i> of virtue and holiness, if not something of their <i>essence</i>. +She was so unselfish, so patient, notwithstanding her privations, that +Kitty would have been ashamed to repine in her presence; and there was a +contagious cheerfulness ever pervading her apartment, which, in spite of +Kitty's recent cause of unhappiness, often led her to forget herself, +and break into her natural tone of buoyancy and glee.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + +<h3>ENVY, HATRED, AND MALICE.</h3> + + +<p>Little did Gertrude imagine, while she was striving to promote the +welfare of Kitty, who had thrown herself upon her love and care, the +jealousy and ill-will she was exciting in others. Isabel, who had never +liked one whose tone of action and life reproached her own vanity and +selfishness, and who saw in her the additional crime of being the +favoured friend of a youth of whose interesting boyhood she herself +retained a sentimental recollection, was eager to render her odious to +Mrs. Graham. She was not slow to observe the confidence that existed +between Kitty and Gertrude; that her cousin had forsaken her own room +for that of the latter the night after her probable quarrel and parting +with Bruce; and her resentment, excited still further by the growing +friendship which her own unkindness to Kitty served only to confirm, she +communicated to Mrs. Graham her suspicion that Gertrude had selfishly +made a difficulty between Bruce and Kitty, and fostered and widened the +breach, and succeeded in breaking off the match. Mrs. Graham readily +adopted Belle's opinion. "Kitty," said she, "is weak-minded, and much +under Miss Flint's influence. I shouldn't be surprised if you were +right, Belle!"</p> + +<p>Thus they tried to entrap Kitty into a confession that Gertrude had +driven away her lover. But Kitty, while she indignantly denied +Gertrude's having injured her, refused to reveal the occurrences of the +eventful evening. Mrs. Graham and Belle were angry, and many were their +private discussions on the subject, and as they became more and more +incensed against Gertrude, so they began to manifest it in their +demeanour.</p> + +<p>Gertrude soon perceived their incivility. With wonderful patience, +however, did she preserve her equanimity. She had never looked for +kindness and attention from Mrs. Graham and Isabel. They were irritated +by her calmness and patience, now made their attack in another quarter; +and Emily, the sweet, lovely, and unoffending Emily, became the object +against which they aimed many of their shafts of ill-will.</p> + +<p>Gertrude could bear injury, injustice, and even cruel language, towards +herself only; but her blood boiled when she perceived that her cherished +Emily was becoming the victim of neglect and ill-usage. To address the +gentle Emily in other words than those of courtesy was next to +impossible; it was equally hard to find fault with the actions of one +whose life was so good and beautiful; and the isolated position which +she occupied on account of her blindness seemed to render her free from +interference. But Mrs. Graham was coarse and blunt, Isabel selfish and +unfeeling; and long before the blind girl was aware of any unkind +intention on their part, Gertrude's spirit had rebelled at the knowledge +of many a word and act well calculated to distress a sensitive mind. +Many a stroke was warded off by Gertrude; many a nearly defeated plan, +which Emily was known to have had at heart, carried through by +Gertrude's perseverance and energy; and for some weeks Emily was kept +ignorant of the fact that many a little office formerly performed for +her by a servant was now fulfilled by Gertrude, who would not let her +know that Bridget had received from her mistress orders which were quite +inconsistent with her usual attendance upon Miss Graham's wants.</p> + +<p>Mr. Graham was absent on business at New York. His presence would have +been a great restraint upon his wife, who was well aware of his devoted +affection for his daughter. His love for Emily, and the devotion +manifested towards her by every member of the household, had rendered +her an object of jealousy to Mrs. Graham.</p> + +<p>Shortly before Mr. Graham's return, Mrs. Graham and Isabel were +indulging themselves in an unlimited abuse of the rest of the household, +when a letter was brought to Mrs. Graham, which proved to be from her +husband. After glancing over its contents, she remarked, with an air of +satisfaction, "Here is good news for us, Isabel, and a prospect of some +pleasure in the world." And she read aloud the following—"The +troublesome affair which called me here is nearly settled, and the +result is very favourable to my wishes and plans. I now see nothing to +prevent our starting for Europe the latter part of next month, and the +girls must make their arrangements accordingly. Tell Emily to spare +nothing towards a full and complete equipment for herself and Gertrude."</p> + +<p>"He speaks of Gertrude," said Isabel, sneeringly, "as if she were one of +the family. I'm sure I don't see any very great prospect of pleasure in +travelling all through Europe with a blind woman, and her disagreeable +appendages; I can't think what Mr. Graham wants to take them for."</p> + +<p>"I wish he would leave them at home," said Mrs. Graham; "it would be a +good punishment for Gertrude. But, mercy! he would as soon think of +going without his right hand as without Emily."</p> + +<p>"I hope, if ever I'm married," exclaimed Isabel, "it won't be to a man +that's got a blind daughter! Such a dreadful good person, too, whom +everybody has got to worship, and admire, and wait upon!"</p> + +<p>"I don't have to wait upon her," said Mrs. Graham; "that's Gertrude's +business—it's what she's going for."</p> + +<p>"That's the worst of it; a blind girl has to have a waiting-maid, and a +waiting-maid is a great lady, who doesn't mind cheating your nieces out +of their lovers, and even robbing them of each other's affection."</p> + +<p>"Well, what can I do, Belle? I'm sure I don't want Gertrude's company +any more than you do; but I don't see how I can get rid of her."</p> + +<p>"I should think you'd tell Mr. Graham some of the harm she's done +already. If you have any influence over him, you might prevent her +going."</p> + +<p>"It would be no more than she deserves," said Mrs. Graham; "and I may +give him a hint of her behaviour; he'll be surprised enough when he +hears of Bruce's sudden flight. I knew he thought it would be a match +between him and Kitty."</p> + +<p>As Isabel descended the staircase, to meet with smiles and compliments +the guests whom in her heart she wished a thousand miles away on this +intensely hot afternoon, Gertrude came up from the kitchen, and passed +along a passage to her own room. She carried, over one arm, a dress of +white muslin, and a number of collars, sleeves, and ruffles, with other +articles fresh from the ironing-board. Her face was heated; she looked +tired, and, as she reached her room, and deposited her burden upon the +bed, she drew a long breath, as if fatigued, seated herself by a +window, brushed the hair back from her face, and threw open a blind. +Just then Mrs. Prime put her head in at the door; and, seeing Gertrude +alone, entered the room, but stood in astonishment on observing the +evidences of her recent laborious employment; then, glancing at the +fruits of her diligence, she burst forth indignantly, "My sakes alive! +Miss Gertrude, I believe you've been doin' up them muslins yourself, +after all!"</p> + +<p>Gertrude smiled, but did not reply.</p> + +<p>"Now, if that ain't too bad!" said the kind-hearted woman; "to think you +should ha' been at work down in that 'ere hot kitchen, and all the rest +on us takin' a spell o' rest in the heat of the day. I'll warrant if +Miss Emily knew it, she'd never put on that white gown!"</p> + +<p>"It hardly looks <i>fit</i> for her to wear," said Gertrude. "I'm not much +used to ironing, and have had a great deal of trouble with it; one side +got dry before I could smooth out the other."</p> + +<p>"It looks elegant, Miss Gertrude; but what should you be doin' Bridget's +work for, I want to know?"</p> + +<p>"Bridget always has enough to do," said Gertrude, evading a direct +answer; "and it's very well for me to have some practice; knowledge +never comes amiss, you know, Mrs. Prime."</p> + +<p>"'Tant no kind of an afternoon for 'speriment o' that sort; and you +wouldn't ha' done it, I'll venture to say, if you hadn't been afeard +Miss Emily would want her things, and find out they wan't done. Times is +changed in this house, when Mr. Graham's own daughter, that was once the +head of everything, has to have her clothes laid by to make room for +other folks. Bridget ought to know better than to mind these upstarters, +when they tell her, as I heard Miss Graham yesterday, to let alone that +heap o' muslins, and attend to something that was o' more consequence. +Our Katy would ha' known better; but Bridget's a new-comer like all the +rest. Thinks I to myself then, what would Miss Gertrude say, if she +suspected how Miss Emily was bein' neglected! But I'll <i>tell</i> Miss +Emily, as sure as my name's Prime, just how things go—you shan't get so +red in the face with ironing agin, Miss Gertrude. If the kind o' frocks +she likes to wear can't be done up at home—and yourn too, what's +more—the washin' ought to be put out. There's money enough, and some of +it ought to be spent for the use o' the ladies as is ladies! I wish to +heart <i>that</i> Isabella would have to start round a little lively; 'twould +do her good; but, Lor', Miss Gertrude, it goes right to my heart to see +all the vexatious things as is happenin' nowadays! I'll go right to Miss +Emily this minute, and tell how things go on."</p> + +<p>"No, you won't, Mrs. Prime," said Gertrude, persuasively; "when I ask +you not. You forget how unhappy it would make her, if she knew that Mrs. +Graham was so wanting in consideration. I would rather iron dresses +every day, or do anything else for our dear Miss Emily, than let her +<i>suspect</i> even that anybody could willingly be unkind to her."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Prime hesitated. "Miss Gertrude, I thought I loved our dear young +lady as well as anybody, but I believe you love her better still, to be +so thoughtful all for her sake; and I wouldn't say nothing about it, +only I think a sight o' <i>you</i>, too; you've been here ever since you was +a little gal, and we all set lots by you, and I can't see them folks +ride over your head, as I know they mean to."</p> + +<p>"I know you love me, Mrs. Prime, and Emily too; so, for the sake of us +both, you mustn't say a word to anybody about the change in the family +arrangements. We'll all do what we can to keep Emily from pain; and, as +to the rest, we won't care for ourselves; if they don't pet and indulge +me as much as I have been accustomed to, the easiest way is not to +notice it."</p> + +<p>"Lord bless yer heart, Miss Gertrude, them folks is lucky to have you to +deal with; it isn't everybody as would put up with 'em. They don't come +much in my way, thank fortin! I let Miss Graham see, right off, that I +wouldn't put up with interference; cooks is privileged to set up for +their rights, and I scared her out o' my premises pretty quick, I tell +yer! It's mighty hard for me to see our own ladies imposed upon; but +since you say 'mum,' Miss Gertrude, I'll try and hold my tongue as long +as I can. It's a shame, though, I do declare."</p> + +<p>An hour after, Gertrude was at the glass, braiding her long hair, when +Mrs. Ellis, after a slight knock, entered. "Well, Gertrude," said she, +"I didn't think it would come to this!"</p> + +<p>"Why, what is the matter?" inquired Gertrude, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"It seems we are going to be turned out of our rooms!"</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"You, and I next, for ought I know."</p> + +<p>Gertrude coloured, but did not speak, and Mrs. Ellis related that she +had received orders to fit up Gertrude's room for some visitors who were +expected. She was astonished to hear that Gertrude had not been +consulted on the subject. Mrs. Graham had spoken so carelessly of her +removal, and seemed to think it so agreeable for Emily to share her +apartment with her young friend, that Mrs. Ellis concluded the matter +had been pre-arranged.</p> + +<p>Deeply wounded and vexed on her own and Emily's account, Gertrude stood +for a moment silent. She then asked if Mrs. Ellis had spoken to Emily on +the subject. She had not. Gertrude begged her to say nothing about it.</p> + +<p>"I cannot bear," said she, "to let her know that the little sanctum she +fitted up so carefully has been unceremoniously taken from me. I sleep +in her room more than half the time, as you know; but she always likes +to have me call this chamber mine, that I may be sure of a place where I +can read and study. If you will let me remove my bureau into your room, +Mrs. Ellis, and sleep on a couch there occasionally, we need not say +anything about it to Emily."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ellis assented. She had grown strangely humble and compliant within +a few months, and Gertrude had won her good-will, first by forbearance, +and latterly by the frequent assistance she had rendered to the +overburdened housekeeper. But, though yielding and considerate towards +Gertrude, whom, with Emily and Mrs. Prime, she now considered members of +the injured party to which she herself belonged, no words could express +her indignation with regard to the late conduct of Mrs. Graham and +Isabel. "It is all of a piece," said she, "with the rest of their +conduct! Sometimes I almost feel thankful that Emily is blind; it would +grieve her to see the goings-on. I should have liked to box Isabella's +ears for taking your seat at the table so impudently as she did +yesterday, and then neglecting to help Emily to anything at all; and +there sat dear Emily, angel as she is! all unconscious of her shameful +behaviour, and asking her for butter as sweetly as if it were by mere +accident that you had been driven from the table, and she left to +provide for herself. And all those strangers there, too! I saw it all +from the china-closet! And then Emily's dresses and muslins!—there they +laid in the press-drawer, till I thought they would mildew. I'm glad to +see Bridget has been allowed to do them at last, for I began to think +Emily would, one of these warm days, be without a clean gown in the +world. But all I wish is, that they'd all go off to Europe, and leave us +here to ourselves. You don't want to go, do you, Gertrude?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, if Emily goes."</p> + +<p>"Well, you're better than I am; I couldn't make such a martyr of myself +even for her sake."</p> + +<p>It is needless to detail the many petty annoyances to which Gertrude was +daily subjected; nor with all the pains taken to prevent it, could Emily +be long kept in ignorance of the light estimation in which both herself +and Gertrude were regarded. Kitty, incensed at the incivility of her +aunt and Isabel, and indifferent towards the visitors, hesitated not to +express both to Emily and Gertrude her sense of the injuries they +sustained. But Kitty was no formidable antagonist to Mrs. Graham and +Belle, for her spirits were greatly subdued, and she no longer dared, as +she would once have done, to stand between her friends and the +indignities to which they were exposed.</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Graham became at last entangled in difficulties of her own +weaving. Her husband returned, and it now became necessary to set bounds +to her own insolence, and, what was far more difficult, to that of +Isabel. Mrs. Graham knew just how far her husband's forbearance would +extend—just the point to which his perceptions might be blinded. But in +his absence she permitted Belle to fill the house with her lively young +acquaintances, and winked at the many flagrant violations of politeness +manifested by the young people towards the daughter of their absent +host, and their youthful friend and attendant. But now a check must be +put to all indecorous proceedings; and, unfortunately for the execution +of the wife's precautions, the head of the family returned unexpectedly, +and under circumstances which forestalled any preparation. He arrived +just at dusk, having come from town in an omnibus. It was a cool +evening, the windows and doors were closed, and the drawing-room was so +brilliantly lighted that he suspected that a large company was being +entertained there. He felt vexed, for it was Saturday night, and, in +accordance with New England customs, Mr. Graham loved to see his +household quiet on that evening. He was also suffering from a violent +headache, and, avoiding the drawing-room, passed on to the library, and +then to the dining-room. He then went upstairs, walked through several +rooms, glanced indignantly at their slovenly appearance, and finally +gained Emily's chamber.</p> + +<p>A bright wood fire burned upon the hearth; a couch was drawn up beside +it, on which Emily was sitting; and Gertrude's little rocking-chair +occupied the opposite corner. The peaceful face of Emily, and the +radiant expression of Gertrude's countenance, as she saw the father of +her blind friend looking pleasantly in upon them, proved such a charming +contrast to the scenes presented in other parts of the house, that the +old gentleman, warmed to more than usual satisfaction with both of the +inmates, greeted his surprised daughter with a hearty paternal embrace, +and gave Gertrude an equally affectionate greeting, exclaiming, as he +took the arm-chair, "Now, girls, this looks pleasant and home-like! What +in the world is going on downstairs?" Emily explained that there was +company staying in the house.</p> + +<p>"Ugh! company!" grunted Mr. Graham, in a dissatisfied tone. "I think so! +Been emptying rag-bags about the chambers, I should say, from the +looks."</p> + +<p>Gertrude asked if he had been to tea. He had not, and should be thankful +for some; he was tired.</p> + +<p>"Don't tell anybody that I've got home, Gerty," called he, as she left +the room; "I want to be left in peace <i>to-night</i>, at least."</p> + +<p>While Gertrude was gone, Mr. Graham questioned Emily as to her +preparations for the European tour. To his surprise, he learned that she +had never received his message communicated in the letter to Mrs. +Graham, and knew nothing of his plans. Astonished and angry, he +restrained his temper; he did not like to acknowledge to himself, far +less to his daughter, that his commands had been disregarded by his +wife. After he had enjoyed a comfortable repast, at which Gertrude +presided, they both returned to Emily's room; and now Mr. Graham's first +inquiry was for the <i>Evening Transcript</i>.</p> + +<p>"I will go for it," said Gertrude, rising.</p> + +<p>"Ring!" said Mr. Graham, imperatively. He had observed that Gertrude's +ringing was disregarded, and wished to know the cause of so strange a +piece of neglect. Gertrude rang several times, but obtained no answer to +the bell. At last she heard Bridget's step in the entry, and, opening +the door, said to her, "Bridget, won't you find the <i>Transcript</i>, and +bring it to Miss Emily's room?" Bridget soon returned with the +announcement that Miss Isabella was reading it, and declined to give it +up.</p> + +<p>A storm gathered on Mr. Graham's brow. "Such a message to <i>my +daughter</i>!" he exclaimed. "Gertrude, go yourself and tell the +impertinent girl that <i>I</i> want the paper! What sort of behaviour is +this?" he muttered.</p> + +<p>Gertrude entered the drawing-room with great composure, and, amid the +stares of the company, spoke in a low tone to Belle, who immediately +yielded up the paper, looking much confused as she did so. Belle was +afraid of Mr. Graham; and, on her informing her aunt of his return, that +lady was also disconcerted. She had fully calculated upon seeing her +husband before he had access to Emily. But it was too late now, but she +used all her tact to disperse her friends at an early hour, and then +found Mr. Graham smoking in the dining-room.</p> + +<p>He was in an unpleasant mood; but she contrived to conciliate rather +than irritate him, avoided all discordant subjects, and the next morning +introduced to her friends an apparently affable host.</p> + +<p>But this serenity was disturbed long before the Sabbath drew to a close. +As he walked up the aisle, before morning service, with Emily, according +to custom, leaning upon his arm, his brow darkened at seeing Isabel +complacently seated in that corner of the old fashioned pew which had +for years been sacred to his blind daughter. Mrs. Graham winked at her +niece, but Isabel was mentally rather obtuse, and was subjected to the +mortification of having Mr. Graham remove her from the seat, in which he +placed Emily, while the displaced occupant, who had been so mean for the +last three Sundays to deprive Miss Graham of this old-established right, +was compelled to sit in the only vacant place, beside Mr. Graham, with +her back to the pulpit. And very angry was she at observing the smiles +visible upon many countenances in the neighboring pews.</p> + +<p>Mr. Graham had not been at home a week before he understood the state of +feeling in the mind of his wife and Isabel, and the manner in which it +was likely to act upon the happiness of the household. He saw that Emily +was superior to complaint; she had never in her life complained; he +observed, too, Gertrude's devotion to his much-loved child, and it +stamped her in his mind as one who had a claim to his regard which +should never be disputed. It is not, then, to be wondered at, that when +Mrs. Graham made her intended insinuations against his youthful +<i>protégée</i>, Mr. Graham treated them with contempt.</p> + +<p>He had known Gertrude from a child. She was high-spirited—he had +sometimes thought her wilful—but <i>never</i> mean or false. It was no use +to tell him all that nonsense;—he was glad that it was all off between +Kitty and Bruce; for Ben was an idle fellow, and would never make a good +husband; and, as to Kitty, he thought her much improved of late, and if +it were owing to Gertrude's influence, the more they saw of each other +the better.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Graham was in despair. "It is all settled," said she to Isabel. "It +is no use to contest the point; Mr. Graham is firm as a rock, and as +sure as <i>we</i> go to Europe, Emily and Gertrude will go <i>too</i>."</p> + +<p>She was almost startled; therefore, by an excess of good-luck, when +informed, a few days afterwards, that the couple she had so dreaded to +have of the party were to be left behind, at Miss Graham's special +request. Emily's scruples with regard to mentioning to her father the +little prospect of pleasure the tour was likely to afford her all +vanished when she found that Gertrude would be a still greater sufferer +from the society to which she would be subjected.</p> + +<p>Blind as she was, Emily understood and perceived almost everything that +was passing around her. Quick of perception, and with a hearing rendered +doubly intense by her want of sight, the events of the summer were, +perhaps, more familiar to her than to any other member of the family. +She more than suspected the exact state of matters betwixt Mr. Bruce and +Gertrude, though the latter had never spoken to her on the subject. She +imagined how Kitty was involved in the affair (no very difficult thing +to conceive by one who enjoyed the confidence which the simple-hearted +girl unconsciously made during her intercourse with her).</p> + +<p>As Mrs. Graham's and Isabel's abuse of power became more open, Mrs. +Ellis and Mrs. Prime considered the embargo upon free speech in Miss +Graham's presence wholly removed; and any pain which the knowledge of +their neglect might have caused her was more than compensated to Emily +by the proofs it had called forth of devoted attachment and willing +service on the part of her adopted child, as she loved to consider +Gertrude.</p> + +<p>Calmly and promptly did she resolve to adopt a course which should free +Gertrude from her self-sacrificing service. She encountered much +opposition from her father; but he had seen, during the previous winter +at the South, how Emily's infirmity unfitted her for travelling, +especially when deprived of Gertrude's attendant eyes; he now realised +how contrary to her tastes and habits were those of his new wife and her +nieces; and, unwilling to be convinced of the folly of his sudden +choice, and probably of unhappiness from it, he appreciated the wisdom +of Emily's proposal, and felt relief in the adoption of a course which +would satisfy all parties.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + +<h3>TRAVEL AND A MYSTERY.</h3> + + +<p>Mrs. Warren's pleasant boarding-house was chosen by Emily for her own +and Gertrude's winter home; and one month from the time of Mr. Graham's +return from New York his country-house was closed; he, his wife, Isabel, +and Kitty went to Havre; Mrs. Ellis went to enjoy a little rest from +care with some cousins at the eastward; and Mrs. Prime was established +as cook in Mrs. Warren's household.</p> + +<p>Although ample arrangements were made by Mr. Graham, and sufficient +means provided for the support of both Emily and Gertrude, the latter +was anxious to be usefully employed, and, therefore, resumed a portion +of her school duties at Mr. W's. Much as Emily loved Gertrude's constant +presence, she gladly resigned her for a few hours every day, rejoiced in +the spirit which prompted her exertions, and rewarded her with praise. +In the undisturbed enjoyment of each other's society, and in their +intercourse with a small, intelligent circle of friends, they passed a +season of sweet tranquility. They read, walked, and communed, as in +times long past. Together they attended lectures, concerts, and +galleries of art.</p> + +<p>It was a blissful and an improving winter which they passed together. +They lived not for themselves alone; the poor blessed them, the +sorrowful came to them for sympathy, and the affection which they +inspired in the family circle was boundless. Spring came and passed +while there, and they were loth to leave a place where they had been so +happy; at last a sudden failure in Emily's health occurred, and Dr. +Jeremy's peremptory command caused them to seek the country air.</p> + +<p>Added to her anxiety about Emily, Gertrude began to feel much troubled +at Willie Sullivan's long silence; no word from him for two or three +months. Willie could not have forgotten or meant to neglect her. That +was impossible. She tried, however, not to feel disturbed about it, and +gave all her care to Emily, who now began indeed to require it.</p> + +<p>They went to the sea-side for a few weeks; but the bracing atmosphere +brought no strength to the blind girl's feeble frame. She was obliged to +give up her daily walks; a continued weariness robbed her step of its +elasticity, and her mind became subject to depression, while her nervous +temperament became so susceptible that the utmost care was requisite to +preserve her from all excitement.</p> + +<p>The doctor often came to see his favourite patient; but as she got worse +instead of better, he ordered her back to the city, declaring that Mrs. +Jeremy's front chamber was as cool and comfortable as the contracted +apartments of the crowded boarding-house at Nahant, and he insisted upon +both her and Gertrude to take up their quarters for a week or two; and +then, if Emily were no better, he hoped to have leisure to start off +with them in search of health. Emily thought she was doing very well +where she was, and was afraid to be troublesome to Mrs. Jeremy.</p> + +<p>"Don't talk about trouble, Emily; you ought to know Mrs. Jeremy better +by this time. Come up to-morrow; I'll meet you at the cars! Good-bye!"</p> + +<p>Gertrude followed him. "I see, doctor, you think Emily is not so well."</p> + +<p>"No; how should she be? What with the sea roaring on one side, and Mrs. +Fellows's babies on the other, it's enough to wear away her strength. I +won't have it so! This isn't the place for her, and do you bring her up +to my house to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"The babies don't usually cry as much as they have to-day," said +Gertrude, smiling; "and as to the ocean, Emily loves dearly to hear the +waves rolling in."</p> + +<p>"Knew she did!" said the doctor. "Shan't do it; bad for her; it makes +her sad, without her knowing why. Bring her up to Boston, as I tell +you."</p> + +<p>It was three weeks after the arrival of his visitors before the popular +physician could steal away from his patients to enjoy a few weeks' +recreation in travelling. For his own sake he would hardly have thought +of attempting so unusual a thing as a journey; and his wife, too, loved +home so much better than any other place that she was loth to start for +parts unknown; but both were willing to sacrifice their long-indulged +habits for the advantage of their young friends.</p> + +<p>Emily was decidedly better; and viewed with pleasure the prospect of +visiting West Point, Catskill, and Saratoga, even on her own account; +and when she reflected upon the probable enjoyment the trip would afford +Gertrude, she felt herself endowed with new strength for the +undertaking. Gertrude needed change of scene and diversion of mind +almost as much as Emily. The excessive heat, and her constant attendance +in the invalid's room, had paled the roses in her cheeks, while care and +anxiety had weighed upon her mind.</p> + +<p>New York was their first destination; but the heat and dust of the city +were almost insufferable, and during the day they passed there only Dr. +Jeremy ventured out of the hotel except once, when Mrs. Jeremy and +Gertrude went in search of dress-caps. But the doctor passed the whole +day in the revival of old acquaintances, and some of these warm-hearted +friends having presented themselves at the hotel in the evening to be +introduced to Mrs. Jeremy and her companions, their room was enlivened +until a late hour by the cheerful conversation of a group of elderly +men, who, as they recalled the scenes and incidents of their youthful +days, seemed to renew their youthful spirits. The conversation, however, +was not of a character to exclude the ladies from participating in as +well as enjoying it. Emily listened with delight to a conversation which +had such varied charms, and shared with Gertrude the admiration of the +doctor's friends, who were all excited to the warmest sympathy for her +misfortune.</p> + +<p>Upon hearing that Dr. Jeremy's party was going up the Hudson next +morning, Dr. Gryseworth, of Philadelphia, who had been a student of our +good doctor's, expressed his pleasure to meet them on the boat, and to +introduce to Gertrude his two daughters, whom he was to accompany to +Saratoga to meet their grandmother.</p> + +<p>Gertrude, who slept soundly until wakened by Miss Graham, started up in +astonishment on seeing her dressed and standing by the bedside—a most +unusual circumstance, as Gertrude's morning kiss was wont to be Emily's +first intimation of daylight.</p> + +<p>"Six o'clock, Gerty, and the boat starts at seven! The doctor has +knocked at our door."</p> + +<p>"How soundly I have slept!" exclaimed Gertrude. "I wonder if it's a +pleasant day."</p> + +<p>"Beautiful!" replied Emily, "but very warm. The sun was shining so +brightly that I had to close the blinds on account of the heat."</p> + +<p>Gertrude made haste, but was not quite dressed when they were summoned +to breakfast. She had trunks to lock, and therefore insisted upon the +others preceding her to the breakfast-hall. The company was small, +consisting only of two parties besides Dr. Jeremy's, and a few +gentlemen, most of them business men. Of those who still lingered at the +table when Gerty made her appearance, there was only one whom she +particularly observed during the few moments allowed for breakfast.</p> + +<p>This was a gentleman who sat at some distance from her, idly balancing +his tea-spoon on the edge of his cup. He seemed quite at his leisure, +and previous to Gertrude's entrance had won Mrs. Jeremy's animadversions +by a slight propensity to make a more critical survey of her party than +she found agreeable.</p> + +<p>"Do, pray," said she to the doctor, "send the waiter to ask that man to +take something himself; I can't bear to have anybody looking at me so +when I'm eating!"</p> + +<p>"He isn't looking at you, wife; it's Emily that has taken his fancy. +Emily, my dear, there's a gentleman, over opposite, who admires you +exceedingly."</p> + +<p>"Is there?" said Emily, smiling, "I am very much obliged to him. May I +venture to return the compliment?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. He's a fine-looking fellow, though wife, here, doesn't seem to +like him very well."</p> + +<p>Gertrude now joined them, and, as she made her morning salutions to the +doctor and his wife, and gaily apologised to the former for her +tardiness, the fine colour which mantled her countenance, and the deep +brilliancy of her eyes, drew affectionate admiration from the kind old +couple, and were, perhaps, the cause of the stranger's attention being +transferred from the lovely face of Emily to the more youthful and +eloquent features of Gertrude. Taking her seat, she soon perceived the +notice she was attracting. It embarrassed her, and she was glad to see, +in a few minutes, the gentleman rise and depart. As he passed out, she +had an opportunity of observing him, which she had not done while he sat +opposite to her. He was above the middle height, slender, but finely +formed, and of a dignified bearing. His features were rather sharp, but +expressive, and even handsome; his dark eyes were most penetrating, +while his compressed lips indicated strength of resolution and will.</p> + +<p>His hair was peculiar; it was deeply tinged with grey, and in the +vicinity of his temples, white. This was strikingly in contrast with the +youthful fire of his eye, and the lightness of his step, that instead of +seeming the effect of age, it enhanced the contradictory claims of his +otherwise apparent youth and vigour.</p> + +<p>"What a queer-looking man," exclaimed Mrs. Jeremy, when he had passed +out.</p> + +<p>"An elegant-looking man, isn't he?" said Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Elegant?" rejoined Mrs. Jeremy. "What! with that grey head?"</p> + +<p>"I think it's beautiful," said Gertrude; "but I wish he didn't look so +melancholy; it makes me quite sad to see him."</p> + +<p>"How old should you think he was?" asked Dr. Jeremy.</p> + +<p>"About fifty," said Mrs. Jeremy.</p> + +<p>"About thirty," said Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"A wide difference," remarked Emily. "Doctor, you must decide the +point."</p> + +<p>"Impossible! I wouldn't venture to tell that man's age within ten years, +at least. Wife has got him old enough, certainly; perhaps I might see +him as low as Gertrude's mark. Age never turned <i>his</i> hair grey!—that +is certain."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> + +<h3>A NEW ACQUAINTANCE.</h3> + + +<p>To travellers in the United States, a trip from Boston into New York +state is an everyday affair, scarce worth calling a journey; but to Dr. +Jeremy it was a momentous event, calling the good physician out of a +routine of daily professional visits, which, for twenty years, had not +been interrupted by a week's absence from home, and plunging him at once +into that whirl of hurry, tumult, and excitement, which exists on all +our great routes, especially in the summer season.</p> + +<p>The doctor was by nature and habit a social being; never shrinking from +intercourse with his fellow-men, but seeking and enjoying their +companionship. He knew how to adapt himself to the taste of young and +old, rich and poor, and was well acquainted with city life in all its +forms. In the art of travelling, however, he was totally unversed.</p> + +<p>Thankful were the party when they were safe on the steamboat; and were +congratulating themselves and each other, when the doctor called from +the other end of the saloon—"Come, come, wife—Gertrude, Emily! what +are you staying down in this confined place for? you'll lose the best +view;" and, coming toward them, he took Gertrude's arm, and would have +hurried her away, leaving Mrs. Jeremy and Emily to follow; but Gertrude +would not trust Emily to ascend the cabin-stairs under any guardianship +but her own, and Mrs. Jeremy immediately engaged the doctor in an +animated discussion as to the advisability of his adopting a straw hat, +which the thoughtful wife had brought from home. By the time the +question was settled, and Emily, at Gertrude's persuasion, had been +induced to change her thin mantilla for a light travelling-cloak, the +boat had proceeded some distance, and when our party gained the head of +the stairs, and looked about them for seats on deck, not a single vacant +bench was to be seen. There was a large number of passengers, nearly all +of whom were collected at the stern of the boat. Dr. Jeremy went in +search of chairs.</p> + +<p>"Don't let us stay here," whispered Mrs. Jeremy to Gertrude and Emily. +"Let's go right back before the doctor comes! There are beautiful great +rocking-chairs down in the cabin, without a soul to sit in them, and I'm +sure we ain't wanted here to make up a company. I hate to stand with all +these people staring at us, and crowing to think they've got such nice +places; don't you, Emily?" Mrs. Jeremy just then forgot that Emily could +not see. But Gertrude never forgot it; and, as she stood with her arm +lightly pressed around her friend's waist, to prevent the motion of the +boat from throwing her off her balance, they attracted attention; the +one so bright, erect, and strong with youth and health, that she seemed +a fit protector for the other, who, in her sweet and gentle +helplessness, leaned upon her so trustingly.</p> + +<p>Here Mrs. Jeremy was interrupted by the salutation of Dr. Gryseworth, +who insisted upon giving up his seat to Mrs. Jeremy; and another +gentleman, till now unnoticed by our party, rose, and bowing politely, +placed his own chair for Emily, and walked quickly away. It was the +stranger whom they had seen at breakfast. Gertrude recognised his keen, +dark eye, and his singular hair; and, as she thanked him, and placed +Emily in the seat, she coloured under his earnest glance. But Dr. +Gryseworth soon claimed her attention for the introduction to his +daughters, and all thoughts of the retreating stranger were banished for +the present.</p> + +<p>The Misses Gryseworth were intelligent-looking girls; the eldest, lately +returned from Europe, where she had been travelling with her father, was +considered a very elegant and superior person, and Gertrude was charmed +with the lady-like cordiality with which they both made her +acquaintance, and still more with the sympathising attentions which they +paid to Emily. By the time that Dr. Jeremy returned with a chair he +found Gertrude and Dr. Gryseworth comfortably accommodated, and was +thus enabled to sink at once into his seat, and into that state of easy +unconcern which became his pleasant, genial temperament.</p> + +<p>Long before the boat reached West Point, where the Jeremys were to land, +an excellent understanding subsisted between Gertrude and the Misses +Gryseworth. They had been about an hour in each other's society, when +Netta Gryseworth, glancing towards another part of the boat, said in an +undertone, "Ellen, do invite Mr. Phillips to come back and be introduced +to Miss Flint!—see how lonesome the poor man looks."</p> + +<p>Gertrude followed the direction of Netta's eye, and saw the stranger of +the morning at some distance, slowly pacing up and down, with a serious +and distracted air.</p> + +<p>"He has not been near us for an hour," said Netta.</p> + +<p>"I hope we have not frightened your friend away," said Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, indeed!" replied Ellen. "Although Mr. Phillips is but a recent +acquaintance, we have found him so independent, and sometimes so +whimsical, that I am never astonished at being suddenly forsaken by him. +There are some people, you know, for whom it is always sufficient excuse +to say, <i>It is their way</i>. I wish he would condescend to join us again, +however; I should like to introduce him to you, Miss Flint."</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't like him," said Netta.</p> + +<p>"Now, that is not fair, Netta!" said her sister, "to prejudice Miss +Flint against my friend. You mustn't let her influence you," said she to +Gertrude. "She hasn't known him half as long as I have; and I do not +dislike him. My straightforward sister never likes odd people, and I +must confess that Mr. Phillips is eccentric; but he interests me all the +more on that account, and I am sure he and you would have many ideas and +sentiments in common."</p> + +<p>"How can you say so, Ellen?" said Netta. "I think they are totally +different."</p> + +<p>"You must consider Netta's remark complimentary, Miss Flint," said +Ellen; "it would not be quite so much so if it had come from me."</p> + +<p>"But you wished me to become acquainted with your oddity," said +Gertrude. "I suspect you act on the principle that one's misfortunes +should be shared by one's friends."</p> + +<p>Netta laughed. "Not exactly," said she; "it was compassion <i>for him</i> +that moved me. I can't help pitying him when he looks so home-sick, and +I thought your society would brighten him up and do him good."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Netta!" said her sister, "he has excited your sympathy, I see. A +few days more, and I shouldn't be surprised if you went beyond me in +your admiration of him. If so, take care, you transparent creature, not +to betray your inconsistency." Then she said to Gertrude, "Netta met Mr. +Phillips only yesterday and has not seemed very favourably impressed. +Father and I were passengers in the same steamer in which he came from +Liverpool a few weeks ago. He had an ill turn in the early part of the +voyage, and it was in a professional way that father first made his +acquaintance. I was surprised at seeing him on board to-day, for he +mentioned no such intention yesterday."</p> + +<p>Gertrude suspected that the young lady might herself be the cause of his +journey; but she did not say so, and the conversation taking another +turn, Mr. Phillips was not again adverted to, though Gertrude observed, +just before the boat stopped at West Point, that Dr. Jeremy and Dr. +Gryseworth had joined him, and that the trio were engaged in a colloquy +which seemed to interest them all. At West Point, Gertrude parted from +her new friends, who expressed a wish to meet in Saratoga.</p> + +<p>Our travellers passed one night only at West Point. The weather +continued hot, and Dr. Jeremy, perceiving that Emily drooped under the +oppressive atmosphere, was desirous to reach the summit of Catskill +Mountain before the coming Sabbath.</p> + +<p>One solitary moonlight evening sufficed to give Gertrude some idea of +the beauties of the place. She could not observe it in detail, only as a +whole; but, thus presented in all the dreamy loveliness of a summer's +night, it left on her mind a vague sentiment of wonder and delight at +the surpassing sweetness of what seemed rather a glimpse of Paradise +than an actual show of earth, so harmonious was the scene, so still, so +peaceful. "Emily, darling," said she, as they stood together in a rustic +arbour, commanding the most striking prospect both of the river and the +shore, "it looks like you; you ought to live here and be the priestess +of such a temple;" and, locking her hand in that of Emily, she poured +into her ear the holy and elevated sentiments to which the time and the +place gave birth.</p> + +<p>At an early hour in the morning they steamed up the river. But West +Point was hardly passed before Gertrude's watchful eye detected in +Emily's countenance signs of weariness and debility. Sacrificing, +without hesitation, the pleasure she was herself deriving from beautiful +scenes through which the boat was passing, she proposed that they should +seek the cabin, where Miss Graham might rest in greater stillness. But +Emily would not listen to the proposal; would not think of depriving +Gertrude of the pleasure she knew she must be experiencing.</p> + +<p>"The prospect is all lost upon me now, Emily," said Gertrude. "I see +only your tired face. Do go and lie down, if it be only to please me; +you hardly slept at all last night."</p> + +<p>"Are you talking of going below?" exclaimed Mrs. Jeremy. "I, for one, +shall be thankful, too; it's as comfortable again, and we can see all we +want to from the cabin windows; can't we, Emily?"</p> + +<p>"Should you really prefer it?" inquired Emily.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I should!" said Mrs. Jeremy, with such emphasis that her +sincerity could not be doubted.</p> + +<p>"Then, if you will promise to stay here, Gertrude," said Emily, "I will +go with Mrs. Jeremy."</p> + +<p>Gertrude assented to the plan; but insisted upon first accompanying +them, to find a vacant berth for Emily, and see her under circumstances +which would promise repose. Emily was too weak to endure the noise on +deck, and after she had laid down in the quiet saloon, Gertrude stood +smoothing back her hair, and watching her pale countenance, until she +was accused of violating the agreement, and was at last sent off by the +good-natured doctor's lady, who declared herself perfectly well able to +take care of Emily.</p> + +<p>"You'd better make haste back," she said, "before you lose your seat; +and, Gerty, don't let the doctor come near us; he'll be teasing us to go +back again, and we shall not." Mrs. Jeremy untied her bonnet-strings, +put her feet up in the opposite chair, clapped her hands at Gertrude, +and bade her begone.</p> + +<p>Gertrude ran off laughing, and a smile was on her face when she reached +the staircase. As she came up with her quick and light step, a tall +figure moved aside to let her pass. It was Mr. Phillips. He bowed, and +Gertrude, returning the salutation, passed on to the place she had left, +wondering how he came to be again their travelling companion. He could +not have been on board previously to her going below with Emily.</p> + +<p>Gertrude had sat about five minutes, when a shadow passed before her, +and looking up, she betrayed a little confusion at again encountering a +pair of eyes, whose magnetic gaze bewildered her. She was turning away, +when the stranger spoke. "Good morning, young lady! our paths still lie +in the same direction, I see. Will you honour me by making use of my +guide-book?"</p> + +<p>As he spoke he offered her a little book containing a map of the river, +and the shores on either side. Gertrude took it, and thanked him. As she +unfolded the map he stationed himself a few steps distant, and leaned +over the railing, in an apparently absent state of mind; nor did he +speak to her again for some minutes. Then, suddenly turning towards her, +he said, "You like this very much?"</p> + +<p>"Very much," said Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"You have never seen anything so beautiful before in your life." He did +not seem to question her; he spoke as if he knew.</p> + +<p>"It is an old story to you, I suppose," said Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"What makes you think so?" asked he, smiling.</p> + +<p>Gertrude was disconcerted by his look, and still more by his smile; it +changed his whole face so—it made him look so handsome, and yet so +melancholy. She blushed and could not reply; he saved her the trouble. +"That is hardly a fair question, is it? You probably think you have as +much reason for your opinion as I had for mine. You are wrong, however; +I never was here before; but I am too old a traveller to carry my +enthusiasm in my eyes—as you do," added he, after a moment's pause, +during which he looked her full in the face. Then seeming to perceive +the embarrassment which his scrutiny of her features caused, he turned +away, and a shadow passed over his fine countenance, lending it for a +moment an expression of mingled bitterness and pathos, which served to +disarm Gertrude's confusion.</p> + +<p>Presently, taking a vacant chair next hers, he directed his attention +to a beautiful country residence on their right, spoke of its former +owner, whom he had met in a foreign land, and related some interesting +anecdotes concerning a journey which they had taken together. This +introduced other topics, chiefly connected with wanderings in countries +almost unknown; and so rich and varied was the stranger's conversation, +so graphic were his descriptions, so exuberant his imagination, and so +powerful his command of words and his gift of expressing his thoughts, +that his listener sat entranced with delight.</p> + +<p>When Dr. Jeremy came in search of his young charge, conversation between +her and the stranger had assumed so much ease and freedom that the +doctor opened his eyes in astonishment, shrugged his shoulders, and +exclaimed, "This is pretty well, I declare!"</p> + +<p>Gertrude did not see the doctor approach, but looked up at the sound of +his voice. Conscious of the surprise it must be to find her talking so +familiarly with a stranger, she coloured slightly; but observing that +her companion only smiled, she felt rather amused than embarrassed; and +she began to feel confidence in her fellow-traveller, who rose, shook +hands with Dr. Jeremy, to whom he had, the previous day, been +introduced, and said, with perfect composure, "Will you have the +kindness, sir, to present me to this lady? We have already had some +conversation together, but do not yet know by what name we may address +each other."</p> + +<p>Dr. Jeremy having performed the ceremony of introduction, Mr. Phillips +bowed gracefully, and looked at Gertrude in such a benignant, fatherly +way, that she hesitated not to take his offered hand. He detained hers a +moment while he said, "Do not be afraid of me when we meet again;" and +then walked away, and paced slowly up and down the deck until passengers +for Catskill were summoned to dinner, when he, Dr. Jeremy, and Gertrude +went below. The doctor tried to rally Gertrude about her grey-headed +beau, declaring that he was yet young and handsome, and that she could +have his hair dyed any colour she pleased. But he could not succeed in +annoying her in that way, for her interest in him, which she could not +deny, was quite independent of his personal appearance.</p> + +<p>The bustle, however, of dinner, and going on shore at Catskill, banished +from the doctor's head all thought of everything except the safety of +himself, his ladies, and their baggage.</p> + +<p>Emily, whose nervous system was somewhat disordered, clung tremblingly +to Gertrude; and Gertrude found herself, she knew not how, leaning on +the arm of Mr. Phillips, to whose silent exertions they were both +indebted for their safety in disembarking. Mrs. Jeremy was counting up +the trunks, while her husband was loudly denouncing the steamboat, its +conductors, and the whole hurrying, skurrying Yankee nation.</p> + +<p>Two stage-coaches were waiting at the wharf to take passengers up the +mountain, and before Dr. Jeremy had turned his back upon the river, +Emily and Gertrude were placed in one of them by Mr. Phillips, who, +without speaking, took this office upon himself, and then went to inform +the doctor of their whereabouts, and the doctor and his wife soon joined +them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> + +<h3>THE ROCK OF AGES.</h3> + + +<p>Before they had gained the road leading to the Mountain House, they +became conscious of the vast difference between the temperature of the +river and that of the inland country, and, in being suddenly deprived of +the refreshing breeze they had enjoyed on board the boat, they fully +realised the extreme heat of the weather. For the first few miles +Gertrude's care was required to shield Emily and herself from the rays +of the burning sun; and it was a great relief when they reached the +beautifully-shaded road which led up the side of the mountain. The +atmosphere being clear, the gradually widening prospect was beautiful, +and Gertrude's delight was such that the restraint imposed by +stage-coach decorum was almost insupportable. When, therefore, the +ascent became so laborious that the gentlemen alighted to relieve the +weary horses, Gertrude gladly accepted Dr. Jeremy's proposal that she +should accompany him on a walk of a mile or two.</p> + +<p>Gertrude was an excellent walker, and she and the active doctor soon +left the coaches far behind. At a sudden turn in the road they stopped +to view the scene below, and stood enjoying the stillness and beauty of +the spot, when they were startled by hearing a voice, saying, "A fine +landscape, certainly!"</p> + +<p>It came from Mr. Phillips, seated upon a moss-grown rock, against which +Gertrude was leaning. His attitude was easy and careless, his +broad-brimmed straw hat lay on the ground, and his snow-besprinkled hair +was tossed back from his high and expanded forehead. He immediately +joined Dr. Jeremy and Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"You have got the start of us, sir," said the former.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I have walked from the village—my practice always when the roads +are such that no time can be gained by riding."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, he placed in Gertrude's hand, without looking at her, or +seeming conscious what he was doing, a bouquet of rich laurel blossoms. +She would have thanked him, but his absent manner was such that it +afforded her no opportunity, especially as he went on talking with the +doctor, as if she had not been present.</p> + +<p>All three resumed their walk. Mr. Phillips and Dr. Jeremy conversed in +an animated manner, and Gertrude, content to be a listener, soon +perceived that she was not the only person to whom the stranger had +power to render himself agreeable. Dr. Jeremy engaged him upon a variety +of subjects, upon all of which he appeared equally well informed; and +Gertrude smiled to see her old friend rub his hands together—his mode +of expressing satisfaction.</p> + +<p>Gertrude thought their new acquaintance must be a botanist by +profession, so versed was he in everything relating to that science. +Again, she was sure that geology must have been with him an absorbed +study, so intimate seemed his acquaintance with mother earth; and both +of these impressions were in turn dispelled when he talked of the ocean +like a sailor, of the counting-house like a merchant, of Paris like a +man of fashion and the world. In the meantime she walked beside him, +silent but not unnoticed; for, as they approached a rough and steep +ascent, he offered his arm, and expressed a fear lest she should become +fatigued. Dr. Jeremy declared his belief that Gerty could outwalk them +both; and, thus satisfied, Mr. Phillips resumed the broken thread of +their discourse, into which Gertrude was drawn almost unawares.</p> + +<p>Mr. Phillips no longer seemed in Gertrude's eyes a stranger—he was a +mystery, but not a forbidding one. She longed to learn the history of a +life which many an incident of his own narrating proved to have been +made up of strange and mingled experience; especially did her +sympathetic nature desire to fathom the cause of that deep-seated +melancholy which shadowed and darkened his noble countenance, and made +his very smile a sorrowful thing. Dr. Jeremy, who shared her curiosity, +asked a few questions, in hopes to obtain some clue to his new friend's +history; but in vain. Mr. Phillips' lips were sealed on the subject.</p> + +<p>The doctor now felt very weary, and seating themselves by the roadside, +they awaited the arrival of the coach. There had been a short silence, +when the doctor, looking at Gertrude, remarked, "There will be no church +for us to-morrow, Gerty."</p> + +<p>"No church," exclaimed Gerty, gazing about her with a look of reverence; +"how <i>can</i> you say so?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Phillips smiled, and said in a peculiar tone, "There is no Sunday +here, Miss Flint; it doesn't come up so high."</p> + +<p>He spoke lightly—too lightly, Gertrude thought—and she replied with +some seriousness and much sweetness, "I have often rejoiced that the +Sabbath has been sent <i>down</i> into the <i>lower</i> earth; the higher we go +the nearer we come, I trust, to the eternal Sabbath."</p> + +<p>Mr. Phillips bit his lip, and turned away without replying. There was an +expression about his mouth which Gertrude did not like; but she could +not find it in her heart to reproach him for the slight sneer which his +manner, rather than his look, implied; for as he gazed a moment or two +into vacancy there was in his absent countenance such a look of sorrow +that she could only pity and wonder. The coaches now came up, and, as he +placed her in her former seat, he resumed his wonted serene and kind +expression, and she felt convinced that it was only doing justice to his +frank and open face to believe that nothing was hid behind it that would +not do honour to the man.</p> + +<p>An hour brought them to the Mountain House, and to their joy they were +shown to some of the most excellent rooms the hotel afforded. As +Gertrude stood at the window of the chamber allotted to herself and +Emily, and heard the loud murmurs of some of her fellow-travellers who +were denied any tolerable accommodation, she could not but be astonished +at Dr. Jeremy's unusual good fortune. Emily, being greatly fatigued with +the toilsome journey, had supper brought to her own room, and Gertrude +partaking of it with her, neither of them sought other society that +night, but at an early hour went to rest. The last thing that Gertrude +heard before falling asleep was the voice of Dr. Jeremy saying, as he +passed their door, "Take care, Gerty, and be up in time to see the sun +rise."</p> + +<p>But she was not up in time, nor was the doctor; neither of them had +calculated upon the sun being such an early riser; and though Gertrude +sprang up almost before her eyes were open, a flood of daylight was +pouring in at the window, and a scene met her gaze which banished regret +at having overslept herself, since nothing, she thought, could be more +glorious than that which now lay outspread before her.</p> + +<p>Far out to the distant horizon nothing was to be seen but a sea of snowy +clouds, which wholly overshadowed the lower earth and hid it from view. +Vast, solid, and of the most perfect whiteness, they stretched on every +side, forming, as they lay in thick masses, between which not a crevice +was discernible, an unbroken curtain, dividing the heavens from the +earth. The foliage of the oaks, the pines, and the maples, which had +found root in this lofty region, was rich in varied hues, and tame and +fearless birds of various note were singing in the branches. Gertrude +gave one long look, then hastened to dress herself and go out upon the +platform.</p> + +<p>She was soon joined by Dr. and Mrs. Jeremy, the former full of life, and +dragging forward his reluctant, sleepy partner, whose countenance +proclaimed how unwillingly she had forgone her morning nap. The doctor +rubbed his hands as they joined Gertrude. "Very fine, this, Gerty! A +touch beyond anything I had calculated upon," Gertrude turned upon him +her beaming eyes, but did not speak.</p> + +<p>The doctor stepped to the edge of the flat rock upon which they stood, +placed his hands beneath his coat tails, and indulged in a soliloquy, +made up of short exclamations and interjectional phrases, expressive of +his approbation.</p> + +<p>"Why, this looks queer, doesn't it?" said Mrs. Jeremy, rubbing her +eyes, and gazing about her; "but I daresay it would be just so an hour +or two hence. I don't see what the doctor would make me get up so early +for." Then she darted forward, exclaiming, "Dr. Jeremy, for mercy's +sake, don't stand so near the edge of that precipice! Why, are you +crazy, man? You frighten me to death! You'll fall over and break your +neck!"</p> + +<p>Finding the doctor deaf to her entreaties, Mrs. Jeremy grew so disturbed +by his dangerous position that, looking most imploringly at Gertrude, +she begged her to get the doctor away, for the poor man was so +venturesome he would surely be killed.</p> + +<p>"Suppose we explore that little path at the right of the house," +suggested Gertrude; "it looks attractive."</p> + +<p>"So it does," said Mrs. Jeremy; "beautiful little shady path. Come, +doctor, Gerty and I are going to walk up here—come!"</p> + +<p>The doctor looked in the direction in which she pointed.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said he, "that is the path the man at the office spoke about; it +leads up to the pine gardens. We'll climb up, by all means, and see what +sort of a place it is."</p> + +<p>Gertrude led the way, all walking in single file, for the path was a +mere foot-track. The ascent was very steep, and they had not proceeded +far before Mrs. Jeremy, panting with heat and fatigue, stopped short, +and declared her inability to reach the top; she would not have come if +she had known what a hard hill she would have to climb. Encouraged and +assisted by her husband and Gertrude, she was induced to make a further +attempt; and they had gone on some distance, when Gertrude, who was some +steps in advance, heard Mrs. Jeremy give a slight scream. She looked +back; the doctor was laughing heartily, but his wife, who was the +picture of consternation, was trying to pass him and retrace her steps +down the hill.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" asked Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Matter!" cried Mrs. Jeremy; "why, this hill is covered with +rattlesnakes; and here we are all going up to be bitten to death!"</p> + +<p>"No such thing, Gerty!" said the doctor, still laughing. "I only told +her there had been one killed here this summer, and now she's making it +an excuse for turning back."</p> + +<p>"I don't care!" said the good-natured lady, half laughing herself, in +spite of her fears; "if there's been one, there may be another; and I +won't stay a minute longer! I thought it was a bad enough place before, +and now I am going down faster than I came up."</p> + +<p>Finding her determined, the doctor hastened to accompany her, calling to +Gertrude and assuring her there was no danger, and begging her wait for +him at the top of the hill, where he would join her after he left his +wife in safety at the hotel. Gertrude, therefore, went on alone. For the +first few yards she looked about her, and thought of rattlesnakes; but +the path was so well worn that she felt sure it must be often trod, and +was probably safe; and the beauty of the place engrossed all her +attention. After active climbing, she reached the highest point of +ground, and found herself once more on the elevated platform, from which +she could look forth upon the unbroken sea of clouds.</p> + +<p>She seated herself at the foot of an immense pine-tree, removed her +bonnet, for she was warm from recent exercise; and she inhaled the +refreshing mountain breeze. She had sat thus but a moment when a slight +rustling noise startled her; she remembered the rattlesnakes, and was +springing to her feet; but hearing a low sound, as of some one +breathing, turned her eyes in the direction from which it came, and saw, +only a few yards from her, the figure of a man stretched upon the +ground, apparently asleep. She went towards it with a careful step, and +before she could see the face, the large straw hat and the long, +blanched, wavy hair betrayed the identity of the individual. Mr. +Phillips was, or appeared to be, sleeping; his head was pillowed upon +his arm, his eyes were closed, and his attitude denoted perfect repose. +Gertrude stood still and looked at him. As she did so, his countenance +suddenly changed; the peaceful expression gave place to the same unhappy +look which had at first excited her sympathy. His lips moved, and in his +dreams he spoke, or rather shouted, "No! no! no!" each time that he +repeated the word pronouncing it with more emphasis; then wildly +throwing one arm above his head he let it fall heavily upon the ground, +and, the excitement subsiding from his face, he uttered the simply +words, "<i>Oh, dear!</i>" much as a grieved and tired child might do as he +leans his head upon his mother's knee.</p> + +<p>Gertrude was deeply touched. She forgot that he was a stranger; she +only saw a sufferer. An insect lit upon his fair, open forehead; she +leaned over him, brushed it away, and, as she did so, one of her tears +fell upon his cheek. He awoke, and looked full in the face of the +embarrassed girl, who started, and would have hastened away; but, +leaning on his elbow, he caught her hand and detained her. He gazed at +her a moment without speaking; then said, in a grave voice, "My child, +did you shed that tear for me?"</p> + +<p>She did not reply, except by her eyes, which were still glistening with +the dew of sympathy.</p> + +<p>"I believe you <i>did</i>," said he, "and from my heart I bless you! But +never again weep for a stranger. You will have woes enough of your own +if you live to be my age."</p> + +<p>"If I had not had sorrows," said Gertrude, "I should not know how to +feel for others; if I had not often wept for myself I should not weep +now for you."</p> + +<p>"But you are happy?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Some find it easy to forget the past."</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> have not forgotten it."</p> + +<p>"Children's griefs are trifles, and you are still scarce more than a +child."</p> + +<p>"I <i>never</i> was a child," said Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Strange girl!" soliloquised her companion. "Will you sit down and talk +with me a few minutes?"</p> + +<p>Gertrude hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Do not refuse; I am an old man, and very harmless. Take a seat here +under this tree, and tell me what you think of the prospect."</p> + +<p>Gertrude smiled inwardly at the idea of his being such an old man, and +calling her a child; but, old or young, she had it not in her heart to +fear him, or refuse his request. She sat down, and he seated himself +beside her, but did not speak of the prospect, or of anything, for a +moment or two; then turning to her abruptly, he said, "So you never were +unhappy in your life?"</p> + +<p>"Never?" exclaimed Gertrude. "Oh, yes; often."</p> + +<p>"But never long?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I can remember whole years when happiness was a thing I had never +even dreamed of."</p> + +<p>"But comfort came at last. What do you think of those to whom it never +comes?"</p> + +<p>"I know enough of sorrow to pity and wish to help them."</p> + +<p>"What can you do for them?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Hope</i> for them—<i>pray</i> for them!" said Gertrude, with a voice full of +feeling.</p> + +<p>"What if they be past hope—beyond the influence of prayer?"</p> + +<p>"There are no such," said Gertrude, with decision.</p> + +<p>"Do you see," said Mr. Phillips, "this curtain of thick clouds, now +overshadowing the world? Even so many a heart is weighed down and +overshadowed by thick and impenetrable darkness."</p> + +<p>"But the light shines brightly above the clouds," said Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Above! well, that may be; but what avails it to those who see it not?"</p> + +<p>"It is sometimes a weary and toilsome road that leads to the +mountain-top; but the pilgrim is well repaid for the trouble which +brings him <i>above the clouds</i>," replied Gertrude, with enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"Few ever find the road that leads so high," responded her melancholy +companion; "and those who do cannot live long in so elevated an +atmosphere. They must come down from their height, and again dwell among +the common herd; again mingle in the warfare with the mean, the base, +and the cruel."</p> + +<p>"But they have seen the glory; they know that the light is ever burning +on high, and will have faith to believe it will pierce the gloom at +last. See, see," said she, her eyes glowing with the fervour with which +she spoke—"even now the heaviest clouds are parting; the sun will soon +light up the valley!"</p> + +<p>She pointed as she spoke to a wide fissure which was gradually +disclosing itself, as the hitherto solid mass of clouds separated on +either side, and then turned to the stranger to see if he observed the +change; but, with the same smile upon his unmoved countenance, he was +watching, not the display of nature in the distance, but that close at +his side. He was gazing with intense interest upon the young and ardent +worshipper of the beautiful and the true; and, in studying her features +and observing the play of her countenance, he seemed so wholly absorbed +that Gertrude—believing he was not listening to her words, but had +fallen into one of his absent moods—ceased speaking, rather abruptly, +and was turning away, when he said——</p> + +<p>"Go on, happy child! Teach <i>me</i>, if you can, to see the world tinged +with the rosy colouring it wears for <i>you</i>; teach me to love and pity as +you do that miserable thing called <i>man</i>. I warn you that you have a +difficult task, but you seem to be very hopeful."</p> + +<p>"Do you hate the world?" asked Gertrude, with straightforward +simplicity.</p> + +<p>"Almost," was Mr. Phillips' answer.</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> did <i>once</i>," said Gertrude, musingly.</p> + +<p>"And will again, perhaps."</p> + +<p>"No, that would be impossible; it has been a good foster mother to its +orphan child, and now I love it dearly."</p> + +<p>"Have they been kind to you?" asked he, with eagerness. "Have heartless +strangers deserved the love you seem to feel for them?"</p> + +<p>"Heartless strangers!" exclaimed Gertrude, the tears rushing to her +eyes. "Oh, sir, I wish you could have known my Uncle True, and Emily, +dear, blind Emily! you would think better of the world for their sakes."</p> + +<p>"Tell me about them," said he, and he looked fixedly down into the +precipice which yawned at his feet.</p> + +<p>"There is not much to tell, only that one was old and poor, and the +other wholly blind; and yet they made everything rich, and bright, and +beautiful to me—a poor, desolate, injured child."</p> + +<p>"Injured! Then you acknowledge that you had previously met with wrong +and injustice?"</p> + +<p>"I!" exclaimed Gertrude; "my earliest recollections are only of want, +suffering, and much unkindness."</p> + +<p>"And these friends took pity on you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. One became an earthly father to me, and the other taught me where +to find a heavenly one."</p> + +<p>"And ever since then you have been free and light as air, without a wish +or care in the world."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, I did not say so—I do not mean so," said Gertrude. "I have +had to part from Uncle True, and to give up other dear friends, some for +years and some forever; I have had many trials, many lonely, solitary +hours, and even now am oppressed by more than one subject of anxiety and +dread."</p> + +<p>"How, then, so cheerful and happy?" asked Mr. Phillips.</p> + +<p>Gertrude had risen, for she saw Dr. Jeremy approaching. She smiled at +Mr. Phillips' question; and after looking into the deep valley beneath +her, gave him a look of holy faith, and said, in a low but fervent tone, +"I see the gulf yawning beneath me, but I lean upon the Rock of Ages."</p> + +<p>Gertrude had spoken truly when she said that more than one anxiety and +dread oppressed her; for, mingled with a fear lest the time was fast +approaching when Emily would be taken from her, she had of late been +grieved by the thought that Willie Sullivan, towards whom her heart +yearned with more than a sister's love, was forgetting the friend of his +childhood, or ceasing to regard her with the love of former years. It +was now some months since she had received a letter from India; the last +was short, and written in a haste which Willie apologised for on the +score of business duties; and Gertrude was compelled unwillingly to +admit the chilling presentiment that, now that his mother and +grandfather were no more, the ties which bound the exile to his native +home were sensibly weakened.</p> + +<p>Nothing would have induced her to hint, even to Emily, a suspicion of +neglect on Willie's part; nothing would have shocked her more than +hearing such neglect imputed to him by another; and still, in the depths +of her heart, she sometimes mused with wonder upon his long silence, and +his strange diminution of intercourse between herself and him. During +several weeks, in which she had received no tidings, she had still +continued to write as usual, and felt sure that such reminders must have +reached him by every mail. What, then, but illness or indifference could +excuse his never replying to her faithfully-despatched missives?</p> + +<p>Dr. Jeremy's approach was the signal for hearty congratulations between +himself and Mr. Phillips; the doctor began to converse in his animated +manner, spoke with hearty delight of the beauty and peacefulness of that +bright Sabbath morning in the mountains; and Mr. Phillips, compelled to +exert himself and conceal the gloom which weighed upon his mind, talked +with an ease, and even playfulness, which astonished Gertrude, who +walked back to the house wondering at this strange and inconsistent man. +She did not see him at breakfast, and at dinner he sat at some distance +from Dr. Jeremy's party, and merely gave a graceful salutation to +Gertrude as she left the dining-hall.</p> + +<p>The Jeremys stayed two days longer at the Mountain House; the +invigorating air benefited Emily, who appeared stronger than she had +done for weeks past, and was able to take many a little stroll in the +neighborhood of the house. Gertrude was never weary of the glorious +prospect; and an excursion which she and the doctor made on foot to the +cleft in the heart of the mountain, where a narrow stream leaps a +distance of two hundred feet into the valley below, furnished the theme +for many a descriptive reverie, of which Emily reaped a part of the +enjoyment. They saw no more of their new acquaintance, who had +disappeared. Dr. Jeremy inquired of their host concerning him, and +learned that he left at an early hour on Monday, and took up a +pedestrian course down the mountain. The doctor was disappointed, for he +liked Mr. Phillips much, and had flattered himself, from some particular +inquiries he had made concerning their proposed route, that he had an +idea of attaching himself to their party.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Gertie," said he, "I daresay we shall come across him yet +some time when we least expect it."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> + +<h3>THE INVISIBLE CHARM.</h3> + + +<p>From Catskill Dr. Jeremy proceeded directly to Saratoga. The place was +crowded with visitors, for the season was at its height, and the +improvident travellers having neglected to secure rooms, they had no +right to expect any accommodation.</p> + +<p>"Where do you propose stopping?" inquired an acquaintance of the +doctor's, whom they met in the cars.</p> + +<p>"At Congress Hall," was the reply. "It will be a quiet place for us old +folks, and more agreeable than any other house to Miss Graham, who is an +invalid."</p> + +<p>"You are expected, I conclude?"</p> + +<p>"Expected?—No; who should be expecting us?"</p> + +<p>"Your landlord. If you have not engaged rooms you will fare badly, for +every hotel is crowded."</p> + +<p>"We must take our chance then," said the doctor, with indifference; but +arriving at his destination, he found his friend's words were true.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what we are going to do," said he, as he joined the +ladies; "they say every house is full; and, if so, we'd better take the +next train of cars and be off, for we can't sleep in the street."</p> + +<p>"Carriage, sir?" shouted a cabman, a few steps distant, and beckoning to +the doctor, while another tapped his shoulder, and made a similar +suggestion.</p> + +<p>"Carriage!" repeated the doctor, angrily. "What for? where would you +carry us, for mercy's sake? There isn't a garret to be had in your town, +for love or money."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," said the last petitioner, "the houses are pretty full just +now, to be sure, but may be you can get colonised out."</p> + +<p>"<i>Colonised out!</i>" said the doctor, in a tone of vexation. "That's what +I think we are already; what I want is to get <i>in</i> somewhere. Where do +you usually drive your coach?"</p> + +<p>"To Congress Hall."</p> + +<p>"Drive up, then, and let us get in; and, mind, if they don't take us at +Congress Hall, we shall expect you to keep us until we find +accommodation."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Jeremy, Emily, and Gertrude were assisted into a small omnibus. The +doctor took a seat on the outside, and, the moment the vehicle stopped, +hastened to the landlord. There was not a vacant corner in the house. +Wishing to accommodate him, the office-keeper said that he might be able +before night to furnish him with one room in a house in the next street.</p> + +<p>"One room! in the next street!" cried the doctor. "Ah, that's being +colonised out, is it? Well, sir, it won't do for me; I must have a place +to put my ladies in at once. Why, in conscience, don't you have hotels +enough for your visitors?"</p> + +<p>"It is the height of the season, sir, and——"</p> + +<p>"Why, Dr. Jeremy!" exclaimed the youthful voice of Netta Gryseworth, who +was passing through the hall with her grandmother. "How do you do, sir? +Are Miss Graham and Miss Flint with you? Have you come to stay?"</p> + +<p>Before the doctor could answer her questions and pay his respects to +Madam Gryseworth, a venerable old lady whom he had known for thirty +years, the landlord of the hotel accosted him. "Dr. Jeremy?" said he. +"Excuse me, I did not know you. Dr. Jeremy, of Boston?"</p> + +<p>"The same," said the doctor, bowing.</p> + +<p>"Ah, we are all right, then. Your rooms are reserved, and will be made +ready in a few minutes; they were vacated two days ago, and have not +been occupied since."</p> + +<p>"What is all this?" exclaimed the honest doctor. "I engaged no rooms."</p> + +<p>"A friend did it for you, then, sir; a fortunate circumstance, +especially as you have ladies with you. Saratoga is very crowded at this +season; there were seven thousand strangers in the town yesterday."</p> + +<p>The doctor thanked his unknown friend, and summoned the ladies to enjoy +their good fortune.</p> + +<p>"Why, now, ain't we lucky?" said Mrs. Jeremy, as she glanced around the +comfortable room allotted to herself, and then she took a survey of +Emily's and Gertrude's apartment.</p> + +<p>The doctor, having attended to the baggage, approached the door and +heard his wife's last remark, and entering with his finger on his lip, +exclaimed, in a low voice, "Hush! hush! don't say too much about it! We +are profiting by a glorious mistake on the part of our good landlord. +These rooms were engaged for somebody, that's certain, but not for us. +However, they can't do no more than turn us out when the right folks +come, and until then we have a prospect of very good lodgings."</p> + +<p>But if they were not the right folks, the right folks never came, and, +in the course of a week, our party not only ceased to be conscious of +their precarious footing in the house, but obtained a favourable +exchange for Emily to a bed-room upon the first floor, which opened +directly into the drawing-room, and saved her from passing up and down +the often crowded staircases.</p> + +<p>It was nearly tea-time on the day of their arrival, and Emily and +Gertrude had just completed their toilet, when there was a light rap +upon their door. Gertrude opened it, and admitted Ellen Gryseworth, who, +while she saluted her with southern warmth of manner, hesitated, saying, +"I am afraid you will think me an intruder, but Netta told me you had +arrived, and hearing from the chamber-maid that you had the next room to +mine, I could not forbear stopping a moment as I passed to tell you how +very glad I am to see you again."</p> + +<p>Gertrude and Emily expressed their pleasure at the meeting, urged her to +come in and remain until the gong sounded for tea. She accepted the +invitation, and, taking a seat upon the nearest trunk, inquired +concerning their travels and Emily's health since they parted at West +Point.</p> + +<p>Among other adventures, Gertrude mentioned their having again +encountered Mr. Phillips. "Indeed!" said Miss Gryseworth; "he seems to +be an ubiquitous individual. He was in Saratoga a day or two ago, and +sat opposite to me at our dinner-table, but I have not seen him since. +Did you become acquainted with him, Miss Graham?"</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to say I did not," replied Emily; then, looking smilingly at +Gertrude, she added, "Gerty was so anxious for an opportunity to +introduce me that I was quite grieved for her disappointment."</p> + +<p>"Then you liked him?" Miss Gryseworth asked Gertrude, and speaking with +great earnestness. "I knew you would."</p> + +<p>"He interested me much," replied Gertrude. "He is very agreeable, very +peculiar, and to me rather incomprehensible."</p> + +<p>"Non-committal, I see," said Miss Gryseworth, archly. "I hope you will +have a chance to make up your mind; it is more than I can do, I confess, +for every time I am in his company I recognise some new trait of +character. He got so angry at one of the waiters the day he dined with +us in New York, that I was frightened. But I believe my fears were +groundless, for he is too much of a gentleman to bandy words with an +inferior, and though his eyes flashed like coals of fire, he kept his +temper from blazing forth. I will do him the justice to say that this +great indignation did not spring from any neglect he had himself +received, but from the man's inattention to two dowdy-looking women from +the country, who had never thought of seeing him, and therefore got +nothing to eat until everybody else had finished, and looked all the +time as disappointed as if they were just out of the State Prison."</p> + +<p>"Too bad!" exclaimed Gertrude, energetically. "I don't wonder Mr. +Phillips felt provoked with the mercenary fellow. I like him for that."</p> + +<p>"It <i>was</i> too bad," said Miss Gryseworth; "I couldn't help pitying them +myself. One of them—a young girl, fresh from the churn, who had worn +her best white gown on purpose to make a figure in the city—was near +weeping."</p> + +<p>"I hope such instances of neglect are not very common," said Gertrude. +"I am afraid, if they are, Emily and I shall be on the crying list, for +Dr. Jeremy will not fee the waiters beforehand; he says it is a mean +thing, and he will not command attention in that way."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you need have no such fear," said Miss Gryseworth. "Persons +accustomed to hotel life can always command attention, especially in so +well-regulated an establishment as this. Grandmamma shares the doctor's +views with regard to bargaining for it beforehand, but no one ever sees +her neglected here."</p> + +<p>Another light tap at the door, and this time it was Netta Gryseworth who +entered, exclaiming, "I hear Ellen's voice, so I must come in. I am +provoked," added she, as she kissed Emily's hand, and shook Gertrude's +with a freedom which seemed to spring from girlish hoydenism and +high-bred independence of manner, "to think that while I have been +watching about the drawing-room doors for this last half-hour, so as to +see you the first minute you came in, Ellen has been sitting here on a +trunk, as sociable as all the world, enjoying your society, and telling +you every bit of the news."</p> + +<p>"Not every bit, Netta," said Ellen; "I have left several choice little +morsels for you."</p> + +<p>"Have you told Miss Flint about the Foxes and the Coxes that were here +yesterday?—Has she, Miss Flint?"</p> + +<p>"Not a word about them," said Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Nor about the fright we had on board the steamboat?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Nor about Mr. Phillips being here?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, she told us that."</p> + +<p>"Ah, she did!" exclaimed Netta, with an arch look which called up her +sister's blushes. "And did she tell you how he occupied this room, and +how we heard him through the thin partition pacing up and down all +night, and how it kept me from sleeping, and gave me a terrible headache +all the next day?"</p> + +<p>"No, she did not tell me that," said Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"You don't either of you walk all night, do you?" asked Netta.</p> + +<p>"Not often."</p> + +<p>"Oh, how thankful we ought to be to have you for neighbours!" replied +Netta. "If that horrible man had stayed here and kept up that measured +tread, there would have been a suicide either in this room or ours +before many nights."</p> + +<p>"Do you think he was ill?" asked Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," said Ellen; "it was nothing very remarkable—not for him, +at least—all his habits are peculiar; but it kept Netta awake an hour +or two, and made her fidgety."</p> + +<p>"An hour or two, Ellen!" cried Netta. "It was the whole night."</p> + +<p>"My dear sister," said Ellen, "you don't know what a whole night is."</p> + +<p>A little sisterly discussion might have ensued about the length of Mr. +Phillips' walk and Netta's consequent wakefulness, but, fortunately, the +gong sounded for tea.</p> + +<p>Saratoga is a queer place. One sees congregated there, at the height of +the season, delegates from every part of the world. Fashion's ladder is +transplanted thither, and all its rounds are filled. Beauty, wealth, +pride, and folly are well represented; also wit, genius, and learning. +Idleness reigns supreme, and no one, not even the most active and +industrious citizens of our working land, dares, in this her legitimate +province, to dispute her temporary sway. Every rank of society, every +profession, and almost every trade, meet each other on an easy and +friendly footing. The acknowledged belle, the bearer of an aristocratic +name, the owner of a well-filled purse, the renowned scholar, artist, or +poet, have all a conspicuous sphere to shine in.</p> + +<p>It was a new experience to Gertrude, and although in the Congress Hall +she saw only the reflection of Saratoga gaiety, and heard only the echo +of its distant hum, there was enough of novelty and excitement to +entertain and surprise one who was a novice in fashionable life. In the +circle of high-bred, polished, literary, and talented persons whom Madam +Gryseworth drew about her, and into which Dr. Jeremy's party were +admitted, Gertrude found much that was congenial to her cultivated +taste, and she soon was appreciated as she deserved. Madam Gryseworth +was a lady of the old school—one who had all her life been accustomed +to the best society, and who continued, in spite of her advanced years, +to enjoy and to adorn it. For the first day or two Mrs. Jeremy stood +much in awe of her, and could not feel quite at ease in her presence; +but this feeling wore off, and the stout little doctor's lady soon +became confiding and chatty towards the august dame.</p> + +<p>One evening, when the Jeremys had been a week at Saratoga, as Emily and +Gertrude were leaving the tea-table, they were joined by Netta +Gryseworth, who, linking her arm in Gertrude's, exclaimed, in her usual +gay manner, "Gertrude, I shall quarrel with you soon!"</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" said Gertrude; "on what grounds?"</p> + +<p>"Jealousy."</p> + +<p>Gertrude blushed slightly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you needn't turn so red; it is not on account of any grey-headed +gentleman staring at you all dinner-time from the other end of the +table. No; I'm indifferent on that score. Ellen and you may disagree +about Mr. Phillips' attentions, but I'm jealous of those of another +person."</p> + +<p>"I hope Gertrude isn't interfering with your happiness in any way," said +Emily, smiling.</p> + +<p>"She is, though," replied Netta. "My happiness, my pride, my comfort; +she is undermining them all. She would not dare to so conduct herself, +Miss Graham, if you could see her behaviour."</p> + +<p>"Tell me all about it," said Emily, coaxingly, "and I will promise to +interest myself for you."</p> + +<p>"I doubt that," answered Netta; "I am not sure but you are a coadjutor +with her. However, I will state my grievance. Do you not see how +entirely she engrosses the attention of an important personage? Are you +not aware that Peter has ceased to have eyes for anyone else? For my own +part, I can get nothing to eat or drink until Miss Flint is served, and +I'm determined to ask papa to change our seats at the table. It isn't +that I care about my food; but I feel insulted—my pride is essentially +wounded. A few days ago I was a great favourite with Peter, and all my +pet dishes were sure to be placed in front of me; but now the tune is +changed, and this very evening I saw him pass Gertrude the blackberries, +which the creature knows I delight in, while he pushed a dish of blues +towards me in a contemptuous manner, which seemed to imply, +'Blueberries are good enough for <i>you</i>, miss!'"</p> + +<p>"I have noticed that the waiters are very attentive to us," said Emily; +"do you suppose Gertrude has been secretly bribing them?"</p> + +<p>"She says not," replied Netta. "Didn't you tell me so yesterday, +Gertrude, when I was drawing a similar comparison between their devotion +to you and to our party? Didn't you tell me that neither the doctor nor +any of you ever gave Peter anything?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," answered Gertrude; "his attentions are all voluntary; but I +attribute them entirely to Emily's influence and his desire to serve +her."</p> + +<p>"It is no such thing," said Netta; "it's sorcery, I'm sure of it; you've +been practising the black art, Gertrude, and I'll warn Peter this very +day."</p> + +<p>They now went to the corner of the drawing-room where the old ladies of +Gryseworth and Jeremy were sitting upon a sofa, engaged in earnest +conversation, while Ellen, who had just returned from a drive with her +father, stood talking with him and a Mr. Petrancourt, who had just +arrived from New York.</p> + +<p>The ladies on the sofa made room for Emily, and Netta and Gertrude +seated themselves. Madame Gryseworth was annoyed by a group of children +on the other side of the room, who by their shouts interrupted her +remarks, and prevented her understanding those of her neighbour. +Gertrude's attention was attracted by them to such a degree that she did +not hear half of the sallies of wit and nonsense which Netta continued +to pour forth.</p> + +<p>"Do go and play with those children, Gertrude," said Netta at last; "I +know you're longing to go."</p> + +<p>"I'm longing to stop their play!" said Gertrude.</p> + +<p>Some half-dozen gaily-dressed children had collected around a strange +little new-comer, whom they were subjecting to every species of +persecution. Her clothes, though of rich materials, were mostly untidily +arranged, and soiled by travelling. Her little black silk frock (for the +child was clad in mourning) was quite outgrown, being much shorter than +some of her other garments, and her whole appearance denoted great +neglect. Gertrude saw the little girl standing in their midst, looking +wildly about her, as if to escape; but this the children prevented, and +continued to ply her with questions, each of which called forth their +derisive shouts, which made her cry. Whether the scene reminded Gertrude +of some of her own experiences, or merely touched the chord of sympathy +for the injured, she could not keep her eyes from the little party; and +just as Netta was upon one of her favourite topics—namely, Mr. Phillips +and his unaccountable conduct—she sprang from her seat, exclaiming, +"They shan't torment that child so!" and hastily crossed the room.</p> + +<p>Netta burst into a hearty laugh at Gertrude's excited manner of starting +on her benevolent errand; and this, together with her so hastily +crossing the large and crowded room, drew the inquiries of all the +circle whom she had left, and during her absence she became the subject +of discussion and remark.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Netta?" asked Madame Gryseworth. "Where has +Gertrude gone?"</p> + +<p>"To offer herself as a champion, grandmamma, for that little rowdy-dowdy +looking child."</p> + +<p>"Is she the one who has been making all this noise?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed; but I believe she is the cause of it."</p> + +<p>"It isn't every girl," said Ellen, "who could cross a room like this so +gracefully as Gertrude can."</p> + +<p>"She has a remarkably good figure," said Madame Gryseworth, "and knows +how to walk."</p> + +<p>"She is a very well-formed girl," remarked Dr. Gryseworth, "but the true +secret of her looking so completely the lady lies in her having uncommon +dignity of character, being wholly unconscious of observation and +independent of the wish to attract it. She dresses well, too; Ellen, I +wish you would imitate Miss Flint's style of dress; nothing could be in +better taste."</p> + +<p>"Or a greater saving to your purse, papa," whispered Netta. "Gertrude +dresses very simply."</p> + +<p>"Miss Flint's style of dress would not become Miss Gryseworth," said +Mrs. Petrancourt, who approached in time to hear the doctor's remark. +"Your daughter, sir, is a noble, showy-looking girl, and can carry off a +great deal of dress."</p> + +<p>"So can a milliner's doll, Mrs. Petrancourt. However, I suppose, in a +certain sense, you are right. The two girls are not sufficiently alike +to resemble each other, if their dresses were matched with Chinese +exactness."</p> + +<p>"Resemble each other! You surely would not wish to see your beautiful +daughter the counterpart of one who has not half her attractions."</p> + +<p>"Are you much acquainted with Miss Flint?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all; but Netta pointed her out to me at the tea-table as being a +particular friend."</p> + +<p>"Then you must excuse me, ma'am, if I remark that it is impossible you +should have any idea of her attractions, as they do not lie on the +surface."</p> + +<p>"You confess, then, that you do not think her handsome, sir?"</p> + +<p>"To tell you the truth, I never thought anything about it. Ask +Petrancourt; he is an acknowledged judge;" and the doctor bowed in a +flattering manner to the lady who had been the belle of the season at +the time her husband paid his addresses to her.</p> + +<p>"I will, when I can get a chance; but he is standing too near the blind +lady—Miss Flint's aunt, is she not?"</p> + +<p>"Particular friend; not her aunt."</p> + +<p>This conversation had been carried on in a low voice, that Emily might +not hear it. Others, however, were either more careless or more +indifferent to her presence; for Madam Gryseworth began to speak of +Gertrude without restraint, and she was at this moment saying, "One must +see her under peculiar circumstances to be struck with her beauty at +once; for instance, as I did yesterday, when she had just returned from +riding, and her face was in a glow from exercise and excitement; or as +she looks when animated by her intense interest in some glowing and +eloquent speaker, or when her feelings are suddenly touched and the +tears start into her eyes, and her whole soul shines out through them!"</p> + +<p>"Why, grandmamma," cries Netta, "you are really eloquent!"</p> + +<p>"So is Gertrude, at such times as those I speak of. Oh, she is a girl +after my own heart!"</p> + +<p>"She must be a very agreeable young lady, from your account," said Mr. +Petrancourt. "We must know her."</p> + +<p>"You will not find her of the same stamp as most of the agreeable young +ladies whom you meet in gay circles. I must tell you what Horace Willard +said of her. He is an accomplished man and a scholar—his opinion is +worth something. He had been staying a fortnight at the United States +Hotel, and used to call occasionally to see us. The day he left he came +to me and said—'Where is Miss Flint? I must have one more refreshing +conversation with her before I go. It is a perfect rest to be in that +young lady's society, for she never seems to be making the least effort +to talk with me, or to expect any attempt on my part; she is one of a +few girls who never speak unless they have something to say.' How she +has contrived to quiet those children!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Petrancourt followed the direction of Madame Gryseworth's eyes. "Is +that the young lady you were speaking of?" asked he. "The one with great +dark eyes, and such a splendid head of hair? I have been noticing her +for some time."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is she, talking to the little girl in black."</p> + +<p>"Madame Gryseworth," said Dr. Jeremy, through the long, open window, and +stepping inside as he spoke, "I see you appreciate our Gerty; I did not +say too much in praise of her good sense, did I?"</p> + +<p>"Not half enough, doctor; she is a very bright girl, and a very good +one, I believe."</p> + +<p>"Good!" exclaimed the doctor; "I didn't know that goodness counted in +these places; but if goodness is worth speaking of, I should like to +tell you a little of what I know of that girl;" and, without going +closely into particulars, he commenced dilating enthusiastically upon +Gertrude's noble and disinterested conduct under trying circumstances, +and had recounted, in a touching manner, her devotion to one old +paralytic—to another infirm and ill-tempered old man and his +slowly-declining daughter—and would have proceeded to speak of her +recent self-sacrificing labours in Emily's service; but Miss Graham +touched his arm, spoke in a low voice, and interrupted him.</p> + +<p>He stopped abruptly. "Emily, my dear," said he, "I beg your pardon; I +didn't know you were here; but what you say is very true. Gertrude is a +private character, and I have no right to bring her before the public. I +am an old fool, certainly; but there, we are all friends." And he looked +around the circle a little anxiously, casting a slightly suspicious +glance at the Petrancourts, and finally rested his gaze upon a figure +behind Ellen Gryseworth. The latter turned, not having been previously +aware that any stranger was near, and, to her surprise, found herself +face to face with Mr. Phillips! "Good evening, sir," said she, on +recognising him; but he did not seem to hear her. Madam Gryseworth, who +had never seen him before, looked up inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Phillips," said Ellen, "shall I make you acquainted with Mrs. +Gryseworth, my——" But before she could complete the introduction he +had darted through the window, and was walking across the piazza with +hasty strides.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> + +<h3>A SURPRISE.</h3> + + +<p>Later in the evening, when Gertrude, having resigned her little charge +to the nurse who came to seek her, had again joined her party, the +attention of every one assembled in the drawing-room was attracted by +the entrance of a beautiful and showily-dressed young lady, attended by +two or three gentlemen. After glancing round the room for the person +whom she came to seek, she advanced towards Mrs. Petrancourt, who rose +to receive her young visitor. Unexpected as the meeting was to Gertrude, +she recognized Isabel Clinton, who passed both her and Emily without +observing them, and, there being no vacant chair near at hand, seated +herself with Mrs. Petrancourt on a couch a little farther up the room, +and entered into earnest conversation; nor did she change her position +or look in the direction of Dr. Jeremy's party until she was taking +leave. She would have passed them then without noticing their presence, +but hearing Dr. Gryseworth address Miss Flint by name, she half turned, +caught Gertrude's eye, spoke a careless "How do you do?" with that +indifference with which one salutes a very slight acquaintance, cast a +look back at Emily, surveyed with an impertinent air of curiosity the +rest of the circle to which they belonged, and unceremoniously walked +off, whispering to her companions some satirical comments upon the place +and the company.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a beauty!" exclaimed Netta to Mrs. Petrancourt. "Who is she?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Petrancourt related what she knew of Miss Clinton, told how she had +travelled with her in Switzerland, and met her in Paris, where she was +universally admired; then, turning to Gertrude, she remarked, "You are +acquainted with her, I see, Miss Flint." Gertrude replied that she knew +her before she went abroad, but had seen nothing of her since her +return.</p> + +<p>"She has just arrived," said Mrs. Petrancourt; "she came with her father +in the last steamer, and has been in Saratoga but a day or two. She is +making a great sensation at the 'United States,' and has troops of +beaux."</p> + +<p>"Most of whom are probably aware," remarked Mr. Petrancourt, "that she +will have plenty of money one of these days."</p> + +<p>Emily's attention was by this time attracted. She had been conversing +with Ellen Gryseworth, but now turned to ask Gertrude if they were +speaking of Isabel Clinton.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Dr. Jeremy, "and if she were not the rudest girl in the +world, my dear, you would not have remained so long in ignorance of her +having been here."</p> + +<p>Emily forbore to make any comment. Gertrude was silent also; but she +burned inwardly, as she always did, at any slights being offered to the +gentle Emily.</p> + +<p>Gertrude and Dr. Jeremy were always among the earliest morning visitors +at the spring. The doctor enjoyed drinking the water at this hour; and, +as Gertrude was fond of walking before breakfast, he made it a point +that she should accompany him, partake of the beverage of which he was +so fond, and afterwards join him in brisk pedestrian exercise till near +breakfast time.</p> + +<p>On the morning succeeding the evening of which we have been speaking, +they had presented themselves at the spring. Gertrude had gratified the +doctor, and made a martyr of herself by imbibing a tumblerful of water +which she found very unpalatable; and he having quaffed his seventh +glass, they had both proceeded some distance on one more walk around the +grounds when he suddenly missed his cane, and believing that he had left +it at the spring, declared his intention to return and look for it.</p> + +<p>Gertrude would have gone back also, but, as there might be some +difficulty in recovering it, he insisted upon her continuing her walk in +the direction of the circular railway, promising to come round the other +way and meet her. She had proceeded some little distance, and was +walking thoughtfully along, when, at an abrupt winding in the path, she +observed a couple approaching her—a young lady leaning on the arm of a +gentleman. A straw hat partly concealed the face of the latter, but in +the former she recognised Bella Clinton. It was evident that Bella saw +Gertrude, and knew her, but did not mean to acknowledge her +acquaintance; for, after the first glance, she kept her eyes obstinately +fixed either upon her companion or the ground. This conduct did not +disturb Gertrude in the least; Bella could not feel more indifferent +about the acquaintance than she did; but being thus saved the necessity +of awaiting and returning any salutation from that quarter, she +naturally bestows her passing glance upon the gentleman who accompanied +Miss Clinton. He looked up at the same instant, fixed his full grey eyes +upon her, with that careless look with which one stranger regards +another, then, turning as carelessly away, made some slight remark to +his companion.</p> + +<p>They pass on. They have gone some steps—but Gertrude stands fixed to +the spot. She feels a great throbbing at her heart. She knows that look, +that voice, as well as if she had seen and heard them yesterday. Could +Gertrude forget Willie Sullivan? But he has forgotten her. Shall she run +after him and stop him, and catch both his hands in hers, and compel him +to see, and know, and speak to her? She started one step forward in the +direction he had taken, then suddenly paused and hesitated. A crowd of +emotions choked, blinded, suffocated her, and while she wrestled with +them, and they with her, he turned the corner and passed out of sight. +She covered her face with her hands and leaned against a tree.</p> + +<p>It was Willie. There was no doubt of that; but not her Willie—the <i>boy</i> +Willie. It was true time had added but little to his height or breadth +of figure, for he was a well-grown youth when he went away. But six +years of Eastern life, including no small amount of travel, care, +exposure, and suffering, had done the work that time would ordinarily +have accomplished. The winning attractiveness of the boy had but given +place to equal, if not superior, qualities in the man, who was still +very handsome, and gifted with that natural grace and ease of deportment +which win universal commendation. The broad, open forehead, the lines of +mild but firm decision about the mouth, the frank, fearless manner, +were as marked as ever, and were alone sufficient to betray his identity +to one upon whose memory these and all his other characteristics were +indelibly stamped; and Gertrude needed not the sound of his well-known +voice, that too fell upon her ear, to proclaim to her beating heart that +Willie Sullivan had met her face to face, had passed on, and that she +was left alone, unrecognised, unknown, unthought of, and uncared for!</p> + +<p>For a time this bitter thought, "He does not know me," was present to +her mind; it engrossed her entire imagination, and sent a thrill of +surprise and agony through her whole frame. She did not stop to reflect +upon the fact that she was but a child when she parted from him, and +that the change in her appearance must be immense. The one painful idea, +that she was forgotten and lost to the dear friend of her childhood, +obliterated every other recollection. Other feelings, too, soon crowded +into her mind. Why was Willie here, and with Isabel Clinton leaning on +his arm? How came he on this side the ocean? and why had he not +immediately sought herself, the earliest and, as she had supposed, +almost the only friend, to welcome him back to his native land? Why had +he not written and warned her of his coming? How should she account for +his strange silence, and the still stranger circumstance of his hurrying +at once to the haunts of fashion, without once visiting the city of his +birth and the sister of his adoption?</p> + +<p>But among all her visions there had been none which approached the +reality of this painful experience that had suddenly plunged her into +sorrow. Her darkest dreams had never pictured a meeting so chilling; her +most fearful forebodings had never prefigured anything so heart-rending +as this seemingly annihilation of all the sweet and cherished relations +that had subsisted between herself and the long-absent wanderer. No +wonder, then, that she forgot the place, the time, everything but her +own overwhelming grief; and that, as she stood leaning against the old +tree, her chest heaved with sobs too deep for utterance, and great tears +trickled from her eyes and between the little taper fingers that vainly +sought to hide her disturbed countenance.</p> + +<p>She was startled from her position by the sound of a footstep. Hastily +starting forward, without looking in the direction from which it came, +and throwing her veil so as to hide her face, she wiped away her +fast-flowing tears and hastened on, to avoid being observed by any of +the numerous strangers who frequented the grounds at this hour.</p> + +<p>Half-blinded, however, by the thick folds of the veil, and her sight +rendered dim by the tears which filled her eyes, she was scarcely +conscious of the unsteady course she was pursuing, when suddenly a loud, +whizzing noise close to her ears frightened and confused her so that she +knew not which way to turn; at the same instant an arm was suddenly +flung round her waist, she was forcibly lifted from her feet as if she +had been a little child, and found herself detained and supported by the +same strong arm, while just in front of her a little hand-car, +containing two persons, was whirling by at full speed. One step more and +she would have reached the track of the miniature railway, and been +exposed to fatal injury from the rapidly-moving vehicle. Flinging back +her veil, she perceived her fortunate escape; and being released from +the firm grasp of her rescuer, she turned upon him a half-confused, +half-grateful face.</p> + +<p>Mr. Phillips—for it was he—looked upon her in the most tender and +pitying manner. "Poor child!" said he soothingly, at the same time +drawing her arm through his, "you were very much frightened. Here, sit +down upon this bench," and he would have drawn her towards a seat, but +she shook her head and signified by a movement her wish to proceed +towards the hotel. She could not speak; the kindness of his look and +voice only served to increase her trouble and rob her of the power to +articulate. So he walked on in silence, supporting her with the greatest +care and bestowing upon her many an anxious glance. At last making a +great effort to recover her calmness, she partially succeeded—so much +so that he ventured to speak again, and asked, "Did <i>I</i> frighten you?"</p> + +<p>"You!" replied she, in a low and somewhat unsteady voice. "Oh no! you +are very kind."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry you are so disturbed," said he; "those little cars are +troublesome things; I wish they'd put a stop to them."</p> + +<p>"The car!" said Gertrude, in an absent way; "oh, yes, I forgot."</p> + +<p>"You are a little nervous, I fear; can't you get Dr. Jeremy to prescribe +for you?"</p> + +<p>"The doctor! He went back for his cane, I believe."</p> + +<p>Mr. Phillips saw that she was bewildered. He forbore any conversation, +and they continued their walk to the hotel in silence. Just before +leaving her he said, in a tone of the deepest interest, as he held her +hand for a moment at parting, "Can I do anything for you? Can I help +you?"</p> + +<p>Gertrude looked up at him. She saw that he understood that she was +unhappy, not nervous. Her eyes thanked him as they glistened behind a +shower of tears. "No, no," gasped she, "but you are very good;" and she +hastened into the house, leaving him gazing at the door, as if she was +still in sight and he were watching her.</p> + +<p>Gertrude's first thought was how she might best conceal all her fears, +and especially from Miss Graham any knowledge of her grief. That she +would receive sympathy from Emily there could be no doubt; but as she +loved her benefactress, did she shrink from any disclosure which was +calculated to lessen Willie Sullivan in the estimation of one in whose +opinion she was anxious that he should sustain the high place to which +her own praises had exalted him. The chief knowledge that Emily had of +Willie was derived from Gertrude, and with a mingled feeling of +tenderness for him and pride on her own account did the latter dread to +disclose the fact that he had returned, and that she had met him at +Saratoga, and that he had passed her carelessly by.</p> + +<p>It was very hard for her to appear as usual and elude the vigilance of +Emily, who was keenly alive to every sensation experienced by Gertrude.</p> + +<p>Gertrude's love for Willie was undying, and she could not think that he +would attach himself to one so worldly, vain, and selfish as Isabel +Clinton. True, she was the daughter of Willie's early and generous +employer, now the senior partner in the mercantile house to which he +belonged, and would be expected to pay her every polite attention; but +still Gertrude could not but feel a greater sense of estrangement, a +chilling presentiment of sorrow, from seeing him thus familiarly +associated with one who had treated her with scorn.</p> + +<p>She had to summon all her self-command, and endeavour to behave with +serenity and composure. Gertrude compelled herself to enter the room +where Emily was awaiting her, bid her a cheerful "good morning," and +assist in her toilet. Her face bore indications of recent tears, but +that Emily could not see, and by breakfast-time even they were +effectually removed.</p> + +<p>New trials too awaited her, for Dr. Jeremy, according to his promise, +after recovering his cane, went to meet her as agreed upon, and, finding +her false to her appointment, was full of inquiries as to the path she +had taken. The truth was, that when Gertrude heard Mr. Phillips +approaching in the direction she should have taken, she, in her +eagerness to avoid meeting any one, took the contrary path to that she +had been pursuing, and, after he joined her, retraced her steps to the +hotel the same way she had come, consequently eluding the search of the +doctor. But before she could plead any excuse Netta Gryseworth came up, +full of pleasantry and fun, and leaning over Gertrude's shoulder, said, +in a whisper loud enough to be heard by all the little circle, who were +being delayed on their way to breakfast by the doctor's demand for an +explanation, "Gertrude, my dear, such affecting partings ought to be +private; I wonder you allow them to take place directly at the +door-step."</p> + +<p>This remark did not lessen Gertrude's discomfiture, which became extreme +on Dr. Jeremy's taking Netta by the arm and insisting upon knowing her +meaning, declaring that he always had suspicions of Gertrude, and wanted +to know with whom she had been walking.</p> + +<p>"Oh, a certain tall young beau of hers, who stood gazing after her when +she left him, until I began to fear the cruel creature had turned him +into stone. What did you do to him, Gertrude?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing," replied Gertrude. "He saved me from being thrown down by the +little rail-car, and afterwards walked home with me." Gertrude answered +seriously; she could have laughed and joked with Netta at any other +time, but now her heart was too heavy. The doctor did not perceive her +agitation, and pushed the matter further.</p> + +<p>"Quite romantic! imminent danger! providential rescue! <i>tête-à-tête</i> +walk home, carefully avoiding the old doctor, who might prove an +interruption!—I understand!" Poor Gertrude, blushing and distressed, +tried to offer some explanation and stammered out, with a faltering +voice, that she did not notice—she didn't remember.</p> + +<p>At breakfast she could not conceal her want of appetite, and was glad +when Emily went with her to their own room, where, after relating her +escape from accident, and Mr. Phillips' agency in that escape, she was +permitted by her apparently satisfied hearer to sit down and read to her +in a book lent them by that gentleman, to whom, however, no opportunity +had yet occurred of introducing Emily.</p> + +<p>The whole morning passed away, and nothing was heard from Willie. Every +time a servant passed, Gertrude was on the tiptoe of expectation; and +when she heard a tap at the door she trembled so that she could hardly +lift the latch. But there was no summons to the parlour, and by noon the +excitement had brought a deep flush into her face, and she had a severe +headache. Conscious, however, of the wrong construction put upon her +conduct if she absented herself from the dinner-table, she made the +effort to dress with as much care as usual; and, as she passed up the +hall to her seat, it was not strange that, though suffering herself, the +rich glow that mantled her cheeks, and the brilliancy which excitement +had given to her dark eyes, attracted the notice of others besides Mr. +Phillips.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE STRICKEN DEER.</h3> + + +<p>When Gertrude went to her room after dinner, which she did as soon as +she had seen Emily comfortably established in the drawing-room in +conversation with Madam Gryseworth, she found there a beautiful bouquet +of the choicest flowers, which the chamber-maid said she had been +commissioned to deliver to herself. She rightly imagined the source from +whence they came, divined the motives of kindness which had prompted the +donor of so acceptable a gift, and felt that, if she must accept pity +from any quarter, Mr. Phillips was one from whom she could more easily +bear to receive it than from any other.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding Netta's intimations, she did not suspect that any other +motives than those of kindness had prompted the offering of the +beautiful flowers. Nor had she reason to do so; Mr. Phillips' manner +towards her was rather fatherly than lover-like, and though she began +to regard him as a valuable friend, that was the only light in which she +had ever thought of him or believed that he ever regarded her. She +placed the flowers in water, returned to the parlour, and constrained +herself to talk on indifferent subjects until the breaking up of the +circle—part to ride, part to take a drive, and the rest a nap. Among +these last was Gertrude, who made her headache as an excuse to Emily for +this unwonted indulgence.</p> + +<p>In the evening she had an urgent invitation to accompany Dr. Gryseworth, +his daughters, and the Petrancourts to a concert at the United States +Hotel. This she declined. She felt that she could not undergo another +such encounter as that of the morning—she should be sure to betray +herself; and now that the whole day had passed and Willie had made no +attempt to see her, she felt that she would not, for the world, put +herself in his way and run the risk of being recognised by him in a +crowded concert-room.</p> + +<p>Thus the parlour, being half deserted, was very quiet—a great relief to +Gertrude's aching head and troubled mind. Later in the evening an +elderly man, a clergyman, had been introduced to Emily, and was talking +with her; Madam Gryseworth and Dr. Jeremy were entertaining each other, +Mrs. Jeremy was nodding, and Gertrude, believing that she should not be +missed, was gliding out of the room to sit in the moonlight when she met +Mr. Phillips in the hall.</p> + +<p>"What are you here all alone for?" asked he. "Why didn't you go to the +concert?"</p> + +<p>"I have a headache."</p> + +<p>"I saw you had at dinner. Is it no better?"</p> + +<p>"No. I believe not."</p> + +<p>"Come and walk with me on the piazza a little while. It will do you +good."</p> + +<p>She went; and he talked very entertainingly to her, told her a great +many amusing anecdotes, succeeded in making her smile, and even laugh, +and seemed pleased at having done so. He related many amusing things he +had seen and heard since he had been staying at Saratoga in the +character of a spectator, and ended by asking her if she didn't think it +was a heartless show.</p> + +<p>Gertrude asked his meaning.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think it is ridiculous in so many thousand people coming here +to enjoy themselves?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," answered Gertrude; "but it has not seemed so to me. I +think it's an excellent thing for those who do enjoy themselves."</p> + +<p>"And how many do?"</p> + +<p>"The greater part, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Pshaw! no they don't. More than half go away miserable, and nearly all +the rest dissatisfied."</p> + +<p>"Do you think so? Now, I thought the charm of the place was seeing so +many happy faces; they have nearly all looked happy to me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all on the surface; and, if you'll notice, those who look +happy one day are wretched enough the next. Yours was one of the happy +faces yesterday, but it isn't to-day, my poor child."</p> + +<p>Then, perceiving that his remark caused the hand which rested on his arm +to tremble, while the eyes which had been raised to his suddenly fell +and hid themselves under their long lashes, he said, "However, we will +trust soon to see it as bright as ever. But they should not have brought +you here. Catskill Mountain was a fitter place for your lively +imagination and reflecting mind."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" exclaimed Gertrude, imagining that Mr. Phillips suspected her to +be smarting under some neglect, feeling of wounded pride, or, perhaps, +serious injury, "you speak harshly; all are not selfish, all are not +unkind."</p> + +<p>"Ah! you are young, and full of faith. Trust whom you can, and as long +as you can. <i>I</i> trust <i>no one</i>."</p> + +<p>"No one! Are there none, then, in the whole world whom you love and +confide in?"</p> + +<p>"Scarcely; certainly not more than one. Whom should I trust?"</p> + +<p>"The good, the pure, the truly great."</p> + +<p>"And who are they? How shall we distinguish them? I tell you, my young +friend, that in my experience—and it has been rich, ay, very rich"—and +he set his teeth and spoke with bitterness—"the so-called good, the +honourable, the upright man, has proved but the varnished hypocrite, the +highly finished and polished sinner. Yes," continued he, his voice +growing deeper, his manner more excited, "I can think of one, a +respectable man, a church-member, whose injustice and cruelty made my +life what it has been—a desert, a blank, or worse than that; and I can +think of another, an old, rough, intemperate sailor, over whose head a +day never passed that he did not take the name of his God in vain, yet +had at the bottom of his heart a drop of such pure, unsullied essence of +virtue as could not be distilled from the souls of ten thousand of your +polished rogues. Which, then, shall I trust—the good religious men, or +the low, profane, and abject ones?"</p> + +<p>"Trust in <i>goodness</i>, wherever it be found," answered Gertrude; "but oh, +trust <i>all</i> rather than <i>none</i>."</p> + +<p>"Your world, your religion, draws a closer line. You are a good child, +and full of hope and charity," said Mr. Phillips, pressing her arm +closely to his side. "I will try and have faith in <i>you</i>. But see! our +friends have returned from the concert."</p> + +<p>Alboni had excelled herself; and they were so sorry Gertrude did not go. +"But, perhaps," whispered Netta, "you have enjoyed yourself more at +home." But Gertrude, as she stood leaning unconcernedly upon Mr. +Phillips' arm, looked so innocent of confusion or embarrassment, that +her manner refuted Netta's suspicions.</p> + +<p>"Miss Clinton was there," continued Netta, "and looked beautiful. She +had a crowd of gentlemen about her; but didn't you notice (and she +turned to Mrs. Petrancourt) that one met with such marked favour that I +wonder the rest were not discouraged. I mean that tall, handsome young +man who waited upon her into the hall and went out soon after. She +devoted herself to him while he stayed."</p> + +<p>"The same one, was it not," asked Ellen, "who towards the close of the +concert came in and stood leaning against the wall for some minutes?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Netta; "but he only waited for Alboni to finish singing, +and then approaching Miss Clinton, whispered in her ear. After that she +got up, left her seat, and they both went off, rather to the +mortification of the other gentlemen."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is not strange, under the circumstances," said Mr. Petrancourt, +"that Miss Clinton should prefer a walk with Mr. Sullivan to the best +music in the world."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Netta. "Is he very agreeable? Is he supposed to be the +favoured one?"</p> + +<p>"I should think there was no doubt of it," answered Mr. Petrancourt. "I +believe it is generally thought to be an engagement. He was in Paris +with them during the spring, and they all came home in the same steamer. +Everybody knows it is the wish of Mr. Clinton's heart, and Miss Isabel +makes no secret of her preference."</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly," interposed Mrs. Pentracourt; "it is an understood +thing."</p> + +<p>What became of Gertrude all this time? Could she, who for six years had +nursed the fond idea that to Willie she was, and should still continue +to be, all in all—could she stand patiently by and hear him thus +disposed of and given to another? She did do it; not consciously, +however, for her head swam round, and she would have fallen but for the +firm support of Mr. Phillips, who held her arm so tightly that, though +he felt, the rest could not see how she trembled. Fortunately, too, none +but he saw her blanched face; and, as she stood in the shadow, he alone +was watching the strained and eager eyes, the parted and rigid lips, the +death-like pallor of her countenance.</p> + +<p>Standing there with her heart beating, and almost believing herself in a +horrid dream, she listened, heard, and comprehended every word. She +could not, however, have spoken or moved for her life, and in an instant +more accident might have betrayed her excited condition. But Mr. +Phillips acted, spoke, and moved for her, and she was spared an exposure +from which her sensitive spirit would have shrunk.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Sullivan!" said he. "Ah! a fine fellow; I know him. Miss Gertrude, +I must tell you an anecdote about that young man;" and moving forward in +the direction in which they had been walking when they met the party +from the concert, he related that he and Mr. Sullivan were, a few years +previous, travelling across an Arabian desert, when the latter proved of +signal service in saving him from a sudden attack by a wandering tribe +of Bedouins. He stopped in his narration and perceived that all danger +of observation was passed, and without ceremony placed her in an +arm-chair just by. "Sit here," said he, "while I bring you a glass of +water." He wrapped her mantle tightly about her and walked quickly away. +Oh, how Gertrude thanked him in her heart for thus considerately leaving +her and giving her time to recover herself! It was the most judicious +thing he could have done, and the kindest. He saw that she would not +faint, and knew that left alone she would soon rally her powers.</p> + +<p>When here returned she was perfectly calm. She tasted the water, but he +did not urge her to drink it; he knew she did not require it. "I have +kept you out too long," said he; "come, you had better go in now."</p> + +<p>She rose; he put her arm once more through his, guided her feeble steps +to a window which opened into her and Emily's room; and then, pausing a +moment, said in a meaning tone, at the same time enforcing his words by +the fixed glance of his piercing eye, "You exhort me, Miss Gertrude, to +have faith in everybody; but I bid you, all inexperienced as you are, to +beware lest you believe too much. Where you have good foundation for +confidence, abide by it, if you can, firmly, but trust nothing which you +have not fairly tested, and rest assured that the idle gossip of a place +like this is utterly unworthy of credit. Good night." What an utter +revulsion of feeling these words occasioned Gertrude! They came to her +with all the force of a prophecy, and struck deep into her heart.</p> + +<p>During their long and regular correspondence no letter had come from +Willie that did not breathe a devoted affection for Gertrude—an +exclusive affection, in which there could be no rivalship. All his +thoughts of home and future happy days were inseparably associated with +her; and although Mrs. Sullivan, with that instinctive reserve which was +one of her characteristics, never broached the subject to Gertrude, her +whole treatment of the latter sufficiently evinced that to her mind the +event of her future union with her son was a thing certain. The bold +declaration on Willie's part, conveyed in the letter received by +Gertrude soon after his mother's death, that his hopes, his prayers, his +labours were now all for her, was not a more convincing proof of the +tender light in which he regarded her than all their previous +intercourse had been. Should Gertrude, then, distrust him? Should she at +once set aside all past evidences of his worth, and give ready credence +to his prompt desertion of his early friend? No! she resolved to banish +the unworthy thought; to cherish still the firm belief that some +explanation would shortly offer itself which would yet satisfy her +aching heart.</p> + +<p>Gertrude continued during the remainder of the evening in an elevated +frame of mind, and she was able to go back to the drawing-room for +Emily, say good night to her friends with a cheerful voice, and before +midnight she sought her pillow and went quietly to sleep. But this +calmness of mind, however, was the result of strong excitement, and +therefore could not last. The next morning she yielded to depressed +spirits, and the effort which she made to rise, dress, and go to +breakfast was almost mechanical. She excused herself from her customary +walk with the doctor, for to that she felt unequal. Her first wish was +to leave Saratoga; she longed to go home, to be in a quiet place, where +so many eyes would not be upon her; and when the doctor came in with the +letters which had arrived by the early mail, she looked at them so +eagerly that he observed it, and said, smilingly, "None for you, Gerty; +but one for Emily, which is the next best thing, I suppose."</p> + +<p>To Gertrude this was the <i>very</i> best thing, for it was a long-expected +letter from Mr. Graham, who had arrived at New York, and desired them to +join him there the following day. Gertrude could hardly conceal her +satisfaction, and Emily, delighted at the prospect of so soon meeting +her father, was eager to prepare for leaving.</p> + +<p>They retired to their own room, and Gertrude's time until dinner was +occupied in packing. During the whole of the previous day she had been +anxiously hoping that Willie would make his appearance at their hotel; +now she dreaded such an event. To meet him in so public a manner, too, +as must here be inevitable, would be insupportable; she would prefer to +be in Boston when he should first recognize her; and, if she tormented +herself yesterday with the fear that he would not come, the dread that +he might do so was a still greater cause of distress to her to-day.</p> + +<p>She was therefore relieved when, after dinner, Mr. Phillips proposed to +drive to the lake. Dr. Gryseworth and one of his daughters had agreed to +take seats in a carriage he had provided, and he hoped she would not +refuse to occupy the fourth.</p> + +<p>At the lake Dr. Gryseworth and his daughter Ellen had been persuaded by +a party whom they had met there to engage in bowling. Mr. Phillips and +Gertrude declined taking part, and stood looking on. As they sat thus, +surveying the beautiful sheet of water, a couple approached and took up +a position near them. Mr. Phillips was screened from their observation +by the trunk of a tree, and Gertrude sufficiently so to be unnoticed, +yet the paleness of her face as they drew near indicated that she saw +and recognized William Sullivan and Isabel Clinton. The words which they +spoke fell distinctly upon her ear. "Shall I then be so much missed?" +asked Isabel, looking earnestly into the face of her companion, who, +with a serious air, was gazing out upon the water.</p> + +<p>"Missed!" replied he, turning towards her and speaking in a slightly +reproachful voice; "how can it be otherwise? Who can supply your place?"</p> + +<p>"But it will be only two days."</p> + +<p>"A short time under ordinary circumstances," said Willie, "but an +eternity——" He here checked himself and made a sudden motion to +proceed on their walk. Isabel followed him, saying, "But you will wait +here until my return?"</p> + +<p>He turned to reply, and this time the reproachful look of his features +was visible to Gertrude as he said, with earnestness, "Certainly; can +you doubt it?" The strange, fixed, unnatural expression of Gertrude's +countenance as she listened to this conversation, to her so deeply +fraught with meaning, was fearful to witness.</p> + +<p>"Gertrude!" exclaimed Mr. Phillips, after watching her for a moment; +"Gertrude, for Heaven's sake do not look so! Speak, Gertrude! What is +the matter?"</p> + +<p>But she did not turn her eyes, did not move a feature of that stony +face; she evidently did not hear him. He took her hand. It was cold as +marble. His face now wore an appearance of distress almost equal to her +own; great tears rolled down his cheeks. Once he stretched forth his +arms as if he would gladly clasp her to his bosom and soothe her like a +little child, but he repressed the emotion. "Gertrude," said he, leaning +forward and fixing his eyes full upon hers, "what have these people done +to you? Why do you care for them? If that young man has injured you—the +rascal!—he shall answer for it;" and he sprung to his feet. The words +and the action brought Gertrude to herself. "No, no!" said she, "he is +not that. I am better now. Do not speak of it; don't tell," and she +looked anxiously in the direction of the bowling-alley. "I am a great +deal better;" and to his astonishment—for the fearful, rigid look upon +her face had frightened him—she rose with composure and proposed going +home.</p> + +<p>He accompanied her silently, and before they were half-way up the hill, +where they had left the carriage, they were overtaken by the rest of +their party, driving toward Saratoga. During the whole drive and the +evening which followed Gertrude preserved this same unnatural composure. +Once or twice before they reached the hotel Dr. Gryseworth asked her if +she felt ill. The very tones of her voice were constrained—so much so +that Emily asked, "What is the matter, my dear child?"</p> + +<p>But she declared herself quite well, and went through all the duties of +the evening, bidding farewell to many of her friends, and arranged with +the Gryseworths to see them in the morning.</p> + +<p>Emily was the more troubled of the two, for she could not be deceived, +and reflected back, in her whole demeanour, the better concealed +sufferings of Gertrude. Gertrude neither knew at the time, nor could +afterwards recall, one-half the occurrences of that evening. She never +could understand what it was that sustained her and enabled her, half +unconsciously, to perform her part in them. How she so successfully +concealed her misery she never could comprehend or explain.</p> + +<p>That Willie was faithless to his first love she could not doubt; and +with this conviction she realised that the stay of her life had fallen. +Uncle True and Mrs. Sullivan were both her benefactors, and Emily was +still a dear and steadfast friend; but all of these had been more or +less dependent upon Gertrude, and although she could ever repose in the +assurance of their love, two had, long before they passed away, come to +lean wholly upon her youthful arm; and the other trusted to her to guide +her uncertain steps, but those steps were tending downwards to the +grave. Upon whom, then, should Gertrude lean? To whom could she with +confidence turn for counsel, protection, support, and love? To whom but +Willie? And Willie had given his heart to another—and Gertrude would +soon be left alone! No wonder, then, that she wept as the broken-hearted +weep, wept until the fountain of her tears was dry, and she felt herself +sick, faint, and exhausted. And then she thought she heard voices, as in +her childhood, whispering, "Gerty!—Gerty!—poor little Gerty!" She sank +upon her knees, her uplifted face, her clasped hands, the sweet +resignation of her countenance gave evidence that in her prayer to God +her soul held deep communion with its Maker, and once more her spirit +was uttering the simple words, "Here am I, Lord!"</p> + +<p>Oh, blessed religion, which can sustain the heart in such an hour as +this! Oh, blessed faith and trust which, when earthly support fails us, +and our strongest earthly stay proves but a rope of sand, lifts the soul +above all other need, and clasps it to the bosom of its God!</p> + +<p>And now a gentle hand is laid upon her head. She turns and sees Emily, +whom she believed to be asleep, but from whom anxiety and the sobs of +Gertrude banished slumber, is standing by her side.</p> + +<p>"Gertrude," said she, "are you in trouble, and did you seek to hide it +from me? Do not turn from me, Gertrude!" and, throwing her arms around +her, she drew her head close to her bosom, and whispered, "Tell me all, +my darling! What is the matter with my poor child?"</p> + +<p>And Gertrude unburdened her heart to Emily, disclosing to her the only +secret she had ever kept from her; and Emily wept as she listened, and +when Gertrude had finished she pressed her again and again to her heart, +exclaiming with an excitement which Gertrude had never before witnessed +in the usually placid blind girl, "Strange, strange, that you, too, +should be thus doomed! Oh, Gertrude, my darling, we may well weep +together; but still, believe me, your sorrow is less bitter than mine!"</p> + +<p>And then in the darkness of that midnight hour was Gertrude's confidence +rewarded by the revelation of that tale of grief and woe which twenty +years before had blighted Emily's youth, and which was still vivid to +her recollection casting over her life a dark shadow, of which her +blindness was but a single feature.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2> + +<h3>A TALE OF SORROW.</h3> + + +<p>"I was younger than you, Gertrude," said she, "when my trial came, and +hardly the same person in any respect that I have been since you first +knew me. My mother died when I was too young to retain any recollection +of her; but my father soon married again, and in that step-parent I +found a love and care which fully compensated my loss. I can recall her +now as she looked towards the latter part of her life—a tall, delicate, +feeble woman, with a very sweet face. She was a widow when my father +married her, and had one son, who became my sole companion, the partner +of all my youthful pleasures. You told me, many years ago, that I could +not imagine how much you loved Willie, and I then had nearly confided to +you my early history, and to convince you that my own experience taught +me how to understand such a love; but I checked myself, for you were too +young then to know so sad a story as mine. How dear my young playmate +became to me no words can express. The office which each filled, the +influence which each of us exerted upon the other, created mutual +dependence; for though his was the leading spirit, the strong and +determined will, and I was ever submissive to a rule which to my easily +influenced nature was never irksome, there was one respect in which my +bold young protector and ruler ever looked to me for aid. It was to act +as mediator between him and my father; for while the boy was almost an +idol to his mother, he was ever treated with coldness and distrust by my +father, who never appreciated his noble qualities, but seemed always to +regard him with dislike.</p> + +<p>"That my father's sternness towards her son was distressing to our +mother I doubt not; for I remember the anxiety with which she strove to +conceal his faults and the frequent occasions on which she instructed me +to propitiate the parent, who, for my sake, would often forgive the boy, +whose adventurous disposition was continually bringing him into +collision with one of whose severity, when displeased, you can judge. My +step-mother had been poor in her widowhood, and her child having +inherited nothing which he could call his own, was wholly dependent upon +my father's bounty. This was a stinging cause of mortification to the +pride of which even as a boy he had an unusual share; and often have I +seen him irritated at the reception of favours which he well understood +were far from being awarded by a paternal hand.</p> + +<p>"While our mother was spared to us we lived in comparative harmony, but +when I was sixteen years old she suddenly died. Well do I remember the +last night of her life, her calling me to her bedside and saying, +'Emily, my dying prayer is that you will be a guardian angel to my boy!' +God forgive me," ejaculated the tearful blind girl, "if I have been +faithless in the trust!</p> + +<p>"He of whom I am telling you was then about eighteen. He had lately +become a clerk in my father's employ against his will, for he desired a +collegiate education; but my father was determined, and at his mother's +and my persuasion he was induced to submit. My step-mother's death knit +the tie between her son and myself more closely than ever. He continued +an inmate of our house, and we passed a deal of time in the enjoyment of +each other's society; for my father was much from home, and when there, +retired to his library, leaving us to entertain each other. I was then a +school-girl, fond of books, and an excellent student. How often, when +you have spoken of the help Willie was in your studies, have I been +reminded of the time when I received similar encouragement and aid from +my youthful friend, who was ever ready to exert hand and brain in my +behalf! But we were not invariably happy. Often did my father's face +wear a frown which I dreaded to see; while the disturbed and +occasionally angry countenance of his step-son denoted that some storm +had occurred, probably at the counting-house, of which I had no +knowledge, except from its after effects. My office of mediator, too, +was suspended from the fact that the censure arose concerning some +supposed mismanagement of business matters by the young and +inexperienced clerk. Matters went on thus for six months, when it became +evident that my father had either been influenced by insinuations from +some foreign quarter, or had himself conceived a new idea. He is honest +and straightforward in his purposes, whatever they may be, and incapable +of carrying out any species of artifice. We saw that he was resolved to +put a check upon the freedom of intercourse which had subsisted between +the two youthful inmates of the house, to forward which purpose he +introduced in the position of housekeeper Mrs. Ellis, who has continued +with us ever since. The almost constant presence of this stranger, and +the interference of my father with his step-son's familiar intimacy with +me, indicated his intention to destroy the closeness of our friendship.</p> + +<p>"It is true, I lent myself unhesitatingly to a species of petty +deception to elude the vigilance which would have kept us apart. My +father, however, saw more of our man[oe]uvring than we were aware of, +and imagined far more than ever in reality existed. He watched us +carefully, and, contrary to his usual course of proceeding, forbore for +a time any interference. I have since been led to think that he designed +to wean us from each other in a less unnatural manner than that which he +had at first attempted, by taking the earliest opportunity to transfer +his step-son to a situation connected with his own mercantile +establishment in a foreign country, or a distant part of our own; and +forbore, until his plans were ripe, to distress me by giving way to the +feelings of displeasure which were burning within him—for he was, and +had ever been, as kind and indulgent towards his undeserving child as +was consistent with a due maintenance to his authority.</p> + +<p>"Before such a course could be carried out, however, circumstances +occurred, and suspicions became aroused, which destroyed one of their +victims, and plunged the other——"</p> + +<p>Here Emily's voice failed her. She laid her head upon Gertrude's +shoulder and sobbed bitterly.</p> + +<p>"Do not try to tell me the rest, dear Emily," said Gertrude. "It is +enough for me to know that you are so unhappy. Do not distress yourself +by dwelling, for my sake, upon past sorrows."</p> + +<p>"Past!" replied Emily, recovering her voice and wiping away her +tears. "No, they are never past. Nor am I unhappy, Gertrude. It is +but rarely that my peace is shaken; nor would I now allow my weak +nerves to be unstrung by imparting to another the secrets of that +never-to-be-forgotten time of trial, were it not that, since you know so +well how harmoniously and sweetly my life is passing on to its great and +eternal awakening, I desire to prove to my darling child the power of +that heavenly faith which has turned my darkness into marvellous light, +and made afflictions such as mine the blessed harbingers of ever-during +joy.</p> + +<p>"I was suddenly taken ill with a fever. Mrs. Ellis, whom I had always +treated with coldness, and often with disdain, nursed me by night and +day with a care and devotion which I did not expect, and under her +nursing, and the skilful treatment of Dr. Jeremy, I began to recover. +One day, when I was able to be up and dressed for several hours at a +time, I went for change of air and scene into my father's library, and +there lay half reclining upon the sofa. Mrs. Ellis had gone to attend to +household duties, but before she left me she placed within my reach a +small table, upon which were arranged various phials, glasses, etc., and +other things which I might require before her return. It was in an +evening in June, and I lay watching the approach of sunset from an +opposite window. I was oppressed, with a sad sense of loneliness, for +during the past six weeks I had enjoyed no society but that of my nurse +and periodical visits from my father; and felt, therefore, no common +pleasure when my most congenial but now nearly forbidden associate +entered the room. He had not seen me since my illness, and after this +protracted and painful separation our meeting was tender and +affectionate. He had, with all the fire of a hot and ungoverned temper, +a woman's depth of feeling, warmth of heart, and sympathising sweetness +of manner. Well do I remember the expression of his noble face, the +manly tones of his voice, as, seated beside me on the wide couch, he +bathed the temples of my aching head with eau-de-cologne, which he took +from the table near by, at the same time expressing again and again his +joy at once more seeing me.</p> + +<p>"How long we had sat thus I cannot tell, but the twilight was deepening +in the room when we were suddenly interrupted by my father, who entered +abruptly, came towards us with hasty steps, but stopping short when +within a yard or two, confronted his step-son with such a look of angry +contempt as I had never before seen upon his face. The latter rose and +stood before him with a glance of proud defiance, and then ensued a +scene which I have neither the wish nor power to describe.</p> + +<p>"It is sufficient to say that in the double accusation which my excited +parent now brought against the object of his wrath, he urged the fact of +his seeking by mean, base, and contemptible artifice to win the +affections, and with them the expected fortune, of his only child as a +secondary and pardonable crime compared with his deeper, darker, and +just but detected guilt of forgery—forgery of a large amount, and upon +his benefactor's name.</p> + +<p>"To this day, so far as I know," said Emily, with feeling, "that charge +remains uncontradicted; but I did not then, I do not now, and I never +<i>can</i> believe it. Whatever were his faults—and his impetuous temper +betrayed him into many—of this dark crime—though I have not even his +own word of attestation—I dare pronounce him innocent.</p> + +<p>"You cannot wonder, Gertrude, that in my feeble condition I was hardly +capable of realising at the time, far less of retaining, any distinct +recollection of the circumstances that followed my father's words. A few +dim pictures, however, the last my poor eyes ever beheld, are still +engraved upon my memory and visible to my imagination. My father stood +with his back to the light, and from the first moment of his entering +the room I never saw his face again; but the countenance of the object +of his accusation, illumined as it was by the last rays of the golden +sunset, stands ever in the foreground of my recollection. His head was +thrown proudly back; conscious innocence proclaimed itself in his clear, +calm eye, which shrunk not from the closest scrutiny; his hand was +clenched, as if he were vainly striving to repress the passion which +proclaimed itself in the compressed lips, the set teeth, the deep and +angry indignation which overspread his face. He did not +speak—apparently he could not command voice to do so; but my father +continued to upbraid him in language cutting and severe, though I +remember not a word of it. It was fearful to watch the working of the +young man's face, while he stood there listening to taunts and enduring +reproaches which were believed by him who uttered them to be just and +merited, but which wrought the youth to a degree of frenzy which it was +terrible to witness. Suddenly he took one step forward, slowly lifted +the clenched hand which had hitherto hung at his side. I know not +whether he might then have intended to call Heaven to witness his +innocence of the crime, or whether he might have designed to strike my +father; for I sprang from my seat prepared to rush between them, and +implore them for my sake, to desist; but my strength failed me, and, +with a shriek, I sunk back in a fainting fit.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the horror of my awakening! How shall I find words to tell it?—and +yet I must! Listen, Gertrude. He—the poor, ruined boy—sprung to help +me; and, maddened by injustice, he knew not what he did. Heaven is my +witness, I never blamed him; and if, in my agony, I uttered words that +seemed like a reproach, it was because I was too frantic, and knew not +what I said!"</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Gertrude, "he did not——"</p> + +<p>"No, no! he did not—he did <i>not put</i> out my eyes!" exclaimed Emily; "it +was an accident. He reached forward for the eau-de-cologne, which he had +just had in his hand. There were several bottles, and in his haste he +seized one containing a powerful acid which Mrs. Ellis had found +occasion to use in my sick-room. It had a heavy glass stopper—and +he—his hand being unsteady, and he spilt it all——"</p> + +<p>"On your eyes?" shrieked Gertrude.</p> + +<p>Emily bowed her head.</p> + +<p>"Oh, poor Emily!" cried Gertrude, "and wretched, wretched young man!"</p> + +<p>"Wretched indeed!" ejaculated Emily. "Bestow all your pity on him, +Gertrude, for his was the harder fate of the two."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Emily! how intense must have been the pain you endured! How could +you suffer so, and live?"</p> + +<p>"Do you mean the pain from my eyes? That was severe indeed, but the +mental agony was worse!"</p> + +<p>"What became of him?" said Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"I cannot give you an exact account of what followed. I was in no state +to know anything of my father's treatment of his step-son. He banished +him from his sight and knowledge for ever; and it is easy to believe it +was with no added gentleness, since he had now, besides the other crimes +imputed to him, been the cause of his daughter's blindness."</p> + +<p>"And did you never hear from him again?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Through the good doctor—who alone knew all the circumstances—I +learned that he had sailed for South America; and in the hope of once +more communicating with the poor exile, and assuring him of my continued +love, I rallied from the sickness, fever, and blindness into which I had +fallen; the doctor had even a thought of restoring sight to my eyes. +Several months passed, and my kind friend, who was persevering in his +inquiries, having learned the residence and address of the ill-fated +youth, I was commencing, through the aid of Mrs. Ellis (whom pity had +now won to my service), a letter of love, and an entreaty for his +return, when a fatal seal was put to all my earthly hopes. He died in a +foreign land, alone, unnursed, and uncared for; he died of that +southern disease which takes the stranger for its victim; and I, on +hearing the news of it, sunk back into a more pitiable malady; and—and +alas, for the encouragement of the good doctor had held out of my +gradual restoration to sight!—I wept all his hopes away!"</p> + +<p>Emily paused. Gertrude put her arms around her, and they clung closely +to each other; grief and sorrow made their union dearer than ever.</p> + +<p>"I was then, Gertrude," continued Emily, "a child of the world, eager +for worldly pleasures, and ignorant of any other. For a time, therefore, +I dwelt in utter darkness—the darkness of despair. I began, too, again +to feel my bodily strength restored, and to look forward to a useless +and miserable life. You can form no idea of the utter wretchedness in +which my days were passed.</p> + +<p>"But at last a dawn came to my dark night. It came in the shape of a +minister of Christ, our own dear Mr. Arnold, who opened the eyes of my +understanding, lit the lamp of religion in my now softened soul, taught +me the way to peace, and led my feeble steps into that blessed rest +which even on earth remaineth to the people of God.</p> + +<p>"In the eyes of the world I am still the unfortunate blind girl; cut off +from every enjoyment; but so great is the awakening I have experienced +that to me it is far otherwise, and I am ready to exclaim, like him who +in old time experienced his Saviour's healing power, 'Once I was blind, +but now I see!'"</p> + +<p>Gertrude half forgot her own troubles while listening to Emily's sad +story; and when the latter laid her hand upon her head, and prayed that +she too might be fitted for a patient endurance of trial, and be made +stronger and better thereby, she felt her heart penetrated with that +deep love and trust which seldom come to us except in the hour of +sorrow, and prove that it is through suffering only we are made +perfect.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XL" id="CHAPTER_XL"></a>CHAPTER XL.</h2> + +<h3>THE HOUR OF PERIL.</h3> + + +<p>As Mr. Graham had expressed in his letter the intention of being at the +steamboat wharf in New York to meet his daughter and Gertrude on their +arrival, Dr. Jeremy thought it unnecessary to accompany his charges +further than Albany, where he could see them safely on their way, and +then proceed to Boston with his wife over the Western Railroad.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Gerty," said the doctor, as he bade them farewell on the deck +of one of the Hudson river-boats. "I'm afraid you've lost your heart in +Saratoga; you don't look quite so bright as you did when we first +arrived there. It can't have strayed far, however, I think, in such a +place as that; so be sure and find it before I see you in Boston."</p> + +<p>It wanted a few minutes only of the time for the boat to start, when a +gay group of fashionables appeared talking and laughing. Among them was +Miss Clinton, whose companions were making her the object of a great +deal of wit and pleasantry, by which, although she feigned to be teased, +her smiling face gave evidence that she felt flattered and pleased. At +length the significant gesture of some of the party, and a +half-smothered hush-h! indicated the approach of some one, and presently +William Sullivan, with a travelling-bag in his hand, a heavy shawl +thrown over one arm, and his grave face, as if he had not recovered from +the chagrin of the previous evening, appeared, passed Gertrude, whose +veil was drawn over her face, and joined Isabel, placing his burden on a +chair which stood near.</p> + +<p>Just then the violent ringing of the bell gave notice to all but the +passengers to quit the boat, and he was compelled to make haste to +depart. As he did so he drew a step nearer Gertrude, a step further from +her whom he was addressing, and the former distinguished the words: +"Then, if you will do your best to return on Thursday I will try not to +be impatient in the meantime."</p> + +<p>A moment more and the boat was on its way; just then a tall figure, who +reached the landing just as she started, had, to the horror of the +spectators, daringly leaped the gap that already divided her from the +shore; after which he sought the gentlemen's saloon, threw himself upon +a couch, drew a book from his pocket, and commenced reading.</p> + +<p>As soon as the boat was fairly under weigh and quiet prevailed in the +neighbourhood, Emily spoke softly to Gertrude, and said——</p> + +<p>"Didn't I just now hear Isabel Clinton's voice?"</p> + +<p>"She is here," replied Gertrude, "on the opposite side of the deck, but +sitting with her back towards us."</p> + +<p>"Didn't she see us?"</p> + +<p>"I believe she did," answered Gertrude. "She stood looking this way +while her party were arranging their seats."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps she is going to New York to meet Mrs. Graham."</p> + +<p>"Very possible," replied Gertrude. "I didn't think of it before."</p> + +<p>"Who was the gentleman who spoke to her just before the boat started?"</p> + +<p>"Willie," was the tremulous response.</p> + +<p>Emily pressed Gertrude's hand and was silent. She, too, had overheard +his farewell remark, and felt its significance. Several hours passed, +and they had proceeded some distance down the river; for the motion of +the boat was rapid—too rapid, as it seemed to Gertrude, for safety. She +observed several circumstances, which excited so much alarm, that, +effectually aroused from her train of reflection, she had leisure only +to take into view her own and Emily's situation, and its probable +consequence.</p> + +<p>Several times, since they left Albany, had the boat passed and repassed +another of similar size, with living freight, and bound in the same +direction. Occasionally, during their headlong course, the contiguity of +the two boats excited serious alarm. They were racing, and racing +desperately. Some few, regardless of danger, watched with pleased +eagerness the mad career of rival ambition; but by far the majority of +the company, who had reason and sense, looked on in indignation and +fear. The usual stopping places on the river were either recklessly +passed by, or only paused at, while, with indecent haste, passengers +were shuffled backwards and forwards at the risk of life and limb, +their baggage (or somebody's else) unceremoniously flung after them, the +panting, snorting engine in the meantime bellowing with rage at the +check thus unwillingly imposed upon its freedom.</p> + +<p>Gertrude sat with her hand locked in Emily's, anxiously watching every +indication of terror, and endeavouring to judge from the countenances +and words of her most intelligent-looking fellow-travellers the actual +degree of their insecurity. Emily, rendered through her acute hearing, +conscious of the prevailing alarm, was calm, though very pale, and from +time to time questioned Gertrude concerning the vicinity of the other +boat, a collision with which was the principal cause of fear.</p> + +<p>At length their boat for a few moments distanced its competitor; the +assurance of perfect safety was impressively asserted; anxiety began to +be relieved, and most of the passengers gained their wonted composure. +Emily looked pallid, and, as Gertrude fancied, a little faint. "Let us +go below, Emily," she said; "it appears now to be very quiet and safe."</p> + +<p>Gertrude opened her travelling-basket, which contained their luncheon. +It consisted merely of such dry morsels as had been hastily collected +and put up at their hotel, in Albany, by Dr. Jeremy's direction. +Gertrude was hesitating which she could recommend to Emily, when a +waiter appeared, bearing a tray of refreshments, which he placed upon +the table.</p> + +<p>"This is not for us," said Gertrude. "You have made a mistake."</p> + +<p>"No mistake," replied the man. "Orders was for de blind lady and hansum +young miss. I only 'beys orders. Anything furder, miss?"</p> + +<p>Gertrude dismissed the man with the assurance that they wanted nothing +more, and then, turning to Emily, asked, with an attempt at +cheerfulness, what they should do with this Aladdin-like repast.</p> + +<p>"Eat it, my dear, if you can," said Emily; "it is no doubt meant for +us."</p> + +<p>"But to whom are we indebted for it?"</p> + +<p>"To my blindness and your beauty, I suppose," said Emily, smiling. +"Perhaps the chief steward, or master of ceremonies, took pity on our +inability to come to dinner, and so sent the dinner to us."</p> + +<p>The sable waiter, when he came to remove the dishes, really looked sad +to see how little they had eaten. Gertrude drew out her purse, and after +bestowing a fee upon the man, inquired whom she should pay for the meal.</p> + +<p>"Pay, miss!" said the man, grinning. "Bless my stars! de gentleman pays +for all!"</p> + +<p>"Who? What gentleman?" asked Gertrude, in surprise.</p> + +<p>But before he could reply another waiter appeared and beckoned to his +fellow-waiter, who snatched up his tray and trotted off, leaving +Gertrude and Emily to wonder who the gentleman might be.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"What time is it?" asked she, on awaking.</p> + +<p>"Nearly a quarter past three," replied Gertrude, glancing at her watch +(a beautiful gift from a class of her former pupils).</p> + +<p>Emily started up. "We can't be far from New York," said she; "where are +we now?"</p> + +<p>"I think we must be near the Palisades;" said Gertrude; "stay here, I +will go and see." She passed across the saloon, and was ascending the +staircase, when she was alarmed by a rushing sound, mingled with hurried +steps. She kept on, however, and had gained the head of the stairway, +when a man rushed past gasping for breath, and shrieking, "Fire! fire!" +A scene of dismay and confusion ensued too terrible for description. +Shrieks rose upon the air, groans and cries of despair burst from hearts +that were breaking with fear for others, or maddened at the certainty of +their own destruction. Those who had never prayed before poured out +their souls in the fervent ejaculation, "Oh, my God!"</p> + +<p>Gertrude gazed around upon every side. Towards the centre of the boat, +where the machinery, heated to the last degree, had fired the vessel, a +huge volume of flame was visible, darting out its fiery fangs, and +causing the stoutest hearts to shrink and crouch in horror. She gave but +one glance; then bounded down the stairs to save Emily. But she was +arrested at the very onset. One step only had she taken when she was +encircled by two powerful arms, and a movement made to rush with her +upon deck: while a familiar voice gasped forth, "Gertrude, my child! my +own darling! Be quiet—be quiet!—I will save you!"</p> + +<p>She was struggling madly. "No, no!" shouted she; "Emily! Emily! Let me +die! but I must find Emily!"</p> + +<p>"Where is she?" asked Mr. Phillips; for it was he.</p> + +<p>"There, there," pointed Gertrude—"in the cabin. Let me go! let me go!"</p> + +<p>He cast one look around him; then said, in a firm tone, "Be calm, my +child! I can save you both; follow me closely!"</p> + +<p>With a leap he cleared the staircase, and rushed into the cabin. In the +furthest corner knelt Emily, her hands clasped, and her face like that +of an angel.</p> + +<p>Gertrude and Mr. Phillips were by her side in an instant. He stooped to +lift her in his arms, Gertrude at the same time exclaiming, "Come, +Emily, come! He will save us!" But Emily resisted. "Leave me, +Gertrude—leave me, and save yourselves! Oh!" said she, imploringly, +"leave me, and save my child." But ere the words had left her lips she +was borne half way across the saloon; Gertrude followed closely.</p> + +<p>"If we can cross to the bows of the boat we are safe!" said Mr. +Phillips, in a husky voice.</p> + +<p>To do so, however, proved impossible. The centre of the boat was now one +sheet of flame. "Good heavens!" exclaimed he, "we are too late! we must +go back!"</p> + +<p>With much difficulty they regained the saloon. The boat, as soon as the +fire was discovered, had been turned towards the shore, struck upon the +rocks, and parted in the middle. Her bows were brought near to the land, +near enough to almost ensure the safety of such persons as were at the +top part of the vessel. But, alas for those near the stern!</p> + +<p>Mr. Phillips' first thought was to beat down a window-sash, spring upon +the guards, and drag Emily and Gertrude after him. Some ropes hung upon +the guards; he seized one and made it fast to the boat; then turned to +Gertrude, who stood firm by his side. "Gertrude," said he, "I shall swim +to the shore with Emily. If the fire comes too near, cling to the +guards; as a last chance hold on to the rope. Keep your veil flying; I +shall return."</p> + +<p>"No, no!" cried Emily. "Gertrude, go first."</p> + +<p>"Hush, Emily!" exclaimed Gertrude; "we shall both be saved."</p> + +<p>"Cling to my shoulder in the water, Emily," said Mr. Phillips, utterly +regardless of her protestations. He took her once more in his arms; +there was a splash, and they were gone. At the same instant Gertrude was +seized from behind. She turned and found herself grasped by Isabel +Clinton, who, kneeling upon the platform, and frantic with terror, was +clinging so closely to her as utterly to disable them both; she shrieked +out, "Oh, Gertrude! Gertrude! save me!" But Gertrude thus imprisoned, +she was powerless to do anything for her own or Isabel's salvation. She +looked forth in the direction Mr. Phillips had taken, and, to her joy, +she saw him returning. He had deposited Emily on board a boat, and was +now approaching to claim another burden. A volume of flame swept so near +the spot where the two alarmed girls were stationed that Gertrude felt +the scorching heat, and both were almost suffocated with smoke. An +heroic resolution was now displayed by Gertrude. One of them could be +saved; for Mr. Phillips was within a few rods of the wreck. It should be +Isabel! She had called on her for protection, and it should not be +denied! Moreover, Willie loved Isabel. Willie would weep for her loss, +and that must not be. He would not weep for Gertrude—at least, not +much; and, if one must die, it should be she. "Isabel," said +she—"Isabel, do you hear me? Stand up on your feet; do as I tell you, +and you shall be saved. Do you hear me, Isabel?"</p> + +<p>She heard, shuddered; but did not move. Gertrude stooped down, and +wrenching apart the hands which were convulsively clenched, said +sternly, "Isabel, if you do as I tell you, you will be on shore in five +minutes, safe and well; but if you stay there we shall both be burned to +death. For mercy's sake, get up quickly, and listen to me!" Isabel rose, +fixed her eyes upon Gertrude's calm, steadfast face, and said, "What +must I do? I will try."</p> + +<p>"Do you see that person swimming this way?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"He will come to this spot. Hold fast to that piece of rope, and I will +let you gradually down to the water. But, stay!"—and, snatching the +deep blue veil from her own head she tied it round the neck and flung it +over the fair hair of Isabel. Mr. Phillips was within a rod or two. +"Now, Isabel, now!" exclaimed Gertrude, "or you will be too late!" +Isabel took the rope, but shrunk back, appalled at the sight of the +water. One more hot burst of fire gave her renewed courage to brave a +mere seeming danger; and aided by Gertrude, who helped her over the +guards, she allowed herself to be let down to the water's edge. Mr. +Phillips was just in time to receive her, for she was so utterly +exhausted that she could not have clung long to the rope. Gertrude had +no opportunity to follow them with her eye; her own situation was now +all-engrossing. The flames had reached her. She could hardly breathe. +She could hesitate no longer. She seized the piece of rope, and grasping +it with all nor might, leaped over the side of the vessel. How long her +strength would have enabled her thus to cling—how long the guards, as +yet unapproached by the fire, would have continued a sure support for +the cable—there was no opportunity to test; for, just as her feet +touched the cold surface of the water, the huge wheel, which was but a +little distance from where she hung, gave one sudden revolution, +sounding like a death-dirge through the water, which came foaming and +dashing up against the boat, and, as it swept away again, bore with it +the light form of Gertrude!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLI" id="CHAPTER_XLI"></a>CHAPTER XLI.</h2> + +<h3>SUSPENSE.</h3> + + +<p>Let us now revisit the country seat of Mr. Graham. The old gentleman, +wearied with travels and society not congenial to his years, is pacing +up and down his garden walks; his countenance denoting plainly enough +how glad he is to find himself once more in his cherished homestead. It +is supposed that such satisfaction arose from the circumstance that the +repose of his household is rendered complete by the absence of its +excitable mistress, whom he has left in New York. This was like the good +old times.</p> + +<p>Emily and Gertrude, too, are closely associated with those good old +times; and it adds greatly to the delusion of his fancy to dwell upon +the certainty that they are both in the house, and that he shall see +them both at dinner. Yes, Gertrude is there, as well as the rest, +saved—she hardly knew how—from a watery grave that almost engulfed +her, and established once more in the peaceful and endeared spot, now +the dearest to her on earth.</p> + +<p>When, with some difficulty, restored to consciousness, she was informed +that she had been picked up by some humane persons who had pushed a boat +from the shore to rescue the sufferers; that she was clinging to the +chair, which she had probably grasped when washed away by the sudden +rushing of the water, and that her situation was such that, a moment +more, and it would have been impossible to save her from the flames, +close to which she was drifting. But of all this she had herself no +recollection. From the moment when she committed her light weight to the +frail tenure of the rope until she opened her eyes in a quiet spot, and +saw Emily leaning anxiously over the bed upon which she lay, all had +been a blank to her senses. A few hours from the time of the terrible +catastrophe brought Mr. Graham to the scene, and the next day restored +all three in safety to the old mansion-house in D——. This venerable +habitation, and its adjoining grounds, wore nearly the same aspect as +when they met the admiring eyes of Gerty on the first visit that she +made Miss Graham in her early childhood—that long-expected and +keenly-enjoyed visit, which proved a lasting topic for her young mind to +dwell upon.</p> + +<p>The old house had a look of contentment and repose. The hall door stood +wide open. Mr. Graham's arm-chair was in its usual place; Gertrude's +birds, of which Mrs. Ellis had taken excellent care, were hopping about +on the slender perches of the great Indian cage which hung on the wide +piazza. The old house-dog lay stretched in the sun. Plenty of flowers +graced the parlour, and all was very comfortable. Mr. Graham thought so +as he came up the steps, patted the dog, whistled to the birds, sat down +in the arm-chair, and took the morning paper from the hand of the neat +housemaid. The dear old place was the dear old place still.</p> + +<p>Mr. Graham has been having new experiences; and he is, in many respects, +a changed man. Emily is sitting in her own room. She is paler than ever, +and her face has an anxious expression. Every time the door opens she +starts, trembles, a sudden flush overspreads her face, and twice during +the morning she has suddenly burst into tears. Every exertion, even that +of dressing, seems a labour to her; she cannot listen to Gertrude's +reading, but will constantly interrupt her to ask questions concerning +the burning boat, her own and others' rescue, and every circumstance +connected with the late terrible scene of agony and death. Her nervous +system is shattered, and Gertrude looks at her and weeps.</p> + +<p>Gertrude withdrew, but returned in an hour to help her to dress for +dinner—a ceremony which Miss Graham would never omit, her chief desire +seeming to be to maintain the appearance of health and happiness in the +presence of her father. Gertrude retired to her own room, leaving Emily +to bow her head upon her hands, and utter a few hysterical sobs. +Gertrude is followed by Mrs. Ellis, who seats herself, and in her +exciting style adds to the poor girl's fear and distress by stating the +dreadful effect the recollection of that shocking accident is having +upon poor Emily. "She's completely upset, and if she don't begin to mend +in a day or two there's no knowing what the consequences may be. Emily +is feeble, and not fit to travel; I wish she had stayed at home."</p> + +<p>Gertrude is again interrupted. The housemaid brought her a letter! With +a trembling hand she receives it, fearing to look at the writing or +post-mark. Her first thought is of Willie; but before she could indulge +either a hope or a fear on that score the illusion is dispelled, for, +though the post-mark is New York, and he might be there, the handwriting +is wholly strange. She breaks the seal, and reads:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">My darling Gertrude,</span>—My much-loved child—for such you indeed +are, though a father's agony of fear and despair alone wrung from +me the words that claimed you. It was no madness that, in the dark +hour of danger, compelled me to clasp you to my heart, and call you +mine. A dozen times before had I been seized by the same emotion, +and as often had it been subdued and smothered. And even now I +would crush the promptings of nature, and depart and weep my poor +life away alone; but the voice within me has spoken once, and +cannot again be silenced. Had I seen you happy, gay, and +light-hearted, I would not have asked to share your joy, far less +would I have cast a shadow on your path; but you are sad and +troubled, my poor child, and your grief unites the tie between us +closer than that of kindred, and makes you a thousand times my +daughter; for I am a wretched, weary man, and know how to feel for +others' woe.</p> + +<p>"You have a kind and a gentle heart, my child. You have wept once +for the stranger's sorrows—will you now refuse to pity, if you +cannot love, the solitary parent, who, with a breaking heart and a +trembling hand, writes the ill-fated word that dooms him, perhaps, +to the hatred and contempt of the only being on earth with whom he +can claim the fellowship of a natural tie? Twice before have I +striven to utter it, and, laying down my pen, have shrunk from the +cruel task. But, hard as it is to speak, I find it harder to still +the beating of my restless heart; therefore, listen to me, though +it may be for the last time. Is there one being on earth whom you +shudder to think of? Is there one associated only in your mind with +deeds of darkness and of shame? Is there one name which you have +from your childhood learned to abhor and hate; and, in proportion +as you love your best friend, have you been taught to shrink from +and despise her worst enemy? It cannot be otherwise. Ah! I tremble +to think how my child will recoil from her father when she learns +the secret, so long preserved, so sorrowfully revealed, that he is</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Phillip Amory!</span>"</p></blockquote> + +<p>As Gertrude finished reading this strange and unintelligible letter her +countenance expressed complete bewilderment—her eyes glistened with +tears, her face was flushed with excitement; but she was evidently at a +total loss to account for the meaning of the stranger's words. She sat +for an instant wildly gazing into vacancy; then, springing suddenly up, +with the letter grasped in one hand, ran to Emily's room, to read the +wonderful contents, and ask her opinion of their hidden meaning. She +stopped, however, when her hand was on the door-lock. Emily was already +ill—it would not do to distress or even disturb her; and, retreating to +her own room, Gertrude sat down to re-peruse the singular letter.</p> + +<p>That Mr. Phillips and the letter-writer were identical she at once +perceived. It was no slight impression that his exclamation and conduct +during the time of their imminent danger on board the boat had left upon +the mind of Gertrude. During the three days that succeeded the accident +the words, "My child! my own darling!" had been continually ringing in +her ears, and haunting her imagination. Now the blissful idea would +flash upon her, that the noble, disinterested stranger, who had risked +his life in her own and Emily's cause, might indeed be her father; and +every fibre of her being had thrilled at the thought, while her head +grew dizzy and confused with the strong sensation of hope that almost +overwhelmed her brain.</p> + +<p>Her first inquiries, on recovering consciousness, had been for the +preserver of Emily and Isabel, but he had disappeared; no trace of him +could be obtained, and Mr. Graham arriving and hurrying them from the +neighbourhood, she had been compelled to abandon the hope of seeing him +again. The same motives which induced her not to consult Emily +concerning the mysterious epistle had hitherto prevented her from +imparting the secret of Mr. Phillips' inexplicable language and manner; +but she had dwelt upon them none the less.</p> + +<p>The first perusal of the letter served only to excite and alarm her. But +as she sat for an hour gazing upon the page, which she read and re-read +until it was blistered with the varying expression of her face denoted +the emotions that, one after another, possessed her; and which at last, +snatching a sheet of paper, she committed to writing with a feverish +rapidity that betrayed how she staggered beneath the weight of +contending hopes and gloomy fears.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">My dear, dear Father,</span>—If I may dare to believe that you are so, +and if not that, my best of friends—how shall I write to you, and +what shall I say, since all your words are a mystery? Father! +blessed word. Oh, that my noble friend were indeed my father! Yet +tell me, tell me, how can this be? Alas! I feel a sad presentiment +that the bright dream is all an illusion, an error. I never before +remember to have heard the name of Phillip Amory. My sweet, pure, +and gentle Emily has taught me to love all the world; and hatred +and contempt are foreign to her nature, and, I trust, to my own. +Moreover, she has not an enemy in the wide world, never had, or +could have. One might as well war with an angel of heaven as with a +creature so holy and lovely as she.</p> + +<p>"Nor bid me think of yourself as a man of sin and crime. It cannot +be. It would be wronging a noble nature to believe it, and I say +again it cannot be. Gladly would I trust myself to repose on the +bosom of such a parent; gladly would I hail the sweet duty of +consoling the sorrows of one so self-sacrificing, so kind, so +generous; whose life has been so freely offered for me, and for +others whose existence was dearer to me than my own. When you took +me in your arms and called me your child, your darling child, I +fancied that the excitement of that dreadful scene had for the +moment disturbed your mind and brain so far as to invest me with a +false identity—perhaps confound my image with that of some loved +and absent one. I now believe that it was no sudden madness, but +rather that I have been all along mistaken for another, whose glad +office it may perhaps be to cheer a father's saddened life, while I +remain unrecognized, unsought—the fatherless, motherless one, I am +accustomed to consider myself. If you have lost a daughter, God +grant she may be restored to you, to love you as I would do, were I +so blessed as to be that daughter! And I—consider me not a +stranger; let me be your child in heart; let me love, pray, and +weep for you; let me pour out my soul in thankfulness for the kind +care and sympathy you have already given me. And yet, though I +disclaim it all, and dare not, yes, dare not, dwell for a moment on +the thought that you are otherwise than deceived in believing me +your child, my heart leaps up in spite of me, and I tremble and +almost cease to breathe as there flashes upon me the possibility, +the blissful God-given hopes! No, no! I will not think of it, lest +I could not bear to have it crushed! Oh, what am I writing? I know +not. I cannot endure the suspense long; write quickly, or come to +me, my father—for I will call you so once, though perhaps never +again.</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Gertrude.</span>"</p></blockquote> + +<p>Mr. Phillips—or rather Mr. Amory, for we shall call him by his true +name—had neglected to mention his address. Gertrude did not observe +this circumstance until she was preparing to direct her letter. She for +a moment experienced a severe pang in the thought that her communication +would never reach him. But she was reassured on examining the post-mark, +which was evidently New York, to which she addressed her missive; and +then, unwilling to trust it to other hands, tied on her bonnet, caught +up a veil with which to conceal her agitated face, deposited the letter +herself in the village post-office.</p> + +<p>Gertrude's case was a peculiarly trying one. She had been already, for +a week past, struggling in suspense which agitated her almost beyond +endurance; and now a new cause of mystery had arisen, involving an +almost equal amount of self-questioning and torture. It seemed almost +beyond the power of so sensitive, and so inexperienced a girl to rally +such self-command as would enable her to control her emotions, disguise +them from observation, and compel herself to endure alone and in silence +this cruel destiny. But she did do it, and bravely too.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLII" id="CHAPTER_XLII"></a>CHAPTER XLII.</h2> + +<h3>TIES—NOT OF EARTH.</h3> + + +<p>In a private room of one of those first-class hotels in which New York +city abounds, Phillip Amory sat alone. It was evening, the curtains were +drawn, the gas-lamps burning brightly and giving a cheerful glow to the +room, the comfortable appearance of which contrasted strongly with the +pale countenance and desponding attitude of its solitary inmate, who +leaned upon a table in the centre of the apartment. He had thus sat for +nearly an hour without once moving or looking up. Suddenly he started +up, straightened his commanding figure to its full height, and slowly +paced the room. A slight knock at the door arrested his steps; a look of +annoyance overspread his countenance; he again flung himself into his +chair, and, in reply to the servant's announcing, "A gentleman, sir," +was preparing to say, "I cannot be interrupted"—but it was too late; +the visitor had advanced within the door, which the waiter quietly +closed and repeated.</p> + +<p>The new-comer—a young man—stepped quickly and eagerly forward, but +checked himself, abashed at the coldness of the reception by his host.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, Mr. Phillips," said William Sullivan, for it was he; "I fear +my visit is an intrusion."</p> + +<p>"Do not speak of it," replied Mr. Amory. "I beg you to be seated;" +politely handing a chair.</p> + +<p>Willie availed himself of the offered seat no further than to lean +lightly upon it with one hand, while he still remained standing. "You +have changed, sir," continued he, "since I last saw you."</p> + +<p>"Changed! Yes, I am," said the other, absently.</p> + +<p>"Your health, I fear, is not——"</p> + +<p>"My health is excellent," said Mr. Amory, interrupting his remark. "It +is a long time, sir, since we met. I have not yet forgotten the debt I +owe you for your timely interference between me and Ali, that Arab +traitor, with his rascally army of Bedouin rogues."</p> + +<p>"Do not name it, sir," said Willie. "Our meeting was fortunate; but the +benefit was as mutual as the danger to which we were alike exposed."</p> + +<p>"I cannot think so. You seemed to have a most excellent understanding +with your own party of guides and attendants, Arabs though they were."</p> + +<p>"True; I have had some experience in Eastern travel, and know how to +manage those inflammable spirits of the desert. But at the time I joined +you, I was myself entering the neighbourhood of hostile tribes, and +might soon have found our party overawed but for having joined forces +with yourself."</p> + +<p>"You set but a modest value upon your conciliatory powers, young man. To +you, who are so well acquainted with the facts in the case, I can hardly +claim the merit of frankness for the acknowledgment that it was only my +own hot temper and stubborn will which exposed us both to the imminent +danger which you were fortunately able to avert. No, no! I must once +more express my gratitude for your invaluable aid."</p> + +<p>"You are making my visit, sir," said Willie, smiling, "the very reverse +of what it was intended to be. I did not come here this evening to +receive but to render thanks."</p> + +<p>"For what, sir?" asked Mr. Amory, abruptly, almost roughly. "You owe me +nothing."</p> + +<p>"The friends of Isabella Clinton, sir, owe you a debt of gratitude which +it will be impossible for them ever to repay."</p> + +<p>"You are mistaken, Mr. Sullivan; I have done nothing which places that +young lady's friends under a particle of obligation to me."</p> + +<p>"Did you not save her life?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but nothing was further from my intention."</p> + +<p>Willie smiled. "It could have been no accident, I think, which led you +to risk your own life to rescue a fellow-passenger."</p> + +<p>"It was no accident which led to Miss Clinton's safety from destruction. +I am convinced of that. But you must not thank <i>me</i>; it is due to +another than myself that she does not now sleep in death."</p> + +<p>"May I ask to whom you refer?"</p> + +<p>"I refer to a dear and noble girl, to whom I swam in that burning wreck +to save. Her veil had been agreed upon as a signal between us. That +veil, carefully thrown over the head of Miss Clinton, whom I found +clinging to the spot assigned to—to her whom I was seeking, deceived +me, and I bore in safety to the shore the burden which I had ignorantly +seized from the gaping waters, leaving my own darling, who had offered +her life as a sacrifice to——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, not to die!" exclaimed Willie.</p> + +<p>"No; to be saved by a miracle. Go thank her for Miss Clinton's life."</p> + +<p>"I thank God," said Willie, with fervour, "that the horrors of such +scenes of destruction are half redeemed by heroism like that."</p> + +<p>The stern countenance of Mr. Amory softened as he listened to the young +man's enthusiastic outburst of admiration at Gertrude's noble +self-devotion.</p> + +<p>"Who is she? Where is she?" continued Willie.</p> + +<p>"Ask me not!" replied Mr. Amory, with a gesture of impatience; "I cannot +tell you if I would. I have not seen her since that ill-fated day."</p> + +<p>His manner seemed to intimate an unwillingness to enter into further +explanation regarding Isabel's rescue, and Willie, perceiving it, stood +for a moment silent and irresolute. Then advancing nearer, he said, +"Though you so utterly disclaim, Mr. Phillips, any participation in Miss +Clinton's escape, I feel that my errand would be but imperfectly +fulfilled if I should fail to deliver the message which I bring to one +who was the final means if not the original cause of her safety. Mr. +Clinton, the young lady's father, desired me to tell you that, in saving +the life of his only surviving child, the last of seven, all of whom but +herself had an early death, you have prolonged his life, and rendered +him grateful to that degree which words on his part are powerless to +express; but that, as long as his feeble life is spared, he shall never +cease to bless your name and pray to heaven for its choicest gifts upon +you and those who dwell next your heart."</p> + +<p>There was a slight moisture in the penetrating eye of Mr. Amory, but a +courteous smile upon his lip, as he said, "All this from Mr. Clinton! +Very gentlemanly, and equally sincere, I doubt not; but you surely do +not mean to thank me wholly in his name, my young friend. Have you +nothing to say for your own sake?"</p> + +<p>Willie looked surprised, but replied, unhesitatingly, "Certainly, sir; +as one of a large circle of acquaintances and friends whom Miss Clinton +honours with her regard, my admiration and gratitude for your +disinterested exertions are unbounded; and not only on her account, but +on that of whom you nobly rescued from a most terrible death."</p> + +<p>"Am I to understand that you speak only as a friend of humanity, and +that you felt no personal interest in any of my fellow-passengers?"</p> + +<p>"I was unacquainted with nearly all of them. Miss Clinton was the only +one I had known for any greater length of time than during two or three +days of Saratoga intercourse; but I should have mourned her death, since +I was in the habit of meeting her familiarly in her childhood, have +lately been continually in her society, and am aware that her father, my +respected partner, an old and invaluable friend, who is now much +enfeebled in health, could hardly have survived so severe a shock as the +loss of an only child, whom he idolises."</p> + +<p>"You speak very coolly, Mr. Sullivan. Are you aware that the prevailing +belief gives you credit for feeling more than a mere friendly interest +in Miss Clinton?" The dilating of Willie's eyes, as he fixed them +inquiringly upon Mr. Amory—the half-scrutinising expression of his +face, as he seated himself in the chair, were sufficient evidence of the +effect of the question unexpectedly put to him. "Sir," said he, "I +either misunderstood you, or the prevailing belief is a most mistaken +one."</p> + +<p>"Then you never before heard of your own engagement."</p> + +<p>"Never, I assure you. Is it possible that so idle a report has obtained +an extensive circulation among Miss Clinton's friends!"</p> + +<p>"Sufficiently extensive for me, a mere spectator of Saratoga life, to +hear it whispered from ear to ear, as a fact worthy of credit."</p> + +<p>"I am surprised and vexed at what you tell me," said Willie. +"Nonsensical and false as such a rumour is, it will, if it should reach +Miss Clinton, be a source of annoyance to her; and on that account, I +regret the circumstances which have probably given rise to it."</p> + +<p>"Do you refer to considerations of delicacy on the lady's part, or have +you the modesty to believe that her pride would be wounded by having her +name thus coupled with that of her father's junior partner, a young man +hitherto unknown to fashionable circles? But, excuse me; perhaps I am +stepping on dangerous ground."</p> + +<p>"By no means, sir; you wrong me if you believe my pride to be of such a +nature. But I have not only reference to both the motives you name, but +to many others, when I assert my opinion of the resentment Miss Clinton +would probably cherish if your remarks should reach her ears."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Sullivan," said Mr. Amory, "are you sure you are not standing in +your own light? Are you aware that undue modesty with false notions of +refinement has oft prevented many a man's good fortune, and is likely to +interfere with your own?"</p> + +<p>"How so, sir? You speak in riddles, and I am ignorant of your meaning."</p> + +<p>"Handsome young fellows, like you, can often command any amount of +property for the asking; but many such chances rarely occur to one +individual; and the world will laugh at you if you waste so fair an +opportunity as you now have."</p> + +<p>"Opportunity for what? You surely do not mean to advise me——"</p> + +<p>"I do, though. I am older than you are, and I know something of the +world. A fortune is not made in a day, nor is money to be despised. Mr. +Clinton's life is almost worn out in toiling after that wealth which +will soon be the inheritance of his daughter. She is young, beautiful, +and the pride of that high circle in which she moves. Both father and +daughter smile upon you; you need not look disconcerted—I speak as +between friends, and you know the truth of that which strangers have +observed, and which I have frequently heard mentioned as beyond doubt. +Why do you hesitate!"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Phillips," said Willie, with embarrassment, "the comments of mere +casual acquaintances, such as most of those with whom Miss Clinton +associated in Saratoga, are not to be depended upon. The relations in +which I stand towards Mr. Clinton have been such as to draw me into +constant intercourse with himself and his daughter. He is almost without +relatives, has scarcely any trustworthy friend at command, and therefore +appears to the world more favourably disposed towards me than would be +found to be the case should I aspire to his daughter's hand. The lady, +too, has so many admirers, that it would be vanity in me to believe——"</p> + +<p>"Pooh, pooh!" exclaimed Mr. Phillips, "tell that, Sullivan, to a greater +novice, a more unsophisticated individual, than I am! It is very +becoming in you to say so; but a few reminders will hardly harm a youth +who has such a low opinion of his own merits. Pray, who was the +gentleman for whose society Miss Clinton was, a few nights since, so +ready to forego the music of Alboni, the crowded hall, and the smiles of +a train of adorers?"</p> + +<p>Willie said, "I remember!—That, then, was one of the causes of +suspicion. I was then a messenger merely, to summon Miss Isabel to the +bedside of her father, by whom I had been watching for hours, and who, +on awakening from a lethargic sleep, which alarmed the physician, +eagerly inquired for his daughter, that I did not hesitate to interrupt +the pleasure of the evening and call her to the post of duty in the +cottage occupied by Mr. Clinton, at the extremity of the grounds, to +which I accompanied her by moonlight."</p> + +<p>Mr. Amory laughed, cast upon Willie that look of benignity which became +his fine countenance, and exclaimed, "So much for watering-place gossip! +I must forbear speaking of any further evidences of a tender interest +manifested by either of you. But believe, dear Sullivan, that though the +young lady's heart be still, like her fortune, in the united keeping of +herself and her father, there is nothing easier than for you to win and +claim them both. You possess business talent indispensable to the elder +party; if, with your handsome face, figure, and accomplishments, you +cannot render yourself equally so to the younger, there is no one to +blame but yourself."</p> + +<p>Willie laughed. "If I had that object in view, I know of no one to whom +I would so soon come for encouragement as to you, sir; but the +flattering prospect you hold out is quite wasted upon me."</p> + +<p>Mr. Amory said, "I cannot believe you will be so foolish as to neglect +the opportunity of taking that stand in life to which your education and +qualities entitle you. Your father was a respectable clergyman; you +profited by every advantage in your youth, and have done yourself such +credit in India as would enable you, with plenty of capital at command, +to take the lead in a few years among mercantile men. A man just +returned from a long residence abroad is thought to be an easy prey to +the charms of the first of his fair countrywomen into whose society he +may be thrown; and it can scarcely be wondered at, if you are subdued by +such winning attractions as are rarely to be met with in this land of +beautiful women. Nor can it be possible that you have for six years +toiled beneath an Indian sun without learning to appreciate the +looked-for but happy termination of your toils, whose crowning blessing +will be the possession of your beautiful bride."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Phillips," said Willie, speaking with decision and energy, which +proved how heart-felt were the words he uttered, "I have not spent many +of the best years of my life toiling beneath a burning sun, and in exile +from all that I held most dear, without being sustained by high hopes, +aims, and aspirations. But you misjudge me greatly if you believe that +the ambition that has spurred me on can find its gratification in those +rewards which you have so vividly presented to my imagination. No, sir! +believe me, I aspire to something higher yet, and should think my best +efforts wasted if my hopes tended not to a still more glorious good."</p> + +<p>"And to what quarter do you look for the fulfilment of such prospects?" +asked Mr. Amory.</p> + +<p>"Not to the gay circles of fashion," replied Willie, "nor yet to that +moneyed aristocracy which awards to each man his position in life. I do +not depreciate an honourable standing in the eyes of my fellow-men; I am +not blind to the advantages of wealth, or to the claims of grace and +beauty; but these were not the things for which I left my home, and it +is not to claim them that I have returned. Young as I am, I have seen +enough of trial to believe that the only blessings worth striving for +are something more enduring, more satisfying, than precarious wealth or +fleeting smiles."</p> + +<p>"To what, then, I ask, do you look forward?"</p> + +<p>"To a <i>home</i>, and that not so much for myself as for another, with whom +I hope to share it. A year since"—and Willie's lip trembled, his voice +faltered—"there were others, besides that dear one whose image now +fills my heart, whom I had fondly hoped, and should have rejoiced, to +see reaping the fruits of my exertions. But we were not permitted to +meet again; and now—but pardon me, sir; I would not trouble you with my +private affairs."</p> + +<p>"Go on," said Mr. Amory; "I deserve some confidence in return for the +disinterested advice I have been giving you. Speak to me as to an old +friend; I am much interested in what you say."</p> + +<p>"It is long since I have spoken freely of myself," said Willie, "but +frankness is natural to me, and, since you profess a desire to learn +something of my aim in life, I know of no motive I have for reserve or +concealment. But my position, sir, even as a child, was singular; and +excuse me if I briefly refer to it. I could not have been more than +twelve or fourteen years of age when I began to realise the necessity +which rested upon me. My widowed mother and her aged father were the +only relatives I knew. One was feeble, delicate, and unequal to active +exertion; the other was old and poor, being wholly dependent upon a +small salary for officiating as sexton of a neighbouring church. Yet in +spite of these circumstances they maintained me for several years in +comfort and decency, and gave me an excellent education.</p> + +<p>"At an age when kites and marbles are so engrossing, I had an earnest +desire to relieve my mother and grandfather of a part of their care and +labour; and I obtained a situation, in which I was well treated and well +paid, and which I retained until the death of my excellent master. Then, +for a time, I felt bitterly the want of employment, and became +despondent; a state of mind which was fostered by constant association +with my desponding grandfather, who, having met with great +disappointment in life, encouraged me not, but was ever hinting at the +probability of my failing in every scheme for advancement.</p> + +<p>"I have since thought his doubtings answered a good purpose; for nothing +so urged me on to efforts as the desire to prove the mistaken nature of +his gloomy predictions, and few things have given me more satisfaction +than the assurances I have received during the past few years that he +came at last to a full conviction that my prosperity was established, +and that one of his ill-fated family was destined to escape the trials +of poverty.</p> + +<p>"My mother was a quiet, gentle woman, small in person, with great +simplicity, and some reserve of manner. She loved me like her own soul; +she taught me everything I know of goodness; there is no sacrifice I +would not have made for her happiness. I would have died to save her +life; but we shall never meet again in this world, and I—I—am learning +to be resigned.</p> + +<p>"For these two, and one other, whom I shall speak of presently, I was +ready to go away, and strive, and suffer, and be patient. The +opportunity came and I embraced it. And soon one great object of my +ambition was won; I was able to earn a competency for myself and for +them. And I began to look forward to a day when my long looked-for +return should render our happiness complete. I little thought then that +the sad tidings of my grandfather's death were on their way, and the +news of my mother's slow but sure decline so soon to follow. But they +are both gone; and I should now be so solitary as almost to long to +follow them but for one other, whose love will bind me to earth so long +as she is spared."</p> + +<p>"And she?" exclaimed Mr. Amory, with an eagerness which Willie, +engrossed with his own thoughts, did not observe.</p> + +<p>"Is a young girl," continued Willie, "without family, wealth, or beauty; +but with a spirit so elevated as to make her great—a heart so noble as +to make her rich—a soul so pure as to make her beautiful."</p> + +<p>Mr. Amory's fixed attention, his evident waiting to hear more, +emboldened Willie to add: "There lived in the same house which my +grandfather occupied an old man, a city lamplighter. He was poorer even +than we were, but there never was a better or a kinder-hearted person in +the world. One evening, when engaged in his round of duty, he picked up +and brought home a little ragged child, whom a cruel woman had thrust +into the street to perish with cold, or die a more lingering death in +the almshouse; for nothing but such devoted care as she received from my +mother and Uncle True (so we always called our old friend) could have +saved the half-starved creature from the consequences of long exposure +and ill-treatment. Through their unwearied watching and efforts she was +spared, to repay in after years more than all the love bestowed upon +her. She was then miserably thin, and plain in her appearance, besides +being possessed of a violent temper, which she had never been taught to +restrain, and a stubbornness which resulted from her having long lived +in opposition to all the world.</p> + +<p>"All this, however, did not repel Uncle True, under whose loving +influence new virtues and capacities soon began to manifest themselves. +In the atmosphere of love in which she now lived she soon became a +changed being; and when, in addition to the example and precepts taught +her at home, a divine light was shed upon her life by one who, herself +sitting in darkness, casts a halo forth from her own spirit to illumine +those of all who are blessed with her presence, she became, what she has +ever since been, a being to love and to trust for a lifetime. For +myself, there were no bounds to the affection I soon came to cherish for +the little girl, to whom I was first attracted by compassion merely.</p> + +<p>"We were constantly together; we had no thoughts, no studies, no +pleasures, sorrows, or interests that were not shared. I was her +teacher, her protector, the partner of all her childish amusements; and +she was by turns an advising and sympathising friend. In this latter +character she was indispensable to me, for she had a hopeful nature, and +a buoyancy of spirit which imparted itself to me. I well remember when +my kind employer died, and I was plunged in grief and despair, the +confidence and energy with which she, then very young, inspired me. The +relation between her and Uncle True was beautiful. Boy as I was I could +not but view with admiration the old man's devoted love for the adopted +darling of his latter years (his birdie, as he always called her), and +the grateful affection which she bore him in return.</p> + +<p>"During the first few years she was wholly dependent upon him, and +seemed only a fond, affectionate child; but a time came at last when the +case was reversed, and the old man, stricken with disease, became infirm +and helpless. It was then that the beauty of her woman's nature shone +forth triumphant; and, oh! how gently, child as she was, she guided his +steps as he descended to the grave. Often have I gone to his room at +midnight, fearing lest he might be in need of care which she in her +youth and inexperience would be unable to render; and never shall I +forget the little figure seated calmly by his bedside, at an hour when +many of her years would be shrinking from fears conjured up by the night +and the darkness, with a lamp dimly burning on a table before her, and +she herself, with his hand in hers, sweetly soothing his wakefulness by +her loving words, or with her eyes bent upon her little Bible, reading +to him holy lessons. But all her care could not prolong his life; and +just before I went to India he died, blessing God for the peace imparted +to him through his gentle nurse.</p> + +<p>"It was my task to soothe our little Gerty's sorrows, and do what I +could to comfort her, an office which, before I left the country, I was +rejoiced to transfer to the willing hands of the excellent blind lady +who had long befriended both her and Uncle True. Before I went away, I +solemnly committed to Gerty, who had in one instance proved herself both +willing and able, the care of my mother and grandfather. She promised to +be faithful to her trust; and nobly was that promise kept. In spite of +the unkindness and deep displeasure of Mr. Graham (the blind lady's +father), upon whose bounty she had for a long time been dependent, she +devoted herself heart and hand to the fulfilment of duties which in her +eyes were sacred and holy. In spite of suffering, labour, watching, and +privation, she voluntarily forsook ease and pleasure, and spent day and +night in the patient service of friends whom she loved with a greater +love than a daughter's, for it was that of a saint."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIII" id="CHAPTER_XLIII"></a>CHAPTER XLIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE EXAMINATION.</h3> + + +<p>"Certainly," said Mr. Amory, "I can well understand that a man of a +generous spirit could hardly fail to cherish a deep and lasting +gratitude for one who devoted herself so disinterestedly to a toilsome +attendance upon the last hours of beloved friends, to whose wants he +himself was prevented from ministering; and the warmth with which you +eulogise this girl does you credit, Sullivan. She must be a young person +of great excellence to have fulfilled so well a promise of such remote +date that it would probably have been ignored by a less disinterested +friend.</p> + +<p>"I can hardly believe that a young man who has had the ambition to mark +out, and the energy to pursue, such a course on the road to fortune as +you have thus far successfully followed, can have made a serious resolve +to unite himself and his prospects with an insignificant little +playmate, of unacknowledged birth, without beauty or fortune, unless +there is already an engagement, by which he is bound, or he allows +himself to be drawn on to matrimony by the belief that the highest +compliment he can pay (namely, the offer of himself) will alone cancel +the immense obligations under which he labours. May I ask if you are +already shackled by promises?"</p> + +<p>"I am not," replied Willie.</p> + +<p>"Then listen a moment. My motives are friendly when I beg you not to act +rashly in a matter which will affect the happiness of your own life; and +to hear, with patience, too, if you can, the few words which I have to +say on the subject. You must mistake, my young friend, if you believe +that the happiness of Gerty, as you call her—a very ugly name—can be +insured, any more than your own, by an ill-assorted union, of which you +will both find cause to repent. You have not seen her for six years, +think then of all that has happened in the meantime, and beware of +acting with precipitation. You have all this time been living abroad in +active life, growing in knowledge of the world, and its various phases +of society. In India you witnessed a mode of life wholly different from +that which prevails with us, or in European cities; but the +independence, both of character and manner, which you there acquired +fitted you admirably for the polished sphere of Parisian life, to which +you were so suddenly introduced, and in which you met with such marked +success.</p> + +<p>"Notwithstanding the privilege you enjoy of being presented in polite +circles as the friend of a man so well known and so much respected as +Mr. Clinton, you cannot have been insensible to the marked attentions +bestowed upon you by American residents abroad, or unaware of the +advantage you enjoyed, on your return home, from having been known as +the object of such favour. Though I did not meet you in Paris, I was +there at the same time, and became acquainted with facts which you would +have too much modesty to acknowledge. It is also evident that your pride +must have been flattered by the favourable reception you have met, both +abroad and at home, especially from the young and beautiful women who +have honoured you with their smiles, and among whom she whose name the +crowd already associates with your own stands preeminent.</p> + +<p>"When I think of all this, and of those pecuniary hopes you may indulge, +and imagine you flinging all these aside to chivalrously throw yourself +at the feet of your mother's little nurse, I find it impossible to keep +silent and avoid reminding you of the disappointment that must ensue on +finding yourself at once and for ever shut out from participation in +pleasures which have been within your reach and voluntarily discarded. +You must remember that much of the consideration which is paid to a +young bachelor of growing prospects ceases to be awarded to him after +marriage, and is never extended to his bride, unless she be chosen from +the select circles to which he aspires. This unportioned orphan with +whom you propose to share your fate—this little patient +school-mistress——"</p> + +<p>"I did not tell you she had ever been a teacher!" exclaimed Willie, +stopping short in his walk up and down the room—"I did not tell you +anything of the sort! How did you know it?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Amory, who had thus betrayed more knowledge than he had been +supposed to possess, hesitated a moment, but quickly recovering himself +answered, with apparent frankness, "To tell the truth, Sullivan, I have +seen the girl in company with an old doctor."</p> + +<p>"Dr. Jeremy?" asked Willie, quickly.</p> + +<p>"The same."</p> + +<p>"When did you see her? How did it happen?"</p> + +<p>"I happened to see the old gentleman in the course of my travels, and +this Gertrude Flint was with him. He told me a few facts concerning her; +nothing to her disadvantage, however; in warning you against a +misalliance, I speak only in general terms."</p> + +<p>Willie looked at Mr. Amory wondering, and was anxious to learn further +particulars. Mr. Amory went on without giving him a chance to speak.</p> + +<p>"This Gerty, Sullivan, will be a dead weight upon your hands—a constant +drawback to all your efforts to attain fashionable society, in which she +cannot be fitted to shine. You yourself pronounce her to be without +wealth or beauty; of her family you know nothing, and have certainly +little reason to expect that, if discovered, it would do her any credit. +I believe, then, that I only speak from the dictates of common sense +when I bid you beware how you make, in the disposal of yourself, such an +unequal bargain."</p> + +<p>"I am willing to believe, sir," said Willie, "that the arguments you +have adduced upon a question most important to my welfare are based upon +calm reasoning and a disinterested desire to promote my prosperity. I +confess you are the last man, judging from our short acquaintance, from +whom I should have expected such advice, for I had believed you so +indifferent to the applause of the world that they would weigh but +little with you in forming estimates for the guidance of others. Still, +though your suggestions have failed to change my sentiments or +intentions, I thank you for the sincerity and earnestness with which you +have sought to mould my judgment by your own, and will reply to your +arguments with such frankness as will, I think, persuade you that, so +far from following the impulses of a blind enthusiasm, to plunge with +haste into a course of action hereafter to be deplored, I am actuated by +feelings which reason approves, and which have already stood the test of +experience.</p> + +<p>"You speak truly when you impute to me a natural taste for good society; +a taste which poverty, and the retirement in which my boyhood was +passed, gave me little opportunity to manifest, but which had some +influence in determining my aims and ambition in life. The fine houses, +equipages, and clothes of the rich had less charm for my fancy than the +ease, refinement, and elegance of manner which distinguished some few of +their owners who came under my observation; and, much as I desired the +attainment of wealth for the sake of intrinsic advantages, and the means +it would afford of contributing to the happiness of others, it would +have seemed to me divested of its value should it fail to secure to its +possessor a free admittance to the polite and polished circle upon which +I looked with admiring eyes.</p> + +<p>"I needed not, therefore, the social deprivations I experienced in India +to prepare me to enter with eager zest into the excitement and pleasures +of Parisian life, to which, through the kindness of Mr. Clinton, I +obtained, as it seems you are aware, a free and immediate introduction.</p> + +<p>"It is true I was summoned thither at a time when my spirits had been +for months struggling with depression, caused by sad news from home, and +had not, therefore, the least disposition to avail myself of Mr. +Clinton's politeness; but the feebleness of his health, and his +inability to enjoy the gaieties of the place, compelled me to offer +myself as an escort to his daughter, who, fond of society, accepted my +services, thus drawing me into the very whirl and vortex of fashionable +life, in which I soon found much to flatter, bewilder, and intoxicate. I +could not be insensible to the privileges so unexpectedly accorded to +me, nor could my vanity be wholly proof against the assaults made upon +it. Nor was my manliness of character alone at stake. But the soundness +of principle and simplicity of habit implanted in me from childhood, and +hitherto preserved intact, soon found themselves at stake. I had +withstood every kind of gross temptation, but my new associates now +presented it to me in that subtle form which often proves a snare. The +wine-cup could never have enticed me to the disgusting scenes of drunken +revelry; but held in the hands of the polished gentlemen, who had, but a +moment before, been the recipients of popular favour and women's smiles, +it sparkled with a richer lustre, and its bitter dregs were forgotten. +The professed gamester would vainly have sought me for an accomplice; +but I was not equally on my guard against the danger which awaited me +from other unexpected quarters; for how could I believe that my friends, +Mr. Clinton's friends, the ornaments of the sphere in which they moved, +would unfairly win my money, and lead me to ruin? I wonder as I look +back upon my residence in Paris that I did not fall a victim to one of +the snares that were on every side spread for my destruction, and into +which my social disposition and unsophisticated nature rendered me prone +to fall. Nothing but the recollection of my pure-minded and watchful +mother, whose recent death had recalled to my mind her warning +counsels—deemed by me, at the time, unnecessary; but now, springing up +and arming themselves with a solemn meaning—nothing but the +consciousness of her gentle spirit, ever hovering around my path, +saddened by my conflicts, rejoicing in my triumphs, could ever have +given me courage and perseverance to resist, and finally escape, the +pitfalls into which my unwary steps would have plunged me. Had I +approached the outskirts of fashionable life, and been compelled to +linger with longing eyes at the threshold; I might even now be loitering +there, a deceived spectator of joys which it was not permitted to me to +enter and share; or, having gained a partial entrance, be eagerly +employed, in pushing my way onward.</p> + +<p>"But admitted at once into the arcana of a sphere I was eager to +penetrate, my eyes were soon opened to the vain and worthless nature of +the bauble Fashion. Not that I did not meet within its courts the wit, +talent, and refinement which I had hoped to find there, or that these +were invariably accompanied by less attractive qualities. No; I truly +believe there is no class which cannot boast of its heroes and heroines, +and that there are, within the walks of fashionable life, men and women +who would grace a wilderness. Nor do I despise forms and ceremonies +which are becoming in themselves, and conducive to elegance and good +breeding. As long as one class is distinguished by education and refined +manners, and another is marked by ignorance and vulgarity, there must be +a dividing line between the two, which neither perhaps would desire to +overstep."</p> + +<p>"You are young," said Mr. Amory, "to be such a philosopher. Many a man +has turned away with disgust from an aristocracy into which he could +himself gain no admittance; but few renounce it voluntarily."</p> + +<p>"Few, perhaps," replied Willie, "few <i>young</i> men have had to penetrate +its secrets. I may say without treachery, since I speak in general terms +only, that I have seen more ignorance, more ill-breeding, meanness, and +immorality in the so-called aristocracy of our country than I should +have believed it possible would be tolerated there. I have known +instances in which the most accomplished gentleman, or the most +beautiful lady, of a gay circle has given evidence of want of +information on the most common topics. I have seen elegant evening +assemblies disgraced by the greatest rudeness and incivility. I have +seen the lavish expenditure of to-day atoned for by a despicable +parsimony on the morrow; and I have seen a want of principle exhibited +by both sexes, which proves that a high position is no security against +such contamination of the soul as unfits it for an exalted place +hereafter."</p> + +<p>"I have witnessed no less myself," said Mr. Amory; "but my experiences +have not been like those of other men, and my sight has been sharpened +by circumstances. I am still astonished that you should have been awake +to these facts."</p> + +<p>"I was not at first," answered Willie. "It was only gradually that I +recovered from the blinding effect which the glitter and show of Fashion +imposed upon my perceptions. My suspicions of its falsehood and vanities +were based upon instances of selfishness, folly, and cold-heartedness +which came to my knowledge. I could relate thousands of mean deceits, +contemptible rivalries, and neglect of sacred duties which came under my +immediate observation.</p> + +<p>"Especially was I astonished at the effect of an uninterrupted pursuit +of pleasure upon the sensibilities, the tempers, and the domestic +affections of women. Though bearing within my heart an image of female +goodness and purity, this sweet remembrance might possibly have been +driven from its throne and supplanted by one of the lovely faces which +at first bewildered me by their beauty, had these last been the index to +souls of equal perfection. There may be noble and excellent women moving +in the highest walks of life whose beauty and grace are less admirable +than their own high natures; but among those with whom I became +familiarly acquainted there was not one who could in the least compare +with her who was continually present to my memory, who is still, and +ever must be, a model to her sex.</p> + +<p>"Gertrude Flint was the standard by which each in my mind was measured. +How could I help contrasting the folly, the worldliness, and the +cold-heartedness around me with the cultivated mind, the +self-sacrificing and affectionate disposition of one who possesses every +quality that can adorn life? You failed to convince me that Gertrude can +in any way be a drawback to the man who shall be so fortunate as to call +her his. For my own part, I desire no better, no more truly aristocratic +position in life than that to which she is so well entitled, and to +which she would be one of the brightest ornaments—the aristocracy of +true refinement, knowledge, grace, and beauty. You talk to me of wealth. +Gertrude has no money in her purse, but her soul is the pure gold, tried +in the furnace of sorrow and affliction, and thence come forth bright +and unalloyed. You speak of family and an honourable birth. She has no +family, and her birth is shrouded in mystery; but the blood that courses +in her veins would never disgrace the race from which she sprung, and +every throb of her unselfish heart allies her to all that is noble.</p> + +<p>"You are eloquent upon the subject of beauty. When I parted from +Gertrude, she was, in all but character, a mere child, being only +thirteen years of age. Though much altered and improved since the time +when she first came among us, I scarcely think she could have been said +to possess much of what the world calls beauty. It was a matter of which +I seldom thought or cared; and had I been less indifferent on the +subject, she was so dear to me that I should have been unable to form an +impartial judgment of her claims in this respect.</p> + +<p>"I well remember, however, the indignation I once felt at hearing a +fellow-clerk, who had met her in one of our walks, sneeringly contrast +her personal appearance with that of our employer's handsome daughter, +Miss Clinton; and the proportionate rapture with which I listened to the +excellent teacher, Miss Brown, when, being present at a school +examination, I overheard her commenting to a lady upon Gertrude's +wonderful promise in person as well as in mind. Whether the first part +of this promise has been fulfilled I have no means of judging; but as I +recall her dignified and graceful little figure, her large, intelligent, +sparkling eyes, the glow of feeling that lit up her countenance, and the +peaceful, almost majestic expression which purity of soul imparted to +her yet childish features, she stands forth to my remembrance the +embodiment of all that I hold most dear.</p> + +<p>"Six years may have outwardly changed her much; but they cannot have +robbed her of what I prize the most. She has charms over which time can +have no power, a grace that is a gift of Heaven, a beauty that is +eternal. Could I ask for more? Do not believe, then, that my fidelity to +my early playmate is an emotion of gratitude merely. It is true I owe +her much—far more than I can ever repay; but the honest warmth of my +affection for the noble girl springs from the truest love of a purity of +character and singleness of heart which I had never seen equalled.</p> + +<p>"What is there in the foolish walks of Fashion, the glitter of wealth, +the homage of an idle crowd, that could so elevate my spirit and inspire +my exertions as the thought of a peaceful, happy home, blessed by a +presiding spirit so formed for confidence, love, and a communion that +time can never dissolve and eternity will but render more secure and +unbroken?"</p> + +<p>"And she whom you love so well—are you sure——" asked Mr. Phillips, +speaking with a visible effort, and faltering ere he had completed his +sentence.</p> + +<p>"No," answered Willie, anticipating the question. "I know what you would +ask. I am <i>not</i> sure. I have no reason to indulge the hopes I have been +dwelling upon so fondly; but I do not regret having spoken with such +candour; for, should she grieve my heart by her coldness, I should still +be proud to have loved her. Until this time, since I gained my native +land, I have been shackled with duties which, sacred as they were, have +chafed a spirit longing for freedom to follow its own impulses. In this +visit to you, sir, I have fulfilled the last obligation imposed upon me +by my excellent friend, and to-morrow I shall be at liberty to go where +my duty alone prevented me from at once hastening."</p> + +<p>He offered his hand to Mr. Amory, who grasped it with a cordiality very +different from the feeble greeting he had given him on his entrance, +"Good-bye," said he, "You carry with you my best wishes for a success +which you seem to have so much at heart; but some day or other I feel +sure you will be reminded of all I have said to you this evening."</p> + +<p>"Strange man!" thought Willie, as he walked towards his hotel. "How +warmly he shook my hand at parting! and how affectionately he bade me +farewell, notwithstanding the cold reception he gave me, and the +pertinacity with which I rejected his opinions and repelled his advice!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIV" id="CHAPTER_XLIV"></a>CHAPTER XLIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE LONG LOOKED-FOR RETURNED.</h3> + + +<p>"Miss Gertrude," said Mrs. Prime, opening the parlour-door, putting her +head cautiously in, looking round, and then advancing with a stealthy +pace—"my! how busy you are! Lor's sakes alive, if you an't rippin' up +them great curtains of Mrs. Graham's for the wash! I wouldn't be +botherin' with 'em, Miss Gertrude; she won't be here this fortnight, and +Mrs. Ellis will have time enough."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have nothing else to do, Mrs. Prime; it's no trouble." Then, +looking up pleasantly at the old cook, she added, "It seems very cosy +for us all to be at home—doesn't it?"</p> + +<p>"It seems beautiful!" answered Mrs. Prime; "and I can't help thinking +how nice it would be if we could all live on jist as we are now, without +no more intrusions."</p> + +<p>Gertrude smiled and said, "Everything looks as it used to in old times, +when I first came here. I was quite a child then," continued she, with a +sigh.</p> + +<p>"Gracious me! What are you now?" said Mrs. Prime. "For mercy's sake, +Miss Gertrude, don't you begin to think about growin' old. There's +nothin' like feelin' young to keep young. There's Miss Patty Pace, +now——"</p> + +<p>"I have been meaning to ask after her," exclaimed Gertrude; "is she +alive and well yet?"</p> + +<p>"She!" replied Mrs. Prime; "Lor', she won't never die! Old women like +her, that feel themselves young gals, allers live for ever; but the +baker's boy that fetched the loaves this mornin' brought an arrant from +her, and she wants to see you the first chance; but I wouldn't hurry +either about goin' there or anywhere, Miss Gertrude, till I got rested; +for you an't well, you look so kind o' tired out."</p> + +<p>"Did she wish to see me?" asked Gertrude. "Poor old thing! I'll go and +see her this very afternoon; and you needn't feel anxious about me, Mrs. +Prime—I am quite well."</p> + +<p>Gertrude went. She found Miss Patty nearly bent double with rheumatism, +dressed with less than her usual care, and crouching over a miserable +fire. She was in tolerable spirits, and hailed Gertrude's entrance by a +cordial greeting. Innumerable were the questions she put to Gertrude +regarding her own personal experiences during the past year.</p> + +<p>"So you have not yet chosen a companion," said she, after Gertrude had +responded to all her queries. "That is a circumstance to be regretted. +Not," continued she, with a little smirk, "that it is ever too late in +life for one to meditate the conjugal tie, which is often assumed with +advantage by persons of fifty or more; and certainly you, who are still +in the bloom of your days, need not despair of a youthful swain. +Existence is twofold when it is shared with a congenial partner; and I +had hoped that before now, Miss Gertrude, both you and myself would have +formed such an alliance; for the protection of the matrimonial union is +one of its greatest advantages."</p> + +<p>"I hope you have not suffered from the want of it," said Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"I have, Miss Gertrude, suffered incalculably. But the keenest pangs +have been the sensibilities; yes, the sensibilities—the finest part of +our nature, and that which will least bear wounding."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to hear that you have been thus grieved," said Gertrude. "I +should have supposed that, living alone, you might have been spared this +trial."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Miss Gertrude!" exclaimed the old lady, lifting up both hands, and +speaking in a pitiable tone—"Oh, that I had the wings of a dove, +wherewith to fly away from my kindred! I fondly thought to have +distanced them, but during the past year they have discovered my +retreat, and I cannot elude their vigilance. Hardly can I recover from +the shock of one visitation—made for the sole purpose of taking an +inventory of my possessions and measuring the length of my days—before +the vultures are again seen hovering round my dwelling. But," exclaimed +she, raising her voice and chuckling as she spoke, "they shall fall into +their own snare; for I will dupe every one of them yet!"</p> + +<p>"I was not aware that you had any relations," said Gertrude; "and it +seems they are such only in name."</p> + +<p>"Name!" said Miss Pace, emphatically. "I am glad at the thought that +they are not honoured with a cognomen which not one of them is worthy to +bear. No, they pass by a different name—a name as plebeian as their own +coarse souls. Three of them stand to each other in a fraternal relation, +yet they are alike hateful to me. One, a contemptible coxcomb, comes +here to overawe me with his presence, which he conceives to be imposing; +calls me aunt—aunt; thus testifying by his speech to a consanguinity +which he blindly fancies makes him nearer akin to my property!" The old +lady almost shrieked the last word. "And the other two are beggars! +always were—always will be; let 'em be—I'm glad of it!"</p> + +<p>"You hear me, Miss Gertrude; you are a young lady of quick +comprehension, and I will avail myself of your contiguity, which, +although you deny the charge, may shortly be interrupted by some eager +lover, to request at your hands a favour, such as I little thought once +I should ever feel compelled to seek. I sent for you to write (Miss +Patty whispered) the last will and testament of Miss Patty Pace."</p> + +<p>The poor woman's trembling voice evinced a deep compassion for herself, +which Gertrude could not help sharing; and she expressed a willingness +to comply with her wishes as far as was in her power, at the same time +declaring her utter ignorance of all the forms of law.</p> + +<p>To Gertrude's astonishment, Miss Patty announced a perfect acquaintance +with all the legal knowledge which the case demanded; and in so complete +a manner did she dictate the words of the important instrument that, +being afterwards properly witnessed, signed, and sealed, it was found in +a few months—at which time Miss Patty died—free from imperfection and +flaw, and proved a satisfactory direction for the disposal of the +inheritance.</p> + +<p>It may be as well to state here, however, that he who was pronounced +sole heir to the valuable property never availed himself of the +bequest, otherwise than to make a careful bestowal of it among her +relatives. The solo inheritor of her estate was William Sullivan, the +knight of the rosy countenance, who with chivalrous spirit captivated +Miss Patty's virgin heart, and gained her lasting favour. But that +chivalrous spirit accepted not a reward so disproportioned to the slight +service he had rendered the old lady.</p> + +<p>Gertrude found it no easy task to gather and transfix in writing the +exact idea which the old woman's rambling dictation was intended to +convey; and it was two or three hours before the manuscript was +completed.</p> + +<p>The sky was overcast, and a drizzling rain began to fall, as she walked +home; but the distance was not great, and the only damage she sustained +was a slight dampness to her garments. Emily perceived it, and said, +"Your dress is quite wet, you must sit by the parlour fire. I shall not +go down until tea-time, but father is there, and will be glad of your +company; he has been alone all the afternoon."</p> + +<p>Gertrude found Mr. Graham sitting in front of a pleasant wood fire, +half-dozing, half-reading. She took a book and a low chair and joined +him. But to avoid the heat she went to the sofa. Soon there was a ring +at the front door bell. The housemaid, who was passing by the door, +opened it, and immediately ushered in a visitor. It was Willie!</p> + +<p>Gertrude rose, but trembling from head to foot, so that she dared not +trust herself to take a step forward. Willie advanced to the centre of +the room, looked at Gertrude, bowed, hesitated, and said, "Miss +Flint!—is she here?" The colour rushed into Gertrude's face. She +attempted to speak, but failed. It was not necessary. The blush was +enough. Willie recognised her, and starting forward, eagerly seized her +hand.</p> + +<p>"Gerty! is it possible?"</p> + +<p>The perfect naturalness and ease of his manner, the warmth with which he +took and retained her hand, reassured the agitated girl. The spell +seemed partially removed. For a moment he became in her eyes the Willie +of old, her dear friend and playmate, and she found voice to exclaim, +"Oh, Willie, you have come at last! I am so glad to see you!" The sound +of their voices disturbed Mr. Graham, who had fallen into a nap. He +turned round in his easy chair, then rose. Willie dropped Gertrude's +hand and stepped towards him. "Mr. Sullivan," said Gertrude, with a +feeble attempt at a suitable introduction.</p> + +<p>They shook hands, and then all three sat down.</p> + +<p>And now all Gertrude's embarrassment returned. It is often the case that +when the best of friends meet after a long separation they salute or +embrace each other, and then, notwithstanding the weight of matter +pressing on the mind of each—sufficient, perhaps, to furnish subjects +of conversation for weeks to come—nothing of importance presents itself +at once, and a pause ensues, which is finally filled up by some trivial +question concerning the journey of the newly-arrived party. She had seen +Willie before; she was aware of his arrival; knew even the steamer in +which he had come; but was anxious to conceal from him this knowledge. +She could not tell him, since he seemed so ignorant of the fact himself, +that they had met before; and she was at an utter loss what to do or say +under the circumstances. Her embarrassment soon communicated itself to +Willie; and Mr. Graham's presence, which was a restraint to both, made +matters worse. Willie, however, first broke the momentary silence.</p> + +<p>"I should hardly have known you, Gertrude. I did not know you. How——"</p> + +<p>"How did you come?" asked Mr. Graham, abruptly, apparently unconscious +that he was interrupting Willie's remark.</p> + +<p>"In the <i>Europa</i>," replied Willie. "She got into New York about a week +ago."</p> + +<p>"Out here, I mean," said Mr. Graham, rather stiffly. "Did you come out +in the coach?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, excuse me, sir," replied Willie; "I misunderstood you. No, I drove +out from Boston in a chaise."</p> + +<p>"Did anyone take your horse?"</p> + +<p>"I fastened him in front of the house."</p> + +<p>Willie glanced out of the window (it was now nearly dusk) to see that +the animal was still there. Mr. Graham settled himself in his easy chair +and looked into the fire. "You are changed, too," said Gertrude, in +reply to Willie's unfinished comment. Then, fearing he might feel hurt +at what he must know to be true in more ways than one, the colour which +had retreated mounted once more to her cheeks. But he did not seem to +feel hurt, but replied, "Yes, an Eastern climate makes great changes; +but I think I can hardly have altered more than you have. Why, only +think, Gerty, you were a child when I went away! I suppose I must have +known I should find you a young lady, but I begin to think I never fully +realised it."</p> + +<p>"When did you leave Calcutta?"</p> + +<p>"The latter part of February. I passed the spring months in Paris."</p> + +<p>"You did not write," said Gertrude in a faltering voice.</p> + +<p>"No, I was expecting to come across by every steamer, and wanted to +surprise you."</p> + +<p>Gertrude looked confused, but replied, "I was disappointed about the +letters; but I am very glad to see you again, Willie."</p> + +<p>"You can't be so glad as I am," said he, lowering his voice and looking +at her with great tenderness. "You seem more and more like yourself to +me every minute that I see you. I begin to think, however, that I ought +to have written and told you I was coming."</p> + +<p>Gertrude smiled. Willie's manner was so unchanged, his words so +affectionate, that it seemed unkind to doubt his friendliness, although +to his undivided love she felt she could have no claim. "No," said she, +"I like surprises. Don't you remember, I always did?"</p> + +<p>"Remember? Certainly," replied he; "I have never forgotten anything that +you liked."</p> + +<p>Just at this moment Gertrude's birds, whose cage hung in the window at +which Willie sat, commenced a little twittering noise which they always +made just at night. He looked up. "Your birds," said Gertrude; "the +birds you sent me."</p> + +<p>"Are they all alive and well?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"Yes, all of them."</p> + +<p>"You have been a kind mistress to the little things. They are very +tender."</p> + +<p>"I am very fond of them."</p> + +<p>"You take such care of those you love, dear Gerty, that you are sure to +preserve their lives as long as may be." His tone still more than his +words betrayed the deep meaning with which he spoke. Gertrude was +silent.</p> + +<p>"Is Miss Graham well?" asked Willie.</p> + +<p>Gertrude related, in reply, that her nerves had been recently much +disturbed by the terrible experiences through which she had passed; and +this led to the subject of the recent disaster, at which Gertrude +forebore to mention her having been herself present. Willie spoke with +feeling of the sad catastrophe, and with severity of the reckless +carelessness which had been the cause of it; and said that he had valued +friends on board the boat, but was unaware that Miss Graham, whom he +loved for Gertrude's sake, was among them.</p> + +<p>Conversation between Gertrude and Willie had by this time assumed +something of their former familiarity. He had taken a seat near her on +the sofa, that they might talk unrestrainedly; for although Mr. Graham +might have dropped asleep again, yet it was not easy to forget his +presence. There were many subjects on which it would have seemed natural +for them to speak, had not Gertrude avoided them. The causes of Willie's +sudden return, his probable stay, his future plans in life, and his +reasons for having postponed his visit until he had been in the country +more than a week—all these were inquiries which curiosity would have +suggested; but to Gertrude they all lay under embargo. She neither felt +prepared to receive nor willing to force the confidence on matters which +must be influenced by his engagement with Miss Clinton, and therefore +preserved silence on these topics. And Willie, deeply grieved at this +strange want of sympathy on her part, forebore to thrust upon her notice +these seemingly neglected circumstances.</p> + +<p>They talked of Calcutta life, of Parisian novelties, of Gertrude's +school-keeping, and many other things, but not a word of matters nearest +to the hearts of both. At length a servant announced tea. Mr. Graham +rose and stood with his back to the fire. Willie rose also and prepared +to take leave. Mr. Graham, with frigid civility, invited him to remain, +and Gertrude urged him to do so; but he declined with such decision that +the latter understood that he felt the neglect with which Mr. Graham had +treated him and his visit. In addition to the fact that the old +gentleman disliked young men as a class, and that Willie had intruded +upon the privacy in which he was indulging, there was the bitter +recollection that Gertrude had once forsaken himself and Emily (for so +he in his own mind styled her conscientious choice between conflicting +duties) for the very family of which their visitor was the only +remaining member—a recollection which did not tend to conciliate the +prejudiced man.</p> + +<p>Gertrude accompanied Willie to the door. The rain had ceased, but the +wind whistled across the piazza. It was growing cold. Willie buttoned +his coat, and promised to see Gertrude on the following day.</p> + +<p>"You have no overcoat," said she; "the night is chilly, and you are +accustomed to a hot climate. You had better take this shawl;" and she +took from the hat-tree a heavy Scotch plaid. He thanked her and threw it +over his arm; then, taking both her hands in his, looked her steadily in +the face for a moment, as if he would fain have spoken. But, seeing that +she shrank from his affectionate gaze, he dropped her hands and, with a +troubled expression, bade her good-night.</p> + +<p>Gertrude stood with the handle of the door in her hand until she heard +the sounds of the horse's hoofs as he drove down the road; then retired +to her own room. Well as she had borne up during the longed-for yet +much-dreaded meeting, calmly as she had sustained her part, her courage +all forsook her now, and in looking forward to days, weeks, and months +of frequent intercourse, she felt that the most trying part of the +struggle was yet to come.</p> + +<p>Had Willie changed to her? No; he had come back as he went—generous, +manly, and affectionate. He had manifested the same unaffected warmth of +feeling, the same thoughtful tenderness, he had ever shown. In short, he +was the Willie she had thought of, dreamed of, imagined, and loved. +There was a light tap at her door. Thinking it a summons to the +tea-table, she said, "Jane, I do not wish for any supper."</p> + +<p>"It isn't that," said the girl; "but I have brought you a letter." +Gertrude sprang up and opened the door.</p> + +<p>"A little boy handed it to me and then ran off," said the girl, placing +a large package in her hand. "He told me to give it to you straight +away."</p> + +<p>"Bring me a light," said Gertrude.</p> + +<p>The girl went for a lamp, while Gertrude wondered what a package so +large could contain. She thought no letter could so soon arrive from Mr. +Amory. While she was wondering, Jane brought a lamp, by the light of +which she detected his handwriting; and, breaking the seal, she drew +from the envelope several closely-written pages, whose contents she +perused with the greatest eagerness and excitement.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLV" id="CHAPTER_XLV"></a>CHAPTER XLV.</h2> + +<h3>THE FATHER'S STORY.</h3> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">My Daughter,</span>—My loving, kind-hearted girl. Now that your own words +encourage me with the assurance that my first fear was unfounded—now +that I can appeal to you as to an impartial witness, I will disclose the +story of my life; and, while I prove to you your parentage, will hope +that my unprejudiced child at least will believe, love, and trust her +father, in spite of a world's injustice.</p> + +<p>"I will conceal nothing. I will plunge at once into those disclosures +which I most dread to utter, and trust to after explanation to palliate +the darkness of my tale.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Graham is my step-father, and my blessed mother, long since dead, +was, in all but the tie of nature, a true mother to Emily. Thus allied +to those whom you love best, I am parted from them by a heavy curse; +for, not only was mine the ill-fated hand (oh, hate me not yet, +Gertrude!) which locked poor Emily up in darkness, but I stand accused +in the eyes of my fellow-men of another crime, deep, dark, and +disgraceful. And yet, though living under a ban, wandering up and down +the world a doomed and broken-hearted man, I am innocent as a child of +all intentional wrong, as you will learn, if you can trust to the truth +of the tale I am about to tell.</p> + +<p>"Nature gave and education fostered in me a rebellious spirit. I was the +idol of my invalid mother, who, though she loved me with a love for +which I bless her memory, had not the energy to subdue the passionate +and wilful nature of her boy. But I was neither cruelly nor viciously +disposed; and though my sway at home and among my school-fellows was +alike indisputable, I made many friends, and not a single enemy. But a +sudden check was at length put to my freedom. My mother married, and I +soon came to feel bitterly the check which her husband, Mr. Graham, was +likely to impose upon my boyish independence. Had he treated me with +kindness, had he won my affections (which he might easily have done, for +my sensitive and impassioned nature disposed me to every tender and +grateful emotion), great would have been his influence in moulding my +yet unformed character.</p> + +<p>"But his behaviour towards me was that of chilling coldness and reserve. +He repelled with scorn the first advance on my part which led me, at my +mother's instigation, to address him by the paternal title—an offence +of which I never again was guilty. And yet, while he seemed to ignore +the relationship, he assumed its authority, thus wounding my pride and +exciting opposition to his commands.</p> + +<p>"Two things strengthened my dislike for my overbearing step-father. One +was the consciousness of my dependence upon his bounty; the other a +hint, which I received through a domestic, that Mr. Graham's dislike to +me had its origin in an old enmity between himself and my own father—an +honourable and high-minded man, whom it was ever my greatest pride to be +told that I resembled.</p> + +<p>"Great as was the warfare in my heart, power rested with Mr. Graham; for +I was yet but a child, and necessarily subject to government—nor could +I be deaf to my mother's entreaties that, for her sake, I would learn +submission. It was only, therefore, when I had been most unjustly +thwarted that I broke into direct rebellion; and even then there were +influences ever at work to preserve outward harmony in our household. +Thus years passed on, and though I did not love Mr. Graham more, the +force of habit, the interest afforded by my studies, and increasing +self-control, rendered my life less obnoxious to me than it had once +been.</p> + +<p>"I had one great compensation for my trials—the love I cherished for +Emily, who responded to it with equal warmth on her part. It was not +because she stood between me and her father, a mediator and a friend; +nor because she submitted to my dictation and aided me in all my plans; +it was because our natures were made for each other, and, as they grew +and expanded, were bound together by ties which a rude hand only could +rend asunder. This tenderness and depth of affection became the life of +my life.</p> + +<p>"At length my mother died. I was at that time, sorely against my will, +employed in Mr. Graham's counting-house, and an inmate of his family. +And now, without excuse, my step-father began a course of policy as +unwise as it was cruel; and so irritating to my pride, and so torturing +to my feelings, that it angered me almost to frenzy. He tried to rob me +of the only thing that sweetened and blest my existence—the love of +Emily. I will not here recount the motives I imputed to him, nor the +means he employed. But they were such as to change my former dislike +into bitter hatred and opposition.</p> + +<p>"Instead of submitting to his tyrannical interference, I sought Emily's +society on all occasions, and persuaded the gentle girl to lend herself +to my schemes for thwarting her father's purposes. I did not speak to +her of love; I did not seek to bind her to me by promises; I hinted not +at marriage; a sense of honour forbade it. But, with a boyish +independence, which I fear was the height of imprudence, I sought every +occasion, even in her father's presence, to maintain that constant +familiarity of intercourse which had been the growth of circumstances, +and could not, without force, be restrained.</p> + +<p>"At length Emily was taken ill, and for six weeks I was debarred her +presence. When sufficiently recovered to leave her room, I sought and at +last obtained an opportunity to see her. We had been together in the +library more than an hour when Mr. Graham suddenly entered, and came +towards us with a face whose severity I shall not soon forget. I did not +heed an interruption, for the probable consequences of which I believed +myself prepared. But I was little prepared for the attack actually made +upon me.</p> + +<p>"That he would accuse me of disobedience to wishes which he had hinted +in every possible way, and even intimate more plainly his resolve to +place barriers between Emily and myself, I fully expected, and was ready +with my replies; but when he burst forth with a torrent of ungentlemanly +abuse—when he imputed to me mean and selfish motives, which had never +occurred to my mind—I was struck dumb with surprise and anger.</p> + +<p>"Then, in the presence of the pure-minded girl whom I worshipped, he +charged me with a horrid crime—the crime of forgery—asserting my guilt +as recently discovered, but positive and undoubted. My spirit had raged +before—now it was on fire. I lifted my hand and clenched my fist. What +I would have done I know not. Whether I should have found words to +assert my innocence, and refute a charge utterly false—or whether, my +voice failing me from passion, I should have swept Mr. Graham from my +path, perhaps felled him to the floor, while I strode away to rally my +calmness in the open air—I cannot now conjecture; for a wild shriek +from Emily recalled me to myself, and, turning, I saw her fall fainting +upon the sofa.</p> + +<p>"Forgetting everything but the apparently dying condition into which the +horror of the scene had thrown her I sprang forward to her relief. There +was a table beside her and some bottles upon it. I hastily snatched what +I believed to be a simple restorative, and in my agitation emptied the +contents of the phial in her face. I know not what the exact character +of the mixture could have been; but its matters not—its effect was too +awfully evident. The fatal deed was done—and mine was the hand that did +it!</p> + +<p>"Brought suddenly to consciousness by the intolerable torture that +succeeded, the poor girl sprang screaming from the sofa, flung her arms +wildly above her head, rushed in a frantic manner through the room, and +crouched in a corner. I followed in an agony scarce less than her own; +but she repelled me with her hands, uttering piercing shrieks. Mr. +Graham, who for an instant had looked like one paralysed by the scene, +now rushed forward like a madman. Instead of aiding me in my efforts to +lift poor Emily from the floor, and so far from compassionating my +situation, which was only less pitiable than hers, he, with a fierceness +redoubled at my being the sole cause of the disaster, attacked me with a +storm of cruel reproaches, declaring that I had killed his child. With +words like these, which are still ringing in my ears, he drove me from +the room and the house; a repulsion which I, overpowered by contrition +and remorse, had neither the wish nor the strength to resist.</p> + +<p>"Oh! the terrible night and day that succeeded! I wandered out into the +country, spent the whole night walking beneath the open sky, +endeavouring to collect my thoughts and compose my mind, and still +morning found me with a fevered pulse and excited brain. With the +returning light, however, I began to realise the necessity of forming +some future plan of action.</p> + +<p>"Emily's sad situation, and my intense anxiety to learn the worst +effects of the fatal accident, urged me to hasten with the earliest +morning, either openly or by stealth, to Mr. Graham's house. Everything +also which I possessed—all my money, the residue of my last quarter's +allowance, my clothing, and a few valuable gifts from my mother—were in +the chamber which I had occupied. There seemed to be no other course +left for me than to return thither, and I retracted my steps to the +city, determined, if it were necessary in order to gain the desired +particulars concerning Emily, to meet her father face to face. But as I +drew near the house I hesitated and dared not proceed. Mr. Graham had +exhausted upon me every angry word, had threatened even deeds of +violence should I again cross his threshold; and I feared to trust my +own fiery spirit to a collision in which I might be led on to an open +resistance of the man whom I had already sufficiently injured. In the +terrible work I had but yesterday done—a work of whose fatal effect I +had even then a gloomy foreshadowing—I had blighted the existence of +his worshipped child, and drawn a dark pall over his dearest hopes. It +was enough. I would not for worlds be guilty of the sin of lifting my +hand against the man who, unjust as he had been towards an innocent +youth, had met a retaliation far too severe.</p> + +<p>"Still, I knew his wrath to be unmitigated, was well aware of his power +to excite my hot nature to frenzy, and resolved to beware how I crossed +his path. Meet him I must, to refute the false charges he had brought +against me; but not within the walls of his dwelling, the home of his +suffering daughter. In the counting-house, where the crime of forgery +was said to have been committed, and in the presence of my +fellow-clerks, I would publicly deny the deed, and dare him to its +proof. But first I must either see or hear from Emily before I met the +father at all. I must learn the exact nature and extent of the wrong I +had done him in the person of his child. For this, however, I must wait +until, under cover of the next night's darkness, I could enter the house +unperceived.</p> + +<p>"So I wandered about all day in torment, without having food or rest, +the thought of my poor, darling, tortured Emily ever present to my +wretched thoughts. The hours seemed interminable. I remember that day of +suspense as if it had been a whole year of misery. But night came at +last, cloudy, and the air thickened with a heavy fog which, as I +approached the street where Mr. Graham lived, concealed the house until +I was opposite to it. I shuddered at the sight of the physician's +chaise standing before the door; for I knew that Dr. Jeremy had closed +his visits to Emily more than a week previously, and must have been +summoned to attend her since the accident. Thinking it probable that Mr. +Graham was in the house, I forbore to enter, but stood concealed by the +mist, and watching my opportunity.</p> + +<p>"Once or twice Mrs. Ellis, the housekeeper, passed up and down the +staircase, as I could distinctly see through the sidelights of the door, +and Dr. Jeremy descended, followed by Mr. Graham. The doctor would have +passed hastily out, but Mr. Graham detained him, to question him +regarding his patient, as I judged from the anxiety depicted on my +step-father's countenance. The doctor's back was towards me, and I could +only judge of his replies by the effect they produced on the questioner, +whose haggard appearance became more distressed at every syllable that +fell from the honest and truthful lips of the medical man, whose words +were oracles to all who knew his skill.</p> + +<p>"I needed, therefore, no further testimony to force the conviction that +Emily's fate was sealed; and as I looked with pity upon the afflicted +parent, and shudderingly thought of my agency in the work of +destruction, I felt that the unhappy father could not curse me more +bitterly than I cursed myself. Deeply, however, as I mourned, and have +never ceased to repent, my share in the exciting of that storm wherein +the poor girl had been so cruelly shipwrecked, I could not forget the +part that Mr. Graham had borne in the transaction, or forgive the wicked +injustice and insults which had so unmanned me as to render my hand a +fit instrument only of ruin; and as, after the doctor's departure, I +watched my step-father walk away, and saw by a street-lamp that the look +of pain had passed from his face, giving place to his usual composed and +arrogant expression, and, understood by the loud and measured manner in +which he struck his cane upon the pavement, that he was far from sharing +my humble, penitent mood, I ceased to waste upon him a compassion which +he seemed so little to require or deserve; and, pitying myself only, I +looked upon his stern face with a soul which cherished for him no other +sentiment than that of unmitigated hatred. Do not shrink from me, +Gertrude, as you read this frank confession of my passionate and deeply +stirred nature. You know not, perhaps, what it is to hate; but have you +ever been tried as I was?</p> + +<p>"As Mr. Graham turned the corner of the street, I approached his house, +drew forth a pass-key of my own, by means of which I opened the door, +and went in. It was perfectly quiet, and no person was to be seen in any +of the lower rooms. I passed noiselessly upstairs, and entered a little +chamber at the head of the passage which communicated with Emily's room. +I waited here a long time, hearing no sound and seeing no one. But +fearing that Mr. Graham would shortly return, I determined to ascend to +my own room, collect my money and a few articles of value, and then make +my way to the kitchen, and gain what news I could of Emily from Mrs. +Prime, the cook, a kind-hearted woman, who would, I felt sure, befriend +me.</p> + +<p>"The first part of my object was accomplished; and I had descended the +back staircase to gain Mrs. Prime's premises, when I suddenly met Mrs. +Ellis coming from the kitchen, with a bowl of gruel in her hand. She was +acquainted with all the particulars of the accident, and had been a +witness to my expulsion from the house. She stopped short on seeing me, +gave a slight scream, dropped the bowl of gruel, and prepared to make +her escape, as if from a wild beast, which I doubt not that I resembled; +since wretchedness, fasting, suffering, and desperation must all have +been depicted in my features. I placed myself in her path, and compelled +her to stop and listen to me. But before my eager questions could find +utterance, an outburst from her confirmed my worst fears.</p> + +<p>"'Let me go!' she exclaimed. 'You villain! you will be putting my eyes +out next!'</p> + +<p>'Where is Emily?' I cried. 'Let me see her!'</p> + +<p>"'See her!' replied she. 'You horrid wretch! No! she has suffered enough +from you. She is satisfied herself now.'</p> + +<p>'What do you mean?' shouted I, shaking the housekeeper violently by the +shoulder, for her words seared my very soul, and I was frantic.</p> + +<p>"'I mean that Emily will never see anybody again; and if she had a +thousand eyes, you are the last person upon whom she would wish to +look!'</p> + +<p>"'Does Emily hate me, too?' burst from me then, in the form of a +soliloquy rather than a question. The reply was ready, however. 'Hate +you? Yes—more than that; she cannot find words bad enough for you! She +mutters, even in her pain, 'Cruel!—wicked!' She shudders at the sound +of your name; and we are all forbidden to speak it in her presence.' I +waited to hear no more, but rushed out of the house. That moment was the +crisis of my life. The thunderbolt had fallen upon and crushed me. My +hopes, my happiness, my fortune, my good name, had gone before; but one +solitary light had, until now, glimmered in the darkness. It was Emily's +love. I had trusted in that—that only. It had passed away, and with it +my youth, my faith, my hope of heaven.</p> + +<p>"From that moment I ceased to be myself. Then fell upon me the cloud in +which I have ever since been shrouded, and under which you have seen and +known me. In that instant the blight had come, under the gnawing +influence of which my happy laugh changed to the bitter smile; my frank +and pleasant speech to tones of ill-concealed irony and sarcasm; my hair +became prematurely grey, my features sharp and severe; my fellow-men, to +whom I hoped to prove some day a benefactor, were henceforth the armed +hosts of antagonists, with whom I would wage endless war—and the God +whom I had worshipped—whom I had believed in, as a just and faithful +friend and avenger—who was He?—where was He?—and why did He not right +my cause? What direful and premeditated deed of darkness had I been +guilty of that He should thus desert me? Alas!—I lost my faith in +Heaven!</p> + +<p>"I know not what direction I took on leaving Mr. Graham's house. I have +no recollection of any of the streets through which I passed, though +doubtless they were all familiar; but I paused not until, having reached +the end of a wharf, I found myself gazing down into the deep water, +longing to take one mad leap and lose myself in everlasting oblivion! +But for this final blow, beneath which my manhood had fallen, I would +have cherished my life, at least until I could vindicate its fair fame; +I would never have left a blackened memory for men to dwell upon and for +Emily to weep over. But now what cared I for my fellow-men! And +Emily!—she had ceased to love, and would not mourn; and I longed for +the grave. There are moments in human life when a word, a look, or a +thought, may weigh down the balance in the scales of fate and decide a +destiny.</p> + +<p>"So it was with me. I was incapable of forming any plan for myself; but +accident, as it were, decided for me. I was startled from the apathy +into which I had fallen by the sudden splashing of oars in the water +beneath, and in a moment a little boat was moored to a pier within a rod +of the spot where I stood. I also heard footsteps on the wharf, and, +turning, saw by the light of the moon, which was just appearing from +behind a heavy cloud, a stout seafaring man, with a heavy pea-jacket +under one arm and an old-fashioned carpet-bag in his left hand. He had a +ruddy, good-humoured face, and as he was about to pass me and leap into +the boat, where two sailors, with their oars dipped and ready for +motion, were awaiting him, he slapped me on the shoulder, and exclaimed, +'Well, my fine fellow, will you ship with us?' I answered as readily in +the affirmative; and, with one look in my face, and a glance at my +dress, which seemed to assure him of my station in life and probable +ability to make compensation for the passage, he said, in a laughing +tone, 'In with you, then!'</p> + +<p>"To his astonishment—for he had scarcely believed me in earnest—I +sprang into the boat, and in a few moments was on board of a fine bark, +bound I knew not whither. The vessel's destination was Rio Janeiro—a +fact which I did not learn till we had been two or three days at sea, +and to which I felt wholly indifferent. There was one other passenger +beside myself—the captain's daughter, Lucy Grey, whom during the first +week I scarcely noticed, but who appeared to be as much at home, whether +in the cabin or on deck, as if she had passed her whole life at sea. I +might have made the entire passage without giving another thought to +this young girl—half child, half woman—had not my strange behaviour +led her so to conduct herself which surprised and finally interested me. +My wild and excited countenance, my constant restlessness, avoidance of +food, and indifference to everything about me, excited her wonder and +sympathy. She believed me partially deranged, and treated me +accordingly. She would take a seat on deck directly opposite mine, look +in my face, either ignorant or regardless of my observing her, and then +walk away with a heavy sigh. Occasionally she would offer me some little +delicacy, begging that I would eat; and as, touched by her kindness, I +took food more readily from her hand than any other, these little +attentions became at last habitual. As my manners grew calmer and I +settled into a melancholy which, though equally deep, was less fearful +than the feverish torment under which I had laboured, she became +reserved, and when I began to appear somewhat like my fellow-men, went +regularly to the table, and, instead of pacing the deck all night, spent +a part of it quietly in my state-room, Lucy absented herself wholly from +that part of the vessel where I passed the greater portion of the day, +and I seldom exchanged a word with her, unless I purposely sought her +society.</p> + +<p>"The stormy weather drove me to the cabin, where she usually sat on the +transom reading or watching the troubled waves; and, as the voyage was +long, we were thrown much in each other's way, especially as Captain +Grey, who had invited me to ship with him, and who seemed to take an +interest in my welfare, good-naturedly encouraged an intercourse by +which he probably hoped I might be won from a state of melancholy that +seemed to grieve the jolly ship-master almost as much as it did his +kind-hearted, sensitive child.</p> + +<p>"Lucy's shyness, therefore, wore gradually away, and before our tedious +passage was completed I ceased to be a restraint upon her. She talked +freely with me; for while I maintained a rigid silence concerning my own +past experiences, of which I could scarcely endure to think, she exerted +herself freely for my entertainment, and related with simple frankness +almost every circumstance of her past life. Sometimes I listened +attentively; sometimes, absorbed in my own painful reflections, I would +be deaf to her voice and forgetful of her presence. Then I often +observed that she had suddenly ceased speaking, and, starting from my +reverie and looking quickly up, would find her eyes fixed upon me so +reproachfully that, rallying my self-command, I would try to appear, and +sometimes became, seriously interested in the artless narratives of my +little entertainer. She told me that until she was fourteen years old +she lived with her mother in a little cottage on Cape Cod, their home +being only occasionally enlivened by the return of her father from his +long absences at sea. They would visit the city where his vessel lay, +pass a few weeks in great enjoyment, and then return to mourn the +departure of the cheerful sea-captain, and patiently count the weeks and +months until his return. She told me how her mother died; how bitterly +she mourned her loss, and how her father wept when he came home and +heard the news; how she had lived on shipboard ever since; and how sad +and lonely she felt in time of storms when she sat alone in the cabin +listening to the roar of the winds and waves.</p> + +<p>"Tears would come into her eyes when she spoke of these things, and I +would look upon her with pity as one whom sorrow made my sister. Trial, +however, had not robbed her of an elastic, buoyant spirit; and when, +after the completion of some eloquent tale of early grief, the captain +would approach unseen and surprise her by a sudden joke or sly piece of +mischief, thus provoking her to retaliate, she was always ready for a +war of wits, a laughing frolic, or even a game of romps. Her tears dried +up, her merry voice and playful words would delight her father, and the +cabin would ring with peals of laughter; while I, shrinking from a mirth +sadly at variance with my own happiness, and the sound so discordant to +my sensitive nerves, would retire to brood over miseries for which it +was hopeless to expect sympathy which could not be shared, and with +which I must dwell alone.</p> + +<p>"Such a misanthrope had my misfortunes made me that the sportive +raillery between the captain and his merry daughter, and the musical +laugh with which she would respond to the witticisms of two old sailors, +grated upon my ears like something scarce less than personal injuries; +nor could I have believed it possible that one so little able as Lucy to +comprehend the depth of my sufferings could feel any sincere compassion +for them had I not once or twice been touched to see how her innocent +mirth would give place to sudden sadness of countenance if she chanced +to encounter my woe-begone face, rendered doubly gloomy when contrasted +with the gaiety of herself and of her companions.</p> + +<p>"But I must not linger too long upon the details of our life on +shipboard. I must forbear giving account of a terrific gale that we +encountered, during which, for two days and a night, poor Lucy was half +frantic with fear; while I, careless of outward discomforts and +indifferent to personal danger, was afforded an opportunity to requite +her kindness by such protection and encouragement as I was able to +render.</p> + +<p>"Captain Grey died. We were within a week's sail of our destination when +he was taken ill, and three days before we were safely anchored in the +harbour of Rio he breathed his last. I shared with Lucy the office of +ministering to the suffering man, closed his eyes at last, and carried +the fainting girl in my arms to another part of the vessel. With kind +words and persuasions I restored her to her senses; and then, as the +full consciousness of her desolation rushed upon her, she sunk at once +into a state of hopeless despondency painful to witness. Captain Grey +had made no provision for his daughter. Well might the poor girl lament +her sad fate! for she was without a relative in the world, penniless, +and approaching a strange shore, which afforded no refuge to the orphan. +We buried her father in the sea; and that sad office fulfilled, I sought +Lucy and endeavoured to arouse her to a sense of her situation and +advise with her concerning the future; for we were now so near our port +that in a few hours we might be compelled to leave the vessel and seek +quarters in the city. She listened to me without replying. I hinted at +the necessity of my leaving her, and begged to know if she had any plans +for the future. She answered me only by a burst of tears. I begged her +not to weep.</p> + +<p>"And then, with many sobs, and interrupting herself by frequent +exclamations of vehement sorrow, she threw herself upon my compassion, +and, with child-like artlessness, entreated me not to leave her or, as +she termed it, to desert her. She reminded me that she was alone in the +world; that the moment she stepped foot on shore she should be in a land +of strangers; and, appealing to my mercy, besought me not to leave her +to die alone.</p> + +<p>"What could I do? I had nothing on earth to live for. We were both alike +orphaned and desolate. There was but one point of difference. I could +work and protect her; she could do neither for herself. It would be +something for me to live for; and for her, though but a refuge of +poverty and want, it was better than the exposure and suffering that +must otherwise await her. I told her how little I had to offer; that my +heart even was crushed and broken; but that I was ready to labour in her +behalf, to guard her from danger, to pity, and perhaps in time learn to +love her. The unsophisticated girl had never thought of marriage; she +had sought the protection of a friend, not a husband; but I explained to +her that the latter tie only would obviate the necessity of our parting; +and, in the humility of sorrow, she finally accepted my unflattering +offer.</p> + +<p>"The only confidant to our sudden engagement, the only witness of the +marriage, which within a few hours ensued, was an old, weather-beaten +sailor, who had known and loved Lucy from her childhood—Ben Grant. He +accompanied us on shore and to the church. He followed us to the humble +lodgings with which we contrived for the present to be contented, and +devoted himself to Lucy with self-sacrificing, but in one instance, +alas! (as you will soon learn), with mistaken and fatal zeal.</p> + +<p>"After much difficulty, I obtained employment from a man in whom I +accidentally recognized an old and valued friend of my father. He had +been in Rio several years, and was actively engaged in trade, and +willingly employed me as a clerk, occasionally despatching me from home +to transact business at a distance. My duties being regular and +profitable, we were soon raised above want, and I was enabled to place +my young wife in a situation of comfort.</p> + +<p>"The sweetness of her disposition, the cheerfulness with which she +endured privation, the earnestness with which she strove to make me +happy, were not without effect. I perseveringly rallied from my gloom; I +succeeded in banishing the frown from my brow; and the premature +wrinkles, which her hand would softly sweep away, finally ceased to +return. The few months that I passed with your mother, Gertrude, form a +sweet episode in the memory of my stormy life. I came to love her +much—not as I loved Emily;—that could not be expected—but, as the +solitary flower that bloomed on the grave of all my early hopes, she +cast a fragrance round my path; and her child is not more dear to me, +because a part of myself, than as the memento of the cherished blossom +snatched hastily from my hand and rudely crushed.</p> + +<p>"About two months after your birth, my child, and before your eyes had +ever learned to brighten at the sight of your father, who was +necessarily much from home, the business in which I was engaged called +me in the capacity of an agent to a station some distance from Rio. I +had been absent nearly a month, and had written regularly to Lucy, +informing her of all my movements (though I suspect the letters never +reached her), when the neighbourhood in which I was stationed became +infected with a fatal malaria. For the sake of my family I took every +measure to ward off contagion, but failed. I was seized with fever, and +lay for weeks near death. I was cruelly neglected during my illness; for +I had no friends near me, and my slender purse held out little +inducement for mercenary service; but my sufferings and forebodings on +account of Lucy and yourself were far greater than any which I endured +from my bodily torments, although the latter were great. I had all sorts +of imaginary fears; but nothing, alas! which could compare with the +reality that awaited me when, after my dreadful illness, I made my way, +destitute, ragged, and emaciated, back to Rio. I sought my former home. +It was deserted, and I was warned to flee from its vicinity, as the +fearful disease of fever had nearly depopulated that and the +neighbouring streets. I made every inquiry, but could obtain no +intelligence of my wife and child. I hastened to the charnel-house +where, during the raging of the pestilence, the unrecognized dead were +exposed; but among the disfigured remains it was impossible to +distinguish friends from strangers. I lingered about the city for weeks +in hopes to gain some information concerning Lucy; but could find no one +who had ever heard of her. All day I wandered about the streets and on +the wharves—the latter being places which Ben Grant (in whose faithful +charge I had left your mother and yourself) was in the habit of +frequenting—but not a syllable could I learn of any persons that +answered my description.</p> + +<p>"My first thought had been that they would naturally seek my employer, +to learn, if possible, the cause of my prolonged absence; and on finding +my home empty I had hastened in search of him. But he too had, within a +recent period, fallen a victim to the prevailing distemper. His place of +business was closed and the establishment broken up. I continued my +inquiries until hope died within me. I was told that scarce an inmate of +the fatal neighbourhood where I had left my family had escaped; and +convinced, finally, that my fate was still pursuing me with an +unmitigated wrath, of which this last blow was but a single expression, +that I might have foreseen and expected, I madly agreed to work my +passage in the first vessel which promised me an escape from scenes so +fraught with harrowing recollections.</p> + +<p>"And now commenced a course of wretched wandering. With varied ends in +view, following strongly contrasted employments, and with fluctuating +fortune, I have travelled over the world. My feet have trodden almost +every land. I have sailed on every sea and breathed the air of every +clime. I am familiar with the city and the wilderness, the civilized man +and the savage. I have learned the sad lesson that peace is nowhere, and +friendship, for the most part, but a name.</p> + +<p>"Once during my wanderings I visited the home of my boyhood. Unseen and +unknown I trod a familiar ground and gazed on familiar, though time-worn +faces. I stood at the window of Mr. Graham's library; saw the contented, +happy countenance of Emily—happy in her blindness and her forgetfulness +of the past. A young girl sat near the fire endeavouring to read by its +flickering light. I knew not then what gave such a charm to her +thoughtful features, nor why my eyes dwelt upon them with a rare +pleasure; for there was no voice to proclaim to the father's heart that +he looked on the face of his child. I am not sure that the strong +impulse which prompted me then to enter, acknowledge my identity, and +beg Emily to speak to me a word of forgiveness, might not have prevailed +over the dread of her displeasure; but Mr. Graham at the moment +appeared, cold and implacable as ever; I gazed an instant, then fled +from the house.</p> + +<p>"Although in the various labours which I was compelled to undertake to +earn a decent maintenance, I had more than once met with such success as +to give me temporary independence, and to enable me to indulge in +expensive travelling, I had never amassed a fortune; indeed, I had not +cared to do so, since I had no use for money, except to employ it in the +gratification of my immediate wants. Accident, however, at last thrust +upon me a wealth which I could scarcely be said to have sought.</p> + +<p>"After a year spent in the wilderness of the west, amid adventures the +relation of which now would seem to you almost incredible, I gradually +continued my retreat across the country, and after encountering +innumerable hardships, which had no other object than the indulgence of +my vagrant habits, I found myself in that land which has recently been +termed the land of promise, but which has proved to many a greedy +emigrant a land of deceit. For me, however, who sought it not, it +showered gold. I was among the earliest discoverers of its +treasure-vaults—one of the most successful, though the least laborious, +of the seekers after gain. Nor was it merely, or indeed chiefly, at the +mines that fortune favoured me. With the first results of my labours I +purchased an immense tract of land, little dreaming at the time that +those desert acres were destined to become the streets and squares of a +great and prosperous city. So that without effort, almost without my own +knowledge, I achieved the greatness which springs from untold wealth. +But this was not all. The blessed accident which led me to this golden +land was the means of disclosing a pearl of price—a treasure in +comparison with which California and all its mines shrink, to my mind, +into insignificance. You know how the war-cry went forth to all lands, +and men of every name and nation brought their arms to the field of +fortune. Famine came next, with disease and death in its train; and many +a man, hurrying on to reap the golden harvest, fell by the wayside, +without once seeing the waving of the yellow grain.</p> + +<p>"Half scorning the greedy rabble, I could not refuse in this, my time of +prosperity, to minister to the wants of such as fell in the way; and now +for once my humanity found its own reward. A miserable, ragged, +half-starved, and apparently dying man crept to the door of my tent and +asked in a feeble voice for charity. I did not refuse to admit him into +my narrow domicile and to relieve his sufferings. He was the victim of +want rather than disease, and, his hunger appeased, the savage brutality +of his coarse nature soon manifested itself in the dogged indifference +with which he received a stranger's bounty and the gross ingratitude +with which he abused my hospitality. A few days served to restore him to +his strength; and then, anxious to dismiss my visitor, whose conduct had +already excited suspicions of his good faith, I gave him warning that he +must depart; at the same time placing in his hand a sufficient amount of +gold to insure his support until he could reach the mines which were his +professed destination.</p> + +<p>"He appeared dissatisfied, and begged permission to remain until the +next morning, as the night was near, and he had no shelter provided. To +this I made no objection, little imagining how base a serpent I was +harbouring. At midnight I was awakened from my light and +easily-disturbed sleep to find my lodger busily engaged in rifling my +property and preparing to take an unceremonious leave of my dwelling. +Nor did his villainy end here. Upon my seizing and charging him with the +theft, he snatched a weapon and attempted the life of his benefactor. +But I was prepared to ward off the stroke, and succeeded in a few +moments in subduing my desperate antagonist. He now crouched at my feet +in such abject submission as might be expected from so vile a knave. +Well might he tremble with fear; for the Lynch-law was then in full +force for criminals like him. I should probably have handed the traitor +over to his fate; but, ere I had time to do so, he held out to my +cupidity a bribe so tempting that I forgot the deservings of my knavish +guest in the eagerness with which I bartered his freedom as the price of +its possession.</p> + +<p>"He freely emptied his pockets at my bidding, and restored to me the +gold, for the loss of which I never should have repined. As the base +metal rolled at my feet, there glittered among the coins a jewel as +truly <i>mine</i> as any of the rest, but which, as it met my sight, filled +me with greater surprise than if it had been a new-fallen star.</p> + +<p>"It was a ring of peculiar design and workmanship, which had once been +the property of my father, and after his death had been worn by my +mother until the time of her marriage with Mr. Graham, when it was +transferred to myself. I had ever prized it as a precious heirloom, and +it was one of the few valuables which I took with me when I fled from my +step-father's house. This ring, with a watch and some other trinkets, +had been left in the possession of Lucy when I parted with her at Rio, +and the sight of it once more seemed to me like a voice from the grave. +I eagerly sought to learn from my prisoner the source whence it had been +obtained, but he maintained an obstinate silence. It was now my turn to +plead; and at length the promise of instant permission to depart, +'unwhipped by justice,' at the conclusion of his tale, wrung from him a +secret fraught to me with vital interest.</p> + +<p>"This man was Stephen Grant, the son of my old friend Ben. He had heard +from his father's lips the story of your mother's misfortunes; and the +circumstance of a violent quarrel which arose between Ben and his vixen +wife at the young stranger's introduction to their household impressed +the tale upon his recollection. From his account it appeared that my +long-continued absence from Lucy, during the time of my illness, was +construed by her honest but distrustful counsellor and friend into cruel +desertion. The poor girl, to whom my early life was all a mystery which +she had never shared, and to whom much of my character and conduct was +inexplicable, began soon to feel convinced of the correctness of the old +sailor's suspicions and fears. She had already applied to my employer +for information concerning me; but he, who had heard of the pestilence +to which I was exposed, and fully believed me to be among the dead, +forbore to distress her by a communication of his belief, and replied to +her questionings with an obscurity which served to give new force to her +hitherto uncertain surmises. She positively refused, however, to leave +our home; and, clinging to the hope of my final return thither, remained +where I had left her until the terrible fever began its ravages. Her +small stock of money was by this time consumed; her strength both of +mind and body gave way; and Ben, becoming every day more confident that +the simple-hearted Lucy had been betrayed and forsaken, persuaded her at +last to sell her furniture, and with the sum thus raised flee the +infected country before it should be too late. She sailed for Boston in +the same vessel in which Ben shipped before the mast; and on reaching +that port her humble protector took her to the only home he had to +offer.</p> + +<p>"There your mother's sad fate found a mournful termination; and you, her +infant child, were left to the mercy of the cruel woman who, but for +consciousness of guilt and her fear of its betrayal, would doubtless +have thrust you at once from the miserable shelter her dwelling +afforded. This guilt consisted in a foul robbery committed by Nan and +her infamous son upon your innocent mother, now rendered, through her +feebleness, an easy prey to their rapacity. The fruits of this vile +theft, however, were not participated in by Nan, whose promising son so +far exceeded her in duplicity and craft that, having obtained possession +of the jewels for the alleged purpose of bartering them away, he +reserved such as he thought proper, and appropriated to his own use the +proceeds of the remainder.</p> + +<p>"The antique ring which I now hold in my possession, the priceless relic +of a mournful tragedy, would have shared the fate of the rest but for +its apparent worthlessness. To the luckless Stephen, however, it proved +at last a temporary salvation from the felon's doom which must finally +await that hardened sinner; and to me—ah! to <i>me</i>—it remains to be +proved whether the knowledge of the secrets to which it has been the key +will bless my future life or darken it with a heavier curse! +Notwithstanding the information thus gained, and the exciting idea to +which it gave rise, that my child might be still living and finally +restored to me, I could not yet feel any security that these daring +hopes were not destined to be crushed in their infancy, and that my +newly-found treasure might not again elude my eager search. To my +inquiries concerning you, Gertrude, Stephen, who had no longer any +motives for concealing the truth, declared his inability to acquaint me +with any particulars of a later period than the time of your residence +with Trueman Flint. He knew that the lamplighter had taken you to his +home, and was accidentally made aware, a few months later, of your +continuance in that place of refuge from the old man's being such a fool +as to call upon his mother and voluntarily make compensation for the +injury done to her windows in your outburst of childish revenge.</p> + +<p>"I could learn nothing more; but it was enough to inspire all my +energies to recover my child. I hastened to Boston, had no difficulty in +tracing your benefactor, and, though he had been long dead, found many a +truthful witness to his well-known virtues. Nor, when I asked for his +adopted child, did I find her forgotten in the quarter of the city where +she had passed her childhood. More than one grateful voice was ready to +respond to my questioning, and to proclaim the cause they had to +remember the girl who, having experienced the trials of poverty, made it +both her duty and her pleasure of prosperity to administer to the wants +of a neighbourhood whose sufferings she had aforetime both witnessed and +shared. But, alas! to complete the sum of sad vicissitudes with which my +unhappy destiny was already crowded, at the moment when I was assured +of my daughter's safety, and my ears were greeted with the sweet praises +that accompanied the mention of her name, there fell upon me like a +thunderbolt the startling words, 'She is now the adopted child of sweet +Emily Graham, the blind girl.'</p> + +<p>"Oh, strange coincidence! Oh, righteous retribution! which, at the very +moment when I was picturing to myself the consummation of my cherished +hopes, crushed me once more beneath the iron hand of a destiny that +would not be cheated of its victim! My child, my only child, bound by +the gratitude and love of years to one in whose face I scarcely dared to +look, lest my soul should be withered by the expression of condemnation +which the consciousness of my presence would inspire!</p> + +<p>"The seas and lands which had hitherto divided us seemed not, to my +tortured fancy, so insurmountable a barrier between myself and my +long-lost daughter as the dreadful reflection that the only earthly +being whose love I had hoped in time to win had been reared from her +infancy in a household where my name was a thing abhorred.</p> + +<p>"Stung to the quick by the harrowing thought that all my prayers, +entreaties, and explanations could never undo her early impressions, and +that all my labours and all my love could never call forth other than a +cold and formal recognition of my claims, I half resolved to leave my +child in ignorance of her birth and never seek to look upon her face, +rather than subject her to the terrible necessity of choosing between +the friend whom she loved and the father from whose crimes she had +learned to shrink with horror and dread. After struggling long with +contending emotions, I resolved to make one effort to see and recognize +you, Gertrude, and at the same time guard myself from discovery. I +trusted to the change which time had wrought in my appearance to conceal +me effectually from all eyes but those which had known me intimately, +and therefore approached Mr. Graham's house without the slightest fear +of betrayal. I found it empty and apparently deserted.</p> + +<p>"I now directed my steps to the well-remembered counting-house, and here +learned from the clerk that the whole household, including yourself, had +been passing the winter in Paris, and were at present at a German +watering-place. Without further inquiry I took the steamer to +Liverpool, thence hastened to Baden-Baden—a trifling excursion in the +eyes of a traveller of my experience. Without risking myself in the +presence of my step-father, I took an early opportunity to obtain an +introduction to Mrs. Graham, and, thanks to her unreserved conversation, +learned that Emily and yourself were left in Boston, and were under the +care of Dr. Jeremy.</p> + +<p>"On my return voyage, immediately undertaken, I made the acquaintance of +Dr. Gryseworth and his daughter—an acquaintance which proved of great +value in facilitating my intercourse with yourself. Once more arrived in +Boston, Dr. Jeremy's house looked as if closed for the season. A man +making some repairs about the door-step informed me that the family were +absent from town. He was not aware of the direction they had taken, but +the servants were at home and might acquaint me with their route. Upon +this I boldly rung the door-bell. It was answered by Mrs. Ellis, who +nearly twenty years ago had cruelly sounded in my ears the death-knell +of all my hopes in life. I saw that my incognito was secure, as she met +my piercing glance without shrinking or taking flight, as I fully +expected she would do at sight of the ghost of my former self.</p> + +<p>"She replied to my queries as coolly as she had done during the day to +some dozen of the doctor's disappointed patients—telling me that he had +left that morning for New York, and would not be back for two or three +weeks. Nothing could have been more favourable to my wishes than the +chance thus afforded of overtaking your party and, as a travelling +companion, introducing myself gradually to your notice.</p> + +<p>"You know how this purpose was effected; how, now in the rear, and now +in advance, I nevertheless maintained a constant proximity to your +footsteps. To add to the comfort of yourself and Emily, to learn your +plans, forestall your wishes, secure to your use the best of rooms, and +bribe to your service the most devoted of attendants—I spared neither +pains, trouble, nor expense. For much of the freedom with which I +approached you and made myself an occasional member of your circle, I +was indebted to Emily's blindness; for I could not doubt that otherwise +time and its changes would fail to conceal from her my identity, and I +should meet with a premature recognition. Nor until the final act of +the drama, when death stared us all in the face, and concealment became +impossible, did I once trust my voice to her hearing.</p> + +<p>"How closely, during those few weeks, I watched and weighed your every +word and action, seeking even to read your thoughts in your face, none +can tell whose acuteness is not sharpened and vivified by motives so +all-engrossing as mine; and who can measure the anguish of the fond +father who day by day learned to worship his child with a more absorbing +idolatry, and yet dared not clasp her to his heart?</p> + +<p>"Especially when I saw you the victim of grief and trouble did I long to +assert a claim to your confidence; and more than once my self-control +would have given way but for the dread inspired by the gentle +Emily—gentle to all but me. I could not brook the thought that with my +confession I should cease to be the trusted friend and become the +abhorred parent. I preferred to maintain my distant and unacknowledged +guardianship of my child rather than that she should behold in me the +dreaded tyrant who might tear her from the home from which he himself +had been driven.</p> + +<p>"And so I kept silent; and sometimes present to your sight, but still +oftener hid from view, I hovered around your path until that dreadful +day, which you will long remember, when, everything forgotten but the +safety of yourself and Emily, my heart spoke out and betrayed my secret. +And now you know all—my follies, misfortunes, sufferings, and sins!</p> + +<p>"Can you love me, Gertrude? It is all I ask. I seek not to steal you +from your present home—to rob poor Emily of a child whom she values +perhaps as much as I. The only balm my wounded spirit seeks is the +simple, guileless confession that you will at least try to love your +father.</p> + +<p>"I have no hope in this world, and none, alas! beyond, but in yourself. +Could you feel my heart now beating against its prison bars, you would +realize, as I do, that unless soothed it will burst ere long. Will you +soothe it by your pity, my sweet, my darling child? Will you bless it by +your love? If so, come, clasp your arms around me, and whisper to me +words of peace. Within sight of your window, in the old summer-house at +the end of the garden, with straining ear, I wait listening for your +footsteps."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVI" id="CHAPTER_XLVI"></a>CHAPTER XLVI.</h2> + +<h3>THE REUNION.</h3> + + +<p>As Gertrude's eyes, after greedily devouring the manuscript, fell upon +its closing words she sprang to her feet, and the next instant she has +run down the staircase, run out of the hall door, and approached the +summer-house from the opposite entrance to that at which Mr. Amory, with +folded arms and a fixed countenance, is watching for her coming.</p> + +<p>So noiseless is her light step, that before he is conscious of her +presence, she has thrown herself upon his bosom and, her whole frame +trembling with the vehemence of long-suppressed agitation, burst into a +torrent of passionate tears, interrupted only by frequent sobs, so deep +and so exhausting that her father, with his arms folded around her, and +clasping her so closely to his heart that she feels its irregular +beating, endeavours to still the tempest of her grief, whispering +softly, as to an infant, "Hush! hush, my child! you frighten me!"</p> + +<p>And, gradually soothed by his gentle caresses, her excitement subsides, +and she is able to lift her face to his and smile upon him through her +tears. They stand thus for many minutes in a silence that speaks far +more than words. Wrapped in the folds of his heavy cloak to preserve her +from the evening air, and still encircled in his strong embrace, +Gertrude feels that their union of spirit is not less complete; while +the long-banished man, who for years has never felt the sweet influence +of a kindly smile, glows with a melting tenderness which hardening +solitude has not the power to subdue. At length Mr. Amory, lifting his +daughter's face and gazing into her glistening eyes, while he gently +strokes the disordered hair from her forehead, asks, in an accent of +touching appeal, "You will love me, then?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I do! I do!" exclaimed Gertrude, sealing his lips with kisses. His +hitherto unmoved countenance relaxes at this fervent assurance. He bows +his head upon her shoulder, and the strong man weeps. Her +self-possession all restored, at seeing him thus overcome, Gertrude +places her hand in his, and startles him from his position by the firm +and decided tone with which she whispers, "Come!"</p> + +<p>"Whither?" exclaims he, looking up in surprise.</p> + +<p>"To Emily."</p> + +<p>With a half shudder and a mournful shake of the head, he retreats +instead of advancing in the direction in which she would lead him—"I +cannot."</p> + +<p>"But she waits for you; she, too, weeps and longs and prays for your +coming."</p> + +<p>"Emily!—you know not what you are saying!"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, my father; it is you who are deceived. Emily does not hate you; +she never did. She believed you dead long ago; but your voice, though +heard but once, has half robbed her of her reason so entirely does she +love you still. Come, and she will tell you, better than I can, what a +wretched mistake has made martyrs of you both."</p> + +<p>Emily, who had heard the voice of Willie Sullivan, as he bade Gertrude +farewell on the door-step, and rightly conjectured that it was he, +forbore making any inquiries for the absent girl at the tea-table, and +thinking it probable that she preferred to remain undisturbed, retired +to the sitting-room at the conclusion of the meal, where (as Mr. Graham +sought the library) she remained alone for more than an hour.</p> + +<p>The refined taste which always made Emily's dress an index to the soft +purity of her character was never more strikingly developed than when +she wore, as on the present occasion, a flowing robe of white cashmere, +fastened at the waist with a silken girdle, and with full drapery +sleeves, whose lining and border of snowy silk could only have been +rivalled by the delicate hand and wrist which had escaped from beneath +their folds, and somewhat nervously played with the crimson fringe of a +shawl, worn in the chilly dining-room, and thrown carelessly over the +arm of the sofa. Supporting herself upon her elbow, she sat with her +head bent forward, and apparently deep in thought. Once Mrs. Prime +opened the door, looked around the room in search of the housekeeper, +and, not finding her, retreated, saying to herself, "Law! dear sakes +alive! I wish she only had eyes now, to see how like a picter she +looks!"</p> + +<p>A low, quick bark from the house-dog attracted her attention, and steps +were heard crossing the piazza. Before they had gained the door, Emily +was standing upright, straining her ear to catch the sound of every +footfall; and, when Gertrude and Mr. Amory entered, she looked more like +a statue than a living figure, as with clasped hands, parted lips, and +one foot slightly advanced, she silently awaited their approach. One +glance at Emily's face, another at that of her agitated father, and +Gertrude was gone. She saw the completeness of their mutual recognition, +and with instinctive delicacy, forbore to mar by her presence the +sacredness of so holy an interview. As the door closed upon her +retreating figure, Emily parted her clasped hands, stretched them forth +into the dim vacancy, and murmured, "Philip!"</p> + +<p>He seized them between both of his, and with one step forward, fell upon +his knees. As he did so, the half-fainting Emily dropped upon the seat. +Mr. Amory bowed his head upon the hands which, still held tightly +between his own, now rested on her lap, and, hiding his face upon her +slender fingers, tremblingly uttered her name.</p> + +<p>"The grave has given up its dead!" exclaimed Emily. "My God, I thank +thee!" and she flung her arms around his neck, rested her head upon his +bosom, and whispered, in a voice half choked with emotion, +"Philip!—dear, dear Philip! am I dreaming, or have you come back +again?"</p> + +<p>She and Philip had loved each other in their childhood; before that +childhood was passed they had parted; and as children they met again. +During the lapse of many years she had lived among the cherished +memories of the past, she had been safe from worldly contagion, and had +retained all the guileless simplicity of girlhood—all the freshness of +her spring-time; and Philip, who had never willingly bound himself by +any ties save those imposed upon him by necessity, felt his boyhood come +rushing upon him, as, with Emily's soft hand resting on his head, she +blessed Heaven for his safe return. She could not see how time had +silvered his hair and sobered and shaded the face that she loved.</p> + +<p>And to him, as he beheld the face he had half dreaded to encounter +beaming with the holy light of sympathy and love, the blind girl's +countenance seemed encircled with a halo not of earth. And, therefore, +this union had in it less of earth than heaven. Not until, seated beside +each other, with their hands still fondly clasped, Philip had heard from +Emily's lips the history of her hopes, her fears, her prayers, and her +despair; and she, while listening to the sad incidents of his life, had +dropped upon the hand she held many a kiss and tear of sympathy, did +either fully realise the mercy so long delayed, so fully accorded now, +which promised even on earth to crown their days.</p> + +<p>Emily wept at the tale of Lucy's trials and her early death, and when +she learned that it was hers and Philip's child whom she had taken to +her heart, and fostered with the truest affection, she sent up her +silent praise that it had been allotted to her apparently bereaved and +darkened destiny to fulfil so blessed a mission. "If I could love her +more, dear Philip," said she, while the tears trickled down her cheeks, +"I would do so, for your sake, and that of her sweet, innocent, +suffering mother."</p> + +<p>"And you forgive me, then, Emily?" said Philip, as both having finished +their sad recitals of the past, they gave themselves up to the sweet +reflection of their present joy.</p> + +<p>"Forgive? Oh, Philip! what have I to forgive?"</p> + +<p>"The deed that locked you in prison darkness," he mournfully replied.</p> + +<p>"Philip!" exclaimed Emily, "could you for one moment believe that I +attributed that to you?—that I blamed you, for an instant?"</p> + +<p>"Not willingly, I am sure, dear Emily. But, oh, you have forgotten that +in your time of anguish, not only the obtruding thought but the lip that +gave utterance to it, proclaimed how you refused to forgive the cruel +hand that wrought you so much woe!"</p> + +<p>"You cruel, Philip! Never did I so abuse and wrong you. If my unfilial +heart sinfully railed against the cruel injustice of my father, it was +never guilty of such treachery towards you."</p> + +<p>"That fiendish woman lied, then, when she told me that you shuddered at +my very name?"</p> + +<p>"If I shuddered, Philip, it was because I recoiled at the thought of the +wrong you had sustained; and oh, believe me, if she gave you any other +assurance than of my continued love, it was because she laboured under a +sad error."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" ejaculated Philip; "how wickedly have I been deceived!"</p> + +<p>"Not wickedly," replied Emily. "Mrs. Ellis was in that instance the +victim of circumstances. She was a stranger among us, and believed you +other than you were; but, had you seen her a few weeks later, sobbing +over her share in the unhappy transaction which drove you to +desperation, and as we then supposed to death, you would have felt that +we had misjudged her, and that she carried a heart of flesh beneath a +stony disguise. The bitterness of her grief was united with remorse at +the recollection of her own harshness. Let us forget the sad events of +the past, and trust that the loving hand which has thus far shaped our +course has but afflicted us in mercy."</p> + +<p>"In mercy!" exclaimed Philip. "What mercy does my past experience give +evidence of, or your life of everlasting darkness? Can you believe it a +loving hand which made me the ill-fated instrument, and you the +life-long sufferer, from one of the dreariest misfortunes that can +afflict humanity?"</p> + +<p>"Speak not of my blindness as a misfortune," answered Emily; "I have +long ceased to think it such. It is only through the darkness of the +night that we discern the lights of heaven, and only when shut out from +earth that we enter the gates of Paradise. With eyes to see the +wonderful working of nature and nature's God, I nevertheless closed them +to the evidences of Almighty love that were around me on every side. +While enjoying the beautiful gifts that were showered on my pathway, I +forgot to praise the Giver; but, with an ungrateful heart, walked +sinfully on, little dreaming of the deceitful snares which entangle the +footsteps of youth. And therefore did he, who is ever over us for good, +arrest with fatherly hand the child who was wandering from the road that +leads to peace; and, though the discipline of his chastening rod was +sudden and severe, mercy tempered justice. From the tomb of my buried +joys sprang hopes that will bloom in immortality. From the clouds and +the darkness broke forth a glorious light. Then grieve not, dear Philip, +over the fate that is far from sad; but rejoice with me in the thought +of that blessed and not far distant awakening, when, with restored and +beautiful vision, I shall stand before God's throne, in full view of +that glorious Presence, from which, but for the guiding light which has +burst upon my spirit through the veil of earthly darkness, I might have +been eternally shut out."</p> + +<p>As Emily finished speaking, and Philip, gazing with awe upon the rapt +expression of her soul-illumined face, beheld the triumph of an immortal +mind, and pondered on the might, the majesty, and power of the influence +wrought by simple piety, the door of the room opened abruptly and Mr. +Graham entered.</p> + +<p>The sound of the well-known footstep disturbed the soaring thoughts of +both, and the flush of excitement which had mounted into Emily's cheeks +subsided into more than her wonted paleness as Philip, rising slowly +from her side, stood face to face with her father.</p> + +<p>Mr. Graham approached with the scrutinizing air of one called upon to +greet a visitor who, though an apparent stranger, may possibly have +claims to recognition, and glanced at his daughter as if hoping she +would relieve the awkwardness by an introduction. But the agitated Emily +maintained perfect silence, and every feature of Philip's countenance +remained immovable as Mr. Graham slowly came forward.</p> + +<p>He had advanced within one step of the spot where Philip stood waiting +to receive him, when, struck by the stern look and attitude of the +latter, he stopped short, gazed one moment into the eagle eyes of his +step-son, then staggered, grasped at the mantel-piece, and would have +fallen, but Philip, starting forward, helped him to his arm-chair. And +yet no word was spoken. At length Mr. Graham, who, having fallen into +the seat, sat still gazing into the face of Mr. Amory, ejaculated in a +tone of wondering excitement, "Philip Amory! Oh, my God!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, father," exclaimed Emily, suddenly rising and grasping her +father's arm; "it is Philip; he whom we have so long believed among the +dead, restored to us in health and safety!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Graham rose from his chair and, leaning heavily on Emily's shoulder, +again approached Mr. Amory, who, with folded arms, stood fixed as +marble. His step tottered with a feebleness never before observable in +the sturdy frame of the old man, and the hand which he extended to +Philip was marked by an unusual tremulousness. But Philip did not offer +to receive the proffered hand, or reply by word to the rejected +salutation.</p> + +<p>Mr. Graham turned towards Emily and, forgetting that this neglect was +shut from her sight, exclaimed half-bitterly, half-sadly, "I cannot +blame him! God knows I wronged the boy!"</p> + +<p>"Wronged him!" cried Philip, in a voice almost fearful. "Yes, wronged +him, indeed! Blighted his life, crushed his youth, half broke his heart, +and wholly blighted his reputation!"</p> + +<p>"No," exclaimed Mr. Graham, who had quailed beneath these accusations, +until he reached the final one; "not that, Philip!—not that! I never +harmed you there; I discovered my error before I had doomed you to +infamy in the eyes of one of your fellow-men."</p> + +<p>"You acknowledge, then, the error?"</p> + +<p>"I do, I do! I imputed to you the deed which proved to have been +accomplished through the agency of my most confidential clerk. I learned +the truth almost immediately; but too late, alas! to recall you. Then +came the news of your death, and I felt that the injury had been +irreparable. But it was not strange, Philip; you must allow that. Archer +had been in my employment more than twenty years. I believed him +trustworthy."</p> + +<p>"No! oh, no!" replied Philip. "It was nothing strange that, a crime +committed, you should have readily ascribed it to me. You thought me +capable only of evil."</p> + +<p>"I was unjust, Philip," answered Mr. Graham, with an attempt to rally +his dignity; "but I had some cause."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," responded Philip; "I am willing to grant that."</p> + +<p>"Let us shake hands upon it, then," said Mr. Graham, "and endeavour to +forget the past."</p> + +<p>Philip acceded to this request, though there was but little warmth in +the manner of his compliance. Mr. Graham looked relieved from a burden +which had been oppressing his conscience for years, and, subsiding into +his arm-chair, begged the particulars of Philip's experience during the +last twenty years.</p> + +<p>The outline of the story was soon told, Mr. Graham listening to it with +attention, and inquiring into its particulars with an interest which +proved that, during a lengthened period of regret and remorse, his +feelings had sensibly softened towards the step-son, with every memory +of whom there had come to his heart a pang of self-reproach.</p> + +<p>Mr. Amory was unable to afford any satisfactory explanation of the +report of his own death which had been confidently affirmed by Dr. +Jeremy's correspondent at Rio. Upon a comparison of dates, however, it +seemed probable that the doctor's agent had obtained this information +from Philip's employer, who had every reason to believe that the young +man had perished of the prevailing infection.</p> + +<p>To Philip himself it was almost an equal matter of wonder that his +friends should ever have obtained knowledge of his flight and +destination. But this was easily accounted for, since the vessel in +which he had embarked returned directly to Boston, and there were among +her crew and officers those who could reply to the inquiries which the +benevolent doctor had set on foot some months before, accompanied by the +offer of a liberal reward.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the many romantic incidents which were unfolding +themselves, none seemed to produce so great an impression upon Mr. +Graham's mind as the singular circumstance that the child who had been +reared under his roof, and endeared herself to him, in spite of some +clashing of interests and opinions, should prove to be Philip's +daughter. As he left the room at the conclusion of the tale, and sought +the solitude of his library, he muttered to himself, "Singular +coincidence! Very singular! Very!"</p> + +<p>Hardly had he departed before another door was timidly opened, and +Gertrude looked cautiously in. Her father went quickly towards her, and, +passing his arm around her waist, drew her towards Emily, and clasped +them both in a long and silent embrace.</p> + +<p>"Philip," exclaimed Emily, "can you doubt the mercy which has spared us +for such a meeting?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Emily!" replied he, "I am deeply grateful. Teach me how and where +to bestow my tribute of praise."</p> + +<p>On the hour of sweet communion which succeeded we forbear to dwell—the +silent rapture of Emily, the passionately-expressed joy of Philip, or +the trusting, loving glances which Gertrude cast upon both. It was +nearly midnight when Mr. Amory rose to depart. Emily, who had not +thought of his leaving the spot which she hoped he would now consider +his home, entreated him to remain; and Gertrude, with her eyes, joined +in the eager petition. But he persisted in his resolution with firmness +and seriousness.</p> + +<p>"Philip," said Emily, laying her hand upon his arm, "you have not yet +forgiven my father." She had divined his thoughts. He shrank under her +reproachful tones, and made no answer.</p> + +<p>"But you <i>will</i>, dear Philip—you <i>will</i>," continued she, in a pleading +voice.</p> + +<p>He hesitated, then glanced at her once more, and replied, "I will, +dearest Emily, I will—in time."</p> + +<p>When he had gone, Gertrude lingered a moment at the door, to watch his +retreating figure, just visible in the light of the waning moon, then +returned to the parlour, and saying, "Oh, what a day this has been!" but +checked herself, at the sight of Emily, who, kneeling by the sofa with +clasped hands, and with her white garments sweeping the floor, looked +the very impersonation of purity and prayer. Throwing one arm around her +neck, Gertrude knelt on the floor beside her, and together they sent up +to the throne of God the incense of thanksgiving and praise!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVII" id="CHAPTER_XLVII"></a>CHAPTER XLVII.</h2> + +<h3>THE RECOMPENSE.</h3> + + +<p>When Uncle True died, Mr. Cooper buried his old friend in the ancient +graveyard which adjoined the church where he had long officiated as +sexton. But long before the time-worn building gave place to a modern +structure the hallowed remains of Uncle True had found a quieter +resting-place—even a beautiful piece of undulating woodland in the +neighbourhood of Mr. Graham's country residence, which had been +consecrated as a rural cemetery; and in the loveliest nook of this +beautiful spot the ashes of the good old lamplighter found their final +repose.</p> + +<p>This lot of land, which had been purchased by Willie's liberality, +selected by Gertrude, and by her made fragrant with summer rose and +winter ivy, now enclosed also the forms of Mr. Cooper and Mrs. Sullivan; +and over these three graves Gertrude had planted many a flower and +watered it with her tears. Especially did she view it as a sacred duty +and privilege to mark the anniversary of the death of each by a tribute +of fresh garlands; and, with this pious purpose in view, she left Mr. +Graham's house one beautiful afternoon about a week after the events +narrated in the previous chapter.</p> + +<p>She carried on her arm a basket, containing her offering of flowers; +and, as she had a long walk before her, started at a rapid pace. Let us +follow her, and briefly pursue the train of thought which accompanied +her on her way. She had left her father with Emily. She would not ask +him to join her in her walk, though he had once expressed a desire to +visit the grave of Uncle True, for he and Emily were talking together so +contentedly, it would have been a pity to disturb them; and Gertrude's +reflections were engrossed by the thought of their tranquil happiness. +She thought of herself, too, as associated with them both; of the deep +and long-tried love of Emily, and of the fond outpourings of affection +daily and hourly lavished upon her by her newly-found parent, and felt +that she could scarcely repay their kindness by the devotion of a +lifetime.</p> + +<p>She tried to banish the remembrance of Willie's faithlessness and +desertion. But the painful recollection presented itself continually, +notwithstanding her utmost efforts to repress it; and at last, ceasing +the struggle, she gave herself up for the time to a deep and saddening +reverie. She had received two visits from Willie since the first; but +the second meeting had been in its character very similar, and on the +succeeding occasion the constraint had increased instead of diminishing. +Several times Willie had made an effort to speak and act with the +freedom of former days; but a sudden blush, or sign of confusion and +distress, on Gertrude's part, deterred him from any further attempt to +put to flight the reserve which subsisted in their intercourse. Again, +Gertrude, who had resolved, previous to his last visit, to meet him with +frankness, smiled upon him affectionately at his coming, and offered her +hand with such sisterly freedom, that he was emboldened to take and +retain in his grasp, and was on the point of unburdening his mind of +some weighty secret, when she turned abruptly away, took up some trivial +piece of work, and while she seemed absorbed in it, addressed to him an +unimportant question—a course of conduct which disconcerted him for the +remainder of his stay.</p> + +<p>As Gertrude pondered the distressing results of every visit, she half +hoped he would discontinue them, believing that their feelings would be +less wounded by a total separation than by interviews which must leave +on the mind of each a still greater sense of estrangement.</p> + +<p>Strange, she had not yet acquainted him with the event so interesting to +herself—the discovery of her dearly-loved father. Once she tried to +speak of it, but was so overcome at the idea of imparting to the +confidant of her childhood an experience of which she could scarcely yet +think without emotion, that she paused in the attempt, fearing that, +should she on any topic give way to her sensibilities, she should lose +all restraint over her feelings and lay open her whole heart to Willie.</p> + +<p>But one thing distressed her more than all others. In his first attempt +to throw off all disguise, Willie had more than intimated to her his own +unhappiness; and ere she could find an opportunity to change the subject +and repel a confidence for which she still felt herself unprepared, he +had spoken mournfully over his future prospects in life.</p> + +<p>The only construction which Gertrude could give to this confession was +that it had reference to his engagement with Isabel, and it gave rise to +the suspicion that, infatuated by her beauty, he had impulsively bound +himself to one who could never make him happy. The little scenes to +which she herself had been a witness corroborated this idea, as, on both +occasions of her seeing the lovers and overhearing their words, some +cause of vexation seemed to exist on Willie's part. "He loves her," +thought Gertrude, "and is also bound to her in honour; but he sees +already the want of harmony in their natures. Poor Willie! It is +impossible he should ever be happy with Isabel."</p> + +<p>And Gertrude's sympathising heart mourned not more deeply over her own +griefs than over the disappointment that Willie must be experiencing, if +he had ever hoped to find peace in a union with so overbearing, +ill-humoured, and unreasonable a girl.</p> + +<p>Wholly occupied with these and similar musings, she walked on with a +quickness she was scarcely herself aware of, and soon gained the shelter +of the heavy pines which bordered the entrance to the cemetery. Here she +paused to enjoy the refreshing breeze that played beneath the branches; +and, passing through the gateway, entered a carriage-road at the right, +and proceeded slowly up the ascent. The place, always quiet and +peaceful, seemed unusually still and secluded, and save the occasional +carol of a bird, there was no sound to disturb the perfect silence and +repose. As Gertrude gazed upon the familiar beauties of those sacred +grounds which had been her frequent resort during several years—as she +walked between beds of flowers, inhaled the fragrant and balmy air, and +felt the solemn appeal, the spiritual breathings, that haunted the holy +place—every motion that was not in harmony with the scene gradually +took its flight, and she experienced only that sensation of sweet and +half-joyful melancholy which was awakened by the thought of the happy +dead.</p> + +<p>After a while she left the broad road and turned into a little bypath, +and then again to a narrower foot-track, and gained the shady and +retired spot which had recommended itself to her choice. It was situated +on the slope of a little hill; a huge rock protected it on one side from +the observation of the passer-by, and a fine old oak overshadowed it +upon the other. The iron enclosure, of simple workmanship, was nearly +overgrown by the green ivy, which had been planted there by Gertrude's +hand, and the moss-grown rock was festooned by its tendrils. Upon a +jutting stone beside the grave of Uncle True Gertrude seated herself, +and after a few moments of contemplation sighed heavily, emptied her +flowers upon the grass, and commenced weaving a graceful chaplet, which, +when completed, she placed upon the grave at her feet. With the +remainder of the blossoms she strewed the other mounds; and then, +drawing forth a pair of gardening gloves and a little trowel, she +employed herself for nearly an hour among the flowers and vines with +which she had embowered the spot. Her work finished, she again placed +herself at the foot of the old rock, removed her gloves, pushed back +from her forehead the braids of her hair, and appeared to be resting +from her labours.</p> + +<p>It was seven years that day since Uncle True died, but Gertrude had not +forgotten the kind old man. As she gazed upon the grassy mound that +covered him, and scene after scene rose up before her in which that +earliest friend and herself had whiled away the happy hours, there came, +to embitter the cherished remembrance, the recollection of that third +and seldom absent one who completed the memory of their fireside joys; +and Gertrude, while yielding to the inward reflection, unconsciously +exclaimed aloud, "Oh, Uncle True! you and I are not parted yet; but +Willie is not of us!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Gertrude," said a reproachful voice close at her side, "is Willie +to blame for that?" She started, turned, saw the object of her thoughts +with his mild sad eye fixed inquiringly upon her, and, without replying +to his question, buried her face in her hands.</p> + +<p>He threw himself upon the ground at her feet, and, as on the occasion of +their first childish interview, gently lifted her bowed head from the +hands upon which it had fallen, and compelled her to look him in the +face, saying at the same time in the most imploring accents, "Tell me, +Gerty, in pity tell me, why I am excluded from your sympathy?" But still +she made no answer, except by the tears that coursed down her cheeks.</p> + +<p>"You make me miserable," continued he. "What have I done that you have +so shut me out of your affection? Why do you look so coldly upon me—and +even shrink from my sight?" added he, as Gertrude, unable to endure his +searching look, turned her eyes in another direction and strove to free +her hands from his grasp.</p> + +<p>"I am not cold—I do not mean to be," said she, her voice half-choked +with emotion.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Gertrude," replied he, relinquishing her hands and turning away, "I +see you have ceased to love me. I trembled when I first beheld you, so +lovely, so beautiful, and so beloved by all, and feared lest some +fortunate rival had stolen your heart from its boyish keeper. But even +then I did not deem that you would refuse me, at least, a <i>brother's</i> +claim to your affection."</p> + +<p>"I will not," exclaimed Gertrude eagerly. "Oh, Willie, you must not be +angry with me! Let me be your sister!"</p> + +<p>He smiled a most mournful smile, and said, "I was right, then; you +feared lest I should claim too much, and discouraged my presumption by +awarding me nothing. Be it so. Perhaps your prudence was for the best; +but, oh Gertrude, it has made me heartbroken."</p> + +<p>"Willie!" exclaimed Gertrude, with excitement, "do you know how +strangely you are speaking?"</p> + +<p>"Strangely?" responded Willie, in a half-offended tone. "Is it so +strange that I should love you? Have I not for years cherished the +remembrance of our past affection, and looked forward to our reunion as +my only hope of happiness? Has not this fond expectation inspired my +labours, and cheered my toils, and endeared to me my life, in spite of +its bereavements? And can you, in the very sight of these cold mounds, +beneath which lie buried all else that I held dear on earth, crush and +destroy without compassion this solitary but all-engrossing——"</p> + +<p>"Willie," interrupted Gertrude, her calmness suddenly restored, and +speaking in a kind but serious tone, "is it honourable for you to +address me thus? Have you forgotten——"</p> + +<p>"No, I have <i>not</i> forgotten," exclaimed he vehemently. "I have not +forgotten that I have no right to distress or annoy you, and I will do +so no more. But oh, Gerty! my sister Gerty (since all hope of a nearer +tie is at an end), blame me not, and wonder not, if I fail at present to +perform a brother's part. I cannot stay in this neighbourhood. I cannot +be the patient witness of another's happiness. My services, my time, my +life, you may command, and in my far-distant home I will never cease to +pray that the husband you have chosen, whoever he be, may prove himself +worthy of my noble Gertrude, and love her one-half as well as I do!"</p> + +<p>"Willie!" said Gertrude, "what madness is this? I am bound by no such +tie as you describe; but what shall I think of your treachery to +Isabel?"</p> + +<p>"To Isabel!" cried Willie, starting up, as if seized with a new idea; +"and has that silly rumour reached <i>you</i> too? and did you put faith in +the falsehood?"</p> + +<p>"Falsehood!" exclaimed Gertrude, lifting her hitherto drooping eyelids +and casting upon him, through their wet lashes, a look of earnest +scrutiny.</p> + +<p>Calmly returning a glance which he had neither avoided nor quailed +under, Willie responded unhesitatingly, and with a tone of astonishment +not unmingled with reproach, "Falsehood! Yes. With the knowledge you +have both of her and myself, could you doubt its being such for a +moment?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Willie!" cried Gertrude, "could I doubt the evidence of my own eyes +and ears? Had I trusted to less faithful witnesses, I might have been +deceived. Do not attempt to conceal from me the truth, to which my own +observation can testify. Treat me with frankness, Willie! Indeed, +indeed, I deserve it at your hands!"</p> + +<p>"Frankness, Gertrude! it is you only who are mysterious. Could I lay my +whole soul bare to your gaze, you would be convinced of its truth, its +perfect truth, to its first affection. And as to Isabel Clinton, if it +is to her that you have reference, your eyes and your ears have both +played you false, if——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Willie! Willie!" exclaimed Gertrude, interrupting him; "have you so +soon forgotten your devotion to the belle of Saratoga, your +unwillingness to sanction her temporary absence from your sight, the +pain which the mere suggestion of the journey caused you, and the fond +impatience which threatened to render those few days an eternity?"</p> + +<p>"Stop! stop!" cried Willie, a new light breaking in upon him, "and tell +me where you learned all this?"</p> + +<p>"In the very spot where you spoke and acted. Mr. Graham's parlour did +not witness our first meeting. In the public promenade-ground, on the +shore of Saratoga lake, and on board the steamboat at Albany, did I both +see and recognize you—myself unknown. There, too, did your own words +serve to convince me of the truth of that which from other lips I had +refused to believe."</p> + +<p>"Listen to me, Gertrude," said he, in a fervent and almost solemn tone, +"and believe that in sight of my mother's grave, and in the presence of +that pure spirit (and he looked reverently upward) who taught me the +love of truth, I speak with such sincerity and candour as are fitting +for the ears of angels. I do not question the accuracy with which you +overheard my expostulations and entreaties on the subject of Miss +Clinton's proposed journey, or the impatience I expressed at parting for +her speedy return. I will not pause either to inquire where the object +of all my thoughts could have been at the time that, notwithstanding the +changes of years, she escaped my eager eyes. Let me first clear myself +of the imputation, and then there will be room for all further +explanations.</p> + +<p>"I did feel pain at Miss Clinton's sudden departure for New York, under +a pretext which ought not to have weighed with her for a moment. I did +employ every argument to dissuade her from her purpose; and when my +eloquence had failed to induce the abandonment of the scheme, I availed +myself of every suggestion and motive which possibly might influence her +to shorten her absence. Not because the society of the selfish girl was +essential, or even conducive, to my happiness—far from it—but because +her excellent father, who so worshipped and idolized his only child that +he would have thought no sacrifice too great to promote her enjoyment, +was at the very time, amid all the discomfort of a crowded +watering-place, hovering between life and death, and I was disgusted at +the heartlessness which voluntarily left the fondest of parents deprived +of all female tending, to the charge of a hired nurse and an unskillful +though willing youth like myself. That eternity might, in Miss Clinton's +absence, set a seal to the life of her father was a thought which in my +indignation I was on the point of uttering, but I checked myself, +unwilling to interfere too far in a matter which came not within my +rightful province, and perhaps excite unnecessary alarm in Isabel. If +selfishness mingled at all in my views, dear Gerty, and made me +over-impatient for the return of the daughter to her post of duty, it +was that I might be released from almost constant attendance upon my +invalid friend, and hasten to her from whom I hoped such warmth of +greeting as I was only eager to bestow. Can you wonder, then, that your +reception struck cold upon my throbbing heart?"</p> + +<p>"But you understand the cause of that coldness now," said Gertrude, +looking up at him through a rain of tears, which like a summer +sun-shower reflected itself in rainbow smiles upon her happy +countenance. "You know now why I dared not let my heart speak out."</p> + +<p>"And this was all, then?" cried Willie; "and you are free, and I may +love you still?"</p> + +<p>"Free from all bonds, dear Willie, but those which you yourself clasped +around me, and which have encircled me from my childhood."</p> + +<p>And now, with heart pressed to heart, they pour in each other's ear the +tale of mutual affection, planted in infancy, nourished in youth, +fostered and strengthened amid separation and absence, and perfected +through trial, to bless and sanctify every year of their after life.</p> + +<p>"But, Gerty," exclaimed Willie as, confidence restored, they sat side by +side conversing freely of the past, "how could you think for an instant +that Isabel Clinton would have power to displace you in my regard? I was +not guilty of so great an injustice towards you; for even when I +believed myself supplanted by another, I fancied that other hero of such +shining qualities as could scarcely be surpassed."</p> + +<p>"And who could surpass Isabel?" inquired Gerty. "Can you wonder that I +trembled for your allegiance when I thought of her beauty, her fashion, +her family, and her wealth, and remembered the forcible manner in which +all these were presented to your sight and knowledge?"</p> + +<p>"But what are all these, Gerty, to one who knows her as we do? Do not a +proud eye and a scornful lip destroy the effect of beauty? Can fashion +excuse rudeness, or noble birth cover natural deficiencies? And as to +money, what did I ever want of that, except to employ it for the +happiness of yourself—and them?" and he glanced at the graves of his +mother and grandfather.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Willie! you are so disinterested."</p> + +<p>"Not in this case. Had Isabel possessed the beauty of a Venus and the +wisdom of a Minerva, I could not have forgotten how little happiness +there could be with one who, while devoting herself to the pursuit of +pleasure, had become dead to natural affections and indifferent to the +holiest of duties. Could I see her flee from the bedside of her father +to engage in the frivolities and drink in the flatteries of an idle +crowd—or, when unwillingly summoned thither, shrink from the toils and +watchings imposed by his feebleness—and still imagine that such a woman +could bless and adorn a fireside? Could I fail to contrast her unfeeling +neglect, ill-concealed petulance, flagrant levity, and irreverence of +spirit, with the sweet and loving devotion, the saintly patience, and +the deep and fervent piety of my own Gertrude? I should have been false +to myself, as well as to you, dearest, if such traits of character as +Miss Clinton constantly evinced could have ever weakened my love and +admiration for yourself. And now, to see the little playmate whose image +I cherished so fondly matured into the lovely and graceful woman, her +sweet attractions crowned by so much beauty as to place her beyond +recognition, and still her heart as much my own as ever! Oh, Gerty, it +is too much happiness! Would that I could impart a share of it to those +who loved us both so well!"</p> + +<p>And who can say that they did not share it?—that the spirit of Uncle +True was not there to witness the completion of his many hopeful +prophecies? that the old grandfather was not there to see all his doubts +and fears giving place to joyful certainties? and that the soul of the +gentle mother whose rapt slumbers had even in life foreshadowed such a +meeting, and who, by the lessons she had given her child in his boyhood, +the warnings spoken to his later years, and the ministering guidance of +her disembodied spirit, had fitted him for the struggle with temptation, +sustained him through its trials, and restored him triumphant to the +sweet friend of his infancy—who shall say that even now she hovered not +over them with parted wings, realising the joy prefigured in that dreamy +vision which pictured to her sight the union between the son and the +daughter of her love, when the one, shielded by her fond care from every +danger and snatched, from the power of temptation, should be restored to +the arms of the other who, by a long and patient continuance in +well-doing, had earned so full a recompense, so all-sufficient a reward?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVIII" id="CHAPTER_XLVIII"></a>CHAPTER XLVIII.</h2> + +<h3>ANCHORS FOR WORLD-TRIED SOULS.</h3> + + +<p>The sunset hour was near when Gertrude and Willie rose to depart. They +left the cemetery by a different gateway, and in the opposite direction +to that by which Gertrude had entered. Here Willie found the chaise in +which he had come, though the horse had contrived to loosen the bridle +by which he was fastened, had strayed to the side of the road, eaten as +much grass as he wished, and was now sniffing the air, looking up and +down the road, and, despairing of his master's return, seemed on the +point of taking his departure. He was reclaimed, however, without +difficulty, and, as if glad after his long rest to be again in motion, +brought them in half-an-hour to Mr. Graham's door.</p> + +<p>As soon as they came in sight of the house, Gertrude, familiar with the +customary ways of the family, perceived that something unusual was going +forward. Lamps were moving about in every direction; the front door +stood wide open; there was, what she had never seen before, the blaze +of a bright fire discernible through the windows of the best chamber; +and as they drew still nearer she observed that the piazza was half +covered with trunks.</p> + +<p>All these appearances, as she rightly conjectured, betokened the arrival +of Mrs. Graham, and possibly of other company. She might perhaps have +regretted the ill-timed coming of this bustling lady at the moment when +she was eager for a quiet opportunity to present Willie to Emily and her +father, and communicate to them her own happiness; but if such a thought +presented itself it vanished in a moment. Her joy was too complete to be +marred by so trifling a disappointment. "Let us drive up the avenue, +Willie," said she, "to the side-door, so that George may see us and take +your horse to the stable."</p> + +<p>"No," said Willie, as he stopped opposite the front gate; "I can't come +in now—there seems to be a house full of company, and besides I have an +appointment in town at eight o'clock, and promised to be punctual;"—he +glanced at his watch and added, "it is near that already. I did not +think of its being so late; but I shall see you to-morrow morning, may I +not?" She looked her assent, and, with a warm grasp of the hand as he +helped her from the chaise, and a mutual smile of confidence and love, +they separated.</p> + +<p>He drove rapidly towards Boston, and she, opening the gate, found +herself in the arms of Fanny Bruce, who had been impatiently waiting the +departure of Willie to seize her dear Miss Gertrude and, between tears +and kisses, pour out her congratulations and thanks for her happy escape +from that horrid steamboat—for this was the first time they had met +since the accident.</p> + +<p>"Has Mrs. Graham come, Fanny?" asked Gertrude, as they walked up to the +house together.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed; Mrs. Graham, and Kitty, and Isabel, and a little girl, and +a sick gentleman—Mr. Clinton, I believe; and another gentleman—but +<i>he's</i> gone."</p> + +<p>"Who has gone?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, a tall, dignified-looking man, with black eyes, and a beautiful +face, and hair as white as if he were old—and he isn't old either."</p> + +<p>"And do you say he has gone?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; he didn't come with the rest. He was here when I came, and he +went away about an hour ago. I heard him tell Miss Emily that he had +agreed to meet a friend in Boston, but perhaps he'd come back this +evening. I hope he will, Miss Gertrude; you ought to see him."</p> + +<p>They had now reached the house, and through the open door Gertrude could +plainly distinguish the loud tones of Mrs. Graham's voice proceeding +from the parlour on the right. She was talking to her husband and Emily, +and was just saying as Gertrude entered, "Oh, it was the most awful +thing I ever heard of in my life! and to think, Emily, of your being on +board, and our Isabel! Poor child! she hasn't got her colour back yet +after the fright. And Gertrude Flint, too! By the way, they say Gertrude +behaved very well. Where is the child?"</p> + +<p>Turning round, she now saw Gertrude, who was just entering the room, +and, going towards her, she kissed her with considerable heartiness and +sincerity; for Mrs. Graham, though somewhat coarse and blunt, was not +without good feelings when the occasion was such as to awaken them.</p> + +<p>Gertrude's entrance having served to interrupt the stream of exclamatory +remarks in which the excitable lady had been indulging for ten minutes +or more, she now bethought herself of the necessity of removing her +bonnet and outside garments, a part of which, being loosed from their +fastenings, she had been dragging after her about the floor.</p> + +<p>"Well!" exclaimed she, "I suppose I had better follow the girls' example +and get some of the dust off from me! I'm half buried, I believe! But +there, that's better than coming on in the horrid steamboat last night, +as my brother Clinton was so crazy as to propose. Where's Bridget? I +want her to take up some of my things."</p> + +<p>"I will assist you," said Gertrude, taking up a little carpet-bag, +throwing a scarf, which had been stretching across the room, over her +arm, and then following Mrs. Graham closely, in order to support the +heavy travelling-shawl which was hanging half off that lady's shoulders. +At the first landing-place, however, she found herself suddenly +encircled in Kitty's warm embrace, and, laying down her burdens, gave +herself up for a few moments to the hugging and kissing that succeeded.</p> + +<p>At the head of the staircase she met Isabel, wrapped in a dressing gown, +with a large pitcher in her hand, and a most discontented expression of +countenance. She set the pitcher on the floor, however, and saluted +Gertrude with a good grace. "I'm glad to see you alive," said she, +"though I cannot look at you without shuddering; it reminds me so of +that dreadful day when we were in such frightful danger. How lucky we +were to be saved, when there were so many drowned! I've wondered ever +since, Gertrude, how you could be so calm; I'm sure I shouldn't have +known what to do if you hadn't been there to suggest. But, oh dear! +don't let us speak of it; it's a thing I cant' bear to think of!" and +with a shudder and shrug of the shoulders, Isabel dismissed the subject +and called somewhat pettishly to Kitty—"Kitty, I thought you went to +get our pitcher filled!"</p> + +<p>Kitty, who, in obedience to a loud call and demand from her aunt, had +hastily run to her room with the little travelling-bag which Gertrude +had dropped on the staircase, now came back quite out of breath, saying, +"I did ring the bell twice. Hasn't anybody come?"</p> + +<p>"No!" replied Belle! "and I should like to wash my face and curl my hair +before tea, if I could."</p> + +<p>"Let me take the pitcher," said Gertrude; "I am going downstairs, and +will send Jane up with the water."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Belle, rather feebly; while Kitty exclaimed, "No, no, +Gertrude; I'll go myself."</p> + +<p>But it was too late; Gertrude had gone.</p> + +<p>Gertrude found Mrs. Ellis full of troubles and perplexities. "Only +think," said the astonished housekeeper, "of their coming, five of them, +without the least warning in the world; and here I've nothing in the +house fit for tea; not a bit of rich cake, not a scrap of cold ham. And +of course they're hungry after their long journey, and will want +something nice."</p> + +<p>"Oh, if they are very hungry, Mrs. Ellis, they can eat dried beef and +fresh biscuit and plain cake; and if you will give me the keys I will +get out the preserves and the best silver, and see that the table is set +properly."</p> + +<p>Nothing was a trouble to Gertrude that night. Everything that she +touched went right. Jane caught her spirit and became astonishingly +active; and when the really bountiful table was spread, and Mrs. Ellis, +after glancing around and seeing that all was as it should be, looked +into the beaming eyes and observed the glowing cheek and sunny smile of +the happy girl, she exclaimed, in her ignorance, "Good gracious, +Gertrude, anybody would think you were over-joyed to see all these folks +back again!"</p> + +<p>It wanted but a few moments to tea-time, and Gertrude was selecting +fresh napkins from a drawer in the china-closet, when Kitty Ray peeped +in at the door and finally entered, leading by the hand a little girl +neatly dressed in black. Her face was at first full of smiles; but the +moment she attempted to speak she burst into tears, and throwing her +arms round Gertrude's neck, whispered in her ear, "Oh, Gertrude, I'm so +happy! I came to tell you!"</p> + +<p>"Happy?" replied Gertrude; "then you mustn't cry."</p> + +<p>Upon this Kitty laughed, and then cried again, and then laughed once +more, and in the interval explained to Gertrude that she was +engaged—had been engaged a week to the best man in the world—and that +the child she held by the hand was his orphan niece, and just like a +daughter to him. "And only think," continued she, "it's all owing to +you."</p> + +<p>"To me?" said the astonished Gertrude.</p> + +<p>"Yes; because I was so vain and silly, you know, and liked folks that +were not worth liking, and didn't care much for anybody's comfort but my +own; and, if you hadn't taught me to be something better than that, and +set me a good example, which I've tried to follow ever since, he never +would have thought of looking at me, much less loving me, and believing +I should be a fit mother for little Gracie here," and she looked down +affectionately at the child, who was clinging fondly to her. "He is a +minister, Gertrude, and very good. Only think of such a childish +creature as I am being a minister's wife!" The sympathy which Kitty came +to claim was not denied her, and Gertrude, with her own eyes brimming +with tears, assured her of her participation in her joy.</p> + +<p>In the meantime little Gracie, who still clung to Kitty with one hand, +had gently inserted the other within that of Gertrude, who, looking down +upon her for the first time, recognized the child whom she had rescued +from persecution in the drawing-room at Saratoga.</p> + +<p>Kitty was charmed with the coincidence, and Gertrude, as she remarked +the happy transformation which had already been effected in the +countenance and dress of the little girl, who had been so sadly in want +of female superintendence, felt an added conviction of the wisdom of the +young clergyman's choice.</p> + +<p>Mr. Graham's cheerful parlour had never looked so cheerful as on that +evening. The weather was mild, but a light fire, which had been kindled +on Mr. Clinton's account, did not render the room too warm. It had, +however, driven the young people into a remote corner, leaving the +neighbourhood of the fire-place to Mrs. Graham and Emily, who occupied +the sofa, and Mr. Clinton and Mr. Graham, whose arm-chairs were placed +on the opposite side.</p> + +<p>This arrangement enabled Mr. Graham to converse freely and +uninterruptedly with his guest upon some grave topic of interest, while +his talkative wife entertained herself and Emily by a recapitulation of +her travels and adventures. On a table, at the further extremity of the +room, was placed a huge portfolio of beautiful engravings, recently +purchased and brought home by Mr. Graham, and representing a series of +European views. Gertrude and Kitty were turning them carefully over; and +little Gracie, who was sitting in Kitty's lap, and Fanny, who was +leaning over Gertrude's shoulder, were listening eagerly to the young +ladies' explanations and comments.</p> + +<p>Occasionally Isabel, the only restless or unoccupied person present, +would lean over the table to glance at the likeness of some familiar +spot, and exclaim, "Kitty, there's the shop where I bought my blue +silk!" or, "Kitty, there's the waterfall that we visited in company with +the Russian officers." And now the door opened, and, without any +announcement, Mr. Amory and William Sullivan entered.</p> + +<p>Had either made his appearance singly, he would have been looked upon +with astonishment by the majority of the company; but coming together, +and with an apparently good understanding existing between them, there +was no countenance present which expressed any emotion but that of +surprise.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Graham, however, were too much accustomed to society to +betray any further evidence of that sentiment than was contained in a +momentary glance, and, rising, received their visitors with due +politeness and propriety. The former nodded carelessly to Mr. Amory, +whom he had seen in the morning, presented him to Mr. Clinton (without, +however, mentioning the existing connection with himself), and was +preparing to go through the same ceremony to Mrs. Graham, but was saved +the trouble as she had not forgotten the acquaintance formed at +Baden-Baden.</p> + +<p>Willie's knowledge of the company also spared the necessity of +introduction to all but Emily; and that being accidentally omitted, he +gave an arch glance at Gertrude, and, taking an offered seat near +Isabel, entered into conversation with her, Mr. Amory being in like +manner engrossed by Mrs. Graham.</p> + +<p>"Miss Gertrude," whispered Fanny, as soon as the interrupted composure +of the party was once more restored, and glancing at Willie as she +spoke, "that's the gentleman you were out driving with this afternoon. I +know it is," continued she, as she observed Gertrude change colour and +endeavour to hush her, while she looked anxiously round as if the remark +had been overheard; "is it Willie, Gertrude? is it Mr. Sullivan?"</p> + +<p>Gertrude became more and more embarrassed, while the mischievous Fanny +continued to ply her with such questions; and Isabel, who had jealously +noticed that Willie's eyes wandered more than once to the table, turned +on her such a scrutinizing look as rendered her confusion distressing.</p> + +<p>Accident came to her relief, however. The housemaid, with the evening +paper, endeavoured to open the door, against which her chair was placed, +thus giving her an opportunity to rise, receive the paper, and at the +same time an unimportant message. While she was thus engaged, Mr. +Clinton left his chair with the feeble step of an invalid, crossed the +room, addressed a question in a low voice to Willie, and receiving an +affirmatory reply, took Isabel by the hand, and approaching Mr. Amory, +exclaimed, with deep emotion, "Sir, Mr. Sullivan tells me you are the +person who saved the life of my daughter; and here she is to thank you."</p> + +<p>Mr. Amory rose and flung his arm over the shoulder and around the waist +of Gertrude, who was passing on her way to hand the newspaper to Mr. +Graham, and who, not having heard the remark of Mr. Clinton, received +the caress with a sweet smile and an upturned face. "Here," said he, +"Mr. Clinton, is the person who saved the life of your daughter. It is +true that I swam with her to the shore; but it was under the mistaken +impression that I was bearing to a place of safety my own darling child, +whom I little suspected then of having voluntarily relinquished to +another her only apparent chance of rescue."</p> + +<p>"Just like you, Gertrude! Just like you!" shouted Kitty and Fanny in a +breath, each struggling to obtain a foremost place in the little circle +that had gathered round her.</p> + +<p>"My own noble Gertrude!" whispered Emily, as, leaning on Mr. Amory's +arm, she pressed Gertrude's hand to her lips.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Gertrude!" exclaimed Isabel, with tears in her eyes, "I didn't +know. I never thought——"</p> + +<p>"Your child?" cried Mrs. Graham's loud voice, interrupting Isabel's +unfinished exclamation.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my child, thank God!" said Mr. Amory, reverently; "restored at +last to her unworthy father, and—you have no secrets here, my +darling?"—Gertrude shook her head, and glanced at Willie, who now stood +at her side "and gladly bestowed by him upon her faithful and far more +deserving lover." And he placed her hand in Willie's.</p> + +<p>There was a moment's pause. All were impressed with the solemnity of the +action. Then Mr. Graham came forward, shook each of the young couple +heartily by the hand, and, passing his sleeve hastily across his eyes, +sought his customary refuge in the library.</p> + +<p>"Gertrude," said Fanny, pulling Gertrude's dress to attract her +attention, and speaking in a loud whisper, "are you engaged?—are you +engaged to him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," whispered Gertrude, anxious, if possible, to gratify Fanny's +curiosity and silence her questioning.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm so glad! I'm so glad!" shouted Fanny, dancing round the room +and flinging up her arms.</p> + +<p>"And I'm glad, too!" said Gracie, catching the tone of congratulation, +and putting her mouth up to Gertrude for a kiss.</p> + +<p>"And <i>I</i> am glad," said Mr. Clinton, placing his hands upon those of +Willie and Gertrude, which were still clasped together, "that the noble +and self-sacrificing girl, whom I have no words to thank, and no power +to repay, has reaped a worthy reward in the love of one of the few men +with whom a fond father may venture wholly to trust the happiness of his +child."</p> + +<p>Exhausted by so much excitement, Mr. Clinton now complained of sudden +faintness, and was assisted to his room by Willie, who, after waiting to +see him fully restored, returned to receive the blessing of Emily upon +his new hopes, and hear with wonder and delight the circumstances which +attended the discovery of Gertrude's parentage.</p> + +<p>For although it was an appointment to meet Mr. Amory which had summoned +him back to Boston, and he had in the course of their interview +acquainted him with the happy termination of a lover's doubts, he had +not, until the disclosure took place in Mr. Graham's parlour, received +in return the slightest hint of the great surprise which awaited him. He +had felt a little astonishment at his friend's express desire to join +him at once in a visit to Mr. Graham's; but on being informed that he +had made the acquaintance of Mrs. Graham in Germany, he concluded that a +desire to renew his intercourse with the family, and possibly a slight +curiosity to see the lady of his own choice, were the only motives that +had influenced him.</p> + +<p>And now, amid retrospections of the past, thanksgiving for the present, +and hopes and aspirations for the future, the evening passed rapidly +away.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"Come here, Gerty!" said Willie, "come to the window, and see what a +beautiful night it is."</p> + +<p>It was indeed a glorious night. Snow lay on the ground. The air was +intensely cold without, as might be judged from the quick movements of +the pedestrians and the brilliant icicles with which everything that had +an edge was fringed. The stars were glittering too as they never +glitter, except on the most intense of winter nights. The moon was just +peeping above an old brown building—the same old corner building which +had been visible from the door-step where Willie and Gerty were wont to +sit in their childhood, and from behind which they had often watched the +coming of the same round moon.</p> + +<p>Leaning on Willie's shoulder, Gertrude stood gazing until the full +circle was visible in a space of clear and cloudless ether. Neither of +them spoke, but their hearts throbbed with the same emotion as they +thought of the days that were past.</p> + +<p>Just then the gasman came quickly up the street, lit, as by an electric +touch, the bright burners that in close ranks lined either side-walk, +and in a moment more was out of sight.</p> + +<p>Gertrude sighed. "It was no such easy task for poor old Uncle True," +said she; "there have been great improvements since his time."</p> + +<p>"There have, indeed!" said Willie, glancing round the well-lit, warm, +and pleasantly-furnished rooms of his own and Gertrude's home, and +resting his eyes at last upon the beloved one by his side, whose beaming +face but reflected back his own happiness—"such improvements, Gerty, as +we only dreamt of once! I wish the dear old man could be here and share +them!"</p> + +<p>A tear started to Gertrude's eye; but, pressing Willie's arm, she +pointed reverently upward to a beautiful, bright star just breaking +forth from a silvery film which had hitherto half overshadowed it; the +star through which Gertrude had ever fancied she could discern the smile +of the kind old man.</p> + +<p>"Dear Uncle True!" said she; "his lamp still burns brightly in heaven, +Willie; and its light is not yet gone out on earth!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>In a beautiful town about thirty miles from Boston, and on the shore of +those hill-embosomed ponds which would be immortalized by the poet in a +country less rich than ours with such sheets of blue transparent water, +there stood a mansion-house of solid though ancient architecture. It had +been the property of Philip Amory's paternal grandparents, and the early +home and sole inheritance of his father, who so cherished the spot that +it was only with great reluctance, and when driven to the act by the +spur of poverty, that he was induced to part with the much-valued +estate.</p> + +<p>To reclaim the venerable homestead, repair and judiciously modernize the +house, and fertilize and adorn the grounds, was a favourite scheme with +Philip. His ample means now rendered it practicable; he lost no time in +putting it into execution, and the spring after he returned from his +wanderings saw the work in a fair way to be speedily completed.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Gertrude's marriage had taken place; the Grahams had +removed to their house in town (which, out of compliment to Isabel, who +was passing the winter with her aunt, was more than ever crowded with +gay company), and the bustling mistress was already projecting changes +in her husband's country-seat.</p> + +<p>And Emily, who had parted with her greatest treasure, and found herself +in an atmosphere which was little in harmony with her spirit, murmured +not; but, contented with her lot, neither dreamed of nor asked for +outward change until Philip came to her one day and, taking her by the +hand, said gently—</p> + +<p>"This is no home for you, Emily. You are as much alone as I in my +solitary farm-house. We loved each other in childhood, our hearts became +one youth, and have continued so until now. Why should we be longer +parted? Your father will not now oppose our wishes; and will you, +dearest, refuse to bless and gladden the lonely life of your grey-haired +lover?"</p> + +<p>But Emily shook her head, while she answered, with her smile of +ineffable sweetness—</p> + +<p>"Oh no, Philip! do not speak of it! Think of my frail health and my +helplessness."</p> + +<p>"Your health, dear Emily, is improving. The roses are already coming +back to your cheeks; and for your helplessness, what task can be so +sweet to me as teaching you, through my devotion, to forget it! Oh, do +not send me away disappointed, Emily! A cruel fate divided us for years; +do not by your own act prolong that separation! Believe me, a union with +my early love is my brightest, my only hope of happiness!"</p> + +<p>And she did not withdraw the hand which he held, but yielded the other +also to his fervent clasp.</p> + +<p>"My only thought had been, dear Philip," said she, "that ere this I +should have been called to my Father's home; and even now I feel many a +warning that I cannot be very long for earth; but while I stay, be it +longer or shorter, it shall be as you wish. No word of mine shall part +hearts so truly one, your home shall be mine."</p> + +<p>And when the grass turned green, and the flowers sent up their +fragrance, and the birds sang in the branches, and the spring gales blew +soft and made a gentle ripple on the water, Emily came to live on the +hillside with Philip; and Mrs. Ellis came too to superintend all things, +and especially the dairy, which became henceforth her pride. She had +long since tearfully implored, and easily obtained, the forgiveness of +the much-wronged Philip; and proved, by the humility of her voluntary +confession, that she was not without a woman's heart.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Prime pleaded hard for the cook's situation at the farm, but Emily +kindly expostulated with her, saying—</p> + +<p>"We cannot all leave my father, Mrs. Prime. Who would see to his hot +toast, and the fire in the library?" and the good old woman saw the +matter in the right light and submitted.</p> + +<p>And is the long-wandering, much-suffering, and deeply-sorrowing exile +happy now? He is; but his peace springs not from his beautiful home, his +wide possessions, an honourable repute among his fellow-men, or even the +love of the gentle Emily.</p> + +<p>All these are blessings that he well knows how to prize; but his +world-tried soul has found a deeper anchor yet—a surer refuge from the +tempest and the storm; for, through the power of a living faith, he has +laid hold on eternal life. The blind girl's prayers are answered; her +last, best work is done; she has cast a ray from her blessed spirit into +his darkened soul; and should her call to depart soon come, she will +leave behind one to follow in her footsteps, fulfil her charities, and +do good on earth until such time when he shall be summoned to join her +again in heaven.</p> + +<p>As they go forth in the summer evening to breathe the balmy air, listen +to the winged songster of the grove, and drink in the refreshing +influences of a summer sunset, all things speak of a holy peace to the +new-born heart of him who has so long been a man of sorrow.</p> + +<p>As the sun sinks among gorgeous clouds, as the western light grows dim, +and the moon and the stars come forth in their solemn beauty, they utter +a lesson to his awakened soul; and the voice of nature around, and the +still, small voice within whisper in gentlest, holiest accents—</p> + +<p>"The sun shall be no more thy light by day, neither for brightness shall +the moon give light unto thee; but the Lord shall be unto thee an +everlasting light, and thy God thy glory."</p> + +<p>"Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; +for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy +mourning shall be ended."</p> + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="BURTS_HOME_LIBRARY" id="BURTS_HOME_LIBRARY"></a>BURT'S HOME LIBRARY</h2> + + +<p>Comprising three hundred and sixty-five titles of standard works, +embracing fiction, essays, poetry, history, travel, etc., selected from +the world's best literature, written by authors of world-wide +reputation. Printed from large type on good paper, and bound in handsome +uniform cloth binding.</p> + +<p>Abbe Constantin. By Ludovic Halevy.</p> + +<p>Abbot, The. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Adam Bede. By George Eliot.</p> + +<p>Æsop's Fables.</p> + +<p>Alhambra, The. By Washington Irving.</p> + +<p>Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. By Lewis Carroll.</p> + +<p>Alice Lorraine. By R. D. Blackmore.</p> + +<p>All Sorts and Conditions of Men. By Besant and Rice.</p> + +<p>Amiel's Journal. Translated by Mrs. Humphrey Ward.</p> + +<p>Andersen's Fairy Tales.</p> + +<p>Anne of Geierstein. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Antiquary, The. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Arabian Nights Entertainments.</p> + +<p>Ardath. By Marie Corelli.</p> + +<p>Armadale. By Wilkie Collins.</p> + +<p>Armorel of Lyonesse. By Walter Besant.</p> + +<p>Around the World in the Yacht Sunbeam. By Mrs. Brassey.</p> + +<p>Arundel Motto. By Mary Cecil Hay.</p> + +<p>At the Back of the North Wind. By George Macdonald.</p> + +<p>Attic Philosopher. By Emile Souvestre.</p> + +<p>Auld Licht Idylls. By James M. Barrie.</p> + +<p>Aunt Diana. By Rosa N. Carey.</p> + +<p>Aurelian. By William Ware.</p> + +<p>Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.</p> + +<p>Averil. By Rosa N. Carey.</p> + +<p>Bacon's Essays. By Francis Bacon.</p> + +<p>Barbara Heathcote's Trial. by Rosa N. Carey.</p> + +<p>Barnaby Rudge. By Charles Dickens.</p> + +<p>Barrack-Room Ballads. By Rudyard Kipling.</p> + +<p>Betrothed, The. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Black Beauty. By Anna Sewell.</p> + +<p>Black Dwarf, The. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Bleak House. By Charles Dickens.</p> + +<p>Bondman, The. By Hall Caine.</p> + +<p>Bride of Lammermoor. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Bride of the Nile, The. By George Ebers.</p> + +<p>Browning's Poems. (Selections.) By Robert Browning.</p> + +<p>Bryant's Poems. (Early.) By William Cullen Bryant.</p> + +<p>Burgomaster's Wife, The. By George Ebers.</p> + +<p>Burns' Poems. By Robert Burns.</p> + +<p>By Order of the King. By Victor Hugo.</p> + +<p>California and Oregon Trail. By Francis Parkman, Jr.</p> + +<p>Cast Up by the Sea. By Sir Samuel Baker.</p> + +<p>Caxtons, The. By Bulwer-Lytton.</p> + +<p>Chandos. By "Ouida."</p> + +<p>Charles Auchester. By E. Berger.</p> + +<p>Character. By Samuel Smiles.</p> + +<p>Charles O'Malley. By Charles Lever.</p> + +<p>Children of the Abbey. By Regina Maria Roche.</p> + +<p>Children of Gibeon. By Walter Besant.</p> + +<p>Child's History of England. By Charles Dickens.</p> + +<p>Christmas Stories. By Charles Dickens.</p> + +<p>Clara Vaughan. By R. D. Blackmore.</p> + +<p>Cloister and the Hearth. By Charles Reade.</p> + +<p>Complete Angler. By Walton and Cotton.</p> + +<p>Confessions of an Opium Eater. By Thomas De Quincey.</p> + +<p>Consuelo. By George Sand.</p> + +<p>Corinne. By Madame De Stael.</p> + +<p>Countess Gisela, The. By E. Marlitt.</p> + +<p>Countess of Rudolstadt. By George Sand.</p> + +<p>Count Robert of Paris. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Cousin Pons. By Honore De Balzac.</p> + +<p>Cradock Nowell. By R. D. Blackmore.</p> + +<p>Cranford. By Mrs. Gaskell.</p> + +<p>Cripps the Carrier. By R. D. Blackmore.</p> + +<p>Crown of Wild Olive, The. By John Ruskin.</p> + +<p>Daniel Deronda. By George Eliot.</p> + +<p>Data of Ethics. By Herbert Spencer.</p> + +<p>Daughter of an Empress, The. By Louisa Muhlbach.</p> + +<p>Daughter of Heth, A. By William Black.</p> + +<p>David Copperfield. By Charles Dickens.</p> + +<p>Days of Bruce. By Grace Aguilar.</p> + +<p>Deemster, The. By Hall Caine.</p> + +<p>Deerslayer, The. By James Fenimore Cooper.</p> + +<p>Descent of Man. By Charles Darwin.</p> + +<p>Dick Sand; or, A Captain at Fifteen. By Jules Verne.</p> + +<p>Discourses of Epictetus. Translated by George Long.</p> + +<p>Divine Comedy, The. (Dante.) Translated by Rev. H. F. Carey.</p> + +<p>Dombey & Son. By Charles Dickens.</p> + +<p>Donal Grant. By George Macdonald.</p> + +<p>Donovan. By Edna Lyall.</p> + +<p>Dove in the Eagle's Nest. By Charlotte M. Yonge.</p> + +<p>Dream Life. By Ik Marvel.</p> + +<p>Duty. By Samuel Smiles.</p> + +<p>Early Days of Christianity. By F. W. Farrar.</p> + +<p>East Lynne. By Mrs. Henry Wood.</p> + +<p>Education. By Herbert Spencer.</p> + +<p>Egoist, The. By George Meredith.</p> + +<p>Egyptian Princess, An. By George Ebers.</p> + +<p>Eight Hundred Leagues on the Amazon. By Jules Verne.</p> + +<p>Emerson's Essays. (Complete.) By Ralph Waldo Emerson.</p> + +<p>Emperor, The. By George Ebers.</p> + +<p>Essays of Elia. By Charles Lamb.</p> + +<p>Esther. By Rosa N. Carey.</p> + +<p>Executor, The. By Mrs. Alexander.</p> + +<p>Fair Maid of Perth. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Fairy Land of Science. By Arabella B. Buckley.</p> + +<p>Far from the Madding Crowd. By Thomas Hardy.</p> + +<p>Faust. (Goethe.) Translated by Anna Swanwick.</p> + +<p>Felix Holt. By George Eliot.</p> + +<p>Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World. By E. S. Creasy.</p> + +<p>File No. 113. By Emile Gaboriau.</p> + +<p>Firm of Girdlestone. By A. Conan Doyle.</p> + +<p>First Principles. By Herbert Spencer.</p> + +<p>First Violin. By Jessie Fothergill.</p> + +<p>For Faith and Freedom. By Walter Besant.</p> + +<p>Fortunes of Nigel. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Fragments of Science. By John Tyndall.</p> + +<p>Frederick the Great and His Court. By Louisa Muhlbach.</p> + +<p>French Revolution. By Thos. Carlyle.</p> + +<p>From the Earth to the Moon. By Jules Verne.</p> + +<p>Goethe and Schiller. By Louisa Muhlbach.</p> + +<p>Gold Bug, The, and Other Tales, By Edgar A. Poe.</p> + +<p>Gold Elsie. By E. Marlitt.</p> + +<p>Good Luck. By E. Werner.</p> + +<p>Grandfather's Chair. By Nathaniel Hawthorne.</p> + +<p>Great Expectations. By Chas. Dickens.</p> + +<p>Great Taboo, The. By Grant Allen.</p> + +<p>Great Treason, A. By Mary Hoppus.</p> + +<p>Greek Heroes. Fairy Tales for My Children. By Charles Kingsley.</p> + +<p>Green Mountain Boys, The. By D. P. Thompson.</p> + +<p>Grimm's Household Tales. By The Brothers Grimm.</p> + +<p>Grimm's Popular Tales. By the Brothers Grimm.</p> + +<p>Gulliver's Travels By Dean Swift.</p> + +<p>Guy Mannering. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover.</p> + +<p>Hardy Norseman. A. By Edna Lyall.</p> + +<p>Harold. By Bulwer-Lytton.</p> + +<p>Harry Lorrequer. By Charles Lever.</p> + +<p>Heart of Midlothian. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Heir of Redclyffe. By Charlotte M. Yonge.</p> + +<p>Henry Esmond. By Wm. M. Thackeray.</p> + +<p>Her Dearest Foe. By Mrs. Alexander.</p> + +<p>Heriot's Choice. By Rosa N. Carey.</p> + +<p>Heroes and Hero Worship. By Thomas Carlyle.</p> + +<p>History of a Crime. By Victor Hugo.</p> + +<p>History of Civilization in Europe. By Guizot.</p> + +<p>Holy Roman Empire. By James Bryce.</p> + +<p>Homo Sum. By George Ebers.</p> + +<p>House of the Seven Gables. By Nathaniel Hawthorne.</p> + +<p>Hunchback of Notre Dame. By Victor Hugo.</p> + +<p>Hypatia. By Charles Kingsley.</p> + +<p>Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow. By Jerome K. Jerome.</p> + +<p>Iliad, The. Pope's Translation.</p> + +<p>Initials, The. By the Baroness Tautphoeus.</p> + +<p>In the Counselor's House. By E. Marlitt.</p> + +<p>In the Golden Days. By Edna Lyall.</p> + +<p>In the Schillingscourt. By E. Marlitt.</p> + +<p>It Is Never Too Late to Mend. By Charles Reade.</p> + +<p>Ivanhoe. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Jack's Courtship. By W. Clark Russell.</p> + +<p>Jack Hinton. By Charles Lever.</p> + +<p>Jane Eyre. By Charlotte Bronte.</p> + +<p>John Halifax, Gentleman. By Miss Mulock.</p> + +<p>Joshua. By George Ebers.</p> + +<p>Kenilworth. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Kidnapped. By R. L. Stevenson.</p> + +<p>Kit and Kitty. By R. D. Blackmore.</p> + +<p>Kith and Kin. By Jessie Fothergill.</p> + +<p>Knickerbocker's History of New York. By Washington Irving.</p> + +<p>Knight Errant. By Edna Lyall.</p> + +<p>Koran, The. Translated by George Sale.</p> + +<p>Lamplighter, The. By Maria S. Cummins.</p> + +<p>Lady with the Rubies. By E. Marlitt.</p> + +<p>Last Days of Pompeii. By Bulwer-Lytton.</p> + +<p>Last of the Barons. By Bulwer-Lytton.</p> + +<p>Last of the Mohicans. By James Fenimore Cooper.</p> + +<p>Lena Rivers. By Mary J. Holmes.</p> + +<p>Life of Christ. By Frederic W. Farrar.</p> + +<p>Light of Asia, The. By Sir Edwin Arnold.</p> + +<p>Light That Failed, The. By Rudyard Kipling.</p> + +<p>Little Dorrit. By Charles Dickens.</p> + +<p>Longfellow's Poems. (Early.)</p> + +<p>Lorna Doone. By R. D. Blackmore.</p> + +<p>Louise de la Valliere. By Alexandre Dumas.</p> + +<p>Love Me Little, Love Me Long, By Charles Reade.</p> + +<p>Lover or Friend? By Rosa N. Carey.</p> + +<p>Lucile. By Owen Meredith.</p> + +<p>Maid of Sker. By R. D. Blackmore.</p> + +<p>Makers of Florence. By Mrs. Oliphant.</p> + +<p>Makers of Venice. By Mrs. Oliphant.</p> + +<p>Man and Wife. By Wilkie Collins.</p> + +<p>Man in the Iron Mask. By Alexandre Dumas.</p> + +<p>Marquis of Lossie. By George Macdonald.</p> + +<p>Martin Chuzzlewit. By Charles Dickens.</p> + +<p>Mary Anerley. By R. D. Blackmore.</p> + +<p>Mary St. John. By Rosa N. Carey.</p> + +<p>Master of Ballantrae, The. By R. L. Stevenson.</p> + +<p>Masterman Ready. By Captain Marryat.</p> + +<p>Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Translated by George Long.</p> + +<p>Merle's Crusade. By Rosa N. Carey</p> + +<p>Micah Clarke. By A. Conan Doyle.</p> + +<p>Michael Strogoff. By Jules Verne.</p> + +<p>Middlemarch. By George Eliot.</p> + +<p>Midshipman Easy. By Captain Marryat.</p> + +<p>Mill on the Floss. By George Eliot.</p> + +<p>Milton's Poems. By John Milton.</p> + +<p>Mine Own People. By Rudyard Kipling.</p> + +<p>Molly Bawn. By "The Duchess."</p> + +<p>Monastery, The. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Moonstone, The. By Wilkie Collins.</p> + +<p>Mosses from an Old Manse. By Nathaniel Hawthorne.</p> + +<p>Mysterious Island, The. By Jules Verne.</p> + +<p>Natural Law in the Spiritual World. By Henry Drummond.</p> + +<p>Nellie's Memories. By Rosa N. Carey.</p> + +<p>Newcomes, The. By William M. Thackeray.</p> + +<p>Nicholas Nickleby. By Charles Dickens.</p> + +<p>Ninety-Three. By Victor Hugo.</p> + +<p>No Name. By Wilkie Collins.</p> + +<p>Not Like Other Girls. By Rosa N. Carey.</p> + +<p>Odyssey, The. Pope's Translation.</p> + +<p>Old Curiosity Shop. By Charles Dickens.</p> + +<p>Old Mam'selle's Secret. By E. Marlitt.</p> + +<p>Old Mortality. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Old Myddleton's Money. By Mary Cecil Hay.</p> + +<p>Oliver Twist. By Charles Dickens.</p> + +<p>Only a Word. By George Ebers.</p> + +<p>Only the Governess. By Rosa N. Carey.</p> + +<p>On the Heights. By Berthold Auerbach.</p> + +<p>Origin of Species. By Charles Darwin.</p> + +<p>Other Worlds Than Ours. By Richard Proctor.</p> + +<p>Our Bessie By Rosa N. Carey.</p> + +<p>Our Mutual Friend. By Charles Dickens.</p> + +<p>Pair of Blue Eyes, A. By Thos. Hardy.</p> + +<p>Past and Present. By Thomas Carlyle.</p> + +<p>Pathfinder, The. By James Fenimore Cooper.</p> + +<p>Pendennis. By William M. Thackeray.</p> + +<p>Pere Goriot. By Honore de Balzac.</p> + +<p>Peveril of the Peak. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Phantom Rickshaw, The. By Rudyard Kipling.</p> + +<p>Phra, the Phoenician. By Edwin L. Arnold.</p> + +<p>Picciola. By X. B. Saintine.</p> + +<p>Pickwick Papers. By Charles Dickens.</p> + +<p>Pilgrim's Progress. By John Bunyan.</p> + +<p>Pilot, The. By James Fenimore Cooper.</p> + +<p>Pioneers, The. By James Fenimore Cooper.</p> + +<p>Pirate, The. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Plain Tales from the Hills. By Rudyard Kipling.</p> + +<p>Prairie, The. By James Fenimore Cooper.</p> + +<p>Pride and Prejudice. By Jane Austen.</p> + +<p>Prime Minister, The. By Anthony Trollope.</p> + +<p>Prince of the House of David. By Rev. J. H. Ingraham.</p> + +<p>Princess of the Moor. By E. Marlitt.</p> + +<p>Princess of Thule, A. By William Black.</p> + +<p>Professor, The. By Charlotte Bronte.</p> + +<p>Prue and I. By George William Curtis.</p> + +<p>Queen Hortense. By Louisa Muhlbach.</p> + +<p>Queenie's Whim. By Rosa N. Carey.</p> + +<p>Quentin Durward. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Redgauntlet. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Red Rover. By James Fenimore Cooper.</p> + +<p>Reign of Law. By Duke of Argyle.</p> + +<p>Reveries of a Bachelor. By Ik Marvel.</p> + +<p>Rhoda Fleming. By George Meredith.</p> + +<p>Rienzi. By Bulwer-Lytton.</p> + +<p>Robert Ord's Atonement. By Rosa N. Carey.</p> + +<p>Robinson Crusoe. By Daniel Defoe.</p> + +<p>Rob Roy. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Romance of Two Worlds. By Marie Corelli.</p> + +<p>Romola. By George Eliot.</p> + +<p>Rory O'More. By Samuel Lover.</p> + +<p>Saint Michael. By E. Werner.</p> + +<p>Schonberg-Cotta Family. By Mrs. Andrew Charles.</p> + +<p>Sartor Resartus. By Thomas Carlyle.</p> + +<p>Scarlet Letter, The. By Nathaniel Hawthorne.</p> + +<p>Schopenhauer's Essays. Translated by T. B. Saunders.</p> + +<p>Scottish Chiefs. By Jane Porter.</p> + +<p>Scott's Poems. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Search for Basil Lyndhurst. By Rosa N. Carey.</p> + +<p>Second Wife, The. By E. Marlitt.</p> + +<p>Seekers After God. By F. W. Farrar.</p> + +<p>Self-Help. By Samuel Smiles.</p> + +<p>Sense and Sensibility. By Jane Austen.</p> + +<p>Sesame and Lilies. By John Ruskin.</p> + +<p>Seven Lamps of Architecture. By John Ruskin.</p> + +<p>Shadow of a Crime. By Hall Caine.</p> + +<p>Shadow of the Sword. By Robert Buchanan.</p> + +<p>Shirley. By Charlotte Bronte.</p> + +<p>Silas Marner. By George Eliot.</p> + +<p>Silence of Dean Maitland. By Maxwell Grey.</p> + +<p>Sin of Joost Avelingh. By Maaren Maartens.</p> + +<p>Sir Gibbie. By George Macdonald.</p> + +<p>Sketch Book, The. By Washington Irving.</p> + +<p>Social Departure, A. By Sarah Jeannette Duncan.</p> + +<p>Soldiers, Three, etc. By Rudyard Kipling.</p> + +<p>Son of Hagar, A. By Hall Caine.</p> + +<p>Springhaven. By R. D. Blackmore.</p> + +<p>Spy, The. By James Fenimore Cooper.</p> + +<p>Story of an African Farm. By Olive Schreiner.</p> + +<p>Story of John G. Paton. Told for Young Folks. By Rev. James Paton.</p> + +<p>Strathmore. By "Ouida."</p> + +<p>St. Ronan's Well. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Study in Scarlet, A. By A. Conan Doyle.</p> + +<p>Surgeon's Daughter, The. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Swiss Family Robinson. By Jean Rudolph Wyss.</p> + +<p>Tale of Two Cities. By Charles Dickens.</p> + +<p>Tales from Shakespeare. By Charles and Mary Lamb.</p> + +<p>Talisman, The. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Tanglewood Tales. By Nathaniel Hawthorne.</p> + +<p>Tempest and Sunshine. By Mary J. Holmes.</p> + +<p>Tempest Tossed. By Theodore Tilton.</p> + +<p>Ten Nights in a Barroom. By T. S. Arthur.</p> + +<p>Tennyson's Poems. By Alfred Tennyson.</p> + +<p>Ten Years Later. By Alexandre Dumas.</p> + +<p>Terrible Temptation, A. By Charles Reade.</p> + +<p>Thaddeus of Warsaw. By Jane Porter.</p> + +<p>Thelma. By Marie Corelli.</p> + +<p>Thirty Years' War. By Frederick Schiller.</p> + +<p>Thousand Miles Up the Nile. By Amelia B. Edwards.</p> + +<p>Three Guardsmen. By Alexandre Dumas.</p> + +<p>Three Men in a Boat. By Jerome K. Jerome.</p> + +<p>Thrift. By Samuel Smiles.</p> + +<p>Toilers of the Sea. By Victor Hugo.</p> + +<p>Tom Brown at Oxford. By Thomas Hughes.</p> + +<p>Tom Brown's School Days. By Thomas Hughes.</p> + +<p>Tom Burke of "Ours." By Charles Lever.</p> + +<p>Tom Cringle's Log. By Michael Scott.</p> + +<p>Tour of the World in Eighty Days, A. By Jules Verne</p> + +<p>Treasure Island. By Robert Louis Stevenson.</p> + +<p>Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. By Jules Verne.</p> + +<p>Twenty Years After. By Alexandre Dumas.</p> + +<p>Twice Told Tales. By Nathaniel Hawthorne.</p> + +<p>Two Admirals. By James Fenimore Cooper.</p> + +<p>Two Years Before the Mast. By R. H. Dana, Jr.</p> + +<p>Uarda. By George Ebers.</p> + +<p>Uncle Max. By Rosa N. Carey.</p> + +<p>Uncle Tom's Cabin. By Harriet Beecher Stowe.</p> + +<p>Undine and Other Tales. By De La Motte Fouque.</p> + +<p>Unity of Nature. By Duke of Argyle.</p> + +<p>Vanity Fair. By Wm. M. Thackeray.</p> + +<p>Vendetta. By Marie Corelli.</p> + +<p>Vicar of Wakefield. By Oliver Goldsmith.</p> + +<p>Vicomte de Bragelonne. By Alexander Dumas.</p> + +<p>Vilette. By Charlotte Bronte.</p> + +<p>Virginians, The. By Wm. M. Thackeray.</p> + +<p>Water Babies, The. By Charles Kingsley.</p> + +<p>Water Witch, The. By James Fenimore Cooper.</p> + +<p>Waverley. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Wee Wifie. By Rosa N. Carey.</p> + +<p>Westward Ho! By Charles Kingsley.</p> + +<p>We Two. By Edna Lyall.</p> + +<p>What's Mine's Mine. By George MacDonald.</p> + +<p>When a Man's Single. By J. M. Barrie.</p> + +<p>White Company, The. By A. Conan Doyle.</p> + +<p>Whittier's Poems. (Early).</p> + +<p>Wide, Wide World. By Susan Warner.</p> + +<p>Widow Lerouge, The. By Emile Gaboriau.</p> + +<p>Window in Thrums. By J. M. Barrie.</p> + +<p>Wing and Wing. By James Fenimore Cooper.</p> + +<p>Woman in White, The. By Wilkie Collins.</p> + +<p>Won by Waiting. By Edna Lyall.</p> + +<p>Wonder Book, A, For Boys and Girls. By Nathaniel Hawthorne.</p> + +<p>Woodstock. By Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Wooed and Married. By Rosa N. Carey.</p> + +<p>Wooing O't. By Mrs. Alexander.</p> + +<p>World Went Very Well Then, The. By Walter Besant.</p> + +<p>Wormwood. By Marie Corelli.</p> + +<p>Wreck of the Grosvenor, The By W. Clark Russell.</p> + +<p>Zenobia. By William Ware.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lamplighter, by Maria S. 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Cummins + +Release Date: April 2, 2010 [EBook #31869] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LAMPLIGHTER *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier, Mary Meehan and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + The Lamplighter + + By MARIA S. CUMMINS + + Author of "MABEL VAUGHAN," "EL FUREIDIS," "HAUNTED HEARTS." + + +A. L. BURT, PUBLISHER +52-58 DUANE STREET +NEW YORK + + + + +THE LAMPLIGHTER + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +LIGHT IN DARKNESS. + + "Good God! to think upon a child + That has no childish days, + No careless play, no frolics wild, + No words of prayer and praise." + --LANDON. + + +It was growing dark in the city. Out in the open country it would be +light for half-an-hour or more; but in the streets it was already dusk. +Upon the wooden door-step of a low-roofed, dark, and unwholesome-looking +house, sat a little girl, earnestly gazing up the street. The house-door +behind her was close to the side-walk; and the step on which she sat was +so low that her little unshod feet rested on the cold bricks. It was a +chilly evening in November, and a light fall of snow had made the narrow +streets and dark lanes dirtier and more cheerless than ever. + +Many people were passing, but no one noticed the little girl, for no one +in the world cared for her. She was clad in the poorest of garments; her +hair was long, thick, and uncombed, and her complexion was sallow, and +her whole appearance was unhealthy. She had fine dark eyes; but so large +did they seem, in contrast to her thin, puny face that they increased +its peculiarity without increasing its beauty. Had she had a mother +(which, alas! she had not), those friendly eyes would have found +something in her to praise. But the poor little thing was told, a dozen +times a-day, that she was the worst-looking child in the world, and the +worst-behaved. No one loved her, and she loved no one; no one tried to +make her happy, or cared whether she was so. She was but eight years +old, and alone in the world. + +She loved to watch for the coming of the old man who lit the street-lamp +in front of the house where she lived; to see his bright torch flicker +in the wind; and then when he so quickly ran up his ladder, lit the +lamp, and made the place cheerful, a gleam of joy was shed on a little +desolate heart, to which gladness was a stranger; and though he had +never seemed to see, and had never spoken to her, she felt, as she +watched for the old lamplighter, as if he were a friend. + +"Gerty," exclaimed a harsh voice within, "have you been for the milk?" + +The child made no answer, but gliding off the door-step, ran quickly +round the corner of the house, and hid a little out of sight. "What's +become of that child?" said the woman who spoke, and who now showed +herself at the door. + +A boy who was passing, and had seen Gerty run, and who looked upon her +as a spirit of evil, laughed aloud, pointed to the corner which +concealed her, and walking off with his head over his shoulders, to see +what would happen next, said to himself, "She'll catch it!" + +Gerty was dragged from her hiding-place, and with one blow for her +ugliness and another for her impudence (for she was making faces at Nan +Grant), was despatched down a neighbouring alley for the milk. + +She ran fast, fearing the lamplighter would come and go in her absence, +and was rejoiced, on her return, to catch a sight of him just going up +his ladder. She stood at the foot of it, and was so engaged in watching +the bright flame, that she did not observe the descent of the man; and, +as she was directly in his way, he struck against her, and she fell upon +the pavement. "Hallo, my little one!" exclaimed he, "how's this?" as he +stooped to lift her up. She was on her feet in an instant; for she was +used to hard knocks, and did not mind a few bruises. But the milk was +all spilt. + +"Well! now, I declare!" said the man, "that's too bad!--what'll mammy +say?" and looking into Gerty's face, he exclaimed, "My, what an +odd-faced child!--looks like a witch!" Then, seeing that she looked +sadly at the spilt milk, he kindly said, "She won't be hard on such a +mite as you are, will she? Cheer up, my ducky! never mind if she does +scold you a little. I'll bring you something to-morrow that you'll like; +you're such a lonely-looking thing. And if the old woman makes a row, +tell her I did it.--But didn't I hurt you? What were you doing with my +ladder?" + +"I was seeing you light the lamp," said Gerty, "and I an't hurt a bit; +but I wish I hadn't spilt the milk." + +Just then Nan Grant came to the door, saw what had happened, and pulled +the child into the house, amidst blows and profane, brutal language. The +lamplighter tried to appease her, but she shut the door in his face. +Gerty was scolded, beaten, deprived of her usual crust for her supper, +and shut up in her dark attic for the night. Poor little child! Her +mother had died in Nan Grant's house five years before; and she had been +tolerated there since, not so much because when Ben Grant went to sea he +bade his wife to keep the child until his return--he had been gone so +long that no one thought he would ever come back--but because Nan had +reasons of her own for doing so, and, though she considered Gerty a dead +weight upon her hands, she did not care to excite inquiries by trying to +dispose of her elsewhere. + +When Gerty found herself locked up for the night in the dark +garret--Gerty hated and feared the dark--she stood for a minute +perfectly still, then suddenly began to stamp and scream, tried to beat +open the door, and shouted, "I hate you, Nan Grant! Old Nan Grant, I +hate you!" But nobody came near her; and she grew more quiet, lay down +on her miserable bed, covered her face with her little thin hands, and +sobbed as if her heart would break. She wept until she was exhausted; +and then gradually she became still. By-and-by she took her hands from +her face, clasped them together convulsively, and looked up at a little +glazed window near the bed. It was but three panes of glass unevenly +stuck together. There was no moon; but as Gerty looked up, she saw +shining upon her _one_ bright star. She thought she had never seen +anything half so beautiful. She had often been out of doors when the sky +was full of stars, and had not noticed them much; but this one, all +alone, so large, so bright, and yet so soft and pleasant-looking, seemed +to speak to her; to say, "Gerty! Gerty! _poor_ little Gerty!" She +thought it seemed like a kind face, such as she had a long time ago +seen or dreamt about. Suddenly she asked herself, "Who lit it? Somebody +lit it! Some good person, I know. Oh! how could he get up so high?" And +Gerty fell asleep, wondering who lit the star. + +Poor little, untaught, benighted soul! Who shall enlighten thee? Thou +art God's child, little one! Christ died for thee. Will he not send man +or angel to light up the darkness within, to kindle a light that shall +never go out, the light that shall shine through all eternity! + +Gerty awoke the next morning, not as children wake who are roused by +merry voices, or by a parent's kiss, who have kind hands to help them +dress, and knowing that a nice breakfast awaits them; but she heard +harsh voices below; Nan's son, and two or three boarders had come in to +breakfast, and Gerty's only chance of obtaining any share of the meal +was to be on the spot when they had finished, to take that portion of +what remained which Nan might shove towards her. So she crept +downstairs, waited a little till they had all gone out, and then she +slid into the room. She met with a rough greeting from Nan, who told her +she had better drop that ugly, sour look; eat some breakfast, if she +wanted it, but keep out of her way, and not come near the fire, where +she was at work, or she'd get another dressing, worse than she had last +night. Gerty had not looked for any other treatment, so she was not +disappointed; but, glad of the miserable food left for her on the table, +she swallowed it eagerly, and she took her little old hood, threw on a +ragged shawl, which had belonged to her mother, and ran out of the +house. + +Back of Nan Grant's house was a large wood and coal-yard, and beyond +that a wharf, and the thick, muddy water of a dock. Gerty might have +found many playmates in this place. She sometimes did mingle with the +boys and girls, ragged like herself, who played in the yard; but not +often--there was a league against her among the children of the place. +Poor, ragged, and miserably cared for, as they were, they knew that +Gerty was more neglected and abused. They had often seen her beaten, and +daily heard her called an ugly, wicked child; told that she belonged to +nobody, and had no business in any one's house. Thus they felt their +advantage, and scorned the little outcast. Perhaps this would not have +been the case if Gerty had mingled freely with them, and tried to be on +friendly terms; but, while her mother lived, she did her best to keep +her little girl away from the rude herd. Perhaps that habit of +avoidance, but still more a something in the child's nature, kept her +from joining in their rough sports, after her mother's death had left +her to do as she liked. She seldom had any intercourse with them. Nor +did they abuse her except in words; for, singly, they dared not cope +with her--spirited, sudden, and violent, she had made herself feared as +well as disliked. Once a band of them had united to vex her; but, Nan +Grant coming up just when one of the girls was throwing the shoes, which +she had pulled from Gerty's feet, into the dock, had given the girl a +sound whipping, and put them all to flight. Gerty had not had a pair of +shoes since; but Nan Grant, for once, had done her a good service, and +the children now left her in peace. + +It was a sunshiny, though a cold day, when Gerty sought shelter in the +wood-yard. There was an immense pile of timber in one corner of the +yard, almost out of sight of any of the houses. Of different lengths, +the planks formed, on one side, a series of irregular steps. Near the +top was a little sheltered recess, overhung by some long planks, and +forming a miniature shed, protected by the wood on all sides but one, +and from that looking out upon the water. + +This was Gerty's haven of rest, and the only place from which she never +was expelled. Here, during the long summer days, the little lonesome +child sat brooding over her griefs, her wrongs, and her ugliness; +sometimes weeping for hours. Now and then she would get a little more +cheerful, and enjoy watching the sailors as they laboured on board their +vessels, or rowed to and fro in little boats. The warm sunshine was so +pleasant, and the men's voices so lively, that the poor little thing +sometimes forgot her woes. + +But summer was gone, and the schooner and the sailors were gone too. The +weather was cold, and for a few days had been so stormy, that Gerty had +to stay in the house. Now, however, she made the best of her way to her +little hiding-place; and, to her joy, the sunshine had dried up the +boards, so that they felt warm to her bare feet, and was still shining +so bright and pleasant, that Gerty forgot Nan Grant, forgot how cold +she had been, and how much she dreaded the long winter. Her thoughts +rambled about sometime; but, at last, fixed upon the kind look and voice +of the old lamplighter; and then, for the first time since the promise +was made, it came into her mind that he had engaged to bring her +something the next time he came. She could not believe he would remember +it; but still he might--he seemed to be so sorry for her fall. + +What would he bring? Would it be something to eat? Oh, if it were only +some shoes! Perhaps he did not notice that she had none? + +Gerty resolved to go for her milk in season to be back before it was +time to light the lamp, so that nothing should prevent her seeing him. +The day seemed very long, but darkness came at last; and with it came +True--or rather Trueman Flint, for that was the lamplighter's name. +Gerty was on the spot, though she took good care to elude Nan Grant's +observation. + +True was late about his work that night, and in a great hurry. He had +only time to speak a few words to Gerty; but they were words coming +straight from a good and honest heart. He put his great, smutty hand on +her head in the kindest way, told her how sorry he was she got hurt, and +said. "It was a plaguy shame she should have been whipped, too, and all +for a spill o' milk, that was a misfortin', and no crime." + +"But here," added he, diving into one of his huge pockets, "here's the +critter I promised you. Take good care on't; don't 'buse it; and I'm +thinking, if it's like the mother I've got at home, 'twon't be a little +ye'll be likin' it, 'fore you're done. Good-bye, my little gal;" and he +shouldered his ladder and went off, leaving in Gerty's hands a little +grey-and-white kitten. + +Gerty was so taken by surprise on finding in her arms a live kitten, +something so different from what she had anticipated, that she stood +irresolute what to do with it. There were a many cats, of all sizes and +colours, inhabitants of the neighbouring houses and yard; +frightened-looking creatures, which, like Gerty herself, ran about, and +hid themselves among the wood and coal, seeming to feel, as she did, +great doubts about their having a right to be anywhere. Gerty had often +felt a sympathy for them, but never thought of trying to catch one, and +carry it home; for she knew that food and shelter were grudgingly +accorded to herself, and would not be extended to her pets. Her first +thought, therefore, was to throw the kitten down, and let it run away. +But while she was hesitating, the little animal pleaded for itself in a +way she could not resist. Frightened by its long journey in True Flint's +pocket, it crept from Gerty's arms up to her neck, clung there, and, +with feeble cries, seemed to ask her to take care of it. Its eloquence +prevailed over all fear of Nan Grant's anger. She hugged pussy to her +bosom, and resolved to love and feed it, and keep it out of Nan's sight. + +How much she came in time to love that kitten no words can tell. Her +little, fierce, untamed, impetuous nature had hitherto expressed itself +only in angry passion, sullen obstinacy, and hatred. But there were in +her soul fountains of warm affection, a depth of tenderness never yet +called out, and a warmth and devotion of nature that wanted only an +object upon which to expend themselves. + +So she poured out such wealth of love on the poor kitten as only such a +desolate little heart has to spare. She loved the kitten all the more +for the care she was obliged to take of it, and the trouble it gave her. +She kept it, as much as possible, out among the boards, in her favourite +haunts. She found an old hat, in which she placed her hood, to make a +bed for pussy. She carried it a part of her scanty meals; she braved for +it what she would not have done for herself--for almost every day she +abstracted from the kettle, when she returned with the milk for Nan +Grant, enough for pussy's supper, at the risk of being discovered and +punished, the only risk of harm the poor ignorant child knew or thought +of, in connection with the theft; for her ideas of abstract right and +wrong were utterly undeveloped. So she would play with her kitten for +hours among the boards, talk to it, and tell it how much she loved it. +But in very cold days she was puzzled to know how to keep herself warm +out of doors, and the risk of bringing the kitten into the house was +great. She would then hide it in her bosom, and run with it into her +little garret. Once or twice, when she had been off her guard, her +little playful pet had escaped from her, and scampered through the lower +room and passage. Once Nan drove it out with a broom; but there cats and +kittens were not so uncommon as to excite inquiry. + +How was it that Gerty had leisure to spend all her time at play? Most +children of the poorer class learn to be useful while they are young. +Nan Grant had no babies; and being a very active woman, with but a poor +opinion of children's services, she never tried to find employment for +Gerty, much better satisfied for her to keep out of her sight; so that, +except her daily errand for the milk, Gerty was always idle--a fruitful +source of unhappiness and discontent. + +Nan was a Scotchwoman, not young, and with a temper which, never good, +became worse as she grew older. She had seen life's roughest side, and +had always been a hard-working woman. Her husband was a carpenter, but +she made his house so uncomfortable, that for years he had followed the +sea. She took in washing, and had a few boarders; by which she earned +what might have been an ample support for herself, had it not been for +her son, a disorderly young man, spoilt in early life by his mother's +management, and who, though a skilful workman, squandered his own and a +large part of his mother's earnings. Nan had reason for keeping Gerty, +though they were not so strong as to prevent her often being inclined to +get rid of the encumbrance. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +COMFORT AND AFFLICTION. + + "Mercy and love have met thee on thy road, + Thou wretched outcast!" --WORDSWORTH. + + +Gerty had had her kitten about a month, when she took a violent cold +from exposure to damp and rain; and Nan, fearing she should have trouble +with her if she became seriously ill, bade her stay in the house, and +keep in the warm room. Gerty's cough was fearful; and she would have sat +by the fire all day, had it not been for her anxiety about the kitten. +Towards night the men were heard coming in to supper. Just as they +entered the door of the room where Nan and Gerty were, one of them +stumbled over the kitten, which had slyly come in with them. + +"Cracky! what's this 'ere?" said the man whom they called Jemmy; "a cat, +I vow! Why, Nan, I thought you hated cats!" + +"Well, 'tan't none o' mine; drive it out," said Nan. + +Jemmy tried to do so; but puss, making a circuit round his legs, sprang +forward into the arms of Gerty. + +"Whose kitten's that, Gerty?" said Nan. + +"Mine!" said Gerty, bravely. + +"Well, how long have you kept cats?" asked Nan. "Speak! how came you by +this?" + +Gerty was afraid of the men. She did not like to confess to whom she was +indebted for the kitten; she knew it would only make matters worse, for +Nan had never forgiven True Flint's rough expostulation against her +cruelty in beating the child for spilling the milk, and Gerty could not +think of any other source to which she could ascribe the kitten's +presence, or she would not have hesitated to tell a falsehood; for her +limited education had not taught her a love or habit of truth where a +lie would better serve her turn, and save her from punishment. She was +silent, and burst into tears. + +"Come," said Jemmy, "give us some supper, Nan, and let the gal alone." +Nan complied, ominously muttering, however. + +The supper just finished, an organ-grinder began to play at the door. +The men stepped out to join the crowd, who were watching the motions of +a monkey that danced to the music. Gerty ran to the window to look out. +Delighted with the gambols of the creature, she gazed until the man and +monkey moved off--so intently, that she did not miss the kitten which +had crept down from her arms, and, springing upon the table, began to +devour the remnants of the repast. The organ-grinder was not out of +sight when Gerty saw the old lamplighter coming up the street. She +resolved to watch him light his lamp, when she was startled by a sharp +and angry exclamation from Nan, and turned just in time to see her +snatch her darling kitten from the table. Gerty sprang to the rescue, +jumped into a chair, and caught Nan by the arm; but she firmly pushed +her back, and threw the kitten half across the room. Gerty heard a +sudden splash and a piercing cry. Nan had flung the poor creature into a +large vessel of steaming hot water. The poor animal writhed an instant, +then died in torture. + +Gerty's anger was aroused. Without hesitation, she lifted a stick of +wood, and violently flung it at Nan, and it struck the woman on the +head. The blood started from the wound; but Nan hardly felt the blow, so +greatly was she excited against the child. She sprang upon her, caught +her by the shoulder, and opening the house-door, thrust her out. "Ye'll +never darken my doors again, yer imp of wickedness!" said she, leaving +the child alone in the cold night. + +When Gerty was angry, she always cried aloud--uttering a succession of +piercing shrieks, until she sometimes quite exhausted her strength. When +she found herself in the street she commenced screaming--not from fear +of being turned away from her only home, and left alone at nightfall to +wander about the city, and perhaps freeze before morning--she did not +think of herself for a moment. Horror and grief at the dreadful fate of +the only thing she loved in the world entirely filled her little soul. +So she crouched down against the side of the house, her face hid in her +hands, unconscious of the noise she was making. Suddenly she found +herself placed on Trueman Flint's ladder, which leaned against the +lamp-post. True held her high enough to bring her face opposite his, and +saw his old acquaintance, and kindly asked her what was the matter. + +But Gerty could only gasp and say, "Oh, my kitten! my kitten!" + +"What! the kitten I gave you? Well, have you lost it? Don't cry! +there--don't cry!" + +"Oh, no! not lost! Oh, poor kitty!" and Gerty cried louder and coughed +so dreadfully, that True was frightened for the child. Making every +effort to soothe her, he told her she would catch her death o' cold, and +she must go into the house. + +"Oh, she won't let me in!" said Gerty "and I wouldn't go if she would." + +"Who won't let you in?--your mother?" + +"No! Nan Grant?" + +"Who's Nan Grant?" + +"She's a horrid, wicked woman, that drowned my kitten in bilin' water." + +"But where's your mother?" + +"I ha'n't got none." + +"Who do you belong to, you poor little thing?" + +"Nobody; and I've no business anywhere!" + +"With whom do you live, and who takes care of you?" + +"Oh, I lived with Nan Grant; but I hate her. I threw a stick of wood at +her head, and I wish I had killed her!" + +"Hush! hush! you musn't say that! I'll go and speak to her." + +True moved to the door, trying to draw Gerty in; but she resisted so +forcibly that he left her outside, and, walking into the room, where Nan +was binding up her head with a handkerchief, told her she had better +call her little girl in, for she would freeze to death out there. + +"She's no child of mine," said Nan; "she's the worst little creature +that ever lived; it's a wonder I've kept her so long; and now I hope +I'll never lay eyes on her agin--and, what's more, I don't mean. She +ought to be hung for breaking my head! I believe she's got an ill spirit +in her!" + +"But what'll become of her?" said True. "It's a fearful cold night. +How'd you feel, marm, if she were found to-morrow morning all _friz_ up +on your door-step!" + +"How'd I feel! That's your business, is it? S'posen you take care on her +yourself! Yer make a mighty deal o' fuss about the brat. Carry her home, +and try how yer like her. Yer've been here a talkin' to me about her +once afore, and I won't hear a word more. Let other folks see to her, I +say; I've had more'n my share, and as to her freezin', or dyin' anyhow, +I'll risk her. Them children that comes into the world, nobody knows +how, don't go out of it in a hurry. She's the city's property--let 'em +look out for her; and you'd better go, and not meddle with what don't +consarn you." + +True did not wait to hear more. He was not used to an angry woman, who +was the most formidable thing to him in the world. Nan's flashing eyes +and menacing attitude warned him of the coming tempest, and he hastened +away. Gerty had ceased crying when he came out, and looked into his face +with the greatest interest. + +"Well," said he, "she says you shan't come back." + +"Oh, I'm so glad!" said Gerty. + +"But where'll you go to?" + +"I don't know! p'raps I'll go with you, and see you light the lamps." + +"But where'll you sleep to-night?" + +"I don't know where; I haven't got any home. I'll sleep out where I can +see the stars. But it'll be cold, won't it?" + +"My goodness! You'll freeze to death, child." + +"Well, what'll become of me, then?" + +"The Lord only knows!" + +True looked at Gerty in perfect wonder. He could not leave her there on +such a cold night; but he hardly knew what he could do with her at home, +for he lived alone, and was poor. But another violent coughing decided +him to share with her his shelter, fire, and food, for one night, at +least. "Come," said he, "with me;" and Gerty ran along by his side, +never asking whither. + +True had a dozen lamps to light before his round was finished. Gerty +watched him light each with as keen an interest as if that were the only +object for which she was in his company; and it was only after they had +walked on for some distance without stopping, that she inquired where +they were going. + +"Going home," said True. + +"Am I going to your home?" said Gerty. + +"Yes," said True, "and here it is." + +He opened a little gate leading into a small yard, which stretched along +the whole length of a two-storied house. True lived in the back part of +it; and both went in. Gerty was trembling with the cold; her little bare +feet were quite blue with walking on the pavements. There was a stove in +the room, but no fire in it. True immediately disposed of his ladder, +torch, etc., in an adjoining shed, and bringing in a handful of wood, he +lit a fire. Drawing an old wooden settle up to the fire, he threw his +great-coat over it, and lifting little Gerty up, he placed her gently +upon the seat. He then prepared supper; for True was an old bachelor, +and did everything for himself. He made tea; then, mixing a great mugful +for Gerty, with plenty of sugar and all his milk, he brought a loaf of +bread, cut her a large slice, and pressed her to eat and drink as much +as she could; for he concluded, from her looks, that she had not been +well fed; and so much pleased did he feel in her enjoyment of the best +meal she had ever had, that he forgot to partake of it himself, but sat +watching her with a tenderness which proved that he was a friend to +everybody, even to the most forlorn little girl in the world. + +Trueman Flint was born in New Hampshire; but, when fifteen years old, +being left an orphan, he had made his way to Boston, where he supported +himself by whatever employment he could obtain; having been a +newspaper-carrier, a cab-driver, a porter, a wood-cutter, indeed, a +jack-at-all-trades; and so honest, capable, and good-tempered had he +always shown himself, that he everywhere won a good name, and had +sometimes continued for years in the same employ. Previous to his +entering upon the service in which we find him, he had been a porter in +a large store, owned by a wealthy and generous merchant. Being one day +engaged in removing some casks, he was severely injured by one of them +falling upon his chest. For a long time no hope was entertained of his +recovery; and when he began to mend, his health returned so gradually +that it was a year before he was able to be at work again. This sickness +swallowed up the savings of years; but his late employer never allowed +him to want for any comforts, provided an excellent physician, and saw +that he was well taken care of. + +But True had never been the same man since. He rose from his sick-bed +debilitated, and apparently ten years older, and his strength so much +enfeebled, that he was only fit for some comparatively light employment. +It was then that his kind master obtained for him the situation of +lamplighter; and he frequently earned considerable sums by sawing wood, +shovelling snow, and other jobs. He was now between fifty and sixty +years old, a stoutly-built man, with features cut in one of nature's +rough moulds, but expressive of much good nature. He was naturally +reserved, lived much by himself, was little known, and had only one +crony, the sexton of a neighbouring church. + +But we left Gertie finishing her supper, and now she is stretched upon +the wide settle, sound asleep, covered up with a warm blanket, and her +head resting upon a pillow. True sits beside her; her little, thin hand +lies in his great palm--occasionally he draws the blanket closer around +her. She breathes hard; suddenly she gives a nervous start, then speaks +quickly; her dreams are evidently troubled. True listens intently to her +words, as she exclaims eagerly, "Oh, don't! don't drown my kitty!" and +then, again, in a voice of fear, "Oh, she'll catch me! she'll catch me!" +once more; and now her tones are touchingly plaintive and +earnest--"Dear, dear, good old man! let me stay with you; do let me +stay!" + +Tears are in Trueman Flint's eyes; he lays his great head on the pillow +and draws Gerty's little face close to his; at the same time smoothing +her long, uncombed hair with his hand. He, too, is thinking aloud--what +does _he_ say? "Catch you!--no, she _shan't_! Stay with _me_!--so you +shall, I promise you, poor little birdie! All alone in this big +world--and so am I. Please God, we'll bide together." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE LAW OF KINDNESS. + + +Little Gerty had found a friend and a protector; and it was well she +had, for neglect and suffering had well-nigh cut short her sad +existence. The morning after True took her home, she woke in a high +fever. She looked around, and found she was alone in the room; but there +was a good fire, and preparation for breakfast. For a moment or two she +was puzzled to know where she was, and what had happened to her; for the +room seemed quite strange, it now being daylight. A smile passed over +her face when she recalled the events of the previous night, and thought +of kind old True, and the new home she had found with him. She went to +the window to look out, though her head was giddy, and she could hardly +walk. The ground was covered with snow, and which dazzled Gerty's eyes, +for she suddenly found herself quite blinded--her head grew dizzy, she +staggered and fell. + +Trueman came in a moment after, and was frightened at seeing Gerty +stretched upon the floor, and was not surprised that she had fainted in +trying to walk. He placed her in bed, and soon succeeded in restoring +her to consciousness; but for three weeks she never sat up, except when +True held her in his arms. True was a rough and clumsy man about most +things; but not so in the care of his little charge. He was something of +a doctor and nurse in his simple way; and, though he had never had much +to do with children, his warm heart taught him all that was necessary +for Gerty's comfort. + +Gerty was patient; but would lie awake whole nights suffering from pain +and weariness through long confinement to a sick-bed, without uttering a +groan, lest she might waken True, who slept on the floor beside her, +when he could so far forget his anxiety about her as to sleep at all. +Sometimes, when in great pain, True carried her in his arms for hours; +but Gerty would try to appear relieved before she was so, and feign +sleep that he might put her to bed again and take some rest himself. Her +little heart was full of love and gratitude to her kind protector, and +she spent much time in thinking what she could do for him when she got +well. True was often obliged to leave her to attend to his work; and +during the first week she was much alone, though everything she could +possibly want was put within her reach. At last she became delirious, +and for some days had no knowledge how she was taken care of. One day, +after a long sleep, she woke restored to consciousness, and saw a woman +sitting by her bedside sewing. She sprang up in bed to look at the +stranger, who had not observed her open her eyes, but who started when +she heard her move, and exclaimed, "Oh, lie down, my child! lie down!" +laying her hand gently upon her. + +"I don't know you," said Gerty; "where's my Uncle True?" for that was +the name by which True had told her to call him. + +"He's gone out, dear; he'll be home soon. How do you feel--better?" + +"Oh, yes! much better. Have I been asleep long?" + +"Some time; lie down now, and I'll bring you some gruel--it will be good +for you." + +"Does Uncle True know you are here?" + +"Yes. I came in to sit with you while he was away." + +"Come in?--From where?" + +"From my room. I live in the other part of the house." + +"I think you're very good," said Gerty. "I like you. I wonder why I did +not see you when you came in." + +"You were too sick, dear, to notice; but I think you'll soon be better +now." + +The woman prepared the gruel, and, after Gerty had taken it, reseated +herself at her work. Gerty laid down in bed, with her face towards her +new friend, and, fixing her large eyes upon her, watched her while she +sat sewing. At last the woman looked up, and said, "Well, what do you +think I am making?" + +"I don't know," said Gerty; "what are you?" + +The woman held up her work, so that Gerty could see that it was a dark +calico frock for a child. + +"Oh! what a nice gown!" said Gerty. "Who it is for?--your little girl?" + +"No," said the woman, "I haven't got any little girl; I've only got one +child, my boy Willie." + +"Willie; that's a pretty name," said Gerty. "Is he a good boy?" + +"Good? He's the best boy in the world, and the handsomest!" answered the +woman. + +Gerty turned away, and a look so sad came over her countenance, that the +woman thought she was getting tired, and ought to be kept very quiet. +She told her so, and bade her to go to sleep again. Gerty lay still, and +then True came in. + +"Oh, Mrs. Sullivan," said he, "you're here still! I'm very much obleeged +to you for stayin'; I hadn't calkerlated to be gone so long. And how +does the child seem to be, marm?" + +"Much better, Mr. Flint. She's come to her reason, and I think, with +care, will do well now. Oh, she's awake," he added, seeing Gerty open +her eyes. + +True came to the bedside, stroked back her hair, now cut short, and felt +her pulse, and nodded his head satisfactorily. Gerty caught his great +hand between both of hers, and held it tight. He sat down on the side of +the bed, and said, "I shouldn't be surprised if she needed her new +clothes sooner than we thought of, marm. It's my opinion we'll have her +up and about afore many days." + +"So I was thinking," said Mrs. Sullivan; "but don't be in too great a +hurry. She's had a very severe sickness, and her recovery must be +gradual. Did you see Miss Graham to-day?" + +"Yes, I did see her, poor thing! The Lord bless her sweet face! She +axed a sight o' questions about little Gerty here, and gave me this +parcel of _arrer-root_, I think she called it. She says it's excellent +in sickness. Did you ever fix any, Mrs. Sullivan, so that you can jist +show me how, if you'll be so good; for I declare I don't remember, +though she took a deal o' pains to tell me." + +"Oh, yes; it's very easy. I'll come in and prepare some by-and-by. I +don't think Gerty'll want any at present; she's just had some gruel. But +father has come home, and I must be seeing about our tea. I'll come in +again this evening, Mr. Flint." + +"Thank you, marm, thank you; you're very kind." + +During the few following days Mrs. Sullivan came in and sat with Gerty +several times. She was a gentle woman, with a placid face, very +refreshing to a child that had long lived in fear, and suffered a great +deal of abuse. One evening, when Gerty had nearly recovered, she was +sitting in True's lap by the fire, carefully wrapped in a blanket. She +had been talking to him about her new acquaintance and friend, when +suddenly she said, "Uncle True, do you know what little girl she's +making a gown for?" + +"For a little girl," said True, "that needs a frock and a many other +things; for she hasn't got any clothes, except a few old rags. Do you +know any such little girl, Gerty?" + +"I guess I do," said Gerty, with a very knowing look. + +"Well, where is she?" + +"An't she in your lap?" + +"What, you!--Why, do you think Mrs. Sullivan would spend her time making +clothes for you?" + +"Well," said Gerty hanging her head, "I shouldn't _think_ she would, but +then you _said_----" + +"Well, what did I say?" + +"Something about new clothes for me." + +"So I did," said True; "they _are_ for you--two whole suits, with shoes +and stockings." + +Gerty opened her large eyes in amazement, and clapped her hands, and +True laughed too. + +"Did she buy them, Uncle True? Is she rich?" asked Gerty. + +"Mrs. Sullivan?--no, indeed!" said True. "Miss Graham bought 'em, and is +going to pay Mrs. Sullivan for making them." + +"Who is Miss Graham?" + +"She's a lady too good for this world--that's sartin. I'll tell you +about her some time; but better not now, for it's time you were abed and +asleep." + +One Sabbath, after Gerty was nearly well, she was so much fatigued that +she went to bed before dark, and for three hours slept soundly. On +awaking, she saw that True had company. An old man, much older than +True, was sitting on the opposite side of the stove, smoking a pipe. His +dress, though ancient and homely, was neat; and his hair was white. He +had sharp features, and Gerty thought from his looks he could say sharp +things. She rightly conjectured that he was Mrs. Sullivan's father, Mr. +Cooper; and she did not widely differ from most other people who knew +the old church-sexton. But both his own face and public opinion somewhat +wronged him. His nature was not a genial one. Domestic trials, and the +fickleness of fortune, had caused him to look on the dark side of +life--to dwell upon its sorrows, and frown upon the bright hopes of the +young and the gay. His occupation did not counteract a disposition to +melancholy; his duties in the church were solitary, and in his old age +he had little intercourse with the world, had become severe toward its +follies, and unforgiving toward its crimes. There was much that was good +and benevolent in him, however; and True Flint knew it. True liked the +old man's sincerity; and many a Sabbath evening had they sat by that +same fireside, and discussed questions of public policy, national +institutions, and individual rights. Trueman Flint was the reverse of +Paul Cooper in disposition and temper, being very sanguine, always +disposed to look upon the bright side of things, and ever averring that +it was his opinion 'twould all come out right at last. On this evening +they had been talking on several of such topics; but when Gerty awoke +she found herself the subject of conversation. + +"Where," asked Mr. Cooper, "did you say you picked her up?" + +"At Nan Grant's," said True. "Don't you remember her? she's the same +woman whose son you were called up to witness against, at the time the +church-windows were broken. You can't have forgotten her at the trial, +Cooper; for she blew you up with a vengeance, and didn't spare his +honour the judge either. Well, 'twas just such a rage she was in with +this 'ere child the first time I saw her; and the _second_ time she'd +just turned her out o' doors." + +"Ah, yes, I remember the she-bear. I shouldn't suppose she'd be any too +gentle to her own child, much less a stranger's; but what are you going +to do with the foundling, Flint?" + +"Do with her?--Keep her, to be sure, and take care on her." + +Cooper laughed rather sarcastically. + +"Well, now, I s'pose, neighbour, you think it's rather freakish in me to +be adoptin' a child at my time o' life; and pr'haps it is; but I'll +explain. She'd a died that night I tell yer on, if I hadn't brought her +home with me; and many times since, what's more, if I, with the help o' +your darter, hadn't took good care on her. Well, she took on so in her +sleep, the first night ever she came, and cried out to me all as if she +never had a friend afore (and probably she never had), that I resolved +then she should stay, at any rate, and I'd take care on her, and share +my last crust with the wee thing, come what might. The Lord's been very +marciful to me, Mr. Cooper, very marciful! He's raised me up friends in +my deep distress. I knew, when I was a little shaver, what a lonesome +thing it was to be fatherless and motherless; and when I see this little +sufferin' human bein' I felt as if, all friendless as she seemed, she +was more specially the Lord's, and as if I could not sarve Him more, and +ought not to sarve Him less, than to share with her the blessings He had +bestowed on me. You look round, neighbour, as if you thought 'twan't +much to share with any one; and 'tan't much there is here, to be sure; +but it's a _home_,--yes, a _home_; and that's a great thing to her that +never had one. I've got my hands yet, and a stout heart, and a willin' +mind. With God's help, I'll be a father to the child; and the time may +come when she'll be God's embodied blessin' to me." + +Mr. Cooper shook his head doubtfully, and muttered something about +children, even one's own, not being apt to prove blessings. + +Trueman added, "Oh, neighbour Cooper, if I had not made up my mind the +night Gerty came here, I wouldn't have sent her away after the next day; +for the Lord, I think, spoke to me by the mouth of one of his holy +angels, and bade me persevere in my resolution. You've seen Miss +Graham. She goes to your church regular, with the fine old gentleman her +father. I was at their house shovelling snow, after the great storm +three weeks since, and she sent for me to come into the kitchen. Well +may I bless her angel face, poor thing!--if the world is dark to her she +makes it light to other folks. She cannot see heaven's sunshine outside, +but she's better off than most people, for she's got it in her, I do +believe, and when she smiles it lets the glory out, and looks like God's +rainbow in the clouds. She's done me many a kindness since I got hurt so +bad in her father's store, now five years gone; and she sent for me that +day, to ask how I did, and if there was anything I wanted that she could +speak to the master about. So I told her all about little Gerty; and, I +tell you, she and I both cried 'fore I'd done. She put some money into +my hand, and told me to get Mrs. Sullivan to make some clothes for +Gerty; more than that, she promised to help me if I got into trouble +with the care of her; and when I was going away, she said, 'I'm sure +you've done quite right, True; the Lord will bless and reward your +kindness to that poor child.'" + +True was so excited that he did not notice what the Sexton had observed. +Gerty had risen from her bed and was standing beside True, her eyes +fixed upon his face, breathless with the interest she felt in his words. +She touched his shoulder; he looked round, saw her, and stretched out +his arms. She sprang into them, buried her face in his bosom, and, +bursting into tears, exclaimed, "Shall I stay with you always?" + +"Yes, just as long as I live," said True, "you shall be my child." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +FIRST STEPS TO IMPROVEMENT. + + +It was a stormy evening. Gerty was standing at the window, watching for +True's returning from his lamplighting. She was neatly dressed, her hair +smooth, her face and hands clean. She was now quite well--better than +for years before her sickness; a pale, slender-looking child, with eyes +and mouth disproportionately large to her other features; her look of +suffering had given place to a happy though rather grave expression. On +the wide window-sill in front of her sat a plump and venerable cat, +parent to Gerty's lost darling, and for that reason very dear to her; +she was quietly stroking its back, while the constant purring that the +old veteran kept up proved her satisfaction at the arrangement. + +Suddenly a rumbling, tumbling sound was heard in the wall. The house was +old, and furnished with ample accommodation for rats. One would have +thought a chimney was falling brick by brick. But it did not alarm +Gerty; she was used to rat-inhabited walls, and accustomed to hearing +such sounds all her life, when she slept in the garret at Nan Grant's. +Not so, however, with the ancient grimalkin, who pricked up her ears, +and gave every sign of a disposition to rush into battle. + +Gerty glanced round the room with an air of satisfaction; then, +clambering upon the window-sill, where she could see the lamplighter as +he entered the gate, she took the cat in her arms, smoothed her dress, +and gave a look of pride at her shoes and stockings, and strove to +become patient. But it would not do; she could not be patient; it seemed +to her that he never came so late before, and she was beginning to think +he never would come at all, when he turned into the gate. He had brought +some person with him. He did not look tall enough to be Mr. Cooper, but +she concluded it must be he, for whoever it was stopped at his door +further up the yard and went it. Impatient as Gerty had been for True's +arrival, she did not run to meet him as usual, but waited until she +heard him come in through the shed, where he was in the habit of +stopping to hang up his ladder and lantern. She then ran and hid behind +the door by which he must enter the room. She evidently had some great +surprise in store for him. The cat was more mindful of her manners, and +went to meet him, rubbing her head against his legs, which was her +customary welcome. + +"Hollo, whiskers," said True, "where's my little gal?" + +He shut the door behind him as he spoke, thus disclosing Gerty to view. +She sprang forward with a bound, laughed, and looked first at her own +clothes and then in True's face, to see what he would think of her +appearance. + +"Well, I declare!" said he, lifting her up in his arms, and carrying her +nearer to the light; "little folks do look famous! New frock, apron, +shoes! got 'em all on! And who fixed your hair? My! you an't none too +handsome, sartain, but you do look famous nice!" + +"Mrs. Sullivan dressed me all up, and brushed my hair; and _more +too_--don't you see what _else_ she has done?" + +True followed Gerty's eyes as they wandered around the room. He looked +amazed to satisfy her anticipations, great as they had been. He had been +gone since morning, and things had indeed undergone a transformation. +Woman's hands had evidently been at work clearing up and setting to +rights. + +Until Gerty came to live with True his home had never been subjected to +female intrusion. Living alone, and entertaining scarcely any visitors, +he tried to make himself comfortable in his own way, regardless of +appearances. In his humble apartment sweeping day came but seldom, and +spring-cleaning was unknown. The corners of the ceiling were festooned +with cob-webs; the mantle-piece had accumulated a curious medley of +things, while there was no end to the rubbish that had collected under +the grate. During Gerty's illness, a bed made up on the floor for True, +and the various articles required in her sick-room, had increased the +clutter to such an extent that one almost needed a pilot to conduct him +in safety through the apartment. + +Mrs. Sullivan was the soul of neatness in her rooms, in her own dress +for simplicity, and freedom from the least speck or stain. It was to +nurse Gerty, and take care of her in True's absence, that she first +entered a room the reverse of her own; the contrast was painful to her, +and it would have been a real pleasure to clear up and put it to rights; +and she resolved as soon as Gerty got well, to exert herself in the +cause of cleanliness and order, which was, in her eyes, the cause of +virtue and happiness, so completely did she identify outward neatness +and purity with inward peace. + +On the day previous to that on which the great cleaning operations took +place, Gerty was observed by Mrs. Sullivan standing in the passage near +her door, and looking wistfully in. "Come in, Gerty," said the kind +little woman; "come in and see me.--Here," added she, seeing how timid +the child felt in intruding into a strange room; "you may sit up here by +the table and see me iron. This is your little dress. I am smoothing it +out, and then your things will all be done! You'll be glad of some new +clothes, shan't you?" + +"Very glad, marm," said Gerty. "Am I to take them away, and keep them +all myself?" + +"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Sullivan. + +"I don't know where I'll put 'em all; there an't no place in our +room--at least, no very nice place," said Gerty, glancing at the open +drawer, in which Mrs. Sullivan was placing the little dress, adding it +to a pile of neatly-folded garments. + +"Why, part of them, you know, you'll be wearing," said Mrs. Sullivan; +"and we must find some good place for the rest." + +"You've got good places for things," said Gerty, looking round the room; +"this is a beautiful room." + +"Why, it isn't very different from Mr. Flint's. It's just the same size, +and two front windows like his. My cupboard is the best; yours is only a +three-cornered one; but that's all the difference." + +"Oh, but yours don't look a bit like ours. You haven't got any bed here, +and all the chairs stand in a row, and the table shines, and the floor +is so clean, and the stove is new, and the sun comes in so bright! I +wish our room was like this! I think ours is not half so big. Why, Uncle +True stumbled over the tongs this morning, and he said there wasn't room +to swing a cat." + +"Where were the tongs?" said Mrs. Sullivan. + +"About the middle of the floor, marm." + +"Well, you see I don't keep things in the middle of the floor. I think +if your room were all cleaned up, and places found for everything, it +would look almost as well as mine." + +"I wish it could be made as nice," said Gerty; "but what could be done +with those beds?" + +"I've been thinking about that. There's that little pantry--or +bathing-room, I think it must have been when this house was new, and +rich people lived in it; that's large enough to hold a small bedstead +and a chair or two; 'twould be quite a comfortable little chamber for +you. The rubbish in it might just as well be thrown away." + +"Oh, that'll be nice!" said Gerty; "then Uncle True can have his bed +back again, and I'll sleep on the floor in there." + +"No," said Mrs. Sullivan; "you shan't sleep on the floor. I've got a +very good little cross-legged bedstead that my Willie slept on when he +lived at home; and I'll lend it to you, if you'll take good care of it +and of everything else that is put into your room." + +"Oh, I will," said Gerty. "But can I?" added she, hesitating; "do you +think I can? I don't know how to do anything." + +"You never have been taught to do anything, my child; but a girl eight +years old can do many things if she is patient and tries to learn. I +could teach you to do a great deal that would be useful, and that would +help your Uncle True very much." + +"What could I do?" + +"You could sweep the room every day, you could make the beds, with a +little help in turning them; you could set the table, toast the bread, +and wash the dishes. Perhaps you would not do these things so well at +first; but you would keep improving, and get to be a nice little +housekeeper." + +"Oh, I wish I could do something for Uncle True!" said Gerty; "but how +could I ever begin?" + +"In the first place, you must have things cleaned up for you. If I +thought Mr. Flint would like it, I'd get Kate M'Carty to come in some +day and help us; and I think we could greatly improve his home." + +"Oh, I know he'd like it," said Gerty; "'twould be grand! May I help?" + +"Yes, you may do what you can; but Kate'll be the best hand; she's +strong, and knows how to do cleaning very well." + +"Who's she?" said Gerty. + +"Kate?--She's Mrs. M'Carty's daughter in the next house. Mr. Flint does +them many a good turn--saws wood, and so on. They do most of his +washing; but they can't half pay him all the kindness he's done that +family. Kate's a clever girl; she'll be glad to come and work for him +any day. I'll ask her." + +"Will she come to-morrow?" + +"Perhaps she will." + +"Uncle True's going to be gone all day to-morrow," said Gerty; "he's +going to get in Mr. Eustace's coal. Wouldn't it be a good time?" + +"Very," said Mrs. Sullivan. "I'll try and get Kate to come to-morrow." + +Kate came. The room was thoroughly cleaned and put in order. Gerty's new +clothes were delivered to her own keeping; she was neatly dressed in one +suit, the other placed in a little chest found in the pantry, and which +accommodated her small wardrobe very well. + +It was the result of Mrs. Sullivan's, Kate's, and Gerty's combined +labour which astonished True on his return from his work; and the +pleasure he manifested made the day a memorable one in Gerty's life, one +to be marked in her memory as long as she lived, as being the first in +which she had known _that_ happiness--perhaps the highest earth, +affords--of feeling that she had been instrumental in giving joy to +another. Gerty had entered heart and soul into the work, when she had +been allowed. She could say with truth, "_We_ did it--Mrs. Sullivan, +Kate, and _I_." None but a loving heart like Mrs. Sullivan's would have +sympathized in the feeling which made Gerty so eager to help. But _she_ +did, and allotted to her many little services, which the child felt +herself more blessed in being permitted to perform than she would have +done at almost any gift bestowed upon her. She led True about to show +him how cleverly Mrs. Sullivan had made the most of the room and the +furniture; how, by moving the bed into a recess, she had reserved the +whole square-area, and made a parlour of it. It was some time before he +could be made to believe that half of his property had not been spirited +away, so incomprehensible was it to him that so much additional space +and comfort could be acquired by a little system. But his astonishment +and Gerty's delight reached their climax when she took him into the +lumber-closet, now transformed into a snug and comfortable bed-room. + +"Well, I declare! Well, I declare!" was all the old man could say. He +sat down beside the stove, now polished, and made, as Gerty declared, +new, just like Mrs. Sullivan's; warmed his hands, for they were cold +with being out in the frosty evening, and then took a general view of +his reformed domicile, and of Gerty, who was about to set the table, and +toast the bread for supper. Standing on a chair, she was taking down the +cups and saucers from among the regular rows of dishes shining in +three-cornered cupboard, being deposited on the lower shelf, where she +could reach them from the floor, a plate containing some smoothly cut +slices of bread, which the thoughtful Mrs. Sullivan had prepared for +her. True watched her motions for a minute or two, and then indulged in +a short soliloquy. "Mrs. Sullivan's a clever woman, sartain, and they've +made my old house here complete, and Gerty's getting to be like the +apple of my eye, and I'm as happy a man as----" + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +WHERE IS HEAVEN? + + +Here True was interrupted by a sudden and unceremonious opening of the +door. "Here, Uncle True, here's your package. You forgot all about it, I +guess; and I forgot it, too, till mother saw it on the table, where I'd +laid it down. I was so taken up with just coming home, you know." + +"Of course--of course!" said True. "Much obleeged to you, Willie, for +fetchin' it for me. It's brittle stuff it's made of, and most likely I +should have smashed it 'fore I got it home." + +"What is it?--I've been wondering." + +"Why, it's a little knick-knack I've brought home for Gerty here, +that----" + +"Willie! Willie!" called Mrs. Sullivan from the opposite room, "have you +been to tea, dear?" + +"No, indeed, mother; have you?" + +"Why, yes; but I'll get you some." + +"No, no," said True; "Stay and take tea with us, Willie; take tea here, +my boy. My little Gerty is making some famous toast, and I'll have the +tea presently." + +"So I will," said Willie! "No matter about any supper for me, mother, +I'm going to have my tea here with Uncle True. Come, now, let's see +what's in the bundle; but first I want to see little Gerty; mother's +been telling me about her. Where is she? Has she got well? She's been +very sick, hasn't she?" + +"Oh, yes, she's nicely now," said True. "Here, Gerty, look here. Why, +where is she?" + +"There she is, hiding behind the settle," said Willie, laughing. "She +ain't afraid of me, is she?" + +"Well, I didn't know as she was shy," said True; "you silly little +girl," added he, "come out here and see Willie. This is Willie +Sullivan." + +"I don't want to see him," said Gerty. + +"Don't want to see Willie!" said True; "why, you don't know what you're +sayin'. Willie's the best boy that ever was; I 'spect you and he'll be +great friends by-and-by." + +"He won't like me," said Gerty; "I know he won't." + +"Why shan't I like you?" said Willie, approaching the corner where Gerty +had hid herself. Her face was covered with her hands. "I guess I shall +like you first-rate when I see you." + +He stooped down, and, taking her hands from her face and holding them in +his own, he fixed his eyes full upon her, and pleasantly said, "How are +you, cousin Gerty--how do you do?" + +"I an't your cousin!" said Gerty. + +"Yes, you are," said Willie; "Uncle True's your uncle, and mine too!--so +we're cousins--don't you see?--and I want to get acquainted." + +Gerty could not resist Willie's good-natured words and manner. She +suffered him to draw her out of the corner towards the lighter end of +the room. As she came near the lamp, she tried to free her hands in +order to cover her face up again; but Willie would not let her, and, +attracting her attention to the unopened package, he succeeded in +diverting her thoughts from herself, and in a few minutes she was quite +at her ease. + +"There, Uncle True says it's for you," said Willie; "and I can't think +what 'tis, can you?" + +Gerty felt, and looked wonderingly in True's face. + +"Undo it, Willie," said True. + +Willie produced a knife, cut the string, took off the paper, and +disclosed one of those white plaster images, so familiar to every one, +representing the little Samuel in an attitude of devotion. + +"Oh, how pretty!" exclaimed Gerty, full of delight. + +"Why didn't I think?" said Willie; "I might have known what 'twas by +feeling." + +"Why! did you ever see it before?" said Gerty. + +"Not this same one; but I've seen lots just like it." + +"Have you?" said Gerty. "I never did. I think it's the beautifullest +thing that ever was. Uncle True, did you say it was for me? Where did +you get it?" + +"It was by an accident I got it. A few minutes before I met you, Willie, +I was stoppin' at the corner to light my lamp, when I saw one of those +_furrin_ boys with a sight o' these things, and some black ones too, all +set up on a board, and he was walking with 'em a-top of his head. I was +just a wonderin how he kept 'em there, when he hit the board agin my +lamp-post, and the first thing I knew, whack they all went! he'd spilt +them everyone. Lucky enough for him, there was a great bank of soft snow +close to the side-walk, and the most of 'em fell into that and wasn't +hurt. Some went on to the bricks, and were smashed. Well, I kind o' +pitied the feller; for it was late, and I thought like enough he hadn't +had much luck sellin' of 'em, to have so many left on his hands----" + +"On his head, you mean," said Willie. + +"Yes, Master Willie, or on the snow," said True; "any way you've a mind +to have it." + +"And I know what you did, Uncle True, just as well as if I'd seen you," +said Willie; "you set your ladder and lantern right down, and helped him +to pick 'em all up--that's just what you'd be sure to do for anybody." + +"This feller, Willie, didn't wait for me to get into trouble; he made +return right off. When they were all set right, he bowed and scraped, +and touched his hat to me, as if I'd been the biggest gentleman in the +land; talkin,' too, he was, all the time, though I couldn't make out a +word of his lingo; and then he insisted on my takin' one o' the figurs. +I wasn't agoin' to take it, for I didn't want it; but I happened to +think little Gerty might like it." + +"Oh, I shall like it!" said Gerty. "I shall like it better than--no, not +better, but almost _as well_ as my kitten; not _quite_ as well, because +that was alive, and this isn't; but _almost_. Oh, an't he a cunning +boy?" + +True, finding that Gerty was wholly taken up with the image, walked +away and began to get the tea, leaving the two children to entertain +each other. + +"You must take care and not break it, Gerty," said Willie. "We had a +Samuel once, just like it, in the shop; and I dropped it out of my hand +on to the counter, and broke it into a million pieces." + +"What did you call it?" asked Gerty. + +"A Samuel; they're all Samuels." + +"What are _Sammles_?" inquired Gerty. + +"Why, that's the name of the child they're taken for." + +"What do you s'pose he's sittin' on his knee for?" + +Willie laughed. "Why, don't you know?" said he. + +"No," said Gerty; "what is he?" + +"He's praying," said Willie. + +"Is that what he's got his eyes turned up for, too?" + +"Yes, of course; he looks up to heaven when he prays." + +"Up to where?" + +"To heaven." + +Gerty looked up at the ceiling in the direction in which the eyes were +turned, then at the figure. She seemed very much dissatisfied and +puzzled. + +"Why, Gerty," said Willie, "I shouldn't think you knew what praying +was." + +"I don't," said Gerty; "tell me." + +"Don't you ever pray--pray to God?" + +"No, I don't.--Who is God? Where is God?" + +Willie looked inexpressibly shocked at Gerty's ignorance, and answered +reverently, "God is in heaven, Gerty." + +"I don't know where that is," said Gerty. "I believe I don't know +nothin' about it." + +"I shouldn't think you did," said Willie. "I _believe_ heaven is up in +the sky; but my Sunday-school teacher says, 'Heaven is anywhere where +goodness is,' or some such thing," he said. + +"Are the stars in heaven?" asked Gerty. + +"They look so, don't they?" said Willie. "They're in the sky, where I +always used to think heaven was." + +"I should like to go to heaven," said Gerty. + +"Perhaps, if you're good, you will go some time." + +"Can't any but good folks go?" + +"No." + +"Then I can't ever go," said Gerty, mournfully. + +"Why not?" asked Willie; "an't you good." + +"Oh no! I'm very bad." + +"What a queer child!" said Willie. "What makes you think yourself so +very bad?" + +"Oh, I _am_," said Gerty, in a very sad tone; "I'm the worst of all. I'm +the worst child in the world." + +"Who told you so?" + +"Everybody. Nan Grant says so, and she says everybody thinks so; I know +it too, myself." + +"Is Nan Grant the cross old woman you used to live with?" + +"Yes. How did you know she was cross?" + +"Oh, my mother's been telling me about her. Well, I want to know if she +didn't send you to school, or teach you anything?" + +Gerty shook her head. + +"Why, what lots you've got to learn! What did you used to do when you +lived there?" + +"Nothing." + +"Never did anything; don't know anything; my gracious!" + +"Yes, I do know one thing," said Gerty. "I know how to toast +bread;--your mother taught me;--she let me toast some by the fire." + +As she spoke, she thought of her own neglected toast, and turned towards +the stove; but she was too late--the toast was made, the supper ready, +and True was just putting it on the table. + +"Oh, Uncle True," said she, "I meant to get the tea." + +"I know it," said True, "but it's no matter; you can get it to-morrow." + +The tears came into Gerty's eyes; she looked very much disappointed, but +said nothing. They all sat down to supper. Willie put the Samuel in the +middle of the table for a centre ornament, and told so many funny +stories that Gerty laughed heartily, forgot that she did not make the +toast herself, forgot her sadness, and showed herself, for once, a merry +child. After tea, she sat beside Willie on the great settle, and, in her +peculiar way, gave him a description of her life at Nan Grant's, winding +up with a touching account of the death of her kitten. + +The two children were in a fair way to become as good friends as True +could possibly wish. True sat on the opposite side of the stove, smoking +his pipe; his elbows on his knees, his eyes bent on the children, and +his ears drinking in all their conversation. He laughed when they +laughed; took long whiffs at his pipe when they talked quietly; ceased +smoking entirely, letting his pipe rest on his knee, and secretly wiping +away a tear, when Gerty recounted her childish griefs. He often heard it +afterwards, but never _without crying_. + +After Gerty had closed her tale of sorrows, she sat for a moment without +speaking, then becoming excited, as her ungoverned and easily roused +nature dwelt upon its wrongs, she burst forth in a very different tone, +and began uttering the most bitter invectives against Nan Grant. The +child's language expressed unmitigated hatred, and even a hope of future +revenge. True looked troubled at hearing her talk so angrily. Since he +brought her home he had never witnessed such a display of temper, and +had fondly believed that she would always be as quiet and gentle as +during her illness and the few weeks subsequent to it. True's own +disposition was so amiable and forgiving, that he could not imagine that +anyone, and especially a little child, should long retain feelings of +anger and bitterness. Gerty had shown herself so mild and patient since +she had been with him, that it had never occurred to him to dread any +difficulty in the management of the child. Now, however, as he observed +her flashing eyes, and noticed the doubling of her little fist as she +menaced Nan with her future wrath, he had an undefined, half-formed +presentiment of coming trouble in the control of his little charge. For +the moment she ceased, in his eyes, to be the pet and plaything he had +hitherto considered her. He saw in her something which needed a check, +and felt himself unfit to apply it. + +He _was_ totally unfit to cope with a spirit like Gerty's. It was true +he possessed over her one mighty influence--her strong affection for +him, which he could not doubt. It was that which made her so submissive +and patient in her sickness, so grateful for his care and kindness, so +anxious to do something in return. It was that love, illumined by a +higher light, which came in time to sanctify it, that gave her, while +yet a mere girl, a woman's courage, a woman's strength of heart and +self-denial. It was that which cheered the old man's latter years, and +shed joy on his dying bed. + +Willie tried once or twice to stop the current of her abusive language; +but soon desisted, for she did not pay the least attention to him. He +could not help smiling at her childish wrath, nor could he resist +sympathising with her in a degree. But he was conscious that Gerty was +exhibiting a very hot temper, and began to understand what made +everybody think her so bad. + +After Gerty had railed about Nan a little while, she stopped of her own +accord; though an unpleasant look remained on her countenance. It soon +passed away, however; and when, a little later in the evening, Mrs. +Sullivan appeared at the door, Gerty looked bright and happy, listened +with evident delight while True uttered warm expressions of thanks for +the labour which had been undertaken in his behalf, and, when Willie +went away with his mother, said her good night, and asked him to come +again so pleasantly, and her eyes looked so bright, that Willie said, as +soon as they were out of hearing, "She's a queer little thing, an't she, +mother? But I kind o' like her." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE FIRST PRAYER. + + +It would have been difficult to find two children of the poorer class +whose situations in life had presented a greater contrast than those of +Gerty and Willie. Gerty was a neglected orphan; she had received little +of that care, and still less of that love, which Willie had enjoyed. +Mrs. Sullivan's husband was an intelligent country clergyman; but as he +died when Willie was a baby, leaving little property for the support of +his family, the widow and her child went home to her father. The old man +needed his daughter; for death had made sad inroads in his household +since she left it, and he was alone. + +From that time the three had lived together in humble comfort, for, +though poor, industry and frugality secured them from want. Willie was +his mother's pride, her hope, her constant thought. She spared no care +to provide for his physical comfort, his happiness, and his education +and virtue. + +She might well be proud of a boy whose uncommon beauty, winning +disposition, and early evidences of a noble nature, won him friends even +among strangers. It was his broad, open forehead, the clearness and +calmness of his full grey eye, the expressive mouth, so determined and +yet so mild, the well-developed figure and ruddy complexion, proclaiming +high health, which gave promise of power to the future man. No one could +have been in the boy's company half an hour without loving and admiring +him. He had a warm-hearted, affectionate disposition, which his mother's +love and the world's smiles had fostered; an unusual flow of animal +spirits, tempered by a natural politeness towards his superiors; a quick +apprehension; a ready command of language; and a sincere sympathy in +others' pleasures and pains. He was fond of study, and until his twelfth +year his mother kept him constantly at school. + +At that time he had an opportunity to enter into the service of an +apothecary, who did an extensive business, and wanted a boy to assist in +the shop. The wages offered by Mr. Bray were not great, but there was a +prospect of an increased salary; and it was not a chance to be +overlooked. Fond as he was of his books, he had long been eager to be at +work, helping to bear the burden of labour in the family. His mother and +grandfather consented to the plan, and he gladly accepted Mr. Bray's +proposals. He was sadly missed at home; for, as he slept at his +employer's during the week, he rarely could make a passing visit to his +mother, except on Saturday, when he came home at night and passed +Sunday. So Saturday night was Mrs. Sullivan's happy night, and the +Sabbath became a more blessed day than ever. + +When Willie reached his mother's room on the evening of which we have +been speaking, he sat down with her and Mr. Cooper, and for an hour +conversation was brisk with them. Willie had always much to relate +concerning the occurrences of the week. Mrs. Sullivan was interested in +everything that interested Willie, and it was easy to see that the old +grandfather was more entertained by the boy than he was willing to +appear; for though he sat with his eyes upon the floor, and did not seem +to listen, he usually heard all that was said. He seldom made comments, +but would occasionally utter an impatient or contemptuous expression +regarding individuals or the world in general; thereby evidencing want +of confidence in men's honesty and virtue, and this formed a marked +trait in his character. Willie's spirits would receive a momentary +check, for _he_ loved and trusted _everybody_. Willie did not fear his +grandfather, who had never been severe to him, or interfered with Mrs. +Sullivan's management; but he sometimes felt chilled, though he hardly +knew why, by his want of sympathy with his own warm-heartedness. On the +present occasion the conversation turned upon True Flint and his adopted +child. Mr. Cooper had been unusually bitter, and, as he took his lamp to +go to bed, declared that Gerty would never be anything but a trouble to +Flint, who was a fool not to send her to the almshouse at once. + +There was a pause after the old man left the room; then Willie +exclaimed, "Mother, what makes grandfather hate folks?" + +"Why, he don't, Willie." + +"I don't mean exactly _hate_--I don't suppose he does _that, quite_; but +he don't seem to think a great deal of anybody--do you think he does?" + +"Oh yes; he does not show it much," said Mrs. Sullivan, "but he thinks a +great deal of you, Willie, and he wouldn't have anything happen to me +for the world; and he likes Mr. Flint, and----" + +"Oh yes; but I don't mean that; he doesn't think there's much goodness +in folks, nor to think anybody's going to turn out well, and----" + +"You're thinking of what he said about little Gerty." + +"Well, she an't the only one. That's what made me speak of it now, but +I've often noticed it before, particularly since I went away from home, +and am only here once a week. Now I think everything of Mr. Bray; and +when I was telling how much good he did, and how kind he was to old Mrs. +Morris and her sick daughter, grandfather looked just as if he didn't +believe it, or didn't think much of it." + +"Oh, well, Willie, you mustn't wonder much at that. Grandpa's had many +disappointments. You know he thought everything of Uncle Richard, and +there was no end to the trouble he had with him; and there was Aunt +Sarah's husband--he seemed to be such a fine fellow when Sally married +him, but he cheated father at last, so that he had to mortgage his house +in High Street, and finally gave it up entirely. He's dead now, and I +don't want to say anything against him; but he didn't prove what we +expected, and it broke Sally's heart. That was a dreadful trial to +father, for she was the youngest, and his pet. And just after that, +mother was taken down with her death-stroke, and a quack doctor +prescribed for her, and father always thought that did her more hurt +than good. So that he has had a great deal to make him look on the dark +side now, but you mustn't mind it, Willie; you must take care and turn +out well yourself, my son, and then he'll be proud enough; he's as +pleased as he can be when he hears you praised, and expects great things +of you one of these days." + +Here the conversation ended; but Willie added another to his many +resolves, that, if his health and strength were spared, he would prove +to his grandfather that hopes were not always deceitful, and that fears +were sometimes groundless. + +Oh, what a glorious thing it is for a youth when he has ever present +with him a high, a noble, and unselfish motive! What an incentive to +exertion, perseverance, and self-denial! Fears that would otherwise +appal, discouragements that would dishearten, labours that would weary, +opposition that would crush, temptation that would overcome, all, all +lie powerless, when, with a single-hearted and worthy aim, he struggles +for the victory! Persons born in wealth and luxury seldom achieve +greatness. They were not born for labour; and, without labour, nothing +that is worth having can be won. A motive Willie had long had. His +grandfather was old, his mother weak, and both poor. He must be the +staff of their old age; must labour for their support and comfort; he +must do _more_:--they hoped great things of him; they _must_ not be +disappointed. He did not, however, while arming himself for future +conflict with the world, forget the present, but sat down and learned +his Sunday-school lessons. After which, according to custom, he read +aloud in the Bible; and then Mrs. Sullivan, laying her hand on the head +of her son, offered up a simple, heart-felt prayer for the boy--one of +those mother's prayers which the child listens to with reverence and +love, and remembers for life. + +After Willie went home that evening, and Gerty was left alone with True, +she sat beside him for some time without speaking. Her eyes were +intently fixed upon the white image which lay in her lap. True was not +the first to speak; but finding Gerty unusually quiet, he looked +inquiringly in her face, and said--"Well, Willie's a pretty clever sort +of a boy, isn't he?" + +Gerty answered "Yes" without, however, seeming to know what she was +saying. + +"You like him, don't you?" said True. + +"Very much," said Gerty, in the same absent way. It was not Willie she +was thinking of. True waited for Gerty to talk about her new +acquaintance; but she did not speak for a minute or two. Then looking up +suddenly, she said--"Uncle True, what does Samuel pray to God for?" + +True stared. "Samuel!--pray!--I guess I don't know exactly what you're +saying." + +"Why," said Gerty, holding up the image, "Willie says this little boy's +name is Samuel; and that he sits on his knees, and puts his hands on his +breast _so_, and looks up, because he's praying to God, that lives up in +the sky. I don't know what he means--_way_ up in the sky--do you?" + +True took the image and looked at it attentively; scratched his head, +and said--"Well, I s'pose he's about right. This 'ere child is prayin', +sartain, though I didn't think on it afore. But I don't jist know what +he calls it a Samuel for. We'll ask him sometime." + +"Well, what does he pray for, Uncle True?" + +"Oh, he prays to make him good: it makes folks good to pray to God." + +"Can God make folks good?" + +"Yes. God is very great; He can do anything." + +"How can He _hear_?" + +"He hears and sees everything in the world." + +"And does He live in the sky?" + +"Yes," said True--"in heaven." + +Many more questions Gerty asked, which True could not answer; many +questions that he had never asked himself. True had a humble, loving +heart, and a child-like faith; he had enjoyed but little religious +instruction, but he earnestly tried to live up to the light he had. True +had never inquired into the sources of belief, and he was not prepared +to answer the questions suggested by the inquisitive mind of little +Gerty. He answered her as well as he could, however; and, where he was +at fault, referred her to Willie, who, he told her, went to +Sunday-school, and knew a great deal about such things. All the +information that Gerty could gain amounted to the knowledge of these +facts: that God was in heaven; that His power was great; and that people +were made better by prayer. But her mind was so intent upon the subject, +that the thought even of sleeping in her new room could not efface it. +After she had gone to bed, with the white image hugged close to her +bosom, and True had taken away the lamp, she lay for a long time with +her eyes wide open. Just at the foot of the bed was the window. The sky +was bright with stars; and they revived her old wonder and curiosity as +to the Author of such distant and brilliant lights. As she gazed, there +darted through her mind the thought, "God lit them! Oh, how great He +must be! But a _child_ might pray to Him!" She rose from her little bed, +approached the window, and, falling on her knees and clasping her hands +precisely in the attitude of Samuel, she looked up to heaven. She spoke +no word, but her eyes glistened with a tear that stood in each. Was not +each tear a prayer? She breathed no petition, but she longed for God and +virtue. Was not that very wish a prayer? Her little, uplifted heart +throbbed vehemently. Was not each throb a prayer? And did not God in +heaven, without whom not a sparrow falls to the ground, hear and accept +that first homage of a little, untaught child; and did it not call a +blessing down? + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +TREASURED WRONGS. + + "Revenge, at first though sweet, + Bitter ere long back on itself recoils."--MILTON. + + +The next day was Sunday. True generally went to church half the day at +least, with the sexton's family; but Gerty having no bonnet could not +go, and True would not leave her. So they spent the morning wandering +round among the wharves and looking at the ships, Gerty wearing her old +shawl over her head. + +Willie came in the evening to say good-bye before returning to Mr. +Bray's. He was in a hurry, for his master had his doors closed early, +especially on a Sunday night. But Mr. Cooper made his usual visit; and +when he had gone, True, finding Gerty sound asleep on the settle, +thought it a pity to wake her, and laid her in bed with her clothes on. + +She did not wake until morning; and then, surprised and amused at +finding herself dressed, ran out to ask True how it happened. True was +making the fire; and Gerty having been told all about it, helped to get +the breakfast ready, and to put the room in order. She followed Mrs. +Sullivan's instructions, and in a few weeks she learned to make herself +useful in many ways, and, as Mrs. Sullivan had prophesied, gave promise +of becoming a clever little housekeeper. Her active and willing feet +saved True many steps, and she was of essential aid in keeping the rooms +neat, that being her especial ambition. Mrs. Sullivan looked in +occasionally, to praise and assist her; and nothing made Gerty happier +than learning how to do some new thing. She met with a few trials and +discouragements, to be sure. Kate M'Carty thought her the smartest child +in the world, and would oft come in and wash the floor, or do some other +work which required more strength than Gerty possessed. + +One Sunday Gerty, who had a nice little hood, bought by True, was +returning with Mr. Cooper, Mr. Flint, and Willie, from the afternoon +service at church. The two old men were engaged in discussion, and the +children talked earnestly about the church, the minister, the people, +and the music, all of which were new to Gerty, and greatly excited her +wonder. + +As they drew near home, Willie remarked how dark it was growing in the +streets; and then, looking down at Gerty, whom he held by the hand, he +said, "Gerty, do you ever go out with Uncle True, and see him light the +lamps?" + +"No, I never did," said Gerty, "since the first night I came. I've +wanted, but it's been so cold, he would not let me; he said I'd have the +fever again." + +"It won't be cold this evening," said Willie; "it'll be a beautiful +night; and, if Uncle True's willing, we will go with him. I've often +been; you can look into the windows and see folks drinking tea, and +sitting round the fire in their parlours." + +"And I like to see him light those great lamps," said Gerty; "they make +it look so bright and beautiful all around. I hope he'll let us go; I'll +ask him; come," said she, pulling him by the hand. + +"No--wait," said Willie; "he's busy talking with grandpa--we can ask him +at home." + +As soon as they reached the gate she broke away from him, and, rushing +up to True, made known her request. He readily consented, and the three +soon started on the rounds. + +For a time Gerty's attention was so engrossed by the lamplighting that +she could see and enjoy nothing else. But when they reached the corner +of the street, and came in sight of a large apothecary's shop, her +delight knew no bounds. The brilliant colours displayed in the windows +captivated her fancy; and when Willie told her that his master's shop +was similar she thought it must be a fine place to spend one's life in. +Then she wondered why this was open on Sunday, when all the other stores +were closed, and Willie, stopping to explain, they found that True was +some distance in advance. He hurried Gerty along, telling her that they +were now in the finest street they should pass through, and they must +haste, for they had nearly reached the house he most wanted her to see. +When they came up with True, he was placing his ladder against a post +opposite a fine block of buildings. Many of the front windows were +shaded, so that the children could not see in; but some had no curtains, +or they had not yet been drawn. In one parlour there was a pleasant +wood-fire, around which a group were gathered; and here Gerty would fain +have lingered. In another, a brilliant chandelier was lit, and though +the room was vacant, the furniture was so showy, and the whole so +brilliant, that the child clapped her hands in delight, and Willie could +not prevail upon her to leave the spot, until he told her that farther +down the street was another house, equally attractive, where she would +perhaps see some beautiful children. + +"How do you know there'll be children there?" said she, as they walked +along. + +"I don't know, certainly," said Willie; "but I think there will. They +used always to be up at the window when I came with Uncle True, last +winter." + +"How many?" asked Gerty. + +"Three, I believe; there was one little girl with such beautiful curls, +and such a sweet, cunning little face. She looked like a wax doll, only +a great deal prettier." + +"Oh, I hope we shall see her!" said Gerty, dancing along on the tops of +her toes. + +"There they are!" exclaimed Willie; "all three, I declare, just as they +used to be!" + +"Where?" said Gerty; "where?" + +"Over opposite, in the great stone house. Here, let's cross over. It's +muddy; I'll carry you." + +Willie lifted Gerty carefully over the mud, and they stood in front of +the house. True had not yet come up. It was he that the children were +watching for. Gerty was not the only child that loved to see the lamps +lit. + +It was now quite dark, so that persons in a light room could not see any +one out of doors; but Willie and Gerty had so much better chance to look +in. The mansion was a fine one, evidently the home of wealth. A clear +coal fire, and a bright lamp in the centre of the room, shed abroad +their cheerful blaze. Rich carpets, deeply-tinted curtains, pictures in +gilded frames, and huge mirrors, reflecting the whole on every side, +gave Gerty her first impressions of luxurious life. There was an air of +comfort combined with all this elegance, which made it still more +fascinating to the child of poverty and want. A table was bountifully +spread for tea; the cloth of snow-white damask, the shining plate, above +all, the home-like hissing tea-kettle, had a most inviting look. A +gentleman in gay slippers was in an easy chair by the fire; a lady in a +gay cap was superintending a servant-girl's arrangements at the +tea-table; and the children of the household, smiling and happy, were +crowded together on a window-seat, looking out, as we have just +narrated. + +They were sweet, lovely-looking little creatures; especially a girl, of +the same age as Gerty, the eldest of the three. Her fair hair fell in +long ringlets over a neck as white as snow; she had blue eyes, a cherub +face, and a little round plump figure. Gerty's admiration and rapture +were such, that she could find no expression for them, and directing +Willie's notice first to one thing and then another; "Oh, Willie, isn't +she a darling? and see what a beautiful fire--what a splendid lady! What +is that on the table? I guess it's good! There's a big looking-glass; +and oh, Willie! an't they dear, handsome children?" + +True now came up, and as his torch-light swept along the side-walk Gerty +and Willie became the subjects of notice and conversation. The +curly-haired girl saw them, and pointed them out to the notice of the +other two. Though Gerty could not know what they were saying, she did +not like being stared at and talked about; and hiding behind the post, +she would not move or look up, though Willie laughed at her, and told +her it was now her _turn_ to be looked at. When True moved off, she +began to run, so as to escape observation; but Willie calling to her, +and saying that the children were gone from the window, she ran back to +have one more look, and was just in time to see them taking their places +at the tea-table. Then the servant-girl drew down the window-blinds. +Gerty then took Willie's hand, and they tried to overtake True. + +"Shouldn't you like to live in such a house as that, Gerty!" said +Willie. + +"Yes, indeed," said Gerty; "an't it splendid?" + +"I wish I had just such a house," said Willie. "I mean one of these +days." + +"Where will you get it?" exclaimed Gerty, much amazed at so bold a +declaration. + +"Oh, I shall work, and grow rich, and buy it." + +"You can't; it would take a lot o' money!" + +"I know it; but I can earn a lot, and I will, too. The gentleman that +lives in that grand house was a poor boy when he first came to Boston; +and why can't one poor boy get rich as well an another?" + +"How do you suppose he got so much money?" + +"I don't know how _he_ did; there are a great many ways. Some people +think it's all luck, but I guess it's as much smartness as anything." + +"Are you smart?" + +Willie laughed. "An't I?" said he. "If I don't turn out a rich man one +of these days, you may say I an't." + +"I know what I'd do if I was rich," said Gerty. + +"What?" asked Willie. + +"First, I'd buy a great nice chair for Uncle True, with cushions all in +the inside, and bright flowers on it--just exactly like that one the +gentleman was sitting in; and next, I'd have great big lamps, ever so +many all in a bunch, so as to make the room as _light_--as _light_ as it +could be!" + +"Seems to me you're mighty fond of lights, Gerty," said Willie. + +"I be," said the child. "I hate old, dark, black places; I like stars, +and sunshine, and fires, and Uncle True's torch----" + +"And I like bright eyes!" interrupted Willie; "yours look just like +stars, they shine so to-night. An't we having a good time?" + +"Yes, real." + +And so they went on--Gerty dancing along the side-walk, Willie sharing +in her gaiety and joy, and glorying in the responsibility of +entertaining and protecting the wild little creature. They talked of how +they would spend that future wealth which they both calculated upon one +day possessing; for Gerty had caught Willie's spirit, and she, too, +meant to work and grow rich. Willie said his mother was to wear a gay +cap, like that of the lady they had seen; this made Gerty laugh. She +thought that demure little widow would be ridiculous in a flowered +headgear. Good taste is inborn, and Gerty had it in her. She felt that +Mrs. Sullivan, attired in anything that was not simple, neat, and +sober-looking, would altogether lose her identity. Willie had no selfish +schemes; the generous boy suggested nothing for his own gratification; +it was for the rest he meant to labor, and in and through them that he +looked for his reward. Happy children! What do they want of wealth? What +of anything, material or tangible, more than they now possess? They have +what is worth more than riches or fame--they are full of childhood's +faith and hope. With a fancy and imagination unchecked by +disappointment, they are building those same castles that so many +thousand children have built before, that children will always be +building to the end of time. Far off in the distance they see bright +things, and know not what myths they are. Undeceive not the little +believers, ye wise ones! Check not that God-given hopefulness, which +will, perhaps, in its airy flight, lift them in safety over many a rough +spot in life's road. It lasts not long at the best; then check it not, +for as it dies out the way grows hard. + +They had reached the last lamp-post in the street, but scarcely had they +gone a dozen steps before Gerty stopped short, and, positively refusing +to proceed any further, pulled hard at Willie's hand, and tried to +induce him to retrace his steps. + +"What's the matter, Gerty?" said he, "are you tired?" + +"No, oh no! but I can't go any further." + +"Why not?" + +"Oh, because--because--" and here Gerty putting her mouth close to +Willie's ear, whispered, "there is Nan Grant's; I see the house! I had +forgot Uncle True went there; and I am afraid!" + +"Oho!" said Willie, drawing himself up with dignity, "I should like to +know what you're afraid of, when I'm with you! Let her touch you if she +dares! And Uncle True, too!--I _should_ laugh." + +Very kindly did Willie plead with the child, telling her that Nan would +not be likely to see _them_, but they might see _her_; and that was just +what he wanted--nothing he should like better. Gerty's fears were soon +allayed. When they stood in front of the house, Gerty was rather hoping +than otherwise to catch sight of Nan. Nan was standing opposite the +window, engaged in an animated dispute with one of her neighbours. Her +countenance expressed great anger, and her face was now so sufficient an +index to her character, that no one could see her thus and afterwards +question her right to the title of vixen, virago, or scold. + +"Which is she?" said Willie; "the tall one, swinging the coffee-pot in +her hand? I guess she'll break the handle off, if she don't look out." + +"Yes," said Gerty, "that's Nan." + +"What's she doing?" + +"Oh, she's fighting with Mrs. Birch; she does always with somebody. She +don't see us, does she?" + +"No, she's too busy. Come, don't let's stop; she's an ugly-looking +woman, just as I knew she was. I've seen enough of her, and I'm sure you +have--come." + +Gerty lingered. Courageous in the knowledge that she was safe and +unseen, she was gazing at Nan, and her eyes glistened, not with the +innocent excitement of a cheerful heart, but with the fire of kindled +passion--a fire that Nan had kindled long ago, which had not yet gone +out, and which the sight of Nan had now revived in full force. Willie, +thinking it was time to be at home, and perceiving Mr. Flint and his +torch far down the street, left Gerty, and started himself, to draw her +on, saying, "Come, Gerty, I can't wait." + +Gerty turned, saw that he was going, then, quick as lightning, stooped, +and picking up a stone, flung it at the window. There was a crash of +broken glass, and an exclamation in Nan's well-known voice; but Gerty +was not there to see the result. The instant she heard the crash her +fears returned, and flying past Willie, she paused not until she was +safe by the side of True. + +Willie did not overtake them until they were nearly home, and then came +running up, exclaiming, breathlessly, "Why, Gerty, do you know what you +did?--You broke the window!" + +Gerty jerked her shoulders from side to side to avoid Willie, pouted, +and declared that was what she meant to do. + +True inquired what window? and Gerty acknowledged what she had done, and +avowed that she did it on purpose. True and Willie were shocked and +silent. Gerty was silent too, for the rest of the walk; there were +clouds on her face, and she felt unhappy in her little heart. + +Willie bade them good night at the house door, and as usual they saw no +more of him for a week. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A NEW FRIEND. + + +"Father," said Mrs. Sullivan, one afternoon, as he was preparing to take +a number of articles which he wanted for his Saturday's work in the +church, "why don't you get little Gerty to go with you, and carry some +of your things? You can't take them all at once; and she'd like to go, I +know." + +"She'd only be in the way," said Mr. Cooper; "I can take them myself." + +But when he had swung a lantern and an empty coal hod on one arm, taken +a little hatchet and a basket of chips in his hand, and hoisted a small +ladder over his shoulder, he was fain to acknowledge that there was no +accommodation for his hammer and a large paper of nails. Mrs. Sullivan +called Gerty, and asked her to go and help him carry his tools. Gerty +was pleased with the proposal, and started off with great alacrity. + +When they reached the church the old sexton took them from her hands, +and telling her she could play about until he went home, but to be sure +and do no mischief, he went into the vestry to commence sweeping, +dusting, and building fires. Gerty had ample amusement for some time, to +wander round among the empty aisles and pews, and examine closely what, +hitherto, she had only viewed from a corner of the gallery. Then she +ascended the pulpit, and in imagination addressed a large audience. She +was growing weary and restless, however, when the organist, who had +entered unseen, commenced playing some low, sweet music; and Gerty, +seating herself on the pulpit stairs, listened with the greatest +pleasure. He had not played long before the door opened and two visitors +entered. One was an elderly man, dressed like a clergyman, with hair +thin and grey, and features rather sharp; but remarkable for his +benignant expression of countenance. A young lady, apparently about +twenty-five years of age, was leaning on his arm. She was attired with +great simplicity, wearing a dark brown cloak, and a bonnet of the same +colour, relieved by some light-blue ribbon about the face. She was +somewhat below the middle size, but had a good figure. Her features were +small and regular; her complexion clear but pale; and her light-brown +hair was neatly arranged. She never lifted her eyes as she walked slowly +up the aisle. + +The two approached the spot where Gerty sat, but without perceiving her. +"I am glad you like the organ," said the gentleman; "I am not much of a +judge of music, but they say it is a superior instrument, and that +Hermann plays it remarkably well." + +"Nor is my opinion of any value," said the lady; "for I have little +knowledge of music, much as I love it. But that symphony sounds very +delightful to me; it is a long time since I have heard such touching +strains; or, it may be partly owing to their striking so sweetly on the +solemn quiet of the church this afternoon. I love to go into a large +church on a week-day. It was very kind of you to call for me this +afternoon. How came you to think of it?" + +"I thought you would enjoy it, my dear. I knew Hermann would be playing +about this time; and, besides, when I saw how pale you were looking I +knew the walk would do you good." + +"It has done me good. I was not feeling well, and the clear, cold air +was just what I needed; I knew it would refresh me; but Mrs. Ellis was +busy, and I could not go out alone." + +"I thought I should find the sexton here," said the gentleman. "I want +to speak to him about the light; the afternoons are so short now, and it +is dark so early, I must ask him to open more of the blinds, or I cannot +see to read my sermon to-morrow. He may be in the vestry-room; he is +always about here on Saturday; I will go and look for him." + +Just then Mr. Cooper entered the church, and, seeing the clergyman, came +up, and after receiving his directions about the light, requested him to +go with him somewhere, for the gentleman hesitated, glanced at the young +lady, and then said, "I suppose I ought to go to-day; and, as you say +you are at leisure, it is a pity I should not; but I don't know----" + +Then, turning to the lady, he said, "Emily, Mr. Cooper wants me to go to +Mrs. Glass's with him; and I shall be absent some time. Should you mind +waiting here until I return? She lives in the next street; but I may be +detained, for it's about the library-books being so mischievously +defaced, and I am afraid that her oldest boy had something to do with +it. It ought to be inquired into before to-morrow." + +"Oh, go, by all means," said Emily; "don't mind me; it will be a +pleasure to sit here and listen to the music. Mr. Hermann's playing is a +great treat to me, and I don't care how long I wait; so do not hurry on +my account, Mr. Arnold." + +Thus assured, Mr. Arnold led the lady to a chair beneath the pulpit, and +went with Mr. Cooper. + +All this time Gerty had been unnoticed, and had remained very quiet on +the upper stair, secured from sight by the pulpit. Hardly had the doors +closed, however, with a loud bang, when the child got up, and began to +descend the stairs. The moment she moved, the lady, whose seat was very +near, started, and exclaimed, "Who's that?" + +Gerty stood still, and made no reply. Strange the lady did not look up, +though she must have perceived that the movement was above her head. +There was a moment's pause, and then Gerty began again to run down the +stairs. The lady sprang up, and, stretching out her hand, said, "Who is +it?" + +"Me," said Gerty, looking up in the lady's face; "it's only me." + +"Will you stop and speak to me?" said the lady. + +Gerty not only stopped, but came close up to Emily's chair, irresistibly +attracted by the sweetest voice she had ever heard. The lady placed her +hand on Gerty's head, and said, "Who are you?" + +"Gerty." + +"Gerty who?" + +"Nothing else but Gerty." + +"Have you forgotten your other name?" + +"I haven't got any other name." + +"How came you here?" + +"I came with Mr. Cooper, to help him to bring his things." + +"And he's left you here to wait for him, and I'm left too; so we must +take care of each other, mustn't we?" + +Gerty laughed at this. + +"Where were you?--On the stairs?" + +"Yes." + +"Suppose you sit down on this step by my chair, and talk with me a +little while: I want to see if we can't find out what your other name +is. Where do you say you live?" + +"With Uncle True." + +"True?" + +"Yes. Mr. True Flint I live with now. He took me home to his house one +night, when Nan Grant put me out on the side-walk." + +"Why, are you that little girl? Then I've heard of you before. Mr. Flint +told me all about you." + +"Do you know my Uncle True?" + +"Yes, very well." + +"What's your name?" + +"My name is Emily Graham." + +"O! I know," said Gerty, springing suddenly up, and clapping her hands +together; "I know. You asked him to keep me; he said so--I _heard_ him +say so; and you gave me my clothes; and you're beautiful; and you're +good; and I love you! O! I love you ever so much!" + +As Gerty spoke with a voice full of excitement, a strange look passed +over Miss Graham's face, a most inquiring and restless look, as if the +tones of the voice had vibrated on a chord of her memory. She did not +speak, but, passing her arm around the child's waist, drew her closer to +her. As the peculiar expression passed from her face, and her features +assumed their usual calmness, Gerty, as she gazed at her with a look of +wonder, exclaimed, "Are you going to sleep?" + +"No.--Why?" + +"Because your eyes are shut." + +"They are always shut, my child." + +"Always shut!--What for?" + +"I am blind, Gerty; I can see nothing." + +"Not see!" said Gerty; "can't you see anything? Can't you see me now?" + +"No," said Miss Graham. + +"O!" exclaimed Gerty, drawing a long breath, "_I'm so glad_." + +"_Glad!_" said Miss Graham, in the saddest voice that ever was heard. + +"O yes!" said Gerty, "so glad you can't see me!--because now, perhaps, +you'll love me." + +"And shouldn't I love you if I saw you?" said Emily, passing her hand +softly and slowly over the child's features. + +"Oh, no!" answered Gerty, "I'm so ugly! I'm glad you can't see how ugly +I am." + +"But just think, Gerty," said Emily, in the same sad voice, "how would +you feel if you could not see the light, could not see anything in the +world?" + +"Can't you see the sun, and the stars, and the sky, and the church we're +in? Are you in the dark?" + +"In the dark all the time--day and night in the dark." + +Gerty burst into a paroxysm of tears. "Oh!" exclaimed she, as soon as +she could find voice amid her sobs, "It's too bad! it's too bad!" + +The child's grief was contagious; and, for the first time for years, +Emily wept bitterly for her blindness. + +It was but for a few moments, however. Quickly recovering herself, she +tried to compose the child also, saying, "Hush! hush! don't cry; and +don't say it's too bad! It's not too bad; I can bear it very well. I'm +used to it, and am quite happy." + +"I shouldn't be happy in the dark; I should _hate_ to be!" said Gerty. +"I _an't_ glad you're blind; I'm really _sorry_. I wish you could see me +and everything. Can't your eyes be opened, any way?" + +"No," said Emily; "never; but we won't talk about that any more; we will +talk about you. I want to know what makes you think yourself so very +ugly." + +"Because folks say that I am an ugly child, and that nobody loves ugly +children." + +"Yes, people do," said Emily, "love ugly children, if they are good." + +"But I an't good," said Gerty, "I'm really bad!" + +"But you _can be good_," said Emily, "and then everybody will love you." + +"Do you think I can be good?" + +"Yes, if you try." + +"I will try." + +"I _hope_ you will," said Emily. "Mr. Flint thinks a great deal of his +little girl, and she must do all she can to please him." + +She then asked concerning Gerty's former way of life, and became so +interested in the recital of the little girl's early sorrows and trials, +that she was unconscious of the flight of time, and quite unobservant of +the departure of the organist, who had ceased playing, closed his +instrument, and gone away. + +Gerty was very communicative. The sweet voice and sympathetic tones of +Emily went straight to her heart, and though her whole life had been +passed among the poorer and lowest classes of people, she felt no awe +and constraint on her encountering, for the first time, a lady of +polished mind and manners. On the contrary, Gerty clung to Emily as +affectionately, and stroked her soft boa with as much freedom, as if she +had herself been born in a palace. Once or twice she took Emily's +nicely-gloved hand between both her own, and held it tight; her +favourite mode of expressing her warmth of gratitude and admiration. +The excitable but interesting child took no less strong a hold upon Miss +Graham's feelings. The latter perceived how neglected the little one had +been, and the importance of her being educated, lest early abuse, acting +upon an impetuous disposition, should prove destructive to a nature +capable of the best attainments. The two were still entertaining each +other, when Mr. Arnold entered the church hastily. As he came up the +aisle, he called to Emily, saying, "Emily; dear, I fear you thought I +had forgotten you. I have been longer than I intended. Were you not +tired of waiting?" + +"I thought it was but a very little while. I have had company, you see." + +"What, little folks," said Mr. Arnold, good-naturedly. "Where did this +little body come from?" + +"She came to the church this afternoon with Mr. Cooper. Isn't he here +for her?" + +"Cooper?--No: he went straight home after he left me; he's probably +forgotten all about the child. What's to be done?" + +"Can't we take her home? Is it far?" + +"It is two or three streets from here, and directly out of our way; +altogether too far for you to walk." + +"Oh, no, it won't tire me; I'm quite strong now, and I would know she +was safe home." + +If Emily could but have seen Gerty's grateful face that moment, she +would indeed have felt repaid for almost any amount of weariness. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +MENTAL DARKNESS. + + +The blind girl did not forget little Gerty. Emily Graham never forgot +the sufferings, the wants, the necessities of others. She could not see +the world without, but there was a world of love and sympathy within +her, which manifested itself in abundant charity, both of heart and +deed. She loved God with her whole heart, and her neighbour as herself. +Her own great misfortunes and trials were borne without repining; but +the misfortunes and trials of others became her care, the alleviation of +them her greatest delight. Emily was never weary of doing good. But +never had she been so affected as now by any tale of sorrow. Children +were born into the world amid poverty and privation. She could not +account to herself for the interest she felt in the little stranger; but +the impulse to know more of her was irresistible, and sending for True, +she talked a long time with him about the child. + +True was highly gratified by Miss Graham's account of the meeting in the +church, and of the interest the little girl had inspired in one for whom +he felt the greatest admiration and respect. Gerty had previously told +him how she had seen Miss Graham, and had spoken in the most glowing +terms of the dear lady who was so kind to her, and brought her home when +Mr. Cooper had forgotten her, but it had not occurred to the old man +that the fancy was mutual. + +Emily asked him if he didn't intend to send her to school? + +"Well, I don't know," said he; "she's a little thing, and an't much used +to being with other children. Besides, I don't exactly like to spare +her." + +Emily suggested that it was time she was learning to read and write; and +that the sooner she went among other children, the easier it would be to +her. + +"Very true, Miss Emily, very true," said Mr. Flint. "I dare say you're +right; and if you think she'd better go, I'll ask her, and see what she +says." + +"I would," said Emily. "I think she might enjoy it, besides improving +very much; and, about her clothes, if there's any deficiency, I'll----" + +"Oh, no, no, Miss Emily!" interrupted True; "there's no necessity; she's +very well on't now, thanks to your kindness." + +"Well," said Emily, "if she should have any wants, you must apply to me. +You know we adopted her jointly, and I agreed to do anything I could for +her; so you must never hesitate--it will be a pleasure to serve either +of you. My father always feels under obligations to you, Mr. Flint, for +faithful service that cost you dear in the end." + +"Oh, Miss Emily," said True, "Mr. Graham has always been my best friend; +and as to that 'ere accident that happened when I was in his employ, it +was nobody's fault but my own; it was my own carelessness, and nobody's +else." + +"I know you say so," said Emily, "but we regretted it very much; and you +mustn't forget what I tell you, that I shall delight in doing anything +for Gerty. I should like to have her come and see me, some day, if she +would like, and you'll let her." + +"Sartain, sartain," said True, "and thank you kindly; she'd be glad to +come." + +A few days after Gerty went with True to see Miss Graham, but the +housekeeper, whom they met in the hall, told them that she was ill and +could see no one. So they went away full of disappointment and regret. + +Emily had taken a severe cold the day she sat so long in the church, and +was suffering with it when they called; but, though confined to her +room, she would have been glad to have a visit from Gerty, and was sorry +that Mrs. Ellis should have sent them away. + +On Saturday evening, when Willie was present, True broached the subject +of Gerty's going to school. Gerty was much displeased with the idea; but +it met with Willie's approbation; and when Gerty learned that Miss +Graham also wished it, she consented, though reluctantly, to begin the +next week, and try how she liked it. So next Monday Gerty went with True +to one of the primary schools, was admitted, and her education began. +When Willie came home the next Sunday, he rushed into True's room, eager +to hear how Gerty liked going to school. She was seated at the table, +with her spelling-book; and she exclaimed, "Oh, Willie! Willie! come and +hear me read!" + +Her performance could hardly be called reading. She had not got beyond +the alphabet, and a few syllables she had learned to spell; but Willie +bestowed upon her much well-merited praise, she had been very diligent. +He was astonished to hear that Gerty liked going to school, liked the +teachers and the scholars, and had a fine time at recess. He had fully +expected that she would dislike the whole business, and go into tantrums +about it--which was the expression he used to denote her fits of +ill-temper. Willie promised to assist her in her studies; and the two +children's literary plans soon became as high-flown as if one had been a +poet-laureate and the other a philosopher. + +For two or three weeks all appeared to go on smoothly. Gerty went +regularly to school, and made rapid progress. Every Saturday Willie +heard her read and spell, assisted, praised, and encouraged her. But he +had heard that, on two occasions, she had nearly had a brush with some +large girls, for whom she began to show symptoms of dislike. This soon +reached a crisis. One day, when the children were in the school-yard, +during recess, Gerty saw True in his working-dress, passing down the +street, with his ladder and lamp-filler. Shouting and laughing, she +pursued and overtook him. She came back in a few minutes, seeming much +delighted, and ran into the yard full of happy excitement. The troop of +large girls, whom Gerty had already had some reason to distrust, had +been observing her, and one of them called out saying---- + +"Who's that man?" + +"That's my Uncle True," said Gerty. + +"Your what?" + +"My Uncle, Mr. Flint, that I live with." + +"So you belong to him, do you?" said the girl, in an insolent tone of +voice. "Ha! ha! ha!" + +"What are you laughing at?" said Gerty, fiercely. + +"Ugh! Before I'd live with him!" said the girl--"Old Smutty!" + +The others caught it up, and the laugh and epithet Old Smutty circulated +freely in the corner of the yard where Gerty was standing. Gerty was +furious. Her eyes glistened, she doubled her little fist, and, without +hesitation, came down in battle upon the crowd. But they were too many +for her, and, helpless as she was with passion, they drove her out of +the yard. She started for home on a full run, screaming with all her +might. + +As she flew along the side-walk, she brushed stiffly against a tall, +stiff-looking lady, who was walking slowly in the same direction, with a +much smaller person leaning on her arm. "Bless me!" said the tall lady, +who had almost lost her equilibrium from the suddenness of the shock. +"Why, you horrid little creature!" As she spoke, she grasped Gerty by +the shoulder, and, before she could break away, gave her a slight shake. +This served to increase Gerty's anger, and, her speed gaining in +proportion, it was but a few minutes before she was crouched in a corner +of True's room behind the bed, her face to the wall, and covered with +both her hands. Here she was free to cry as loud as she pleased; for +Mrs. Sullivan was gone out, and there was no one in the house to hear +her. + +But she had not indulged long in her tantrum when the gate at the end of +the yard closed with a bang, and footsteps were heard coming towards Mr. +Flint's door. Gerty's attention was arrested, for she knew by the sound +that a stranger was approaching. With a strong effort she controlled +herself so as to keep quiet. There was a knock at the door, but Gerty +did not reply to it, remaining concealed behind the bed. The knock was +not repeated, but the stranger lifted the latch and walked in. + +"There doesn't seem to be any one at home," said a female voice, "what a +pity." + +"Isn't there? I'm sorry," replied another, in the sweet musical tones of +Miss Graham. Gerty knew the voice at once. + +"I thought you'd better not come here yourself," rejoined the first +speaker, who was no other than Mrs. Ellis, the identical lady whom Gerty +had so frightened and disconcerted. + +"Oh, I don't regret coming," said Emily. "You can leave me here while +you go to your sister's, and very likely Mr. Flint or the little girl +will come home in the meantime." + +"It don't become you, Miss Emily, to be carried round everywhere, and +left, like an express parcel, till called for. You caught a horrid cold +that you're hardly well of now, waiting there in the church for the +minister; and Mr. Graham will be finding fault next." + +"Oh, no, Mrs. Ellis; it's very comfortable here; the church must have +been damp, I think. Come, put me in Mr. Flint's arm-chair, and I can +make myself quite contented." + +"Well, at any rate," said Mrs. Ellis, "I'll make up a good fire in this +stove before I go." + +As she spoke, the energetic housekeeper seized the poker, and, after +stirring up the coals, and making free with all True's kindlewood, +waited till the fire burnt up, and then, having laid aside Emily's +cloak, went away with the same firm step with which she had come, and +which had so overpowered Emily's noiseless tread, that Gerty had only +anticipated the arrival of a single guest. As soon as Gerty knew that +Mrs. Ellis had really departed, she suspended her efforts at +self-control, and, with a deep-drawn sigh, gasped out, "O dear! O dear!" + +"Why, Gerty!" exclaimed Emily, "is that you?" + +"Yes," sobbed Gerty. + +"Come here." + +The child waited no second bidding, but, starting up, ran, threw herself +on the floor by the side of Emily, buried her face in the blind girl's +lap, and once more commenced crying aloud. Her whole frame was agitated. + +"Why, Gerty," said Emily, "what is the matter?" + +But Gerty could not reply; and Emily desisted from her inquiries until +the little one should be somewhat composed. She lifted Gerty up into her +lap, laid her head upon her shoulder, and with her handkerchief wiped +the tears from her face. Her soothing words and caresses soon quieted +the child, and when she was calm, Emily, instead of recurring at once to +the cause of her grief, questioned her upon other topics. At last, +however, she asked her if she went to school. + +"I _have been_," said Gerty, raising her head from Emily's shoulder; +"but I won't ever go again!" + +"What!--Why not!" + +"Because," said Gerty, angrily, "I hate those girls; yes, I hate 'em! +ugly things!" + +"Gerty," said Emily, "don't say that; you shouldn't hate anybody." + +"Why shouldn't I?" said Gerty. + +"Because it's wrong." + +"No, it's not _wrong_; I say it _isn't_!" said Gerty; "and I do hate +'em; and I hate Nan Grant, and I always shall! Don't _you_ hate +anybody?" + +"No," answered Emily, "_I don't._" + +"Did anybody ever drown your kitten? Did anybody ever call your father +Old Smutty?" said Gerty. "If they had, I know you'd hate 'em just as I +do." + +"Gerty," said Emily, solemnly, "didn't you tell me, the other day, that +you were a naughty child, but that you wished to be good, and would +try!" + +"Yes," said Gerty. + +"If you wish to become good and be forgiven, you must forgive others." +Gerty said nothing. + +"Do you not wish God to forgive and love you?" + +"God, who lives in heaven--who made the stars?" said Gerty. + +"Yes." + +"Will he love me, and let me some time go to heaven?" + +"Yes, if you try to be good and love everybody." + +"Miss Emily," said Gerty, after a moment's pause, "I can't do it, so I +s'pose I can't go." + +Just at this moment a tear fell upon Gerty's forehead. She looked +thoughtfully up into Emily's face, then said-- + +"Dear Miss Emily, are you going there?" + +"I am trying." + +"I should like to go with you," said Gerty. + +Still Emily did not speak. She left the child to the working of her own +thoughts. + +"Miss Emily," said Gerty, at last, in the lowest whisper, "I mean to +_try_, but I don't think I _can_." + +"God bless you, and help you, my child!" said Emily, laying her hand +upon Gerty's head. + +For fifteen minutes or more not a word was spoken by either. Gerty lay +perfectly still in Emily's lap. By-and-by the latter perceived, by the +child's breathing, that, worn out with the fever and excitement of all +she had gone through, she had dropped into a quiet sleep. When Mrs. +Ellis returned, Emily pointed to the sleeping child, and asked her to +place her on the bed. She did so, and turning to Emily, exclaimed, "My +word, Miss Emily, that's the same rude, bawling little creature that +came so near being the death of us!" Emily smiled at the idea of a child +eight years old overthrowing a woman of Mrs. Ellis' inches, but said +nothing. + +Why did Emily weep long that night, as she recalled the scene of the +morning? Why did she, on bended knees, wrestle so vehemently with a +mighty sorrow? Why did she pray so earnestly for new strength and +heavenly aid? Why did she so beseechingly ask of God His blessing on the +little child? Because she had felt, in many a year of darkness and +bereavement, in many an hour of fearful struggle, in many a pang of +despair, how a temper like that of Gerty's might, in one moment of its +fearful reign, cast a blight upon a lifetime, and write in fearful lines +the mournful requiem of early joy. And so she prayed to heaven for +strength to keep her firm resolve, and aid in fulfilling her undying +purpose, to cure that child of her dark infirmity. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AN EARTHLY MESSENGER OF PEACE. + + +The next Sabbath afternoon found Gerty seated on a stool in Emily's +room. Her large eyes were fixed on Emily's face, which always seemed to +fascinate the little girl; so attentively did she watch her features, +the charm of which many an older person than Gerty had felt, but could +not describe. It was not beauty; though once her face was illumined by +beautiful hazel eyes: nor was it fascination of manner, for Emily's +manner and voice were so soft and unassuming that they never took the +fancy by storm. It was not compassion for her blindness, though that +might well excite sympathy. But it was hard to realise that Emily was +blind. It was a fact never forced upon her friend's recollection by any +repining or selfish indulgence on the part of the sufferer; and, as +there was nothing painful in the appearance of her closed lids, shaded +and fringed as they were by her long eyelashes, it was not unusual for +persons to converse upon things which could only be evident to the sense +of sight, and even direct her attention to one object and another, quite +forgetting, for the moment, her sad deprivation: and Emily never sighed, +never seemed hurt at their want of consideration, or showed any lack of +interest in objects thus shut from her gaze, but quite satisfied with +the pictures which she formed in her imagination, would talk pleasantly +upon whatever was uppermost in the minds of her companions. Some said +that Emily had the sweetest mouth in the world, and they loved to watch +its ever varying expression. But true Christians knew the source whence +she derived that power by which her face and voice stole into the hearts +of young and old, and won their love--_they_ would have said the +same as Gerty did, when she sat gazing so earnestly at Emily on the +very Sunday afternoon of which we speak, "Miss Emily, I know you've been +with God." + +Gerty was a strange child; but she had felt Emily's superiority to any +being she had ever seen; and she reposed confidence in what she told +her, allowed herself to be guided by one whom she felt loved her and +sought her good; and, as she sat at her feet, and listened to her gentle +voice while she gave her first lesson upon the distinction between right +and wrong, Emily, though she could not see the little thoughtful face, +knew, by her earnest attention, and by the little hand which had sought +hers, and held it tight, that one great point was won. + +Gerty had not been to school since the day of her battle with the girls. +True's persuasions had failed; she would not go. But Emily understood +the child's nature better than True did, and urged upon her more +forcible motives than the old man had thought of employing, that _she_ +succeeded where _he_ had failed. Gerty considered that her old friend +had been insulted, and that was the chief cause of her indignation with +her schoolmates; but Emily placed the matter in a different light, and +convincing her at last that, if she loved Uncle True, she would show it +much better by obeying his wishes than by retaining her foolish anger, +she finally obtained Gerty's promise that she would go to school the +next morning. + +The next morning True, much pleased, went with her, and inquiring for +the teacher, stated the case to her in his blunt, honest way, and then +left Gerty in her special charge. Miss Browne, who was a young woman of +good sense and good feelings, saw the matter in the right light; and +taking an opportunity to speak privately to the girls who had excited +Gerty's temper by their rudeness, made them so ashamed of their conduct, +that they ceased to molest the child. + +The winter passed away, and spring days came, when Gerty could sit at +the open window, when birds sang in the morning among the trees, and the +sun at evening threw bright rays across True's great room, and Gerty +could see to read almost until bed-time. She had been to school steadily +all winter, and had improved rapidly. She was healthy and well; her +clothes were clean and neat, for her wardrobe was well stocked by Emily, +and the care of it superintended by Mrs. Sullivan. She was bright and +happy too, and tripped round the house so joyously, that True declared +his birdie knew not what it was to touch her heel to the ground, but +flew about on the tips of her toes. + +The old man could not have loved her better had she been his own child; +and he sat by her side on the wide settle, which, in warm weather, was +moved outside the door, and listened patiently and attentively while she +read various pleasing stories. The old man's interest in the story-books +was as keen as if he had been a child himself. + +Emily, who gave these books, knew their influence on the hearts of +children, and most judiciously did she select them. Gerty's life was now +as happy as it had been wretched and miserable. All the days in the week +were joyous; but Saturday and Sunday were marked days; for Saturday +brought Willie home to hear her recite her lessons, walk, laugh, and +play with her. He had so many pleasant things to tell, was so full of +life, so ready to enter into all her plans, and promote her amusement, +that on Monday morning she began to count the days until Saturday would +come again. + +Sunday afternoon Gerty always spent with Emily, listening to her sweet +voice, and imbibing a portion of her sweet spirit. Emily preached no +sermons, nor did she weary the child with precepts. It did not occur to +Gerty that she went there to be _taught_ anything; but gradually the +blind girl imparted light to the child's dark soul, and the lessons that +are divine were implanted in her so naturally, that she realized not the +work that was going on, but long after--when goodness had grown strong +within her, and her first feeble resistance of evil, her first attempts +to keep her childish resolves, had matured into deeply-rooted +principles--she felt, as she looked back, that on those blessed +Sabbaths, sitting at Emily's knee, she had received into her heart the +first beams of that immortal light that never could be quenched. + +It was a grievous trial to Gerty to learn that the Graham's were about +to go into the country for the summer. Mr. Graham had a pleasant +residence about six miles from Boston, to which he resorted as soon as +the planting season commenced; for though devoted to business during the +winter, he had of late years allowed himself much relaxation during the +summer; and ledgers and day-books were to be supplanted by the delights +of gardening. Emily promised Gerty that she should pass a day with her +when the weather was fine; a visit which Gerty enjoyed three months in +anticipation, and more than three in retrospection. + +It was some compensation for Emily's absence that, as the days got long, +Willie was often able to leave the shop and come home for an hour or two +in the evening; and Willie's visits always tended to comfort Gerty. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +PROGRESS OF KNOWLEDGE. + + +It was one pleasant evening in April that Gerty, who had been to see +Miss Graham and bid her good-bye, before her departure for the country, +stood at the back part of the yard, weeping bitterly. She held in her +hand a book and a new slate, Emily's parting gifts; but she had not +removed the wrapper from the one, and the other was bedewed with tears. +She was so full of grief that she did not hear any one approach, until a +hand was placed upon each of her shoulders; and, as she turned round, +she found herself encircled by Willie's arms, and face to face with +Willie's sunny countenance. "Why, Gerty!" said he, "this is no welcome, +when I've come home on a week-night to stay with you all the evening. +Mother and grandfather are gone out, and when I come to look for you, +you're crying so I can't see your face for tears. Come, come! _do_ leave +off; you don't know how you look!" + +"Willie!", sobbed she, "do you know Miss Emily's gone?" + +"Gone where?" + +"Way off, six miles, to stay all summer!" + +But Willie only laughed. "Six miles!" said he; "that's a terrible way, +certainly!" + +"But I can't see her any more!" said Gerty. + +"You can see her next winter," rejoined Willie. + +"Oh, but that's so long!" said the child. + +"What makes you think so much of her?" + +"She thinks much of me; she can't see me, and she likes me better than +anybody, but Uncle True." + +"I don't believe it; I don't believe she likes you half as well as I do. +I _know_ she don't! How can she, when she's blind, and never saw you in +her life, and I see you all the time, and love you better than I do +anybody in the world, except my mother." + +"Do you _really_, Willie?" + +"Yes, I do. I always think, when I come home--Now I'm going to see +Gerty; and everything that happens all the week, I think to myself--I +shall tell Gerty that." + +"I shouldn't think you'd like me so well." + +"Why not?" + +"Oh, because you're so handsome, and I an't handsome a bit. I heard +Ellen Chase tell Lucretia Davis, the other day, that she thought Gerty +Flint was the worst-looking girl in the school." + +"Then she ought to be ashamed of herself," said Willie, "I guess she +an't very good-looking. I should hate the looks of _her_ or any _other_ +girl that said that." + +"Oh, Willie!" exclaimed Gerty, "it's true." + +"No, it an't _true_," said Willie. "To be sure, you haven't got long +curls, and a round face, and blue eyes, like Belle Clinton's, and +nobody'd think of setting you up for a beauty; but when you've been +running, and have rosy cheeks, and your great black eyes shine, and you +laugh so heartily, I often think you're the brightest-looking girl I +ever saw in my life: and I don't care what other folks think, as long as +I like your looks. I feel just as bad when you cry, or anything's the +matter with you, as if it were myself, and worse." + +Such professions of affection by Willie were frequent, and always +responded to by a like declaration from Gerty. Nor were they mere +professions. The two children loved each other dearly. That they loved +_each other_ there could be no doubt; and if in the spring the bond +between them was already strong, autumn found it cemented by still +firmer ties; for, during Emily's absence, Willie filled her place, and +his own too; and though Gerty did not forget her blind friend, she +passed a most happy summer, and made such progress in her studies at +school that, when Emily returned in October, she could hardly understand +how so much had been accomplished in so short a time. + +Miss Graham's kindly feeling towards her little _protege_ had increased +by time and absence, and Gerty's visits to Emily became more frequent +than ever. The profit derived from these visits was not all on Gerty's +part. Emily had, during the previous winter, heard her read +occasionally, that she might judge of her proficiency; now she had +discovered that the little girl had attained to a much greater degree of +excellence. She read understandingly, and her accent and intonations +were so admirable that Emily found rare pleasure in listening to her. + +For the child's benefit, and for her own gratification, she proposed +that Gerty should come every day and read to her for an hour. Gerty was +only too happy to oblige her dear Miss Emily, who, in making the +proposal, represented it as a personal favour to herself, and a plan by +which Gerty's eyes could serve for them both. It was agreed that when +True started on his lamplighting expeditions he should take Gerty to Mr. +Graham's, and call for her on his return. Thus Gerty was punctual in her +attendance at the appointed time; and none but those who have tried it +are aware what a large amount of reading may be effected in six months, +if an hour is devoted to it each day. Emily, in her choice of books, did +not confine herself to such as came strictly within a child's +comprehension. She judged that a girl of such keen intelligence as Gerty +was naturally endowed with would be benefited by what was beyond her +comprehension; but that, in the effort she would be called upon to make, +would enlarge her capacity, and be an incentive to her genius. So +history, biography, and books of travels were perused by Gerty at an age +when most children's literary pursuits are confined to stories and +pictures. The child gave the preference to this comparatively solid +reading; and, aided by Emily's explanations, she stored up in her mind +much useful information. + +From the time Gerty was first admitted until she was twelve years old, +she attended the public schools, and was rapidly promoted; but what she +learned with Miss Graham, and acquired by study with Willie at home, +formed nearly as important a part of her education. Willie was very fond +of study, and was delighted at Gerty's participation in his favourite +pursuit. They were a great advantage to each other, for each found +encouragement in the other's sympathy and co-operation. After the first +year or two of their acquaintance, Willie was in his fifteenth year, +and beginning to look quite manly. But Gerty's eagerness for knowledge +had all the more influence upon him; for if the little girl of ten years +was patient and willing to labour at her books until after nine o'clock, +the youth of fifteen must not rub his eyes and plead weariness. When +they had reached these ages, they began to study French together. +Willie's former teacher continued to feel a kindly interest in the boy +who had long been his best scholar, and who would certainly have borne +away from his class the first prizes, had not a higher duty called him +to inferior labours previous to the public exhibition. Finding that +Willie had much spare time, he advised him to learn the French language, +which would prove useful to him--and offered to lend him such books as +he would need at the commencement. + +Willie availed himself of his teacher's advice and his kind offer, and +began to study in good earnest. When he was at home in the evening, he +came into True's room, partly for the sake of quiet and partly for the +sake of being with Gerty, who was at the time occupied with her books. +Gerty had a strong desire to learn French too. Willie wished her to try, +but thought she would not persevere. But to his surprise, she discovered +a wonderful determination, and a decided talent for language; and as +Emily furnished her with books like Willie's, she kept pace with him, +oftentimes translating more during the week than he could find time to +do. On Saturday evening, when they had always had a fine study-time +together, True would sit on his old settle watching Willie and Gerty +side by side, at the table, with their eyes bent on the page, which to +him seemed a labyrinth. Gerty looked out the words with great skill, +her bright eyes diving, as if by magic, into the dictionary, and +transfixing the right word at a glance, while Willie's province was to +make sense. Almost the only occasion when True disturbed them was when +he heard Willie talk about making sense. "Making sense, Willie!" said +the old man; "is that what ye're after? Well, you couldn't do a better +business. I'll warrant you a market for it; there's want enough on't in +the world!" + +It was but natural that, with Emily to advise and direct, and Willie to +aid and encourage, her intellect should rapidly expand and strengthen. +But how is it with that little heart of hers, that, at once warm and +affectionate, impulsive, sensitive, and passionate, now throbs with love +and gratitude, and now again burns as vehemently with the consuming fire +that a sense of wrong, a consciousness of injury to herself or her +friends, would at any moment enkindle? Has she, in two years of happy +childhood, learned self-control? Has she also attained to an enlightened +sense of the distinction between right and wrong, truth and falsehood? +In short, has Emily been true to her self-imposed trust, her high +resolve, to soften the heart and instruct the soul of the little +ignorant one? Has Gerty learned religion? Has she found out God, and +begun to walk patiently in that path which is lit by a holy light and +leads to rest? + +She has _begun_; and though her footsteps often falter, though she +sometimes turns aside, and, impatient of the narrow way, gives the rein +to her old irritability, she is yet but a child, and there is a +foundation for hopefulness in the sincerity of her good intentions, and +the depth of her contrition when wrong has had the mastery. Emily has +taught her where to place her strong reliance, and Gerty looks to higher +aid than Emily's, and she leans on a mightier arm. + +How much Gerty had improved in the two years that had passed since she +first began to be so carefully instructed and provided for, the course +of our story must develop. We cannot pause to dwell upon the trials and +struggles, the failures and victories, that she experienced. It is +sufficient to say that Miss Graham was satisfied and hopeful, True proud +and over-joyed, while Mrs. Sullivan, and even old Mr. Cooper, declared +she had improved wonderfully in her behaviour and her looks. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +AN ADVENTURE AND A MISFORTUNE. + + +One Saturday evening in December Willie came in with his French books +under his arm, and, after the first salutations, exclaimed, as he put +the grammar and dictionary on the table, "Oh, Gerty! before we begin to +study, I _must_ tell you and Uncle True the funniest thing that happened +to-day; I have been laughing so at home, as I was telling mother about +it!" + +"I heard you laugh," said Gerty. "If I had not been so busy, I should +have come in to hear what it was that was so very droll. But do tell +us!" + +"Why, you will not think it's anything like a joke when I begin, and I +should not be much amused, if she hadn't been the very queerest old +woman that ever I saw in my life." + +"Old woman!--You haven't told us about one!" + +"But I'm going to," said Willie. "You noticed how everything was covered +with ice this morning. How splendidly it looked, didn't it? I declare, +when the sun shone on that great elm-tree in front of our shop, I +thought I never saw anything so handsome in my life. But, there, that's +nothing to do with my old woman--only that the side-walks were just like +everything else, a perfect glare." + +"I want to hear about your old woman," said Gerty. + +"I was standing at the shop-door, about eleven o'clock, looking out, +when I saw the strangest-looking figure coming down the street. She had +on some kind of a black silk or satin gown, made very scant, and trimmed +all round with some brownish-looking lace--black it had been once, but +it isn't now--then she had a grey cloak, of silk material, that you +certainly would have said came out of the Ark, if it hadn't been for a +little cape, of a different colour, that she wore outside of it, and +which must have been dated a generation further back. Her bonnet! Oh +dear! it was twice as big as anybody's else, and she had a figured lace +veil thrown over one side, that reached nearly to her feet. But her +goggles crowned all; such immense horrid-looking things I never saw. She +had a work-bag made of black silk, with pieces of cloth of all the +colours in the rainbow sewed on to it, zigzag: then her +pocket-handkerchief was pinned to her bag, and a great feather fan--at +this season of the year!--that was pinned on somewhere--by a string, I +suppose--and a bundle-handkerchief, and a newspaper! Oh, gracious! I +can't think of half the things; but they were all pinned together with +great brass pins, and hung in a body on her left arm. Her dress, though, +wasn't the strangest thing about her. What made it funny was her way of +walking: she looked quite old and infirm, and it was evident she could +hardly keep her footing on the ice; and yet she walked with such a +consequential little air! Oh, Gerty, it's lucky you didn't see her! +you'd have laughed from then till this time." + +"Some poor, crazy crittur, wasn't she?" asked True. + +"Oh, no!" said Willie, "I don't think she was; though queer enough, but +not crazy. Just as she got opposite the shop door her feet slipped, and +she fell flat on the pavement. I rushed out, for I thought the fall +might have killed the poor little thing; and Mr. Bray, and a gentleman +whom he was waiting upon, followed me. She did appear stunned at first; +but we carried her into the shop and she came to her senses in a minute +or two. Crazy you asked if she were, Uncle True! No, not she! She's as +bright as you are! As soon as she opened her eyes, and seemed to know +what she was about, she felt for her work-bag and all its appendages; +counted them up, to see if the number were right, and then nodded her +head very satisfactorily. Mr. Bray poured out a glass of cordial and +offered it to her. By this time she had got her airs and graces back +again; so when he recommended her to swallow the cordial, she retreated +with a little old-fashioned curtsey, and put up both her hands to +express her horror at the idea of such a thing. The gentleman standing +by smiled, and advised her to take it, as it would do her no harm. She +turned round, made another curtsey to him, and asked, in a little +cracked voice, 'Can you assure me, sir, as a gentleman of candour and +gallantry, that it is not an exhilarating potion?' The gentleman could +hardly keep from laughing; but he told her it was nothing that would +hurt her. 'Then,' said she, 'I will venture to sip the beverage; it has +most aromatic fragrance.' She seemed to like the taste as well as the +smell, for she drank every drop of it; she turned to me and said, +'Except upon this gentleman's assurance of the harmlessness of the +liquid, I would not have swallowed it in your presence, my young master, +if it were only for the _example_. I have set my seal to no temperance +pledge, but I am abstemious because it becomes a lady; it is with me a +matter of choice, a matter of _taste_.' She now seemed quite restored, +and talked of starting again on her walk; but it was not safe for her to +go alone on the ice, and Mr. Bray thought so, for he asked her where +she was going? She told him, in her roundabout way, that she was going +to pass the day with mistress somebody, that lived near the Common. I +touched Mr. Bray's arm, and said, in a low voice, that if he could spare +me, I'd go with her. He said he shouldn't want me for an hour; so I +offered her my arm and told her I should be happy to wait upon her. You +ought to have seen her then. If I had been a grownup man, and she a +young lady, she couldn't have tossed her head or giggled more. But she +took my arm and we started off. I knew Mr. Bray and the gentleman were +laughing to see us, but I didn't care; I pitied the old lady, and I did +not mean she should get another tumble. + +"Every person we met stared at us; we were such a grotesque looking +couple. She accepted my proffered arm, and clasped her hands together +round it, making a complete handle of her two arms; and so she hung on +with all her might. But I ought not to laugh at the poor thing, for she +needed somebody to help her along, and I'm sure she wasn't heavy enough +to tire me out, if she did make the most of herself. I wonder who she +belongs to. I shouldn't think her friends would let her go about the +streets so, especially such walking as it is to-day." + +"What's her name?" inquired Gerty. "Didn't you find out?" + +"No," answered Willie; "she wouldn't tell me. I asked her, but she only +said, in her little cracked voice (and here Willie began to laugh +immoderately), that she was the _incognito_, and that it was the part of +a true and gallant knight to discover the name of his fair lady. Oh, I +promise you she was a case! Why, you never heard anyone talk so +ridiculously as she did! I asked her how old she was. Mother said that +was very impolite, but it's the only uncivil thing I did or said, as the +old lady would testify herself if she were here." + +"How old is she?" said Gerty. + +"Sixteen." + +"Why, Willie, what do you mean?" + +"That's what she told me," said Willie; "and a true and gallant knight +must believe his fair lady." + +"Poor body!" said True; "she's childish!" + +"No, she isn't Uncle True," said Willie; "you'd think so part of the +time, to hear her run on with her nonsense; and then, the next minute, +she'd speak as sensible as anybody, and say how much obliged she was to +me for being willing to put myself to so much trouble for the sake of an +old woman like her. Just as we turned into Beacon Street we met a school +of girls, blooming beauties, handsome enough to kill, my old lady called +them; and when they came in sight, she seemed to take it for granted I +should get away from her, and run after some of them. But she held on +with a vengeance! It's lucky I had no idea of forsaking her, for it +would have been impossible! Some of them stopped and stared at us--of +course I didn't care how much they stared; but she seemed to think I +should be terribly mortified; and when we had passed them all, she +complimented me again and again on my spirit of conformity, her +favourite expression." + +Here Willie was out of breath. True clapped him upon the shoulder. "Good +boy, Willie?" said he, "clever boy! You always look out for the old +folks, and that's right. Respect for the aged is a good thing; though +your grandfather says it's very much out of fashion." + +"I don't know much about fashion, Uncle True; but I should think it was +a pretty mean sort of a boy that would see an old lady get one fall on +the ice, and not save her from another by seeing her safe home." + +"Willie's always kind to everybody," said Gerty. + +"Willie's either a hero," said the boy, "or else he has got two pretty +good friends--I rather think it's the latter. But, come, Gerty, Charles +the Twelfth is waiting for us, and we must study as much as we can +to-night. We may not have another chance very soon, for Mr. Bray isn't +well this evening; he seems threatened with a fever, and I promised to +go back to the shop after dinner to-morrow. If he should be sick, I +shall have plenty to do without coming home at all." + +"Oh, I hope Mr. Bray is not going to have a fever," said True and Gerty, +in the same breath. + +"He's such a clever man!" said True. + +"He's so good to you, Willie!" added Gerty. + +Willie hoped not, too; but his hopes gave way to his fears, when he +found on the following day that his kind master was not able to leave +his bed, and the doctor pronounced his symptoms alarming. A typhoid +fever set in, which in a few days terminated the life of the excellent +apothecary. + +The death of Mr. Bray was a dreadful blow to Willie. The shop was +closed, the widow having decided to dispose of the stock, and remove +into the country. Willie was thus left without employment, and deprived +of Mr. Bray's valuable assistance. His earnings had promoted the comfort +of his mother and grandfather, who had thus been enabled to relax their +own labours. The thought of being a burden to them was intolerable to +the independent spirit of the boy; and he tried to obtain another place. +He applied to the different apothecaries in the city, but none of them +wanted a youth of his age. He returned home at night, disappointed, but +not discouraged. If he could not obtain employment with an apothecary, +he would do something else. But what should he do? That was the +question. He had long talks with his mother about it. She felt that his +talents and education entitled him to fill a position equal to that he +had already occupied; and could not endure the thought of his descending +to more menial service. Willie, without pride, thought so too. He knew +he could give satisfaction in a station which required more business +talent than his situation at Mr. Bray's had ever given scope to. So he +had made every possible inquiry, but he had no one to speak a good word +for him, and so he met with no success, and day after day returned home +silent and depressed. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +BRIGHTENING PROSPECTS. + + +This was altogether a new experience to Willie, and a very trying one. +But he bore it bravely; kept all his worst struggles from his anxious +mother and desponding grandfather, and resolved to hope against hope. +Gerty was now his chief comforter. He told her all his troubles, and, +young as she was, she was a wonderful consoler. Always looking on the +bright side, she did much towards keeping up his hopes and strengthening +his resolutions. She knew more than most children of the various ways, +in which she sometimes made valuable suggestions to Willie, of which he +gladly availed himself. Among others, she one day asked him if he had +applied at the agency offices. He had never thought of it--wondered he +had not, but would try. He did so, and for a time was buoyed up with +hopes held out to him; but they proved fleeting, and he was now almost +in despair, when his eye fell upon an advertisement in a newspaper, +which seemed to afford another chance. He showed it to Gerty. It was +just the thing. + +Gerty was so sanguine, that Willie presented himself the next day at the +place specified with a more eager countenance than he had ever yet worn. +The gentleman talked with him some time; asked a great many questions, +hinted his doubts about his capability, and finally declared he was not +eligible. He returned with such a heavy heart that he could not meet his +mother, and so he went to True's room. It was the night before +Christmas. True had gone out, and Gerty was alone. She was preparing a +cake for tea--one of the few branches of the cooking department in which +she had acquired some skill. She was just coming from the pantry, with a +scoop-full of meal in her hand, when Willie entered. He tossed his cap +upon the settle, and leaned his head upon his hands, and this betrayed +the defeat the poor boy had met with. It was so unlike Willie to come in +without speaking--it was such a strange thing to see his bright young +head bowed down with care, and his elastic figure looking tired and old, +that Gerty knew at once his brave heart had given way. She laid down the +scoop, and walking up to him, touched his arm with her hand, and looked +up anxiously into his face. Her sympathetic look was more than he could +bear. He laid his head on the table, and in a minute more Gerty heard +great heavy sobs, each one of which sank deep into her soul. She often +cried herself--it seemed only natural; but Willie--the laughing, happy, +light-hearted Willie--she had never seen _him_ cry; she didn't know he +_could_. She crept up on the rounds of his chair, and putting her arm +round his neck, whispered, "I shouldn't mind, Willie, if I didn't get +the place; I don't believe it's a _good_ place." + +"I don't believe it is, either," said Willie, lifting up his head; "but +what shall I do? I can't get any place, and I can't stay here doing +nothing." + +"We like to have you at home," said Gerty. + +"It's pleasant enough to be at home. I was always glad enough to come +when I lived at Mr. Bray's and was earning something, and could feel as +if anybody was glad to see me." + +"_Everybody_ is glad to see you _now_." + +"But not as they were _then_," said Willie; "mother always looks as if +she expected to hear I'd got something to do; and grandfather, I +believe, never thought I should be good for much; and now, as I was +beginning to earn something, and be a help to them, I've lost my +chance!" + +"But that an't your fault, Willie; you couldn't help Mr. Bray's dying. I +shouldn't think Mr. Cooper would blame you for not having anything to do +_now_." + +"He don't _blame_ me; but if you were in my place you'd feel just as I +do, to see him sit in his arm-chair in the evening, and groan and look +up at me, as much as to say, 'It's _you_ I'm groaning about.'" + +"Have heart," said Gerty; "I think you'll be rich, some time--and _then_ +won't he be astonished!" + +"Oh, Gerty! you're a nice child, and I think I can do anything. If ever +I am rich, I promise to go shares with you; but 'tan't so easy. I used +to think I could make money when I grew up; but it's pretty slow +business." + +Here he was on the point of leaning down upon the table again, and +giving himself up to melancholy; but Gerty caught hold of his hands. +"Come," said she, "Willie, don't think any more about it. People have +troubles always, but they get over 'em; perhaps next week you'll be in a +better shop than Mr. Bray's, and we shall be as happy as ever. Do you +know," said she, changing the subject, "it's just two years to-night +since I came here?" + +"Is it?" said Willie. "Did Uncle True bring you home with him the night +before Christmas?" + +"Yes." + +"Why, that was Santa Claus carrying you to good things, instead of +bringing good things to you, wasn't it?" + +Gerty did not know anything about Santa Claus, that special friend of +children; and Willie, who had only lately read about him in some book, +undertook to tell her what he knew of the veteran toy-dealer. Finding +the interest of the subject had engaged his thoughts, Gerty returned to +her cooking, listening attentively to his story. When he had finished, +she was kneeling by the stove; her eyes twinkled with such a merry look, +that Willie exclaimed, "What are you thinking of, Gerty, that makes you +look so sly?" + +"I was thinking that perhaps Santa Clans would come for you to-night. If +he comes for folks that need something, I expect he'll come for you, and +carry you to some place where you'll have a chance to grow rich." + +"Very likely," said Willie; "he'll clap me into his bag and trudge off +with me as a present to somebody--some old Cr[oe]sus, that will give me +a fortune for the asking. I do hope he will; for, if I don't get +something to do soon, I shall despair." + +True now came in, and interrupted the conversation by the display of a +fine turkey, a Christmas present from Mr. Graham. He had also a book for +Gerty, a gift from Emily. + +"Isn't that queer," exclaimed Gerty. "Willie was just saying you were my +Santa Clans, Uncle True; and I do believe you are." As she spoke she +opened the book, and in the frontispiece was a portrait of that +individual. "It looks like him, Willie, I declare it does!" shouted she; +"a fur cap, a pipe, and just such a pleasant face; oh, Uncle True, if +you only had a sack full of toys over your shoulder, instead of your +lantern and that great turkey, you would be a complete Santa Claus. +Haven't you got anything for Willie, Uncle True?" + +"Yes, I've got a little something; but I'm afeared he won't think much +on't. It's only a bit of a note." + +"A note for me?" inquired Willie. "Who can it be from?" + +"Can't say," said True, fumbling in his pockets; "only just round the +corner I met a man who stopped me to inquire where Mrs. Sullivan lived. +I told him she lived jist here, and I'd show him the house. When he saw +I lived here too, he gave me this little scrap o' paper, and asked me to +hand it to Master William Sullivan. I s'pose that's you, an't it?" He +handed Willie the slip of paper; and the boy, taking True's lantern in +his hand, and holding the note up to the light, read aloud:--"R. H. +Clinton would like to see William Sullivan on Thursday morning, between +ten and eleven o'clock, at No. 13 ---- Wharf." + +Willie looked up in amazement. "What does it mean?"? said he; "I don't +know any such person." + +"I know who he is," said True; "why, it's he that lives in the great +stone house in ---- street. He's a rich man, and that's the number of +his store--his counting-room rather--on ---- Wharf!" + +"What! father to those pretty children we used to see in the window?" + +"The very same." + +"What can he want of me?" + +"Very likely he wants your sarvices," suggested True. + +"Then it's a place!" cried Gerty, "a real good one, and Santa Claus came +and brought it: I said he would! Oh, Willie, I'm so glad!" + +Willie did not know whether to be glad or not. He could not but hope, as +Gerty and True did, that it might prove the dawning of some good +fortune; but he had reasons for believing that no offer from this +quarter could be available to him, and therefore made them both promise +to give no hint of the matter to his mother or Mr. Cooper. + +On Thursday Willie presented himself at the appointed time and place. +Mr. Clinton, a gentlemanly man, received him kindly, asked but few +questions, and telling him that he was in want of a young man to fill +the place of junior clerk in his counting-room, offered him the +situation. Willie hesitated; for, though the offer was most encouraging, +Mr. Clinton made no mention of any salary; and that was a thing the +youth could not dispense with. Seeing that he was undecided, Mr. Clinton +said, "Perhaps you do not like my proposal, or have made some other +engagement?" + +"No, indeed," answered Willie, quickly. "You are very kind to feel so +much confidence in a stranger as to be willing to receive me, and your +offer is a most welcome one; but I have been in a retail store, where I +obtained regular earnings, which were very important to my mother and +grandfather. I had far rather be in a counting-room like yours, sir, and +I think I might learn to be of use; but I think there are numbers of +boys, sons of rich men, who would be glad to be employed by you, and +would ask no compensation for their services, so that I could not expect +any salary, at least for some years. I should indeed, be well repaid, at +the end of that time, by the knowledge I might gain of mercantile +affairs; but, unfortunately, sir, I can no more afford it than I could +afford to go to college." + +The gentleman smiled. "How did you know so much of these matters, my +young friend?" + +"I have heard, sir, from boys who were at school with me, and are now +clerks in mercantile houses, that they received no pay, and I always +considered it a perfectly fair arrangement; but it was the reason why I +felt bound to content myself with the position I held in an apothecary's +shop, which, though it was not suited to my taste, enabled me to support +myself, and to relieve my mother, who is a widow, and my grandfather, +who is old and poor." + +"Your grandfather is----" + +"Mr. Cooper, sexton of Mr. Arnold's church." + +"Aha!" said Mr. Clinton, "I know him. What you say, William, is true. We +do not pay any salary to our young clerks, and are overrun with +applications at that rate; but I have heard good accounts of you, my boy +(I shan't tell you where I had my information, though I see you look +very curious), and, moreover, I like your countenance, and believe you +will serve me faithfully. So, if you will tell me what you received from +Mr. Bray, I will pay you the same next year, and after that increase +your salary, if I find you deserve it; and you may commence with me on +the first of January." + +Willie thanked Mr. Clinton and departed. The merchant was reminded of +the time when he too, the only son of his mother, and she a widow, had +come alone to the city, sought long for employment, and finding it at +last, had sat down to write and tell her how he hoped soon to earn +enough for himself and her. And the spirits of those mothers who have +wept, prayed, and thanked God over similar communications from +much-loved sons, may know how to sympathise with good Mrs. Sullivan, +when she heard from Willie the joyful tidings. True exclaimed, "Ah! +Master Willie, they needn't have worried about yon, need they? I've told +your grandfather more than once, that I was of the 'pinion 'twould all +come out right at last." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE MINISTERING ANGEL. + + +"I wonder," said Miss Peekout, as she leaned on the sill of the front +window, and looked up and down the street--"I wonder who that slender +girl is that walks by here every morning, with that feeble-looking old +man leaning on her arm? I always see them at just about this time, when +the weather permits. She's a nice child, and seems to be very fond of +the old man--probably her grandfather. I notice she's careful to leave +the best side of the walk for him, and she watches every step he takes; +she needs to do so, for he totters sadly. Poor little thing! she looks +pale and anxious; I wonder if she takes all the care of the old man!" +But they are now quite out of sight. + +"I _wonder_," said old Mrs. Grumble, as she sat at her window, a little +further down the street, "if I should live to be old and infirm--(Mrs. +Grumble was over seventy, but as yet suffered from no infirmity but that +of a very irritable temper)--I _wonder_ if anybody would wait upon me, +and take care of me as that little girl does of her grandfather! No, +I'll warrant not! Who can she be?" + +"There, look, Belle!" said one young girl to another, on their way to +school; "there's the girl that we meet every day with the old man. How +can you say you don't think she's pretty? I admire her looks!" + +"You always do manage, Kitty, to _admire_ people that everybody else +thinks are horrid-looking." + +"Horrid-looking!" replied Kitty; "she's anything but _horrid-looking_! +Do notice, now, Belle, when we meet them, she has the _sweetest_ way of +looking up in the old man's face, and talking to him. I _wonder_ what is +the matter with him! Do see how his arm shakes--the one that's passed +through hers!" + +The two couples are now close to each other, and they pass in silence. + +"_Don't you_ think that she has an interesting face?" said Kitty, +eagerly, as soon as they were out of hearing. + +"She's got handsome eyes," answered Belle. "I don't see anything else +that looks interesting about her. I _wonder_ if she don't hate to walk +in the street with that old grandfather; trudging along so slow, with +the sun shining in her face, and he leaning on her arm, and shaking so +that he can hardly keep on his feet! Catch me doing it." + +"Why, Belle!" exclaimed Kitty, "how can you talk so? I'm sure I pity +that old man dreadfully." + +"Lor!" said Belle, "what's the use of pitying? If you are going to begin +to pity, you'll have to do it all the time. Look,"--Belle touched her +companion's elbow--"there's Willie Sullivan, father's clerk: an't he a +beauty? I want to speak to him." + +But before she could address a word to him, Willie, who was walking very +fast, passed her with a bow, and a pleasant "Good morning, Miss Isabel;" +and ere she had recovered from the surprise and disappointment, was some +rods down the street. + +"Polite!" muttered the pretty Isabel. + +"Why, Belle! do see," said Kitty, who was looking back over her +shoulder, "he's overtaken the old man and my interesting little girl. +Look--look! He's put the old man's other arm through his, and they are +all three walking off together. Isn't that quite a coincidence?" + +"Nothing very remarkable," replied Belle, who seemed a little annoyed. +"I suppose they are persons he's acquainted with. Come, make haste; we +shall be late at school." + +Reader! Do _you wonder_ who they are, the girl and the old man? or have +you already conjectured that they are Gerty and Trueman Flint? True is +no longer the brave, strong, sturdy protector of the lonely child. True +has had a paralytic stroke. His strength is gone, his power even to walk +alone. He sits all day in his arm-chair, or on the old settle, when he +is not out walking with Gerty. The blow suddenly struck down the robust +man, and left him feeble as a child. And the little orphan girl who, in +her weakness, her loneliness, and her poverty, found in him a father and +a mother, she now is all the world to him--his staff, his comfort, and +his hope. During four or five years that he has cherished the frail +blossom, she has been gaining strength for the time when _he_ should be +the leaning, _she_ the sustaining power; and when the time came, she was +ready to respond to the call. With the simplicity of a child, but a +woman's firmness; with the stature of a child, but a woman's capacity; +the earnestness of a child, but a woman's perseverance--from morning +till night, the faithful little nurse and housekeeper labours untiringly +in the service of her first, her best friend. Ever at his side, ever +attending to his wants, and yet most wonderfully accomplishing many +things which he never sees her do, she seems, indeed, to the fond old +man, what he once prophesied she would become--God's embodied blessing +to his latter years, cheering his pathway to the grave. + +Though disease had robbed True's limbs of their power, the blast had +spared his mind, which was clear and tranquil as ever; while his pious +heart was fixed in humble trust on that God whose presence and love he +had ever acknowledged, and on whom he so fully relied, that even in this +bitter trial he was able to say, in perfect submission, "Thy will, not +mine, be done!" + +Only about two months previous to the morning of which we have been +speaking had True been stricken down. He had been in failing health, but +had still been able to attend to his duties until one day in June, when +Gerty went into his room, and found, to her surprise, that he had not +risen, although it was much later than his usual hour. On going to the +bedside and speaking to him, she saw that he looked strangely, and had +lost the power of speech. Bewildered and frightened, she ran to call +Mrs. Sullivan. A physician was summoned, the case pronounced one of +paralysis, and for a time it was feared that it would prove fatal. He +soon, however, began to amend, recovered his speech, and in a week or +two was well enough to walk about with Gerty's assistance. + +The doctor had recommended as much gentle exercise as possible, and +every pleasant morning, before the day grew warm, Gerty presented +herself equipped for those walks, which excited so much observation. At +the same time she made such little household purchases as were +necessary, that she might not go out again and leave True alone. + +On the occasion alluded to, Willie accompanied them as far as the +provision shop; and, having seen True comfortably seated, proceeded to +the Wharf, while Gerty stepped up to the counter to bargain for the +dinner. She purchased a bit of veal suitable for broth, gazed wistfully +at some tempting summer vegetables, turned away and sighed. She held in +her hand the wallet which contained all their money; it had now been in +her keeping for some weeks, and was growing light; it was no use to +think about the vegetables; and she sighed, for she remembered how True +enjoyed the green peas last year. "How much is the meat?" asked she of +the butcher, who named the sum. It was _so little_ that it almost seemed +to Gerty as if he had seen into her purse, and her thoughts too, and +knew how glad she would be that it did not cost any more. As he handed +her the change, he leaned over the counter, and asked, in an undertone, +what kind of nourishment Mr. Flint was able to take. + +"The doctor said any wholesome food." + +"Don't you think he'd relish some green peas? I've got some first-rate +ones, fresh from the country; and, if you'd think he'd eat 'em, I should +like to send you some. My boy shall take round half-a-peck or so, and +I'll put the meat right in the same basket." + +"Thank you," said Gerty; "he likes green peas." + +"Very well! Then I'll send him some beauties;" and he turned away to +wait upon another customer, so quick that Gerty thought he did not see +how the colour came into her face and the tears into her eyes. But he +_did_ see, and that was the _reason_ he turned away so quickly. + +True had an excellent appetite, enjoyed and praised the dinner +exceedingly, and, after eating heartily of it, fell asleep in his chair. +The moment he awoke, Gerty sprung to his side, exclaiming, "Uncle True, +here's Miss Emily!--here's dear Miss Emily come to visit you." + +"The Lord bless you, my dear, dear young lady!" said True, trying to +rise from his chair and go towards her. + +"Don't rise, Mr. Flint; I beg you will not," said Emily, whose quick ear +perceived the motion. "From what Gerty tells me, I fear you are not +able. Please give me a chair, Gerty, nearer to Mr. Flint." + +She drew near, took True's hand, but looked inexpressibly shocked as she +observed how tremulous it had become. + +"Ah, Miss Emily," said he, "I'm not the same man as when I saw you last; +the Lord has given me a warning, and I shan't be here long." + +"I am so sorry I did not know of this!" said Emily. "I should have come +to see you before, but I never heard of your illness until to-day. +George, my father's man, saw you and Gertrude at a shop this morning, +and he told me. Gertrude should have sent me word." + +Gerty was standing by True's chair, smoothing his grey locks with her +slender fingers. As Emily mentioned her name, he turned and looked at +her. O what a look of love he gave her! Gerty never forgot it. + +"Miss Emily," said he, "'twas no need for anybody to be troubled. The +Lord provided for me His own self. All the doctors and nurses in the +land couldn't have done half so much for me as this little gal o' mine. +It wa'nt at all in my mind, some four or five years gone--when I brought +the little barefoot mite of a thing to my home, and when she was sick +and e'en a'most dyin' in this very room, and I carried her in my arms +night and day--that her turn would come so soon. Ah! I little thought +then, Miss Emily, how the Lord would lay me low--how those same feet +would run about in my service, how her bit of a hand would come in the +dark nights to smooth my pillow, and I'd go about daytimes leaning on +her little arm. Truly God's ways are not like our ways, nor his thoughts +like our thoughts." + +"Oh, Uncle True!" said Gerty, "I don't do much for you, I wish I could +do a great deal more. I wish I could make you strong again." + +"I dare say you do, my darlin', but that can't be in this world; you've +given me what's far better than strength o' body. Yes, Miss Emily," +added he, "it's you we have to thank for all the comfort we enjoy. I +loved my little birdie; but I was a foolish man, and I should ha' spiled +her. You knew better what was for her good, and mine too. You made her +what she is now, one of the lambs of Christ, a handmaiden of the Lord. +If anybody'd told me, six months ago, that I should become a poor +cripple, and sit in my chair all day, and not know who was going to +furnish a living for me or birdie either, I should ha' said I never +could bear my lot with patience, or keep up any heart at all. But I've +learned a lesson from this little one. When I first got so I could +speak, after the shock, and tell what was in my mind, I was so troubled +a' thinkin' of my sad case, and Gerty with nobody to work or do anything +for her, that I said, 'What shall we do now?--what shall we do now?' And +then she whispered in my ear, 'God will take care of us, Uncle True!' +And when I forgot the sayin', and asked, 'Who will feed and clothe us +now!' she said again, 'The Lord will provide.' And, in my deepest +distress, when one night I was full of anxiety about my child, I said +aloud, 'If I die, who will take care of Gerty?' the little thing that I +supposed was sound asleep in her bed, laid her head down beside me, and +said, 'Uncle True, when I was turned out into the dark street all alone, +and had no friends nor any home, my heavenly Father sent you to me; and +now, if He wants you to come to Him, and is not ready to take me too, He +will send somebody else to take care of me the rest of my life.' After +that, Miss Emily, I gave up worryin' any more. Her words, and the +blessed teachin's of the Holy Book that she reads every day, have sunk +deep into my heart, and I'm at peace. + +"I used to think that, if I lived and had my strength spared me, Gerty +would be able to go to school and get a sight o' larnin', for she has a +nateral liking for it, and it comes easy to her. She's but a slender +child, and I never could bear the thought of her bein' driv to hard work +for a livin'; she don't seem made for it, somehow. I hoped, when she +grew up, to see her a school-mistress, like Miss Browne, or somethin' in +that line; but I've done bein' vexed about it now. I know, as she says, +it's all for the best, or it wouldn't be." + +Gerty, whose face had been hid against his shoulder, looked up, and said +bravely, "Oh, Uncle True, I'm sure I can do almost any kind of work. +Mrs. Sullivan says I sew very well, and I can learn to be a milliner or +a dressmaker; that isn't hard work." + +"Mr. Flint," said Emily, "would you be willing to trust your child with +me? If you should die, would you feel as if she were safe in my charge?" + +"Miss Emily," said True, "would I think her safe in angel-keepin'? I +should believe her in little short o' that, if she could have you to +watch over her." + +"Oh, do not say that," said Miss Emily, "or I shall fear to undertake so +solemn a trust. I know that my want of sight, my ill-health, and my +inexperience, almost unfit me for the care of a child like Gerty. But, +since you approve of the teaching I have already given her, and are so +kind as to think a great deal better of me than I deserve, I know you +will at least believe in the sincerity of my wish to be of use to her; +and if it will be any comfort to you to know that in case of your death +I will gladly take Gerty to my home, see that she is well educated, and, +as long as I live, provide for and take care of her, you have my solemn +assurance (and here she laid her hand on his) that it shall be done, and +that to the best of my ability I will try to make her happy." + +Gerty's first impulse was to rush towards Emily, and fling her arms +around her neck; but she was arrested in the act, for she observed that +True was weeping like an infant. In an instant his feeble head was +resting upon her bosom; her hand was wiping away the great tears that +had rushed to his eyes. It was an easy task, for they were tears of +joy--of a joy that had quite unnerved him in his present state of +prostration and weakness. + +The proposal was so utterly foreign to his thoughts or expectations, +that it seemed to him a hope too bright to be relied upon; and, after a +moment's pause, an idea occurring to him which seemed to increase his +doubts, he gave utterance to it in the words--"But your father, Miss +Emily!--Mr. Graham!--he's partickler, and not over-young now. I'm afeard +he wouldn't like a little gal in the house." + +"My father if indulgent to _me_," replied Emily; "he would not object to +any plan I had at heart, and I have become so much attached to Gertrude +that she would be of great use and comfort to me. I trust, Mr. Flint, +that you will recover a portion, at least, of your health and strength, +and be spared to her for many a year yet; but, in order that you may in +no case feel any anxiety on her account, I take this opportunity to tell +you that, if I should outlive you, she will be sure of a home with me." + +"Ah, Miss Emily!" said the old man, "my time's about out, I feel right +sure o' that; and, since you're willin', you'll soon be called to take +charge on her. I haven't forgot how tossed I was in my mind the day +after I brought her home with me, with thinkin' that p'raps I wasn't fit +to undertake the care of such a little thing, and hadn't ways to make +her comfortable; and then, Miss Emily, do you remember you said to +me, 'You've done quite right; the Lord will bless and reward you?' I've +thought many a time since that you was a true prophet, and that your +words were, what I thought 'em then, a whisper right from heaven! And +now you talk o' doing the same thing yourself; and I, that am just goin' +home to God, and feel as if I read his ways clearer than ever afore, _I +tell you_, Miss Emily, that you're doin' right, too; and, if the Lord +rewards you as he has done me, there'll come a time when this child will +pay you back in love and care all you ever do for her.--Gerty?" + +"She's not here," said Emily; "I heard her run into her own room." + +"Poor birdie!" said True, "she doesn't like to hear o' my leavin' her; +I'm sad to think how some day soon she'll almost sob her heart away over +her old uncle. Never mind now! I was goin' to bid her be a good child to +you; but I think she will, without biddin'; and I can say my say to her +another time. Good-bye, my dear young lady;"--for Emily had risen to go, +and George, the man-servant, was waiting at the door for her--"if I +never see you again, remember that you made an old man so happy that +he's nothing in this world left to wish for; and that you carry with you +a dyin' man's best blessin', and his prayer that God may grant such +perfect peace to your last days as now He does to mine." + +That evening, when True had already retired to rest, and Gerty had +finished reading aloud in her little Bible, as she always did at +bed-time, True called her to him, and asked her, as he had often done of +late, to repeat his favourite prayer for the sick. She knelt at his +bedside, and with a solemn and touching earnestness fulfilled his +request. + +"Now, darlin', the prayer for the dyin';--isn't there such a one in your +little book?" + +Gerty trembled. There _was_ such a prayer, a beautiful one; and the +thoughtful child, to whom the idea of death was familiar, knew it by +heart--but could she repeat the words? Could she command her voice? Her +whole frame shook with agitation; but Uncle True wished to hear it, it +would be a comfort to him, and she would try. Concentrating all her +energy and self-command, she began; and, gaining strength as she +proceeded, went on to the end. Once or twice her voice faltered, but +with new effort she succeeded, in spite of the great bunches in her +throat; and her voice sounded so clear and calm, that Uncle True's +devotional spirit was not once disturbed by the thought of the girl's +sufferings; for, fortunately, he could not hear how her heart beat and +throbbed, and threatened to burst. + +She did not rise at the conclusion of the prayer--she could not--but +remained kneeling, her head buried in the bedclothes. For a few moments +there was a solemn stillness in the room; then the old man laid his hand +upon her head. + +She looked up. + +"You love Miss Emily, don't you, birdie?" + +"Yes, indeed." + +"You'll be a good child to her when I'm gone?" + +"O, Uncle True!" sobbed Gerty, "you mustn't leave me! I can't live +without you, _dear_ Uncle True!" + +"It is God's will to take me, Gerty; He has always been good to us, and +we mustn't doubt Him now. Miss Emily can do more for you than I could, +and you'll be very happy with her." + +"No, I shan't--I shan't ever be happy again in this world! I never was +happy until I came to you; and now, if you die, I wish I could die too!" + +"You mustn't wish that, darlin'; you are young, and must try to do good +in the world, and bide your time. I'm an old man, and only a trouble +now." + +"No, no, Uncle True!" said Gerty, earnestly; "you are not a trouble--you +never could be a trouble! I wish _I'd_ never been so much trouble to +_you_." + +"So far from that, birdie, God knows you've long been my heart's +delight! It only pains me now to think that you're a spendin' all your +time, and slavin' here at home, instead of goin' to school, as you used +to; but, O! we all depend on each other so!--first on God, and then on +each other! And that 'minds me, Gerty, of what I was goin' to say. I +feel as if the Lord would call me soon, sooner than you think for now; +and, at first, you'll cry, and be sore vexed, no doubt; but Miss Emily +will take you with her, and she'll tell you blessed things to comfort +you;--how we shall all meet again and be happy in that world where +there's no partin's; and Willie'll do everything he can to help you in +your sorrer; and in time you'll be able to smile again. At first, and +p'raps for a long time, Gerty, you'll be a care to Miss Emily, and +she'll have to do a deal for you in the way o' schoolin', clothin', and +so on; and what I want to tell you is, that Uncle True expects you'll be +as good as can be, and do just what Miss Emily says; and, by-and-by, may +be, when you're bigger and older, you'll be able to do somethin' for +her. She's blind, you know, and you must be eyes for her; and she's not +over strong, and you must lend a helpin' hand to her weakness, just as +you do to mine; and, if you're good and patient, God will make your +heart light at last, while you're only tryin' to make other folks happy; +and when you're sad troubled (for everybody is sometimes), then think of +old Uncle True, and how he used to say, 'Cheer up, birdie, for I'm of +the 'pinion 'twill all come out right at last.' There, don't feel bad +about it; go to bed, darlin', and to-morrow we'll have a nice walk--and +Willie's goin' with us, you know." + +Gerty tried to cheer up, for True's sake, and went to bed. She did not +sleep for some hours; but when, at last, she did fall into a quiet +slumber, it continued unbroken until morning. + +She dreamed that morning was already come; that she and Uncle True and +Willie were taking a pleasant walk; that Uncle True was strong and well +again--his eye bright, his step firm, and Willie and herself laughing +and happy. + +And, while she dreamed the beautiful dream, little thinking that her +first friend and she should no longer tread life's paths together, the +messenger came--a gentle, noiseless messenger--and, in the still night, +while the world was asleep, took the soul of good old True, and carried +it home to God! + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A NEW HOME. + + +Two months have passed since Trueman Flint's death, and Gertrude has for +a week been domesticated in Mr. Graham's family. It was through the +newspaper that Emily first heard of the little girl's sudden loss, and, +acquainting her father with her plans concerning the child, she found no +opposition to fear from him. He reminded her, however, of the +inconvenience that would attend Gertrude's coming to them at once, as +they were soon to start on a visit to some distant relatives, and would +not return until near the time to remove to the city for the winter. +Emily felt the force of this objection; for, although Mrs. Ellis would +be at home during their absence, she knew that she would be a very unfit +person to console Gertrude in her time of sorrow. + +This thought troubled Emily; and she regretted much that this unusual +journey should take place so inopportunely. But there was no help for +it; for Mr. Graham's plans were arranged, unless she would make +Gertrude's coming, at the very outset, disagreeable. She started for +town, therefore, the next morning, quite undecided what course to +pursue. + +The day was Sunday, but Emily's errand was one of charity and love, and +would not admit of delay; and an hour before the time for morning +service Mrs. Sullivan saw Mr. Graham's carriage stop at the door. She +ran to meet Emily, and guided her into her neat parlour to a comfortable +seat, placed in her hand a fan (for the weather was very warm), and then +told her how thankful she was to see her, and how sorry she felt that +Gertrude was not at home. Emily wonderingly asked where Gertrude was, +and learned that she was out walking with Willie. A succession of +inquiries followed, and a touching story was told by Mrs. Sullivan of +Gertrude's agony of grief, and the fears she had entertained lest the +girl would die of sorrow. + +"I couldn't do anything with her myself," said she. "There she sat, day +after day, last week, on her little stool, by Uncle True's easy-chair, +with her head on the cushion, and I couldn't get her to move or eat a +thing. She didn't appear to hear me when I spoke to her; and if I tried +to move her, she didn't struggle, but she seemed just like a dead weight +in my hands: and I couldn't bear to make her come away into my room, +though I knew it would change the scene, and be better for her. If it +hadn't been for Willie, I don't know what I should have done, I was +getting so worried about the poor child; but he knows how to manage her +better than I do. When he is at home we get along very well, for he +takes her right up in his arms (he's very strong, and she's as light as +a feather), and either carries her into some other room, or out in the +yard; and he contrives to cheer her wonderfully. He persuades her to +eat, and in the evenings, when he comes home from the store, takes long +walks with her. Last evening they went over Chelsea Bridge, where it was +cool and pleasant; and I suppose he diverted her attention and amused +her, for she came home brighter than I've seen her, and quite tired. I +got her to go to bed in my room, and she slept soundly all night, so +that she really looks like herself to-day. They've gone out again this +morning, and, being Sunday, and Willie at home all day, I've no doubt +he'll keep her spirits up, if anybody can." + +"Willie shows very good judgment," said Emily, "in trying to change the +scene for her, and divert her thoughts. I'm thankful she has had such +kind friends. I promised Mr. Flint she should have a home with me when +he was taken away, and not knowing of his death until now, I consider it +a great favour to myself, as well as her, that you have taken such +excellent care of her. I felt sure you have been all goodness, or it +would have given me great regret that I had not heard of True's death +before." + +"O, Miss Emily!" said Mrs. Sullivan, "Gertrude is so dear to us, and we +have suffered so much in seeing her suffer, that it was a kindness to +ourselves to do all we could to comfort her. Why, I think she and Willie +could not love each other better if they were own brother and sister: +and Willie and uncle True were great friends! indeed, we shall all miss +him very much. My old father doesn't say much about it, but I can see +he's very downhearted." + +Mrs. Sullivan now informed Emily that a cousin of hers, a farmer's wife, +living about twenty miles from Boston, had invited them all to pass a +week or two with her at the farm; and, as Willie was now to enjoy his +usual summer vacation, they proposed accepting the invitation. She spoke +of Gertrude's accompanying them, and enlarged upon the advantage it +would be to her to breathe the country air, and ramble about the fields +and woods, after all the fatigue and confinement she had endured. + +Emily, finding that Gertrude would be a welcome guest, cordially +approved of the visit, and also arranged with Mrs. Sullivan that she +should remain under her care until Mr. Graham removed to Boston for the +winter. She was then obliged to leave, without waiting for Gertrude's +return, though she left many a kind message for her, and placed in Mrs. +Sullivan's hands a sufficient sum of money to provide for all her +wants. + +Gertrude went into the country, and abundance of novelty, country fare, +healthful exercise, and kindness and sympathy, brought the colour into +her cheek, and calmness and happiness into her heart. Soon after the +Sullivan's return from their excursion, the Grahams removed to the city, +and Gertrude had now been with them about a week. "Are you still +standing at the window, Gertrude. What are you doing, dear?" + +"I'm watching to see the lamps lit, Miss Emily." + +"But they will not be lit at all. The moon will rise at eight o'clock, +and light the streets sufficiently for the rest of the night." + +"I don't mean the street-lamps." + +"What do you mean, my child?" said Emily, coming towards the window, and +lightly resting a hand on Gertrude's shoulders. + +"I mean the stars, dear Miss Emily. Oh, how I wish you could see them, +too!" + +"Are they very bright?" + +"O, they are beautiful! and there are so many! The sky is as full as it +can be." + +"How well I remember when I used to stand at this very window, and look +at them as you are doing now! It seems to me as if I saw them this +moment, I know so well how they look." + +"I love the stars--all of them," said Gertrude; "but my own star I love +the best." + +"Which do you call yours?" + +"That splendid one over the church-steeple; it shines into my room every +night, and looks me in the face. Miss Emily (and she spoke in a +whisper), it seems to me as if that star were lit on purpose for me. I +think Uncle True lights it every night. I always feel as if he were +smiling up there, and saying, 'See, Gerty, I'm lighting the lamp for +you.' Dear Uncle True! Miss Emily, do you think he loves me now?" + +"I do, indeed, Gertrude; and I think, if you make him an example, and +try to live as good and patient a life as he did, that he will really be +a lamp to your feet, and as bright a light to your path as if his face +were shining down upon you through the star." + +"I was patient and good when I lived with him; at least, I almost always +was; and I'm good when I'm with you; but I don't like Mrs. Ellis. She +tries to plague me, and she makes me angry, and I don't know what I do +or say. I did not mean to be impertinent to her to-day, and I wish I +hadn't slammed the door; but how could I help it, Miss Emily, when she +told me before Mr. Graham, that I tore up the last night's _Journal_, +and I _know_ that I did not. It was an old paper that she saw me tying +your slippers up in, and I am almost sure that she lit the library fire +with the _Journal_ herself; but Mr. Graham will always think I did it." + +"I have no doubt, Gertrude, that you had reason to feel provoked, and I +believe you when you say that you were not to blame for the loss of the +newspaper. But remember, my dear, that there is no merit in being +patient and good-tempered, when there is nothing to irritate you. I want +you to learn to bear even injustice, without losing your self-control. +Mrs. Ellis has been here a number of years; she has had everything her +own way, and is not used to young people. She felt, when you came, that +it was bringing new care and trouble upon her, and it is not strange +that when things go wrong she should sometimes think you in fault. She +is a very faithful woman, very kind and attentive to me, and very +important to my father. It will make me unhappy if I have any reason to +fear that you and she will not live pleasantly together." + +"I do not want to make you unhappy; I do not want to be a trouble to +anybody," said Gertrude, with some excitement; "I'll go away! I'll go +off somewhere, where you will never see me again!" + +"Gertrude!" said Emily, seriously and sadly. Her hands were still upon +the young girl's shoulders, and, as she spoke, she turned her round, and +brought her face to face with herself. "Gertrude, do you wish to leave +your blind friend? Do you not love me?" So touchingly grieved was the +expression of the countenance that met her gaze, that Gertrude's proud +spirit was subdued. She threw her arms round Emily's neck, and +exclaimed, "No! dear Miss Emily, I would not leave you for all the +world! I will do just as you wish. I will never be angry with Mrs. Ellis +again for your sake." + +"Not for _my_ sake, Gertrude," replied Emily, "for your own sake; for +the sake of duty and of God. A few years ago I should not have expected +you to have been pleasant and amiable towards anyone whom you felt +ill-treated you; but now that you know so well what is right; now that +you are familiar with the life of that blessed Master who, when he was +reviled, reviled not again; now that you have learned faithfully to +fulfil so many important duties; I had hoped that you had learned also +to be forbearing under the most trying circumstances. But do not think, +Gertrude, because I remind you when you have done wrong I despair of +your becoming one day all I wish to see you. What you are experiencing +now being a new trial, you must bring new strength to bear upon it; and +I have such confidence in you as to believe that, knowing my wishes, you +will try to behave properly to Mrs. Ellis on all occasions." + +"I will, Miss Emily, I will. I'll not answer her back when she's ugly to +me, if I have to bite my lips to keep them together." + +"O, I do not believe it will be so bad as that," said Emily, smiling. +"Mrs. Ellis's manner is rather rough, but you will get used to her." + +Just then a voice was heard in the entry, "To see _Miss Flint_! Really! +Well, _Miss Flint_ is in Miss Emily's room. She's going to entertain +company, is she?" Gertrude coloured, for it was Mrs. Ellis's voice, and +her tone was very derisive. Emily stepped to the door, and opened +it.--"Mrs.Ellis." + +"What say, Emily?" + +"Is there anyone below?" + +"Yes; a young man wants to see Gertrude; it's that young Sullivan, I +believe." + +"Willie!" exclaimed Gertrude, starting forward. + +"You can go down and see him, Gertrude," said Emily, "Come back here +when he's gone; and, Mrs. Ellis, I wish you would step in and put my +room a little in order. I think you will find plenty of pieces for your +rag-bag about the carpet--Miss Randolph always scatters so many when she +is engaged with her dressmaking." + +Mrs. Ellis made her collection, and then, seating herself on a couch at +the side of the fire-place, with her coloured rags in one hand and the +white in the other, commenced speaking of Gertrude. + +"What are you going to do with her, Emily?" said she; "send her to +school?" + +"Yes. She will go to Mr. W.'s this winter." + +"Why! Isn't that a very expensive school for a child like her?" + +"It is expensive, certainly; but I wish her to be with the best teacher +I know of, and father makes no objection to the terms. He thinks as I +do, that if we undertake to fit her to instruct others, she must be +thoroughly taught herself. I talked with him about it the first night +after we came into town for the season, and he agreed with me that we +had better put her out to learn a trade at once, than half-educate, make +a fine lady of her, and so unfit her for anything. He was willing I +should manage the matter as I pleased, and I resolved to send her to Mr. +W.'s. So she will remain with us for the present. I wish to keep her +with me as long as I can, not only because I am fond of the child, but +she is delicate and sensitive; and now that she is so sad about old Mr. +Flint's death, I think we ought to do all we can to make her happy; +don't you, Mrs. Ellis?" + +"I always calculate to do my duty," said Mrs. Ellis, rather stiffly. +"Where is she going to sleep when we get settled?" + +"In the little room at the end of the passage." + +"Then, where shall I keep the linen press?" + +"Can't it stand in the back entry? I should think the space between the +windows would accommodate it." + +"I suppose it must," said Mrs. Ellis, flouncing out of the room, and +muttering to herself, "everything turned topsy-turvy for the sake of +that little upstart!" + +Mrs. Ellis was vexed. She had long had her own way in the management of +all household matters at Mr. Graham's, and had become rather tyrannical. +She was capable, methodical, and neat; accustomed to a small family, and +now for many years quite _unaccustomed_ to children; Gertrude was in her +eyes an intruder--one who must of necessity be in mischief, continually +deranging her most cherished plans. + +She saw in the new inmate a formidable rival to herself in Miss Graham's +affections; and Mrs. Ellis could not brook the idea of being second in +the regard of Miss Emily, who, owing to her peculiar misfortune, and to +her delicate health, had long been her special charge, and for whom she +felt the greatest tenderness. Owing to these circumstances, Mrs. Ellis +was not favourably disposed towards Gertrude; and Gertrude was not yet +prepared to love Mrs. Ellis very cordially. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +WHO ARE HAPPY? + + +Emily sat alone in her room. Mr. Graham had gone to a meeting of +bank-directors. Mrs. Ellis was stoning raisins in the dining-room. +Willie detained Gertrude in the little library, and Emily was indulging +in a long train of meditation. Her head rested on her hand; her face, +usually so placid, was sad; and her whole appearance denoted +despondency. As thought pressed upon thought, and past sorrows arose in +quick succession, her head gradually sank upon the cushions of the couch +where she sat, and tears slowly trickled through her fingers. Suddenly a +hand was laid softly upon hers. She gave a quick start, as she always +did when surprised, for her unusual pre-occupation of mind had made +Gertrude's approaching step unheard. "Is anything the matter, Miss +Emily?" said Gertrude. "Do you like best to be alone, or may I stay?" + +The sympathetic tone, the delicacy of the child's question, touched +Emily. She drew her towards her, saying, as she did so, "O, yes, stay +with me;" then observing, as she passed an arm round the little girl, +that she trembled, and seemed violently agitated, she added, "But what +is the matter with you, Gerty? What makes you tremble and sob so?" + +At this, Gertrude broke forth with, "O, Miss Emily, I thought you were +crying when I came in, and I hoped you would let me come and cry with +you; for I'm so miserable I can't do anything else." + +Calmed herself by the agitation of the child, Emily tried to discover +the cause of this new affliction. Willie had been to tell her that he +was going away, going out of the country; as Gertrude expressed it, to +the other end of the world--to India. Mr. Clinton was interested in a +mercantile house in Calcutta, and had offered William the most +favourable terms to go abroad as clerk to the establishment. The +prospect was far better than he could hope for by remaining at home; the +salary was sufficient to defray all his own expenses, and provide for +the wants of those who were now becoming more dependent upon him. The +chance, too, of future advancement was great; though the young man's +affectionate heart clung fondly to home and friends, there was no +hesitation in his mind as to the course which both duty and interest +prompted. He agreed to the proposal, and whatever his own struggles were +at the thought of five, or perhaps ten years' banishment, he kept them +manfully to himself, and talked cheerfully about it to his mother and +grandfather. + +"Miss Emily," said Gertrude, when she had acquainted her with the news, +"how can I bear to have Willie go away? How can I live without Willie? +He is so kind, and loves me so much! He was always better than any +brother, and, since Uncle True died, he has done everything in the world +for me. I believe I could not have borne Uncle True's death if it had +not been for Willie; and now how can I let him go away?" + +"It is hard, Gertrude," said Emily, kindly, "but it is no doubt for his +advantage; you must try and think of that." + +"I know it," replied Gertrude--"I suppose it is; but, Miss Emily, you do +not know how I love Willie. We were so much together; and there were +only us two, and we thought everything of each other; he was so much +older than I, and always took such good care of me. O, I don't think you +have any idea what friends we are!" + +Gertrude had unconsciously touched a chord that vibrated through Emily's +whole frame. Her voice trembled as she answered, "_I_, Gertrude! _not +know_, my child! I know better than you imagine, how dear he must be to +you. I, too, had----" then she paused abruptly, and there were a few +moments' silence, during which Emily got up, walked hastily to the +window, pressed her aching head against the frosty glass, and then +returning, said, in a low voice which had recovered its usual calmness, +"O Gertrude! in the grief that oppresses you now, you little realise how +much you have to be thankful for. Think, my dear, what a blessing it is +that Willie will be where you can often hear from him, and where he can +have constant news of his friends." + +"Yes," replied Gerty; "he says he shall write to me and his mother very +often." + +"Then, too," said Emily, "you ought to rejoice at the good opinion Mr. +Clinton must have of Willie: the confidence he must feel in his +uprightness, to place in him so much trust. I think that is very +flattering." + +"So it is," said Gerty; "I did not think of that." + +"And you have lived so happily together," continued Emily, "and will +part in such perfect peace. O Gertrude! Gertrude! such a parting as that +should not make you sad; there are so much worse things in the world. Be +patient, my dear child; do your duty, and perhaps there will some day be +a happy meeting, that will repay you for all you suffer in the +separation." + +Emily's voice trembled as she uttered the last few words. Gertrude's +eyes were fixed upon her friend with a puzzled expression. "Miss Emily," +said she, "I begin to think that everything has trouble." + +"Certainly, Gertrude; can you doubt it?" + +"I did not use to think so. I knew I had, but I thought other folks were +more fortunate. I fancied that rich people were all very happy; and, +though you are blind, and that is a dreadful thing, I supposed you were +used to it; and you always looked so pleasant and quiet, I took it for +granted nothing ever vexed you now. And then, Willie!--I believed once +that nothing could make him look sad, he was always so gay; but when he +hadn't any place, I saw him really cry; and then, when Uncle True died, +and now again to-night, when he was telling me about going away, he +could hardly speak, he felt so badly. And so, Miss Emily, since I see +that you and Willie have troubles, and that tears will come, though you +try to keep them back, I think the world is full of trials, and that +every one gets a share." + +"It is the lot of humanity, Gertrude, and we must not expect it to be +otherwise." + +"Then, who can be happy, Miss Emily?" + +"Those, only, my child, who have learned submission; those who, in the +severest afflictions, see the hand of a loving Father, and obedient to +his will, kiss the chastening rod." + +"It is very hard, Miss Emily." + +"It is hard, my child, and therefore few in this world can rightly be +called happy; but if, even in the midst of our distress, we can look to +God in faith and love, we may, when the world is dark around, experience +a peace that is a foretaste of heaven." + +Willie's departure was sudden, and Mrs. Sullivan had only a week in +which to make those arrangements which a mother's thoughtfulness deems +necessary. Her hands were therefore full of work, and Gerty, whom Emily +at once relinquished for the short time previous to the vessel's +sailing, was of great assistance to her. Willie was very busy during the +day, but was always with them in the evening. + +On one occasion, he returned home about dusk, and his mother and +grandfather both being out, and Gertrude having just put aside her +sewing, he said to her, "Come, Gerty, if you are not afraid of taking +cold, come and sit on the door-step with me, as we used to do in old +times; there will be no more such warm days as this, and we may never +have another chance to sit there, and watch the moon rise above the old +house at the corner." + +"O Willie!" said Gertrude, "do not speak of our never being together in +the old place again! I cannot bear the thought; there is not a house in +Boston I could ever love as I do this." + +"Nor I," replied Willie; "but there is one chance in a hundred if I +should be gone five years that there would not be a block of brick +stores in this spot when I come to look for it. I wish I did not think +so, for I shall have many a longing after the old home." + +"But what will become of your mother and grandfather if this house is +torn down?" + +"It is not easy to tell, Gerty, what will become of any of us by that +time; but, if there is any necessity for their moving, I hope I shall be +able to provide a better house than this for them." + +"You won't be here, Willie." + +"I know it, but I shall be always hearing from you, and we can talk +about it by letters, and arrange everything. The idea of any such +changes, after all," added he, "is what troubles me most in going away; +I think they would miss me and need me so much. Gertrude, you will take +care of them, won't you?" + +"I!" said Gertrude, in amazement; "such a child as I!--what can I do?" + +"If I am gone five or ten years, Gerty, you will not be a child all that +time, and a woman is often a better dependence than a man, especially +such a good brave woman as you will be. I have not forgotten the +beautiful care you took of Uncle True; and, whenever I imagine +grandfather or mother old and helpless, I always think of you, and hope +you will be near them; for I know if you are, you will be a greater help +than I could be. So I leave them in your care, Gerty, though you _are_ +only a child yet." + +"Thank you, Willie," said Gertrude, "for believing I shall do everything +I can for them. I certainly will, as long as I live. But, Willie, _they_ +may be strong and well all the time you are gone; and I, although I am +so young, may be sick and die--nobody knows." + +"That is true enough," said Willie, sadly; "and I may die myself; but it +will not do to think of that. It seems to me I never should have courage +to go, if I didn't hope to find you all well and happy when I come home. +You must write to me every month, for it will be a much greater task to +mother, and I am sure she will want you to do nearly all the writing; +and, whether my letters come directed to her or you, it will be all the +same, you know. And, Gerty, you must not forget me, darling; you must +love me just as much when I am gone--won't you?" + +"Forget you, Willie! I shall be always thinking of you, and loving you +the same as ever. What else shall I have to do? But you will be off in a +strange country, where everything will be different, and you will not +think half as much of me, I know." + +"If you believe that, Gertrude, it is because you do _not_ know. You +will have friends all around you and I shall be alone in a foreign land; +but every day of my life my heart will be with you and my mother." + +They were now interrupted by Mr. Cooper's return, nor did they +afterwards renew the conversation; but the morning Willie left them, +when Mrs. Sullivan was leaning over a neatly-packed trunk in the next +room, trying to hide her tears, and Mr. Cooper's head was bowed lower +than usual, Willie whispered to Gerty, "Gerty, dear, for my sake take +good care of _our_ mother and grandfather--they are _yours_ almost as +much as mine." + +On Willie's thus leaving home, for the first time, to struggle and +strive among men, Mr. Cooper, who could not yet believe that the boy +would be successful in the war with fortune, gave him many a caution +against indulgent hopes which never would be realised. And Mrs. +Sullivan, with tears, said, "Love and fear God, Willie, and do not +disappoint your mother." We pause not to dwell upon the last night the +youth spent at his home, his mother's last evening prayer, her last +morning benediction, the last breakfast they all took together (Gertrude +among the rest), or the final farewell embrace. And Willie went to sea. +And the pious, loving, hopeful woman, who for eighteen years had +cherished her boy with tenderness and pride, maintained now her wonted +spirit of self-sacrifice, and gave him up without a murmur. None knew +how she struggled with her aching heart, or whence came the power that +sustained her. + +And now began Gertrude's residence at Mr. Graham's, hitherto in various +ways interrupted. She attended school, and laboured diligently at her +studies. Her life was varied by few incidents, for Emily never +entertained much company, and in the winter scarcely any, and Gertrude +formed no intimate acquaintance among her companions. With Emily she +passed many happy hours; they took walks, read books, and talked much +with each other, and Miss Graham found that in Gertrude's observing +eyes, and her feeling and glowing descriptions of everything that came +within their gaze, she was herself renewing her acquaintance with the +outer world. In errands of charity and mercy Gertude was either her +attendant or her messenger; and all the dependants of the family, from +the cook to the little boy who called at the door for the fragments of +broken bread, agreed in loving and praising the child, who, though +neither beautiful nor elegantly dressed, had a fairy lightness of step, +a grace of movement, and a dignity of bearing which impressed them all +with the conviction that she was no beggar in spirit, whatever might be +her birth or fortune. Mrs. Ellis's prejudices against her was still +strong; but, as Gertrude was always civil, and Emily prudently kept them +much apart, no unhappy result ensued. + +She went often to see Mrs. Sullivan, and, as the spring advanced, they +began to look for news of Willie. No tidings had come, however, when the +season arrived for the Grahams to remove into the country for the +summer. A letter written by Gertrude to Willie, soon after they were +established there, will give some idea of her situation and mode of +life. + +After dwelling upon the disappointment of having not yet heard from him, +and giving an account of the last visit she had made to his mother +before leaving the city, she wrote: "But you made me promise, Willie, to +write about myself, and said you should wish to hear everything that +occurred at Mr. Graham's which concerned me in anyway; so if my letter +is more tedious than usual, it is your own fault, for I have much to +tell of our removal to D----, and of the way in which we live here, so +different from our life in Boston. I think I hear you say, when you have +read so far, 'O dear! now Gerty is going to give me a description of Mr. +Graham's country-house!'--but you need not be afraid; I have not +forgotten how, the last time I undertook to do so, you placed your hand +over my mouth to stop me, and assured me you knew the place as well as +if you had lived there all your life, for I oft described it to you. +Everything looks smaller and less beautiful than it seemed to me then; +and, though I will not describe it to you again, I must just tell you +that the entry and piazzas are much narrower than I expected, the rooms +lower, and the garden and summer-houses not nearly so large. Miss Emily +asked me, a day or two ago, how I liked the place, and if it looked as +it used formerly. I told her the truth; and she was not at all +displeased, but laughed at my old recollections of the house and +grounds, and said it was always so with things we had seen when we were +little children. + +"I need not tell you that Miss Emily is kind to me as ever; for nobody +who knows her as you do would suppose she could ever be anything but the +best and loveliest person in the world. I can never do half enough, +Willie, to repay her for all her goodness to me; and yet, she is so +pleased with little gifts, and so grateful for trifling attentions, that +it seems as if everybody might do something to make her happy. I found a +few violets in the grass yesterday, and when I brought them to her she +kissed and thanked me as if they had been so many diamonds; and little +Ben Gately, who picked a hatful of dandelion-blossoms, without a single +stem, and then rang at the front-door bell, and asked for Miss Ga'am, so +as to give them to her himself, got a sweet smile for his trouble, and a +'thank you, Bennie,' that he will not soon forget. Wasn't it pleasant +in Miss Emily, Willie? + +"Mr. Graham has given me a garden, and I mean to have plenty of flowers +for her by-and-by--that is, if Mrs. Ellis doesn't interfere; but I +expect she will, for she does in almost everything. Willie, Mrs. Ellis +is my _great_ trial. She is just the kind of person I cannot endure. I +believe there are some people that other people _can't_ like--and she is +just the sort I can't. I would not tell anybody else so, because it +would not be right, and I do not know that it is right to mention it at +all; but I always tell you everything. Miss Emily talks to me about her, +and says I must learn to love her, and _when I do_ I shall be an angel. + +"There, I know you will think that is some of Gerty's old temper; and +perhaps it is, but you don't know how she tries me; it is in little +things that I cannot tell very easily, and I would not plague you with +them if I could, so I won't write about her any more--I will try to love +her dearly. + +"You will think that now, while I am not going to school, I shall hardly +know what to do with my time; but I have plenty to do. The first week +after we came here I found the mornings very dull. You know I am always +an early riser; but, as it does not agree with Miss Emily to keep early +hours, I never see her until eight o'clock, full two hours after I am up +and dressed. When we were in Boston, I always spent that time studying; +but this spring, Miss Emily, who noticed that I was growing fast, and +heard Mr. Arnold notice how pale I looked, fancied it would not do for +me to spend so much time at my books; and so, when we came to D----, she +planned my study-hours, which are very few, and arranged that they +should take place after breakfast, and in her own room. She always +advised me, if I could, to sleep later in the morning; but I could not, +and was up at my usual time, wandering around the garden. One day I was +quite surprised to find Mr. Graham at work, for it was not like his +winter habits; but he is a queer man. He asked me to come and help him +plant onion-seeds, and I rather think I did it pretty well; for after +that he let me plant a number of things, and label little sticks to put +down by the side of them. At last, to my joy, he offered to give me a +piece of ground for a garden, where I might raise flowers. And so I am +to have a garden. But I am making a very long story, Willie, and have +not time to say a thousand other things that I want to. O! if I could +see you, I could tell you in an hour more than I could write in a week. +In five minutes I expect to hear Miss Emily's bell, and then she will +send for me to come and read to her. + +"I long to hear from you, dear Willie, and pray to God morning and +evening, to keep you in safety, and soon send tidings of you to your +loving GERTY." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE RULING PASSION CONTROLLED. + + +A few weeks after the date of this letter, Gerty learned through George, +who went daily to the city to attend to the marketing, that Mrs. +Sullivan had left word at the shop of our old acquaintance, the butcher, +that she had received a letter from Willie, and wanted Gerty to come +into town and see it. Emily was willing to let her go, but afraid it +would be impossible to arrange it, as Charlie, the only horse Mr. Graham +kept, was in use, and she saw no other way of sending her. "Why don't +you let her go in the omnibus?" asked Mrs. Ellis. Gerty looked +gratefully at Mrs. Ellis; it was the first time that lady had ever +seemed anxious to promote her views. + +"I don't think it's safe for her to go alone in the coach," said Emily. + +"Safe!--What, for that great girl!" said Mrs. Ellis, whose position in +the family had no forms of restraint with Miss Graham. + +"Do you think it is?" inquired Emily. "She seems a child to me, to be +sure; but as you say, she is almost grown up, and I dare say is capable +of taking care of herself. Gertrude, are you sure you know the way from +the omnibus-office in Boston to Mrs. Sullivan's?" + +"Perfectly well, Miss Emily." + +A place was therefore secured, and Gertrude set forth on her expedition +with beaming eyes and a full heart. She found Mrs. Sullivan and Mr. +Cooper well, and rejoicing over the tidings from Willie, who, after a +long but agreeable voyage, had reached Calcutta in health and safety. A +description of his new home, his new duties and employers, filled all +the rest of the letter, except what was devoted to affectionate messages +and inquiries, a large share of which were for Gerty. Gertrude dined +with Mrs. Sullivan, and then hastened to the omnibus. She took her seat, +and as she waited for the coach to start, amused herself with the +passers-by. It was nearly three o'clock, and she began to think she +should be the only passenger, when she heard a strange voice proceeding +from a person whose approach she had not perceived. She moved towards +the door, and saw, standing at the back of the coach, the most +singular-looking being she had ever beheld. It was an old lady, small, +and considerably bent with years. She had been vainly endeavouring to +mount the inconvenient vehicle, and now, with one foot upon the lower +step, was calling to the driver to help her. "Sir," said she, in +measured tones, "is this travelling equipage under your honourable +charge?" + +"What say, marm?--Yes, I'm the driver;" saying which, he came up to the +door, opened it, and without waiting for the polite request which was on +the old lady's lips, placed his hand beneath her elbow, and lifted her +into the coach and shut the door. "Bless me!" ejaculated she, as she +seated herself opposite Gertrude, and began to arrange her veil and +other draperies, "that individual is not versed in the art of assisting +a lady, without detriment to her habiliments. O dear, O dear!" added +she, "I've lost my parasol." + +She rose as she spoke; but the sudden starting of the coach threw her +off her balance, and she would have fallen, had it not been for +Gertrude, who caught her by the arm, and reseated her, saying as she did +so, "Do not be alarmed, madam; here is the parasol." + +As she spoke she drew into view the missing article, which, though +nearly the size of an umbrella, was fastened to the old lady's waist by +a green ribbon, and, having slipped out of place, was supposed lost. And +not a parasol only did she bring to light; numerous other articles, +connected with the same green string--a large reticule of various +colours, a black lace cap, a large feather fan, and other articles. +They were partly hidden under a thin black silk shawl, and Gertrude +began to think her companion had been on a pilfering expedition. If so, +however, the culprit seemed remarkably at ease, for, before the coach +had gone many steps, she deliberately placed her feet on the opposite +seat, and proceeded to make herself comfortable. In the first place, +much to Gertrude's horror, she took out all her teeth, and put them in +her work-bag; then drew off a pair of black silk gloves, and replaced +them by cotton ones; removed her lace veil, folded and pinned it to the +green string. She next untied her bonnet, threw over it, as a protection +from the dust, a large cotton handkerchief, and loosing her fan, applied +herself diligently to the use of it, closing her eyes as she did so, +evidently intending to go to sleep. She did fall into a doze, for she +was very quiet, and Gertrude, occupied with observing some heavy clouds +that were rising from the west, forgot to observe her fellow traveller, +until she was startled by a hand suddenly laid upon her own, and an +abrupt exclamation of "My dear young damsel, do not those dark shadows +betoken adverse weather?" + +"I think it will rain very soon," replied Gertrude. + +"This morn, when I ventured forth," soliloquised the old lady, "the sun +was bright, the sky serene; even the winged songsters took part in the +universal joy; and now before I get home, my delicate lace flounces +(glancing at the skirt of her dress) will prove a sacrifice to the +pitiless storm." + +"Does the coach pass your door?" asked Gertrude. + +"No; Oh, no! not within half-a-mile. Does it better accommodate you, my +young miss?" + +"No. I shall have a mile to walk." + +The coach had reached its destination, and the two passengers alighted. +Gertrude would have started at once on her walk, but was prevented by +the old lady, who begged her to wait, as she was going the same way. The +old lady refused to pay the fare demanded by the driver; and declared it +was not the regular fare, and accused the man of an intention to put the +excess into his pocket. Gertrude was impatient, for she was every moment +expecting to see the rain pour in torrents; but the matter being +compromised, she was permitted to proceed. They had walked about a +quarter-of-a-mile, and at a very slow rate, when the rain fell; and now +Gertrude was asked to unloose the huge parasol, and carry it over her +companion and herself. In this way they had walked nearly as much more +of the distance, when the waters began to descend as if all the +reservoirs of heaven were thrown open. Just then Gertrude heard a step +behind them, and, turning, she saw George, Mr. Graham's man, running in +the direction of the house. He recognised her at once, and exclaimed, +"Miss Gertrude, you'll be wet through; and Miss Pace too. Sure, and ye'd +better baith hasten to her house, where ye'll be secure." + +So saying, he caught Miss Pace in his arms, and signing to Gertrude to +follow, rushed across the street, and hurrying on to a cottage near by, +did not stop until he had placed the old lady in safety beneath her own +porch; and Gerty also gained its shelter. Miss Pace was so bewildered +that it took her some minutes to recover her consciousness; and it was +arranged that Gertrude should stop where she was for an hour or two, and +that George should call for her when he passed that way with the +carriage on his return from the depot. + +Miss Patty Pace was not a person of much hospitality. She owned the +cottage which she occupied and lived alone, keeping no servants and +entertaining no visitors. She was herself a famous visitor; and, as but +a small part of her life had been passed in D----, and all her friends +and connexions lived either in Boston or at a much greater distance, she +was a constant frequenter of omnibuses. But though, through her +travelling propensities and her regular attendance at church, she was +well known, Gertrude was perhaps the first visitor who had ever entered +her house. + +Even when she was at her door, she had to take the old lady's key, +unlock and open it herself, and finally lead her hostess into the +parlour, and help her off with her innumerable capes, shawls, and veils. +Once come to a distinct consciousness of her situation, however, and +Miss Patty Pace conducted herself with all the elegant politeness for +which she was remarkable. Suffering a thousand regrets at the trying +experience her own clothes had sustained, she expressed nearly as many +fears lest Gertrude had ruined every article of her dress. It was only +after many assurances from the latter that her boots were scarcely wet +at all, her gingham dress and cape not hurt by rain, and her nice straw +bonnet safe under the scarf she had thrown over it, that Miss Patty +could be prevailed upon to so far forget the duties of a hostess as to +retire, and change her lace flounces for something more suitable for +home wear. As soon as she left the room, Gertrude, whose curiosity was +excited, took a nearer view of many articles, both of ornament and use, +which had attracted her attention, from their singular appearance. Miss +Pace's room was remarkable as its owner. Its furniture, like her +apparel, was made up of the gleanings of every age and fashion. +Gertrude's quick eye was revelling amid the few relics of ancient +eloquence, and the numerous specimens of folly and bad taste, when the +old lady returned. + +A neat though quaint black dress having taken the place of the +much-valued flounces, she now looked more lady-like. She held in her +hand a tumbler of pepper and water, and begged her visitor to drink, +assuring her it would warm her stomach and prevent her taking cold; and +when Gertrude, who could scarcely keep from laughing in her face, +declined the beverage, Miss Patty seated herself, and, while enjoying +the refreshment, carried on a conversation which at one moment satisfied +her visitor she was a women of sense, and the next that she was either +foolish or insane. The impression which Gertrude made upon Miss Patty +was more decided. Miss Patty was delighted with the young miss, and +declared she had an intellect that would do honour to a queen, a figure +that was airy as a gazelle, and motions more graceful than those of a +swan. When George came for Gertrude, Miss Pace was sorry to part with +her, invited her to come again, and she promised to do so. + +The satisfactory news from Willie, and the amusing adventures of the +afternoon, had given to Gertrude such a feeling of buoyancy, that she +bounded into the house, and up the stairs, with that fairy quickness +Uncle True had so loved to see in her, and which, since his death, her +subdued spirits had rarely permitted her to exercise. + +At the door of her room she met Bridget, the housemaid. On inquiring +what was going on there, she learned that during her absence her room +had received a thorough cleaning. Alarmed at the idea of Mrs. Ellis +having invaded her premises, she surveyed the apartment with a slight +feeling of agitation, which, as she continued her observations, swelled +into angry excitement. + +When Gertrude went from Mrs. Sullivan's to Mr. Graham's house in the +city, she took with her a trunk containing her wardrobe, an old bandbox, +which she put on the shelf of a closet in her chamber. There it remained +during the winter, unpacked, and when the family went into the country, +the box went also, carefully protected by its owner, who had put it in a +corner behind the bed, and the evening before her expedition to the city +had been engaged in inspecting its contents, endeared to her by the +charm of old association, and many a tear had the little maiden shed +over her stock of valuables. There was the figure of the Samuel, Uncle +True's first gift, defaced by time and accident. There, too, were his +pipes, dark with smoke and age; but as she thought what comfort they had +been to him, she felt them a consolation to her. She had also his +lantern, for she had not forgotten its pleasant light, the first that +ever fell upon the darkness of her life; also his fur cap, beneath which +she had often seen the kindly smile, and could hardly realise that there +was not one for her still hidden beneath its crown. + +All these things, excepting the lantern and cap, Gertrude had left upon +the mantel-piece; and on entering the room, her eye sought her +treasures. They were gone. The mantel-piece was empty. She ran towards +the corner for the old box. It was gone. To rush after the housemaid and +question her was but the work of an instant. + +Bridget was a new-comer, a stupid specimen, but Gertrude obtained from +her all the information she needed. The image, the pipes, and the +lantern were thrown among a heap of broken glass and crockery, and +smashed to atoms. The cap, said to be moth-eaten, and the other articles +had been cast into the fire at Mrs. Ellis's orders. Gertrude allowed +Bridget to depart, unaware of the greatness of her loss; then, shutting +the door, she wept. + +She rose from the bed suddenly, and started for the door; then, some new +thought seeming to check her, she returned again to the bedside, and, +with a loud sob, fell upon her knees, and buried her face in her hands. +Once or twice she lifted her head, and seemed on the point of rising and +going to face her enemy; but each time something came across her mind +and detained her. It was not fear; oh, no! Gertrude was not afraid of +anybody. It must have been some stronger motive than that. Whatever it +might be, it was something that had a soothing influence, for, after +every fresh struggle, she grew calmer, and rising, seated herself in a +chair by the window, leaned her head on her hand, and looked out. The +shower was over, and the smiles of the refreshed earth were reflected in +a glowing rainbow. A little bird came and perched on a branch of a tree +close to the window, and shouted forth a _Te Deum_. A Persian +lilac-bush, in full bloom, sent up a delicious fragrance. A wonderful +calm stole into Gertrude's heart, and she felt "the grace that brings +peace succeed to the passions that produce trouble." She had conquered; +she had achieved the greatest of earth's victories, a victory over +herself. The brilliant rainbow, the carol of the bird, the fragrance of +the blossoms, all the bright things that gladdened the earth after the +storm, were not half so beautiful as the light that overspread the face +of the young girl when, the storm within her laid at rest, she looked up +to heaven and her heart sent forth its silent offering of praise. + +The sound of the tea-bell startled her. She bathed her face and brushed +her hair, and went downstairs. There was no one in the dining-room but +Mrs. Ellis; Mr. Graham had been detained in town, and Emily was +suffering severe headache. Gertrude took tea alone with Mrs. Ellis, who, +unaware of the great value Gertrude attached to her old relics, was +conscious she had done an unkind thing. + +Next day Mrs. Prime, the cook, came to Emily's room, and produced the +little basket, made of a nut, saying, "I wonder now, Miss Emily, where +Miss Gertrude is; for I've found her little basket in the coal-hole, and +I guess she'll be right glad on't--'tan't hurt a mite." Emily inquired, +"What basket?" and the cook, placing it in her hands, gave an account of +the destruction of Gertrude's property, which she had herself witnessed +with indignation. She described the distress of Gertrude when +questioning Bridget, which the sympathising cook had heard from her +chamber. + +As Emily listened to the story, she thought the previous afternoon she +heard Gertrude sobbing in her room, but that she concluded that she +mistook. "Go," said she, "and carry the basket to Gertrude; she is in +the little library; but please, Mrs. Prime, don't tell her that you have +mentioned the matter to me." Emily expected for several days, to hear +from Gertrude the story of her injuries; but Gertrude kept her trouble +to herself. + +This was the first instance of complete self-control to Gerty. From this +time she experienced more and more the power of governing herself; and, +with each new effort gaining new strength, became at last a wonder to +those who knew the temperament she had had to contend with. She was now +nearly fourteen years old, and so rapid had been her recent growth that, +instead of being below the usual stature, she was taller than most girls +of her age. Freedom from study, and plenty of air and exercise, +prevented her, however, from suffering from this circumstance. Her +garden was a source of great pleasure to her, and flowers prospering +under her careful training, she had always a bouquet ready to place by +Emily's plate at breakfast-time. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE NURSE. + + +Mr. Graham's garden was very beautiful, abounding in rich shrubbery, +summer houses, and arbours covered with grape-vines; but a high, broad +fence hid it from public view, and the house, standing back from the +road, was old-fashioned in its appearance. The summer was passing most +happily, and Gertrude, in the enjoyment of Emily's society, and in the +consciousness that she was rendering herself useful and important to +this excellent friend, was finding in every day new causes of +contentment and rejoicing, when a stop was suddenly put to all her +pleasure. + +Emily was taken ill with a fever, and Gertrude, on her entering the +sick-room, to share in its duties, was rudely repulsed by Mrs. Ellis, +who had constituted herself sole nurse, and who declared that the fever +was catching, and Miss Emily did not want her there. + +For three or four days Gertrude wandered about the house, inconsolable. +On the fifth morning after her banishment from the room, she saw Mrs. +Prime, the cook, going upstairs with some gruel; and, giving her some +beautiful rose-buds which she had gathered, she begged her to give them +to Emily, and ask if she might not come in and see her. She lingered +about the kitchen awaiting Mrs. Prime's return, in hopes of some +message, at least, from the sufferer. But when the cook came down the +flowers were still in her hand, and as she threw them on the table, the +kind-hearted woman gave vent to her feelings. + +"Well! folks do say that first-rate cooks and nurses are allers as cross +as bears! 'Tan't for me to say whether it's so 'bout cooks, but 'bout +nurses there an't no sort o'doubt! I would not want to go there, Miss +Gertrude; I'm sure she'd bit your head off." + +"Wouldn't Miss Emily take the flowers?" asked Gertrude, looking quite +grieved. + +"Well, she hadn't no word in the matter. You know she couldn't see what +they were; and Mrs. Ellis flung 'em outside the door, vowin' I might as +well bring pison into the room with a fever as roses. I tried to speak +to Miss Emily, but Mrs. Ellis set up such a hush-sh-sh I s'posed she was +goin' to sleep, and jest made the best o' my way out. Ugh! don't she +begin to scold when there's anybody taken sick!" + +Gertrude sauntered out into the garden. She had nothing to do but think +anxiously about Emily, who, she feared, was very ill. Her work and her +books were all in Emily's room, where they were usually kept; the +library might have furnished amusement, but it was locked up. So the +garden was the only thing left for her, and there she spent the rest of +the morning; and many others, for Emily grew worse, and a fortnight +passed away without Gertrude's seeing her, or having any other +intimation regarding her health than Mrs. Ellis's occasional report to +Mr. Graham, who, as he saw the physician every day, and made frequent +visits to his daughter, did not require that particular information +which Gertrude was eager to obtain. Once or twice she had asked Mrs. +Ellis, who replied, "Don't bother me with questions! what do you know +about sickness?" + +One afternoon Gertrude was sitting in a large summer-house at the end of +the garden; her own piece of ground, fragrant with mignonette and +verbena, was close by, and she was busily engaged in tying up some +little papers of seeds, when she was startled by hearing a step beside +her, and looking up, saw Dr. Jeremy, the family physician, entering the +building. + +"Ah! what are you doing?" said the doctor, in a quick manner peculiar to +him. "Sorting seeds, eh?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Gerty, blushing, as she saw the doctor's keen black +eyes scrutinising her face! + +"Where have I seen you before?" asked he, in the same blunt way. + +"At Mr. Flint's." + +"Ah! True Flint's! I remember all about it. You're his girl! Nice girl, +too! And poor True, he's dead! Well, he's a loss to the community! So +this is the little nurse I used to see there. Bless me! how children do +grow!" + +"Doctor Jeremy," asked Gertrude, in an earnest voice, "will you please +to tell me how Miss Emily is?" + +"Emily! she an't very well just now." + +"Do you think she'll die?" + +"Die! No! What should she die for? I won't let her die, if you'll help +me to keep her alive. Why an't you in the house taking care of her?" + +"I wish I might!" exclaimed Gertrude, starting up; "I wish I might!" + +"What's to hinder?" + +"Mrs. Ellis, sir; she won't let me in; she says Miss Emily doesn't want +anybody but her." + +"She's nothing to say about it, or Emily either; it's my business, and I +want you. I'd rather have you to take care of my patients than all the +Mrs. Ellises in the world. She knows nothing about nursing; let her +stick to her cranberry-sauce and squash-pies. So, mind, to-morrow you're +to begin." + +"O, thank you, doctor." + +"Don't thank me yet; wait till you've tried it--it's hard work taking +care of sick folks. Whose orchard is that?" + +"Mrs. Bruce's." + +"Is that her pear-tree?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"By George, Mrs. Bruce, I'll try your pears for you!" + +As he spoke, the doctor, a man some sixty-five years of age, stout and +active, sprung over a stone wall, which separated them from the +orchard, and reached the foot of the tree almost at a bound. + +As Gertrude watched the proceeding, she observed the doctor stumble over +some obstacle, and only saved himself from falling by stretching forth +both hands, and sustaining himself against the trunk of the tree. At the +same instant a head, adorned with a velvet smoking-cap, was slowly +lifted from the long grass, and a youth, about sixteen or seventeen +years of age, stared at the intruder. + +Nothing daunted, the doctor at once took the offensive ground towards +the occupant of the place, saying, "Get up, lazy bones! What do you lie +there for, tripping up honest folks?" + +"Whom do you call honest folks, sir?" inquired the youth, apparently +undisturbed by the doctor's epithet and inquiry. He showed much _sang +froid_. + +"I call myself and my little friend here remarkably honest people," +replied the doctor, winking at Gertrude, who, standing behind the wall +and looking over, was laughing at the way in which the doctor had got +caught. The young man turned, and gave a broad stare at Gertrude's merry +face. + +"Can I do anything for you, sir?" asked he. + +"Yes, certainly," replied the doctor. "I came here to help myself to +pears; but you are taller than I--perhaps, with the help of that +crooked-handled cane of yours, you can reach that best branch." + +"A remarkably honourable and honest errand!" muttered the young man. "I +shall be happy to be engaged in so good a cause." And, drawing down the +branch, so that he could reach it with his hand, shook it vigorously. +The ripe fruit fell on every side; and the doctor, having filled his +pockets, and both his hands, started for the other side of the wall. + +"Have you got enough?" asked the youth, in a very lazy tone of voice. + +"Plenty, plenty," said the doctor. + +"Glad of it," said the boy, indolently throwing himself on the grass, +and still staring at Gertrude. + +"You must be very tired," said the doctor, stepping back a pace or two; +"I'm a physician, and should advise a nap." + +"Are you, indeed!" replied the youth, in the same half-drawling, +half-ironical tone of voice; "then I think I'll take your advice;" and +he threw himself upon the grass, and closed his eyes. + +Having emptied his pockets upon the seat of the summer-house, and +invited Gertrude to partake, the doctor, still laughing at his boyish +feat, looked at his watch. "Half-past four! The cars go in ten minutes. +Who's going to drive me down to the depot?" + +"I don't know, sir," replied Gertrude. + +"Where's George?" + +"He's gone to the meadow to get in some hay, but he left white Charlie +harnessed in the yard; I saw him fasten him to the chain, after he drove +you up from the cars." + +"Ah! then you can drive me down to the depot." + +"I can't, sir; I don't know how." + +"But you must; I'll show you how. You're not afraid?" + +"O, no, sir; but Mr. Graham----" + +"Never you mind Mr. Graham--do you mind me. I'll answer for your coming +back safe enough." + +Gertrude was naturally courageous; she had never driven before, but, +having no fears, she succeeded admirably, and, being often afterwards +called upon by Dr. Jeremy to perform the same service, she soon became +skilful in the use of the reins. + +Dr. Jeremy was true to his promise of installing Gertrude in Emily's +sick room. The next visit he made to his patient, he spoke in terms of +the highest praise of Gertrude's devotion to her old uncle, and her +capability as a nurse, and asked why she had been expelled from the +chamber. + +"She is timid," said Emily, "and is afraid of catching the fever." + +"Don't believe it," said Dr. Jeremy; "'tan't like her." + +"Do you think not?" inquired Emily, earnestly. "Mrs. Ellis----" + +"Told a lie," interrupted the doctor. "Gerty wants to come and take care +of you, and she knows how as well as Mrs. Ellis any day; it isn't much +you need done. You want quiet, and that's what you can't have with that +great talking woman about. So I'll send her to Jericho to-day, and bring +my little Gertrude up here. She's a quiet little mouse, and has got a +head on her shoulders." + +It is not to be supposed that Gertrude could provide for Emily's wants +any better than Mrs. Ellis; and Emily, knowing this, took care that the +housekeeper should not be sent to Jericho; for, though Dr. Jeremy, a man +of strong prejudices, did not like her, she was excellent in her +department, and could not be dispensed with. + +So, though Emily, Dr. Jeremy, and Gertrude were all made happy by the +free admission of the latter to the sick-room, the housekeeper was never +conscious that anyone knew her ill-will to Gertrude. + +There were care and tenderness in Gertrude, which only the warmest love +could have dictated. When Emily awoke at night from a troubled sleep, +she found a cooling draught ready at her lips, and knew from Mrs. +Ellis's deep snoring that it was not her hand that held it--when she +observed that all day long no troublesome fly was ever permitted to +approach her pillow, her aching head was relieved by hours of patient +bathing, and the little feet that were never weary were always +noiseless--she realised the truth that Dr. Jeremy had brought her a most +excellent medicine. A week or two passed away, and she was able to sit +up, though not yet able to leave her room. A few weeks more, and the +doctor began to insist upon air and exercise. "Drive out two or three +times every day," said he. + +"How can I?" said Emily. "George has so much to do, it will be very +inconvenient." + +"Let Gertrude drive you; she is a capital hand." + +"Gertrude," said Emily, smiling, "I believe you are a great favourite of +the doctor's; he thinks you can do anything. You never drove, did you?" + +"Hasn't she driven me to the depot every day for these six weeks?" +inquired the doctor. + +"Is it possible?" asked Emily. + +Upon her being assured this was the case, and the doctor insisting that +there was no danger, Charlie was harnessed into the carriage, and Emily +and Mrs. Ellis went out to drive with Gertrude, an experiment which, +being often repeated, was a source of health to the invalid, and +pleasure to them all. In the early autumn, when Emily's health was +restored, old Charlie was daily called into requisition; sometimes Mrs. +Ellis accompanied them, but, as she was often engaged in household +duties, they oft went by themselves, in a large, old-fashioned buggy, +and Emily declared that Gertrude's learning to drive had proved a great +source of happiness. Once or twice, in the course of the summer and +autumn, Gertrude saw again the lazy youth whom Dr. Jeremy had stumbled +over when he went to steal pears. Once he came and sat on the wall while +she was at work in her garden, professed himself astonished at her +activity, talked a little with her about her flowers, asked some +questions concerning her friend Dr. Jeremy, and ended by requesting to +know her name. + +Gertrude blushed; she was sensitive about her name, and, though she went +by that of Flint, and did not think much about it, she could not fail to +remember, when the question was put to her point-blank, that she had no +surname of her own. Emily had tried to find Nan Grant, in order to learn +from her something of Gertrude's early history; but Nan had left her old +habitation, and for years nothing had been heard of her. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +CHANGES. + + +It was the twilight of a sultry September day, and, wearied by excessive +heat, Emily sat on the front piazza of her father's house, inhaling a +delicious and refreshing breeze. The western sky was still streaked with +brilliant lines of red, the lingering effects of a gorgeous sunset, +while the moon, now nearly at the full, and triumphing in the close of +day and the commencement of her nightly reign, cast her full beams upon +Emily's white dress, and gave to the beautiful hand and arm, which, +escaping from the draperied sleeve, rested on the side of her rustic +arm-chair, the semblance of polished marble. Ten years had passed since +Emily was introduced to the reader; and yet, so slight were the changes +wrought by time, that she looked little older than on her first meeting +Gertrude in Mr. Arnold's church. + +She had even then experienced much of the sorrows of life, and learned +how to distil from the bitter dregs of suffering a balm for every pain. +Even then, that experience, and the blessed knowledge she had gained +from it, had both stamped themselves upon her countenance; therefore, +time had little power upon her; as she was then so was she now; lovely +in her outward appearance, and still more lovely in heart and life. +Still a close observer might perceive in her a greater degree of +buoyancy of spirit, keenness of interest in what was going on about her, +and evident enjoyment of life, and this was due, as Emily acknowledged, +to her recent close companionship with one to whom she was bound by the +warmest affection, and who, by her sympathy, her constant devotion, her +natural appreciation of the entertaining and the ludicrous, and the +beautiful and true, and her unsparing efforts to bring her much-loved +friend into communion with everything she herself enjoyed, had called +into play faculties which blindness had rendered almost dormant, and +become, what Uncle True bade her be, eyes to her benefactor. + +On the present occasion, as Emily sat alone, her thoughts were sad. She +held her head a little on one side, in a listening attitude, and, as +often as she heard the sound of the gate swinging in the breeze, she +would start, while a look of anxiety, and even pain, would cross her +features. + +At length, some one approaches the gate. None but Emily's quick ear +could have distinguished the light step; but she hears it at once, and, +rising, goes to meet the new comer, whom we must pause to introduce, +for, though an old acquaintance, time has not left her unchanged, and it +would be hard to recognize in her our little quondam Gertrude, for she +has now become a young lady. She is some inches taller than Emily, and +her figure is slight and delicate. Her complexion is dark, but clear, +and rendered brilliant by the rosy hue that flushes her cheeks; but that +may be the effect of her rapid walk from the railroad station. + +Gertrude's eyes have retained their old lustre, and do not now look too +large for her face; and, if her mouth be less classically formed than +the strict rule of beauty would commend, it is atoned for by two rows of +small pearly teeth, which are as regular as a string of beads. Her neat +dress of spotted muslin fits close to her throat, and her black mantle +does not hide the roundness of her taper waist. + +Is Gertrude a beauty? By no means. Hers is a face and form about which +there would be a thousand different opinions, and few would pronounce +her beautiful. But there are faces whose ever-varying expression one +loves to watch--tell-tale faces, that speak the truth and proclaim the +sentiment within; faces that now light up with intelligence, now beam +with mirth, now sadden at the tale of sorrow, now burn with a holy +indignation for that which the soul abhors, and faces sanctified by the +divine presence, when the heart turns from the world and itself, and +looks upward in the spirit of devotion. Such a face was Gertrude's. +There are forms which, though neither dignified nor fairy-like, possess +a grace, an ease, a power of moving airily in their sphere--and such a +form was Gertrude's. Whatever charm these attractions might give +her--and many estimated it highly--it was greatly enhanced by an utter +unconsciousness, on her part, of possessing any attractions at all. + +As she perceived Miss Graham coming to meet her, she quickened her pace, +and joining her near the door-step, where a path led into the garden, +passed her arm affectionately over Emily's shoulder, in a manner which +the latter's blindness, and Gertrude's superior height and ability to +act as guide, had rendered usual, and said, while she drew the shawl +closer around her blind friend, "Here I am again, Miss Emily! Have you +been alone since I went away?" + +"Yes, dear, most of the time, and have been worried to think you were +travelling about in Boston this excessive warm day." + +"It has not hurt me in the least; I only enjoy this cool breeze all the +more--it is such a contrast to the heat and dust of the city!" + +"But, Gerty," said Emily, stopping short in their walk, "what are you +coming away from the house for? You have not been to tea, my child." + +"I know it, Emily, but I don't want any supper." + +They walked slowly and in perfect silence. At last Emily said, "Well, +Gertrude, have you nothing to tell me?" + +"O yes, a great deal, but----" + +"But you know it will be sad news to me, and so you don't like to speak +it; is it not so?" + +"I ought not to have the vanity, dear Emily, to think it would trouble +you very much; but ever since last evening, when I told you what Mr. W. +said, and what I had in my mind, and you seemed to feel so badly at the +thought of our being separated, I have felt almost doubtful what it was +right for me to do." + +"And I, on the other hand, Gertrude, have been reproaching myself for +allowing you to have any knowledge of my feeling in the matter, lest I +should be influencing you against your duty. I feel that you are right, +Gertrude, and that, instead of opposing, I ought to do everything I can +to forward your plans." + +"Dear Emily!" said Gertrude, "if you thought so from what I told you +yesterday, you would be convinced had you observed all that I have +to-day." + +"Why! Are matters any worse than they were at Mrs. Sullivan's?" + +"Much worse than I described to you. I did not then know all that she +had to contend with; but I have been at their house since I left home +this morning (for Mr. W. did not detain me five minutes), and it does +not seem safe for such a delicate woman as Mrs. Sullivan to be alone +with Mr. Cooper, now that his mind is in such a state." + +"But do you think you can do any good?" + +"I know I can, dear Emily; I can manage him much better than she can, +and do more for his comfort. He is like a child now, and full of whims. +When he can be indulged, Mrs. Sullivan will please him at any amount of +inconvenience, and even danger to herself, not only because he is her +father, and she feels it her duty, but she is afraid of him, he is so +irritable and violent. She tells me he often takes it into his head to +do the strangest things, such as going out late at night, when it is +unsafe, and sleeping with his window wide open." + +"Poor woman!" exclaimed Emily; "what does she do in such cases?" + +"I can tell you, Emily, for I saw an instance of it to-day. When I went +in this morning, he was preparing to make a coal-fire in the grate, +notwithstanding the heat, which was becoming intense in the city." + +"And Mrs. Sullivan?" said Emily. + +"Was sitting on the lower stair, in the front entry, crying." + +"Poor thing!" murmured Emily. + +"She could do nothing with him," continued Gertrude, "and had given up +in despair." + +"She ought to have a strong woman or a man to take care of him." + +"That is what she dreads worse than anything. She says it would kill her +to see him unkindly treated, as he would be sure to be by a stranger; +and, besides, she shrinks from the idea of having anyone in the house to +whom she is unaccustomed. She is very neat and particular in all her +arrangements, has always done her work herself; and declares she would +sooner admit a wild beast into her family than an Irish girl." + +"Her new house has not been a source of much pleasure to her yet, has +it?" + +"Oh, no. She was saying to-day how strange it seemed when she had been +looking forward so long to the comfort of a new tenement, that, just as +she had moved in and got everything furnished to her mind, she should +have this great trial." + +"It seems strange to me," said Emily, "that she did not sooner perceive +its approach. I noticed when I went with you the failure in the old +man's intellect." + +"I had observed it for a long time," remarked Gertrude, "but never spoke +of it to her; and I do not think she was in the least aware of it, until +about their removal, when the breaking-up of old associations affected +his mind." + +"Sad thing!" said Emily. "How old is he?" + +"I believe he is very old; I remember Mrs. Sullivan's telling me some +time ago that he was near eighty." + +"Is he so old as that? Then I am not surprised that these changes have +made him childish." + +"Oh, no. Melancholy, as it is, we may come to the same if we live to his +age; and as he seems generally contented, I do not lament it so much on +his own account as Mrs. Sullivan's." + +"Does it seem hard for her to bear up under it?" + +"I think it would not be if she were well; but there is something the +matter with her, and I fear it is more serious than she allows, for she +looks very pale, and has had several alarming ill turns lately." + +"Has she consulted a physician?" + +"No; she doesn't wish for one, and says she shall soon be better; but I +do not feel sure that she will, especially as she takes no care of +herself; and that is one reason I wish to be in town as soon as +possible. I am anxious to have Dr. Jeremy see her, and I can bring it +about without her knowing that he comes on her account." + +"You speak confidently of being in town, Gertrude; so I suppose it is +all arranged." + +"Oh, I have not told you, have I, about my visit to Mr. W.? Dear, good +man, how grateful I ought to be to him! He has promised me the +situation." + +"I had no doubt he would, from what you told me he said to you at Mrs. +Bruce's." + +"You hadn't, really! Why, Emily, I was almost afraid to mention it to +him. I couldn't believe he would have sufficient confidence in me; but +he was so kind! I hardly dare tell you what he said about my capacity to +teach, you will think me so vain." + +"You need not tell me, my darling; I know from his own lips how highly +he appreciates your ability." + +"Dear Uncle True always wanted me to be a teacher; it was the height of +his ambition. He would be pleased, wouldn't he, dear Emily?" + +"Yes, proud to see you assistant in a school like Mr. W.'s. But he would +think as I do, that you are undertaking too much. You expect to be +occupied in the school the greater part of every morning, and yet you +propose to be nurse to Mrs. Sullivan, and guardian to her poor old +father. My dear child, you are not used to so much care, and I shall be +constantly troubled for you, lest your own health and strength give +way." + +"Oh, dear Emily, there is no cause for any anxiety on my account. I am +well and strong, and capable of all that I have planned for myself. My +only trouble is in leaving you; and I fear you will miss me, and perhaps +feel as if----" + +"I know what you would say, Gertrude. You need not fear that; I am sure +of your affection. I am sure you love me next to your duty, and I would +not that you should give me the preference. So dismiss that thought from +your mind, and do not believe that I would be selfish enough to desire +to retain you. I only wish, my dear, that for the present you had not +thought of entering the school. You might then have gone to Mrs. +Sullivan's, stayed as long as needed, and perhaps found, by the time we +are ready to start on our southern tour, that your services could be +dispensed with; in which case you could accompany us on a journey which +I am sure your health will by that time require." + +"But, dear Emily, how could I do that? I could not propose myself as a +visitor to Mrs. Sullivan, however useful I might intend to be to her; +nor could I speak of nursing to a woman who will not confess that she is +ill. It seemed to me impossible, with all the delicacy and tact in the +world, to bring it about; for I have been with you so long that Mrs. +Sullivan thinks me entirely unfitted for her primitive way of life. It +was only when Mr. W. spoke of his wanting an assistant, and hinted that +he should like to employ me in that capacity, that the present plan +occurred to me. I knew if I told Mrs. Sullivan that I was engaged to +teach there, and that you were not coming to town, and represented to +her that I wanted a boarding-place for the winter, she would insist that +I should go nowhere else." + +"And it proved as you expected?" + +"Exactly; and she showed so much pleasure at the thought of my being +with her, that I realised still more how much she needed some one." + +"She will have a treasure in you, Gertrude." + +"No, indeed! The feeling I have is, that however little I may be able to +accomplish, it will be more than anyone else could do for Mrs. Sullivan. +She has lived so retired that she has not an intimate friend in the +city, and I do not know of anyone, except myself, whom she would +willingly admit under her roof. She is used to me, and loves me; I am no +restraint upon her, and she allows me to assist in whatever she is +doing, although she often says I live a lady's life now, and am not used +to work. She knows, too, that I have an influence over her father; and I +_have_--strange as it may seem to you--I _have_ more than I know how to +account for myself. I think it is partly because I am not afraid of him, +and am firm in opposing his unreasonable fancies, and partly because I +am more of a stranger than Mrs. Sullivan. But there is another cause; he +associates me in his mind with Willie; for we were for some years +constantly together, both left the house at the same time, and he knows +that it is through me that the correspondence with him is carried on. +Since his mind has been so weak, he thinks continually of Willie, and I +can at any moment, however irritable he may be, make him calm and +quiet, by proposing to tell him the latest news from his grandson. It +does not matter how often I repeat the contents of the last letter, it +is always new to him; and you have no idea, Emily, what power this gives +me. Mrs. Sullivan sees how easily I can guide his thoughts, and I +noticed what a load of care was taken from her mind by having me there +to-day. She looked so happy when I came away to-night, and spoke so +hopefully of the comfort it would be during the winter to have me with +her, that I felt repaid for any sacrifice it has been to me. But when I +came home, and saw you, and thought of your going so far away, and of +the length of time it might be before I should live with you again, I +felt as if----" Gerty could say no more. She laid her head on Emily's +shoulder, and wept. + +Emily soothed her with the greatest tenderness. "We have been very happy +together, Gerty," said she, "and I shall miss you sadly; half the +enjoyment of my life has of late years been borrowed from you. But I +never loved you half so well as I do now, at the time we must part; for +I see in the sacrifice you are making of yourself one of the noblest and +most important traits of character a woman can possess. I know how much +you love the Sullivans, and you have certainly every reason for being +attached to them; but your leaving us at this time, and renouncing +without a murmur the southern tour from which you expected so much +pleasure, proves that my Gerty is the brave, good girl I always hoped +and prayed she might become. You are in the path of duty, Gertrude, and +will be rewarded by the approbation of your own conscience, if in no +other way." + +As Emily finished speaking, they reached a corner of the garden, and +were met by a servant-girl, who announced that Mrs. Bruce and her son +were in the parlour, and had asked for them both. + +"Did you get her buttons in town, Gertrude?" inquired Emily. + +"Yes, I found some that were an excellent match for the dress; she +probably wants to know what success I had; but how can I go in?" + +"I will return to the house with Kate, and you can go in at the +side-door, and reach your own room without being seen. I will excuse +you to Mrs. Bruce for the present; and when you have bathed your eyes, +and feel composed, you can come in and report concerning the errand she +entrusted to you." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +FRUSTRATED PLANS. + + +When Gertrude entered the room in half-an-hour, her face showed no +mental distress. Mrs. Bruce nodded to her good naturedly from a corner +of the sofa. Mr. Bruce rose and offered his chair at the same time that +Mr. Graham pointed to a vacant window-seat near him, and said kindly, +"Here is a place for you, Gertrude." + +Declining these civilities, she withdrew to an ottoman near an open +glass door, where she was immediately joined by Mr. Bruce, who, seating +himself in an indolent attitude upon the upper row of a flight of steps +which led from the window to the garden, commenced conversation with +her. + +Mr. Bruce--the gentleman who, some years before, wore a velvet +smoking-cap, and took afternoon naps in the grass--had recently returned +from Europe, and, glorifying in the renown acquired from a moustache, a +French tailor, and the possession of a handsome property in his own +right, now viewed himself with more complacency than ever. + +"So you've been in Boston all day, Miss Flint?" + +"Yes, nearly all day." + +"Didn't you find it distressingly warm?" + +"Somewhat so." + +"I tried to go in to attend to some business that mother was anxious +about, and even went down to the depot; but I had to give it up." + +"Were you overpowered by the heat?" + +"I was." + +"How unfortunate!" remarked Gertrude, in a half-compassionate, +half-ironical tone of voice. + +Mr. Bruce looked up, to judge from her countenance whether she were +serious or not; but there being little light in the room, on account of +the warmth of the evening, he could not decide the question, and +therefore replied, "I dislike the heat, Miss Gertrude, and why should I +expose myself to it unnecessarily?" + +"Oh, I beg your pardon; I thought you spoke of important business." + +"Only some affair of my mother's. Nothing I felt any interest in, and +she took the state of the weather for an excuse. If I had known that you +were in the cars, as I have since heard, I should certainly have +persevered, in order to have had the pleasure of walking down Washington +Street with you." + +"I did not go down Washington Street." + +"But you would have done so with a suitable escort," suggested the young +man. + +"If I had gone out of my way for the sake of accompanying my escort, the +escort would have been a very doubtful advantage," said Gertrude, +laughing. + +"How very practical you are, Miss Gertrude! Do you mean to say that, +when you go to the city, you always have a settled plan of operations, +and never swerve from your course?" + +"By no means. I trust I am not difficult to influence when there is a +sufficient motive." + +The young man bit his lip. "Then you never act without a motive; pray, +what is your motive in wearing that broad-brimmed hat when you are at +work in the garden?" + +"It is an old habit, adopted some years ago from motives of convenience, +and still adhered to, in spite of later inventions, which would +certainly be a better protection from the sun. I must plead guilty, I +fear, to a little obstinacy in my partiality for that old hat." + +"Why not confess, Miss Gertrude, that you wear it in order to look +fanciful and picturesque, so that the neighbours' slumbers are disturbed +by the thoughts of it? My own morning dreams, for instance, are so +haunted by that hat, as seen in company with its owner, that I am daily +drawn, as if by magnetic attraction, in the direction of the garden. You +will have a heavy account to settle with Morpheus, one of these days, +for defrauding him of his rights; and your conscience too will suffer +for injuries to my health, sustained by continued exposure to early +dews." + +"It is hard to condemn me for such unintentional mischief; but since I +am to experience so much future remorse on account of your morning +visits, I shall take upon myself the responsibility of forbidding them." + +"Oh, you wouldn't be so unkind!--especially after all the pains I have +taken to impart to you the little I know of horticulture." + +"Very little I think it must have been; or I have but a poor memory," +said Gertrude, laughing. + +"Have you forgotten the pains I took yesterday to acquaint you with the +different varieties of roses? Don't you remember how much I had to say +of damask roses and damask bloom; and how before I finished, I could not +find words enough in praise of blushes, especially such sweet and +natural ones as met my eyes while I was speaking?" + +"I know you talked a great deal of nonsense. I hope you don't think I +listened to it all." + +"Oh, Miss Gertrude! It is of no use to say flattering things to you; you +always regard my compliments as jokes." + +"I have told you, several times, that it was most useless to waste so +much flattery upon me. I am glad you are beginning to realise it." + +"Well, then, to ask a serious question, where were you this morning at +half-past seven?" + +"On my way to Boston in the cars." + +"Is it possible?--so early! Why, I thought you went at ten. Then, all +the time I was watching by the garden wall to say good-morning, you were +half-a-dozen miles away. I wish I had not wasted that hour so; I might +have spent it in sleeping." + +"Very true, it is a great pity." + +"And then half-an-hour more here this evening! How came you to keep me +waiting so long?" + +"I was not aware of doing so. I certainly did not take your visit to +myself." + +"My visit certainly was not meant for anyone else." + +"Ben," said Mr. Graham, approaching rather abruptly, and taking part in +the conversation, "are you fond of gardening? I thought I heard you just +now speaking of roses?" + +"Yes, sir; Miss Flint and I were having quite a discussion upon +flowers--roses especially." + +Gertrude, availing herself of Mr. Graham's approach, tried to escape and +join the ladies at the sofa; but Mr. Bruce, who had risen on Mr. +Graham's addressing him, saw her intention, and frustrated it by placing +himself in the way, so that she could not pass him without positive +rudeness. Mr. Graham continued, "I propose placing a small fountain in +the vicinity of Miss Flint's flower garden; won't you walk down with me, +and give your opinion of my plan?" + +"Isn't it too dark, sir, to----" + +"No, no, not at all; there is ample light for our purpose. This way, if +you please;" and Mr. Bruce was compelled to follow where Mr. Graham led, +though, in spite of his acquaintance with Paris manners, he made a wry +face, and shook his head menacingly. + +Gertrude was now permitted to relate to Mrs. Bruce the results of the +shopping which she had undertaken on her account, and display the +buttons, which proved very satisfactory. The gentlemen, soon returning, +took seats near the sofa, and the conversation became general. + +"Mr. Graham," said Mrs. Bruce, "I have been asking Emily about your +visit to the south; and I think it will be a charming trip." + +"I hope so, madame; it will be an excellent thing for Emily, and as +Gertrude has never travelled, I anticipate a great deal of pleasure for +her." + +"Ah! then you are to be of the party, Miss Flint?" + +"Of course," said Mr. Graham, without giving Gertrude a chance to speak +for herself; "we depend upon Gertrude; couldn't get along without her." + +"It will be delightful for you," continued Mrs. Bruce, her eyes still +fixed on Gertrude. + +"I did expect to go with Mr. and Miss Graham," answered Gertrude, "and +looked forward to the journey with the greatest eagerness; but I have +just decided that I must remain in Boston this winter." + +"What are you talking about, Gertrude?" asked Mr. Graham. "What do you +mean? This is all news to me." + +"And to me, too, sir, or I should have informed you of it before. I +supposed you expected me to accompany you, and there is nothing I should +like so much. I should have told you before of the circumstances that +now make it impossible; but they are of quite recent occurrence." + +"But we can't give you up, Gertrude; I won't hear of such a thing; you +must go with us in spite of circumstances." + +"I fear I shall not be able," said Gertrude, smiling pleasantly, but +still retaining her firmness of expression; "you're very kind, sir, to +wish it." + +"Wish it!--I tell you I insist upon it. You are under my care, child, +and I have a right to say what you shall do." + +Mr. Graham was excited. Gertrude and Emily looked troubled, but neither +spoke. + +"Give me your reasons, if you have any," said Mr. Graham, vehemently, +"and let me know what has put this strange notion into your head." + +"I will explain it to you to-morrow, sir." + +"To-morrow! I want to know now. Tell me what all this means? Here I plan +my business, and make all my arrangements, to give up this winter to +travelling--not so much on my own account as to please both of you, and, +just as all is settled, and we are on the point of starting, Gertrude +says that she has concluded not to go." + +Emily undertook to explain Gertrude's motives, and ended by expressing +her approbation of her course. As soon as she had finished, Mr. Graham, +who had listened very impatiently, and interrupted her with many a +"pish!" and "pshaw!" burst forth with redoubled indignation. "So Gerty +prefers the Sullivans to us, and you seem to encourage her in it! I +should like to know what they have ever done for her, compared with what +I have done." + +"They have been friends of hers for years, and now that they are in +great distress, she does not feel as if she could leave them, and I +confess I do not wonder at her decision." + +"I do. She prefers to make a slave of herself in Mr. W.'s school, and a +greater slave in Mrs. Sullivan's family, instead of staying with us, +where she has been treated like a lady, and like one of our own family." + +"Oh, Mr. Graham!" said Gertrude, earnestly, "it is not a matter of +choice, except as I feel it to be a duty." + +"And what makes it a duty? Just because you used to live with them, and +that boy out in Calcutta has sent you home a camel's-hair scarf and a +cage full of miserable little birds, and written you letters, you must +forfeit your own interest to take care of his sick relations! Can their +claim compare with mine? Haven't I given you the best of educations, and +spared not expense for your improvement and happiness?" + +"I did not think, sir," said Gertrude, humbly, and yet with dignity, "of +counting up the favours I had received, and measuring my conduct +accordingly. In that case my obligations to you are immense, and you +would certainly have the greatest claim upon my services." + +"Services! I don't want your _services_, child. Mrs. Ellis can do quite +as well as you can for Emily, or me either; but I like your _company_, +and think it is very ungrateful in you to leave us, as you talk of +doing." + +"Father," said Emily, "I thought the object in giving Gertrude a good +education was to make her independent of all the world, and not simply +dependent upon us." + +"Emily," said Mr. Graham, "I tell you it is a matter of feeling--you +don't seem to look upon the thing in the light I do; but you are both +against me, and I won't talk any more about it." + +So saying, Mr. Graham went to his study, and was seen no more that +night. + +Poor Gertrude! Mr. Graham, who had been so generous, who had seldom or +ever spoken harshly to her, and had always treated her with great +indulgence, was now deeply offended. He had called her ungrateful; he +felt that she had abused his kindness, and believed that he and Emily +stood in her imagination secondary to other far less warm-hearted +friends. Deeply wounded, she hastened to say good-night to the no less +afflicted Emily, and, seeking her own room, gave way to feelings that +caused her a sleepless night. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +SELFISHNESS. + + +Left at three years of age dependent upon the charity of a world in +which she was friendless and alone, Gertrude had, during her residence +at Nan Grant's, found little of that charity. But, although her +turbulent spirit rebelled at the treatment she received, she was then +too young to reason upon the subject, or come to any conclusions upon +the hardness and cruelty of humanity; and, had she done so, such +impressions would have been effaced in the home of her kind +foster-father. + +And having, through a similar providence, found in Emily additional +proof of the fact that the tie of kindred blood is not always needed to +bind heart to heart in the closest bonds of sympathy and affection, she +had hitherto, in her unusually happy experience, felt none of the evils +that spring from dependence upon the bounty of strangers. + +From Mr. Graham she had until now experienced only kindness. On her +first coming to live with them, he had taken little notice of her, so +long as she was quiet, well-mannered, and no trouble to anybody, had +been indifferent about her. He observed that Emily was fond of the girl, +and, though he wondered at her taste, was glad that she should be +indulged. But he soon noticed in his daughter's favourite a quickness of +mind and propriety of deportment which created an interest in her that +soon increased to positive partiality, especially when he discovered her +taste for gardening and her love of flowers. Emily formed no plan as to +Gertrude's education to which she did not obtain a ready assent from her +father; and Gertrude, grateful for so much bounty, spared no pains to +evidence her sense of obligation and regard, by treating Mr. Graham with +the greatest respect. + +But, unfortunately for the continuance of these amicable relations, Mr. +Graham had neither the disinterested forbearing spirit of Uncle True, +nor the saintly patience and self-sacrifice of Emily. Mr. Graham was a +liberal and highly respectable man; he had the reputation of being a +high-minded and honourable man; and his conduct justified this report of +him. But he was a _selfish_ man, and often took one-sided views. He had +supported and educated Gertrude--he liked her--she was the person whom +he preferred for a travelling companion for himself and Emily--and he +either _could_ not or _would_ not see that her duty lay in any other +direction. + +During a wakeful and restless night, Gertrude reviewed and considered +her own circumstances. At first her only emotion was one of grief, but +that gradually subsided, as other bitter thoughts rose up in her mind. + +"What right," thought she, "has Mr. Graham to treat me this way--to tell +me I _shall_ go with him on his southern journey, and speak as if my +other friends were ciphers in his estimation, and ought to be in my own? +Does he consider my freedom is to be the price of my education, and am I +no longer able to say yes or no? Emily does not think so; Emily, who +loves and needs me a thousand times more than Mr. Graham, thinks I have +acted rightly, and she assured me that it was my duty to carry out the +plans I had formed. And my solemn promise to Willie! is that to be held +for nothing? No, it would be tyranny in Mr. Graham to insist on my +remaining with them, and I am glad I have resolved to break away from +such thraldom. Besides, I was educated to teach, and Mr. W. says it is +important to commence while my studies are fresh in my mind." So much +said pride; and Gertrude's heart listened awhile to such suggestions. +But not long. She had accustomed herself to view the conduct of others +in that spirit of charity which she desired should be exercised towards +her own, and milder thoughts took the place of these excited feelings. + +"Perhaps," said she to herself, "it is, after all, pure kindness that +prompted Mr. Graham's interference. He may think as Emily does, that I +am undertaking too much. It is impossible for him to know how strong my +motives are, how deep I consider my obligations to the Sullivans, and +how much I am needed by them at this time. I had no idea, either, that I +was to be one of the party to the south; for though Emily talked as if +she took it for granted, Mr. Graham never asked me to go, and I could +not suppose it would be any great disappointment to him to refuse; but, +after planning the journey to please us both, I do not wonder at his +being annoyed. He probably feels, too, as if I had been under his +guardianship so long that he has almost a right to decide upon my +conduct. And he _has_ been very indulgent to me--and I a stranger with +no claims! Shall I then decide to give up my teaching, to go to the +south, and leave Mrs. Sullivan to suffer, perhaps die, while I am away? +No, that is impossible. I will never be such a traitor to my own heart, +and my sense of right; sorry as I shall be to offend Mr. Graham, I must +not allow his anger to turn me from my duty." + +Having thus resolved to brave the tempest, and committed her cause to +Him who judgeth righteously, Gertrude tried to compose herself to sleep. +Dreams of a painful nature started her back to consciousness. In some of +these visions she beheld Mr. Graham angry, and threatening her with his +displeasure if she dared to thwart his plans; and then she seemed to see +Willie, the same boyish youth from whom she had parted five years +before, beckoning her with a sad countenance to the room where his pale +mother lay in a swoon, as Gertrude had a few weeks before seen her. +Exhausted by such harassing images, she at length gave up the attempt to +obtain any rest, and rising, seated herself at the window, where, +watching the approach of dawn, she found, in quiet self-communing, the +courage which she felt would be requisite to carry her calmly and firmly +through the next day--a day destined to witness her sad separation from +Emily, and her farewell to Mr. Graham, which would probably be more +distressing. The tyrannical disposition of Mr. Graham was well +understood in his family, each member of which was accustomed to respect +all his wishes and whims; and though he was always indulgent and kind, +none ever braved a temper which, when excited, was so violent. It +cannot, then, be surprising that Gertrude's heart should have failed her +when she stood, half-an-hour before breakfast-time, with the handle of +the dining-room door in her hand, summoning all her energies for another +meeting with the opposer of her plans. She paused but a moment, and then +went in. Mr. Graham was sitting in his arm-chair, and on the +breakfast-table lay the morning paper. It had been Gertrude's habit to +read that paper aloud to the old gentleman at this same hour, and it was +for that purpose she had now come. She advanced toward him with her +usual "Good morning." + +The salutation was returned in a constrained voice. She seated herself, +and leaned forward to take the newspaper. But he placed his hand upon it +to prevent her. + +"I was going to read the news to you, sir." + +"And I do not wish to have you read, or do anything else for me, until I +know whether you have concluded to treat me with the respect I have a +right to demand from you." + +"I certainly never intended to treat you otherwise than with respect, +Mr. Graham." + +"When girls or boys set themselves up in opposition to those older and +wiser than themselves, they manifest the greatest disrespect they are +capable of; but I am willing to forgive the past, if you assure me, as I +think you will, after a night's reflection, that you have returned to a +right sense of your duty." + +"I cannot say, sir, that I have changed my views with regard to what +that duty is." + +"Do you mean to tell me," asked Mr. Graham, rising from his chair, and +speaking in a tone which made Gerty's heart quake, "do you mean to tell +me that you have an idea of persisting in your folly?" + +"Is it folly, sir, to do right?" + +"Right! There is a great difference of opinion between you and me as to +what is right in this case." + +"But, Mr. Graham, I think if you knew all the circumstances, you would +not blame my conduct. I have told Emily the reasons that influence me, +and she----" + +"Don't quote Emily to me!" interrupted Mr. Graham; "I don't doubt she'd +give her head to anybody that asked for it; but I hope I know a little +better what is due to myself; and I tell you plainly, Miss Gertrude +Flint, without any more words in the matter, that if you leave my house, +as you propose doing, you leave it with my displeasure; and _that_, you +may find one of these days, it is no light thing to have +incurred--unnecessarily too, as you are doing." + +"I am very sorry to displease you, Mr. Graham, but----" + +"No, you're not _sorry_; if you were, you would not walk straight in the +face of my wishes," said Mr. Graham, who began to observe the expression +of Gertrude's face, which, though troubled, had acquired additional +firmness, instead of quailing before his severe and cutting words. "But +I have said enough about a matter which is not worthy of so much notice. +You can go or stay, as you please. I wish you to understand, if you go, +I utterly withdraw my protection and assistance from you. You must take +care of yourself, or trust to strangers. I suppose you expect your +Calcutta friend will support you, perhaps come home and take you under +his especial care; but if you think so, you know little of the world. I +dare say he is married to an Indian by this time, and, if not, has +forgotten you." + +"Mr. Graham," said Gertrude, proudly, "Mr. Sullivan will not probably +return to this country for many years, and I assure you I neither look +to him nor anyone else for support; I intend to earn a maintenance for +myself." + +"A heroic resolve!" said Mr. Graham, contemptuously, "and pronounced +with a dignity I hope you will be able to maintain. Am I to consider, +then, that your mind is made up?" + +"It is, sir," said Gertrude, not a little strengthened for the dreaded +necessity of pronouncing her final resolution by Mr. Graham's sarcastic +speeches. + +"And you go?" + +"I must. I believe it to be my duty, and am, therefore, willing to +sacrifice my own comfort, and, what I assure you I value far more, your +friendship." + +Mr. Graham did not seem to take the least notice of the latter part of +her remark, and so far forgot his usual politeness as to drown her voice +in the violent ringing of the table-bell. + +It was answered by Katy with the breakfast; and Emily and Mrs. Ellis +coming, all seated themselves at the table, and the meal was commenced +in unusual silence and constraint, for Emily had heard the loud tones of +her father's voice, while Mrs. Ellis plainly saw that something +unpleasant had occurred. + +When Mr. Graham had finished eating a hearty breakfast, he turned to +Mrs. Ellis, and invited her to accompany himself and Emily on their +journey to the south, mentioning the probability that they should pass +some weeks in Havana. + +Mrs. Ellis accepted the invitation with pleasure, and asked a number of +questions concerning the proposed route and length of absence; while +Emily hid her agitated face behind her tea-cup; and Gertrude, who had +lately been reading _Letters from Cuba_, and was aware that Mr. Graham +knew the strong interest she felt in the place, pondered in her mind +whether it could be possible that he could be guilty of the mean desire +to vex and mortify her. + +Breakfast over, Emily hastily sought her room, where she was joined by +Gertrude. In answering Emily's inquiries as to the scene which had taken +place, Gertrude forbore to repeat Mr. Graham's most bitter and wounding +remarks; for she saw from her kind friend's countenance how deeply she +participated in her own sense of wrong. She told her, however, that it +was now well understood by Mr. Graham that she was to leave, and, as his +sentiments towards her were far from kindly, she thought it best to go +at once, especially as she could never be more needed by Mrs. Sullivan +than at present. Emily saw the reasonableness of the proposal, assented +to it, and agreed to accompany her to town that afternoon; for, deeply +sensitive at any unkindness manifested towards Gertrude, she preferred +to have her depart thus abruptly, rather than encounter her father's +contemptuous neglect. The remainder of the day was spent by Gertrude in +packing and other preparations, while Emily sat by, counselling the +future conduct of her adopted darling, lamenting the necessity of their +separation, and exchanging with her reiterated assurances of +undiminished affection. + +"Oh, if you could only write to me, dear Emily, during your long +absence, what a comfort it would be," exclaimed Gertrude. + +"With Mrs. Ellis's assistance, my dear," replied Emily, "I will send you +such news as I can of our movements; but, though you may not be able to +hear much from me, you will be ever in my thoughts, and I shall never +forget to commend my beloved child to the protection and care of One who +will be to her a better friend than I can be." + +In the course of the day Gertrude sought Mrs. Ellis, and astonished that +lady by stating that she had come to have a few farewell words with her. +Surprise, however, was soon superseded by the housekeeper's eagerness to +expatiate upon the generosity of Mr. Graham, and the delights of the +excursion in prospect. After wishing her a great deal of pleasure, +Gertrude begged to hear from her by letter during her absence; to which +request Mrs. Ellis only replied by asking if Gertrude thought a Thibet +dress would be uncomfortable on the journey; and, when it was repeated +with great earnestness, she, with equal unsatisfactoriness to the +suppliant for epistolary favours, begged to know how many pairs of +undersleeves she would probably require. Having responded to her +questions, and at last gained her attention, Gertrude obtained from her +a promise to write _one_ letter, which would, she declared, be more than +she had done for years. + +Before leaving the house, Gertrude sought Mr. Graham's study, in hopes +that he would take a friendly leave of her; but on her telling him that +she had come to bid him "Good-bye," he indistinctly muttered the simple +words of that universal formula--so deep in its meaning when coming from +the heart; so chilling when uttered, as on the present occasion, by +stern and nearly closed lips--and turning his back upon her, took up the +tongs to mend his fire. So she went away, with a tear in her eye and a +sadness in her heart. + +A far different scene awaited her in the upper kitchen, where she went +to seek Mrs. Prime and Katy. "Bless yer soul, dear Miss Gertrude!" said +the former, stumbling up the staircase which led from the lower room, +and wiping her hands on her apron--"how we shall miss yer! Why, the +house won't be worth livin' in when you're out of it. My gracious! if +you don't come back, we shall all die out in a fortnight. Why, you're +the life and soul of the place! But there, I guess you know what's +right; so, if you must go, we must bear it--though Katy and I'll cry our +eyes out, for aught I know." + +"Sure, Miss Gairthrue," said Irish Katy, "and it's right gude in you to +be afther comin' to bid us good-bye. I don't see how you gets memory to +think of us all, and I'm shure ye'll never be betther off than what I +wish yer. I can't but think, miss, it'll go to help yer along, that +everybody's gude wishes and blessin' goes with yer." + +"Thank you, Katy, thank you," said Gertrude, touched by the simple +earnestness of these good friends. "You must come and see me some time +in Boston; and you too, Mrs. Prime, I shall depend upon it. Good-bye;" +and the good-bye that _now_ fell upon Gertrude's ear was a hearty and a +true one; it followed her through the hall, and as the carriage drove +away she heard it mingling with the rattling of the vehicle. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +A FRIEND IN AFFLICTION. + + +Passing over Gertrude's parting with Emily, her cordial reception by +Mrs. Sullivan, and her commencement of school duties, we will record the +events of a day in November, about two months after she left Mr. +Graham's. + +Rising with the sun, she made her neat toilet in a room so cold that her +hands were half benumbed; nor did she omit, ere she began the labours of +the day, to supplicate Heaven's blessing upon them. Then, noiselessly +entering the adjoining apartment, where Mrs. Sullivan was still +sleeping, she lit a fire, and performed a similar service at the +cooking-stove, which stood in a comfortable room, where, now that the +weather was cold, the family took their meals. The table was set for +breakfast when Mrs. Sullivan entered, pale, thin, and feeble in her +appearance, and wrapped in a large shawl. + +"Gertrude," said she, "why did you let me sleep so late, while you are +up and at work?" + +"For the very best reason in the world, auntie; because I sleep all the +early part of the night, and am wide awake at day-break, and with you it +is quite the reverse. Besides, I like to get the breakfast; I make such +beautiful coffee. Look!" said she, pouring some into a cup, and then +lifting the lid of the coffee-pot, and pouring it back again; "see how +clear it is! Don't you long for some of it?" + +Mrs. Sullivan smiled, for, Uncle True having always preferred tea, +Gertrude did not at first know how to make coffee. + +"Now," said Gertrude, "I want you to sit down here and watch the +tea-kettle boil, while I run and see if Mr. Cooper is ready to let me +tie up his cue." + +She went, leaving Mrs. Sullivan to think what a good girl she was; and +presently returning with the old man, she placed a chair for him, and +having waited while he seated himself, and then pinned a napkin about +his throat, she proceeded to place the breakfast on the table. + +While Mrs. Sullivan poured out the coffee, Gertrude removed the skin +from a baked potato, and the shell from a boiled egg, and placing both +on the plate destined for Mr. Cooper, handed him his breakfast in a +state of preparation which obviated the difficulty the old man +experienced in performing these tasks for himself. Poor Mrs. Sullivan +had no appetite, and it was with difficulty Gertrude persuaded her to +eat anything; but a few fried oysters, unexpectedly placed before her, +proved such a temptation that she was induced to eat several, with a +degree of relish she rarely felt for any article of food. As Gertrude +gazed at her languid face, she realized, more than ever, the change +which had come over the active little woman; and confident that nothing +but positive disease could have effected such a transformation, she +resolved that not another day should pass without her seeing a +physician. + +Breakfast over, there were dishes to wash, rooms to be put in order, +dinner to be partially prepared; and all this Gertrude saw accomplished, +chiefly through her own labour, before she went to re-arrange her dress, +previous to her departure for the school where she had now been some +weeks assistant teacher. A quarter before nine she looked in at the +kitchen door, and said, in a cheering tone, to the old man, who was +cowering gloomily over the fire--"Come, Mr. Cooper, won't you go over +and superintend the new church a little while this morning? Mr. Miller +will be expecting you; he said yesterday that he depended on your +company when at work." + +The old man rose, and taking his great-coat from Gertrude, put it on +with her assistance, and accompanied her in a mechanical sort of way, +which implied great indifference about going. As they walked in silence +down the street, Gertrude could not but resolve in her mind the singular +coincidence which had thus made her the almost daily companion of +another infirm old man; nor could she fail to draw a comparison between +the warm-hearted Uncle True, and the gloomy Paul Cooper. Unfavorable as +the comparison was to the latter, it did not diminish the kindness of +Gertrude towards her present charge, who was in her eyes an object of +sincere compassion. They soon reached the new church--a very handsome +edifice. It was not yet finished, and a number of workmen were +completing the interior. A man with a hod full of mortar preceded +Gertrude and her companion up the steps which led to the main entrance, +but stopped inside the porch, on hearing himself addressed by name, and +turned to respond to the well-known voice. "Good morning, Miss Flint," +said he. "I hope you're very well, this fine day. Ah! Mr. Cooper, you've +come to help me a little, I see--that's right. We can't go on very well +without you--you're so used to the place. Here, sir, if you'll come with +me I'll show you what has been done since you were here last; I want to +know how you think we are getting along." + +So saying, he was walking away with the old sexton; but Gertrude asked +him if he would see Mr. Cooper safe home when he passed Mrs. Sullivan's +house on his way to dinner. + +"Certainly, Miss Flint," replied the man, "with all pleasure; he has +usually gone with me readily, when you have left him in my care." +Gertrude then hastened to the school, rejoicing that Mr. Cooper would be +safe during the morning; and that Mrs. Sullivan would have the quiet she +so much needed. + +This man was a respectable mason, who had often been in Mr. Graham's +employ, and whose good-will Gertrude had won by the kindness she had +shown his family during the previous winter, when they were sick. In her +daily walk past the church, she had oft seen Mr. Miller at work, and it +occurred to her that, if she could awaken in Mr. Cooper's mind an +interest in the new structure, he might find amusement in watching the +workmen. She had some difficulty in persuading him to visit a building +to the erection of which he had been opposed. Once there, he became +interested in the work, and as Mr. Miller tried to make him comfortable, +and made him believe that he was useful, he gradually acquired a habit +of passing the greater part of every morning in watching the workmen. +Sometimes Gertrude called for him on her return from school; and +sometimes Mr. Miller took him home. + +Since Gertrude had been at Mrs. Sullivan's there was a great alteration +in Mr. Cooper. He was more manageable, and manifested less irritability, +and his favourable change, together with the cheering influence of +Gertrude's society, had produced a beneficial effect upon Mrs. Sullivan; +but within the last few days, her increased debility, and two sudden +attacks of faintness, had awakened Gertrude's fears. She determined, as +soon as she should be released from her school duties, to seek Dr. +Jeremy and request his attendance. + +Of Gertrude's school-duties, she was found by Mr. W. competent to the +performance of them, and that she met with those trials only which all +teachers are subjected, from the idleness or stupidity of their pupils. +On this day she was detained to a later hour than usual, and the clock +struck two as she was ringing Dr. Jeremy's door-bell. The girl who +opened the door knew Gertrude, and telling her that, although the doctor +was just going to dinner, she thought he would see her, asked her into +the office. He advanced to meet Gertrude, holding out both his hands. +"Gertrude Flint, I declare!" exclaimed he. "Why, I'm glad to see you, my +girl. Why haven't you been here before, I should like to know?" Gertrude +explained that she was living with friends, one of whom was very old, +the other an invalid; and that so much of her time was occupied in +school, that she had no opportunity for visiting. + +"Poor excuse," said the doctor; "poor excuse. But, now we've got you +here, we shan't let you go very soon!" and going to the foot of the +staircase, he called out loudly, "Mrs. Jeremy! Mrs. Jeremy! come down to +dinner as quick as you can, and put on your best cap--we've got +company.--Poor soul!" added he, in a lower tone, smiling, "she can't +hurry, can she, Gerty?--she's so fat." + +Gertrude protested against staying to dinner, declaring she must hasten +home, and announcing Mrs. Sullivan's illness and the object of her +visit. + +"An hour can't make much difference," insisted the doctor. "You must +stay and dine with me, and then I'll take you with me in the buggy." +Gertrude hesitated; the sky had clouded over, and a few flakes of snow +were falling; she should have an uncomfortable walk; and, moreover, it +would be better for her to accompany the doctor, as the street in which +she lived was principally composed of new houses, not yet numbered, and +he might have some difficulty in finding the right tenement. Mrs. Jeremy +now entered. Fat she certainly was, uncommonly fat, and flushed with the +excitement of dressing. She kissed Gertrude, and then, seeing that no +one else was present, exclaimed, glancing reproachfully at the +doctor--"Why, Dr. Jeremy!--an't you ashamed of yourself? I never will +believe you again; you made me think there was some great stranger +here." + +"And pray, Mrs. Jeremy, who's a greater stranger in this house than +Gerty Flint?" + +"Sure enough!" said Mrs. Jeremy. "Gertrude _is_ a stranger, and I've got +a scolding in store for her on that very account; but, you know, Dr. +Jeremy, I shouldn't have put on my lilac-and-pink for Gertrude to see; +she likes me just as well in my old yellow, if she did tell me, when I +bought it, the saucy girl, that I'd selected the ugliest cap in Boston. +Do you remember that Gerty?" Gerty laughed heartily at the recollection +of an amusing scene that took place when she went shopping with Mrs. +Jeremy. "But come, Gerty, dinner's ready; take off your cloak and +bonnet, and come into the dining-room; the doctor has much to say, and +has been wanting dreadfully to see you." + +They had been sitting some minutes without a word having been spoken, +when the doctor suddenly commenced laughing till tears came into his +eyes. Gertrude looked at him, inquiringly, and Mrs. Jeremy said, "There, +Gertrude!--for a whole week he had just such a laughing fit, two or +three times a-day. I was as much astonished at first as you are; and I +don't understand now what could have happened between him and Mr. Graham +that was so very funny." + +"Come, wife," said the doctor, "don't you forestall my communication. I +want to tell the story myself. I don't suppose, Gertrude, you've lived +five years at Mr. Graham's without finding out what a cantankerous, +opinionative, obstinate old hulk he is!" + +"Doctor!" said Mrs. Jeremy, "be careful." + +"I don't care, wife; I'll speak my mind with regard to Mr. Graham; and +Gertrude, here, has done the same, I haven't a particle of doubt, only +she's a good girl, and won't say so." + +"I never saw anything that looked like it," said Mrs. Jeremy; "I've seen +as much of him as most folks. I meet him in the street almost every day, +and he looks as smiling as a basket of chips, and makes a beautiful +bow." + +"I dare say," said the doctor; "Gertrude and I know what gentlemanly +manners he has when one does not walk in the very teeth of his +opinions--eh, Gertrude!--but when one does----" + +"In talking politics, for instance," suggested Mrs. Jeremy. "It's your +differences with him on politics that have set you against him so." + +"No, it isn't," replied the doctor. "A man may get angry talking +politics, and be a good-natured man too. I get angry _myself_ on +_politics_, but that isn't the sort of thing I refer to. It's Graham's +wanting to lay down the law to everybody that comes within ten miles of +him that I can't endure; his dictatorial way of acting as if he were +the Grand Mogul of Cochin China. I thought he'd improved of late years; +he had a serious lesson enough in that sad affair of poor Philip +Amory's; but I believe he's been trying the old game again. Ha! ha! ha!" +shouted the good doctor, leaning forward and giving Gertrude a light tap +on the shoulder--"wasn't I glad when I found he'd met at last with a +reasonable opposition! and that, too, where he least expected it!" + +Gertrude looked her astonishment at his evident knowledge of the +misunderstanding between herself and Mr. Graham. "You wonder where I got +my information; I'll tell you. It was partly from Graham himself; and +what diverts me is to think how hard the old chap tried to hide his +defeat, and persuade me that he'd had his own way, when I saw through +him, and knew that he'd found his match in you." + +"Dr. Jeremy," said Gertrude, "I hope you don't think----" + +"No, my dear, I _don't_ think you a _professional pugilist_; but I +consider you a girl of sense--one who knows what's right--and will do +what's right, in spite of Mr. Graham; and when you hear my story you +will know the grounds on which I formed my opinion with regard to the +course things had taken. One day--about two months ago--I was summoned +to go and see one of Mr. W.'s children, who had an attack of croup. Mr. +W. was talking with me, when he was called away to see a visitor, and on +his return he mentioned that he had secured your services in his school. +I knew Emily intended you for a teacher, and I was thankful you had got +so good a situation. At Mr. W.'s door I encountered Mr. Graham, and he +entertained me as we went down the street with an account of his plan +for the winter. 'But Gertrude Flint is not going with you,' said +I.--'Gertrude!' said he; 'certainly she is.'--'Are you sure of that?' I +asked. 'Have you invited her?'--'Invited her! No,' was his answer; 'but, +of course, I know she will go, and be glad of the opportunity; it isn't +every girl that is so fortunate.' Now, Gerty, I felt provoked at his way +of speaking, and I answered, in as confident a tone as his own, 'I doubt +whether she will accept the invitation.' Upon that, Mr. Dignity +straightened up, and such a speech as he made! I never can recall it +without being amused, especially when I think of the come-down that +followed so soon after. I can't repeat it; but one would have thought to +hear him that it was not only impossible you should oppose his wishes, +but actual treason in me to suggest such a thing. I knew better than to +tell what I had just heard from Mr. W., but I never felt a greater +curiosity about anything than I did to know how the matter would end. +Two or three times I planned to drive to see Emily, and hear the result; +but a doctor never can call a day his own, and I got prevented. On +Sunday I heard Mrs. Prime's voice in the kitchen (her niece lives here), +and down I went to make my inquiries. She told me the truth, I rather +think; though not, perhaps, all the particulars. It was not more than a +day or two after that before I saw Graham. 'Ah,' said I; 'when do you +start?'--'To-morrow,' replied he. 'Really,' I exclaimed; 'then I shan't +see your ladies again. Will you take a little package from me to +Gertrude?'--'I know nothing about Gertrude,' said he, stiffly.--'What!' +rejoined I, affecting great surprise, 'has Gertrude left you?'--'She +has,' answered he. 'And dared,' continued I, 'to treat you with such +disrespect--to trifle so with your dignity?'--'Dr. Jeremy!' exclaimed +he, 'I don't wish to hear her mentioned; she has behaved as ungratefully +as she has unwisely.'--'Why, about the gratitude, Graham,' said I, 'I +believe you said it would only be an additional favour on your part if +you took her with you, and I think it is wisdom in her to make herself +independent at home. But I really am sorry for you and Emily; you will +miss her so much.'--'We can dispense with your sympathy, sir,' answered +he; 'for that which is no loss.'--'Ah! really,' I replied; 'now, I was +thinking Gertrude's society would be quite a loss.'--'_Mrs. Ellis_ goes +with us,' said he, with emphasis, that seemed to say her company +compensated for all deficiencies.--'Ah!' said I, 'charming woman, Mrs. +Ellis!' Graham looked annoyed, for he is aware that Mrs. Ellis is my +antipathy." + +"Well, you ought to have known better, Dr. Jeremy," said his +kind-hearted wife, "than to have attacked a man so on his weak point: it +was only exciting his temper for nothing." + +"I was taking up the cudgels for Gertrude, wife." + +"And I don't believe Gertrude wants you to take up the cudgels for her. +I have no manner of doubts that she has the kindest of feelings towards +Mr. Graham, this blessed minute." + +"I have, Mrs. Jeremy," said Gertrude; "he has been a most generous and +indulgent friend to me." + +"Except when you wanted to have your own way," suggested the doctor. + +"Which I seldom did when it was in opposition to his wishes. I always +considered it my duty to submit to him, until at last a higher duty +compelled me to do otherwise." + +"And then, my dear," said Mrs. Jeremy, "I dare say it pained you to +displease him; and that is a right woman's feeling, and one that Dr. +Jeremy, in his own heart, can't but approve of, though one would think, +to hear him talk, that he considered it pretty in a young girl to take +satisfaction in browbeating an old gentleman. But don't let us talk any +more about it; he has had his say, and now it's my turn. I want to hear +how you are situated, Gerty, where you live, and how you like teaching." + +Gertrude answered all these questions: and the doctor, who had heard +Mrs. Sullivan spoken of as a friend of True's and Gerty's, made many +inquiries as to her health. It was now snowing fast, and Gertrude's +anxiety to return home in good season being very manifest to her kind +host and hostess, they urged no further delay, and, after she had +promised to repeat her visit, she drove away with the doctor. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +CARES MULTIPLIED. + + +"I have been thinking," said Gertrude, as she drew near home, "how we +shall manage, doctor, so as not to alarm Mrs. Sullivan." + +"What's going to alarm her?" asked the doctor. + +"You, if she knows at once you are a physician. I think I had better +introduce you as a friend, who brought me home in the storm." + +"Oh! so we are going to act a little farce, are we? Stage manager, +Gertrude Flint--unknown stranger, Dr. Jeremy. I'm ready. What shall I +say first?" + +"I leave that to a wiser head than mine, doctor, and trust entirely to +your own discretion to obtain some knowledge of her symptoms, and only +gradually disclose to her that you are a physician." + +"Ah, yes! pretend at first to be only a private individual of an +inquiring mind. I can manage it." As they opened the door, Mrs. Sullivan +rose from her chair with a troubled countenance, and hardly waited for +the introduction to Gertrude's friend before she asked if Mr. Cooper +were not with them. + +"No, indeed," replied Gertrude. "Hasn't he come home?" + +Upon Mrs. Sullivan saying that she had not seen him since morning, +Gertrude informed her, with a composure she was far from feeling, that +Mr. Miller had undertaken the care of him, and could, undoubtedly, +account for his absence. She would seek him at once. + +"Oh, I'm so sorry," said Mrs. Sullivan, "that you should have to go out +again in such a storm; but I feel very anxious about grandpa--don't you, +Gerty?" + +"Not very: I think he's safe in the church. But I'll go for him at once; +you know, auntie, I never mind the weather." + +"Then take my great shawl, dear." And Mrs. Sullivan went to the closet +for her shawl, giving Gertrude an opportunity to beg of Dr. Jeremy that +he would await her return; for she knew that any unusual agitation of +mind would often cause an attack of faintness in Mrs. Sullivan, and was +afraid to have her left alone, to dwell with alarm upon Mr. Cooper's +prolonged absence. + +It was a very disagreeable afternoon, and already growing dark. Gertrude +hastened along the wet footpath, exposed to the blinding storm, and, +after passing through several streets, gained the church. She went into +the building, now nearly deserted by workmen, saw that Mr. Cooper was +not there, and began to fear she should gain no information concerning +him, when she met Mr. Miller coming from the gallery. He looked +surprised at seeing her, and asked if Mr. Cooper had not returned home. +She answered in the negative, and he informed her that his efforts were +insufficient to persuade the old man to go home at dinner-time, and that +he had therefore taken him to his own house; he had supposed that long +before this hour he would have been induced to allow one of the +children to accompany him to Mrs. Sullivan's. + +As it seemed probable that he was still at Mr. Miller's, Gertrude +proceeded thither at once. After an uncomfortable walk, she reached her +destination. She knocked at the door, but there was no response, and +after waiting a moment, she opened it, and went in. Through another door +there was the sound of children's voices, and so much noise that she +believed it impossible to make herself heard, and, therefore, without +further ceremony, entered the room. A band of startled children +dispersed at the sight of a stranger, and ensconced themselves in +corners; and Mrs. Miller, in dismay at the untidy appearance of her +kitchen, hastily pushed back a clothes-horse against the wall, thereby +disclosing to view the very person Gertrude had come to seek, who, in +his usual desponding attitude, sat cowering over the fire. But, before +she could advance to speak to him, her attention was arrested by a most +unexpected sight. Placed against the side of the room, opposite the +door, was a narrow bed, in which some person seemed to be sleeping. +Hardly, however, had Gertrude presented herself in the doorway before +the figure suddenly raised itself, gazed fixedly at her, lifted a hand +as if to ward off her approach, and uttered a piercing shriek. + +The voice and countenance were not to be mistaken, and Gertrude, pale +and trembling, felt something like a revival of her old dread as she +beheld the well-known features of Nan Grant. + +"Go away! go _away_!" cried Nan, as Gertrude advanced into the room. +Again Gertrude paused, for the wildness of Nan's eyes and the excitement +of her countenance were such that she feared to excite her further. Mrs. +Miller now came forward and said, "Why, Aunt Nancy! what is the matter? +This is Miss Flint, one of the best young ladies in the land." + +"No, 'tan't!" said Nan. "I know better." + +Mrs. Miller now drew Gertrude aside into the shadow of the +clothes-horse, and conversed with her in an undertone, while Nan, +leaning on her elbow, and peering after them, maintained a watchful, +listening attitude. Gertrude was informed that Mrs. Miller was a niece +of Ben Grant's, but had seen nothing of him or his wife for years, +until, a few days previous. Nan had come there in a state of the +greatest destitution, and threatened with the fever under which she was +now suffering. "I could not refuse her a shelter," said Mrs. Miller; +"but, as you see, I have no accommodation for her; and it's not only bad +for me to have her sick here in the kitchen, but, what with the noise of +the children, and all the other discomforts, I'm afraid the poor old +thing will die." + +"Have you a room that you could spare above-stairs?" asked Gertrude. + +"Why, there's our Jane," answered Mrs. Miller; "she's a good-hearted +girl as ever lived; she said, right off, she'd give up her room to poor +Aunt Nancy, and she'd sleep in with the other children. I don't feel, +though, as if we could afford to keep another fire agoing, and so I +thought we'd put a bed here for a day or two, and just see how she got +along. But she's looked pretty bad to-day; and now, I'm thinking from +her actions that she's considerable out of her head." + +"She ought to be kept quiet," said Gertrude; "and, if you will have a +fire in Jane's room at my expense, and do what you can to make her +comfortable, I'll send a physician here to see her." Mrs. Miller was +beginning to express the warmest gratitude, but Gertrude interrupted her +with saying, "Don't thank me, Mrs. Miller; Nancy is not a stranger to +me; I have known her before, and, perhaps, feel more interested in her +than you do yourself." + +Mrs. Miller looked surprised; but Gertrude could not stop to enter into +a further explanation. Anxious to speak to Nan, and assure her of her +friendly intentions, she went up to the side of the bed, in spite of the +wild and glaring eyes which were fixed steadily upon her. "Nan," said +she, "do you know me?" + +"Yes! yes!" replied Nan, in a half-whisper, speaking quickly, and +catching her breath; "what have you come for?" + +"To do you good, I hope." + +But Nan still looked incredulous, and in the same undertone, and with +the same nervous accent, inquired, "Have you seen Gerty? Where is she?" + +"She is well," answered Gertrude, astonished at the question, for she +had supposed herself recognised. + +"What did she say about me?" + +"She says that she forgives and pities you, and is in hopes to do +something to help you and make you well." + +"Did she?" said the sick woman; "then you won't kill me?" + +"Kill you?--No, indeed. We are in hopes to make you comfortable and cure +you." + +Mrs. Miller, who had been preparing a cup of tea, now drew near with it +in her hand. Gertrude took it and offered it to Nan, who drank eagerly +of it, staring at her over the edge of the cup. When she had finished, +she threw herself heavily upon the pillow, and began muttering some +indistinct sentences, the only distinguishable word being the name of +her son Stephen. Finding the current of her thoughts thus apparently +diverted, Gertrude now feeling in haste to return and relieve Dr. +Jeremy, who had so kindly agreed to stay with Mrs. Sullivan, moved a +little from the bedside, saying as she did so, "Good-bye, I will come +and see you again." + +"You won't hurt me?" said Nan, starting up. + +"Oh, no. I will bring you something you will like." + +"Don't bring Gerty here with you! I don't want to see her." + +"I will come alone," replied Gertrude. + +Nan now laid down, and did not speak again while Gertrude remained in +the house, though she watched her steadily until she was outside the +door. Mr. Cooper made no objection to accompanying his young guide, and +though the severity of the storm was such that they did not escape a +thorough wetting, they reached home in safety. + +Dr. Jeremy, seated with his feet upon the fender, had the contented +appearance of one who is quite at home. He had been talking with Mrs. +Sullivan about the people of a country town where they had both passed +some time in their childhood, and the timid woman had come to feel so +much at her ease in the society of the social and entertaining +physician, that, though he had accidentally disclosed his profession, +she allowed him to question her upon the state of her health, without +any of the alarm she had fancied she should feel at the sight of a +doctor. By the time Gertrude returned, he had made himself well +acquainted with the case, and was prepared, on Mrs. Sullivan's leaving +the room, to provide dry clothes for her father, to report to Gertrude +his opinion. + +"Gertrude," said he, as soon as the door was shut, "that's a very sick +woman." + +"Do you think so, Dr. Jeremy?" said Gertrude, much alarmed, and sinking +into the nearest chair. + +"I do," replied he. "I wish I had seen her six months ago." + +"Why, doctor? Do you date her illness so far back as that?" + +"Yes, and much farther. She has borne up under the gradual progress of a +disease which is now, I fear, beyond the aid of medical treatment." + +"Dr. Jeremy," said Gertrude, "you do not mean to tell me that auntie is +going to die and leave me, and her poor old father, and without ever +seeing Willie again, too? Oh, I had hoped it was not nearly so bad as +that!" + +"Do not be alarmed, Gertrude," said the doctor. "I did not mean to +frighten you;--she may live some time yet. I can judge better of her +case in a day or two. But it is absolutely _unsafe_ for you to be here +alone with these two friends of yours--to say nothing of its overtasking +your strength. Has not Mrs. Sullivan the means to keep a nurse, or even +a domestic? She tells me she has no one." + +"Yes, indeed," answered Gerty; "her son supplies her wants most +generously. I know that she never draws nearly the whole of the amount +he is anxious she should expend." + +"Then you must speak to her about getting some one to assist you at +once; for, if you do not, I shall." + +"I intend to do it," said Gertrude. "I have seen the necessity for some +time past; but she has such a dread of strangers, that I hated to +propose it." + +"Nonsense," said the doctor; "that's only imagination in her; she would +soon get used to being waited upon." + +Mrs. Sullivan now returned, and Gertrude, giving an account of her +unexpected re-encounter with Nan Grant, begged Dr. Jeremy to go the next +day and see her. "It will be a visit of charity," said she, "for she is +probably penniless; and, though staying with your old patients, the +Millers, she is but distantly connected, and has no claim upon them. +That never makes any difference with you, however, I know very well." + +"Not a bit, not a bit," answered the doctor. "I'll go and see her +to-night, if the case requires it, and to-morrow I shall look in to +report how she is, and hear the rest of what Mrs. Sullivan was telling +me about her wakeful nights. But, Gertrude, do you go, child, and change +your wet shoes and stockings. I shall have you on my hands next." + +Mrs. Sullivan was delighted with Dr. Jeremy. "So different," said she, +"from common doctors" (a portion of humanity for which she seemed to +have an unaccountable aversion); "so social and friendly! Why, I felt, +Gertrude, as if I could talk to him about my sickness as freely as I can +to you." + +Gertrude joined in the praises bestowed upon her much-valued friend, and +it was tea-time before Mrs. Sullivan was weary of the subject. After the +evening meal was over, and Mr. Cooper had been persuaded to retire to +rest, while Mrs. Sullivan, reclining on the sofa, was enjoying what she +always termed her happiest hour, Gertrude broached the subject +recommended by Dr. Jeremy. Contrary to her expectations, Mrs. Sullivan +no longer objected to the proposal of introducing a domestic into the +family. She was convinced of her own incompetency to perform any active +labour, and was equally opposed to the exertion on Gertrude's part which +had, during the last week, been requisite. Gertrude suggested Jane +Miller as a girl well suited to their wants, and it was agreed that she +should be applied for on the next morning. + +One more glance at Gertrude, and we shall have followed her to the +conclusion of the day. She is alone. It is ten o'clock, and the house is +still. Mr. Cooper is sound asleep. Gertrude has just listened at his +door, and heard his loud breathing. Mrs. Sullivan, under the influence +of a soothing draught recommended by Dr. Jeremy, has fallen into an +unusually quiet slumber. The little Calcutta birds, ten in number, that +occupy a large cage in the window, are nestled side by side on their +slender perch, and Gertrude has thrown a warm covering over them, that +they might not suffer from the cold night air. She has locked the doors, +made all things safe and comfortable, and now sits down to read, to +meditate, and pray. Her trials and cares are multiplying. A great grief +stares her in the face, and a great responsibility; but she shrinks not +from either. No! on the contrary, she thanks God that she is here; that +she had the resolution to forsake pleasure and ease, and in spite of +her own weakness and man's wrath, to place herself in the front of +life's battle, and bravely wait its issues. She thanks God that she +knows where to look for help. But, though her heart is brave and her +faith firm, she has a woman's tender nature; and, as she sits alone she +weeps--weeps for herself, and for him who, far away in a foreign land, +is counting the days, the months, and years which shall restore him to a +mother he is destined never to see again. But remembering that she is to +stand in the place of a child to that parent, and that her hand must +soothe the pillow of the invalid, and minister to all her wants, comes +the stern necessity of self-control--a necessity to which Gertrude has +long since learned to submit--and, rallying all her calmness and +fortitude, she wipes away the tears, and commends herself to Him who is +strength to the weak and comfort to the sorrowing. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE VISION. + + +It was fortunate for Gertrude that the vacation at Mr. W.'s school was +approaching, when she would be more at leisure to attend to her +multiplied cares. She considered herself favoured in obtaining the +services of Jane, who consented to come and help Miss Gertrude. She did +not, she said, exactly like living out, but couldn't refuse a young lady +who had been so good to them in times past. Gertrude had feared that, +with Nan Grant sick in the house, Mrs. Miller would not be able to give +up her eldest daughter; but Mary, a second girl, having returned home +unexpectedly, one of them could be spared. Under Gertrude's tuition, +Jane was able to relieve Mrs. Sullivan of her household duties, and to +leave Gertrude at liberty to visit Nan, whose fever rendered her claim +for aid the most imperative. In Gertrude's still vivid recollection of +her former sufferings under Nan there was no bitterness, no revenge. If +she remembered the past, it was only to pity and forgive her +persecutor. + +Therefore, night after night found her watching by the bedside of the +sick woman, who, still delirious, had entirely lost the dread she had at +first seemed to feel at her presence. Nan talked much of little +Gerty--sometimes in a way that led Gertrude to believe herself +recognised, but more frequently as if the child were supposed to be +absent; and it was not until a long time after that Gertrude was led to +adopt the correct supposition, which was, that she had been mistaken for +her mother, whom she much resembled, and whom, though tended in her last +sickness by Nan herself, the fevered and conscience-stricken sufferer +believed had come back to claim her child at her hands. It was only the +continued assurances of good-will on Gertrude's part, and her unwearied +efforts to soothe and comfort her, that finally led Nan to the belief +that the injured mother had found her child in safety, and was ignorant +of the wrongs and unkindness she had endured. + +One night--it was the last of Nan's life--Gertrude, who had scarcely +left her during the day, and was still watching, heard her own name +mingled with those of others in a few rapid sentences. She listened +intently, for she was always in hopes, during these ravings, to gain +some information concerning her own early life. Her name was not +repeated, however, and for some time the muttering of Nan's voice was +indistinct. Then, suddenly starting up and addressing herself to some +imaginary person, she shouted aloud, "Stephie! Stephie! give me back the +watch, and tell me what you did with the rings?--They will ask--those +folks!--and what shall I tell them?" Then, after a pause, she said, in a +more feeble, but equally earnest voice, "No, no, Stephie, I never'll +tell--I _never, never_ will!" The moment the words had left her lips, +she started, turned, saw Gertrude standing by the bedside, and with a +frightful look, shrieked, rather than asked, "Did you hear? Did you +hear?--You did," continued she, "and you'll tell! Oh, if you _do_!" She +was here preparing to spring from the bed, but overcome with exhaustion, +sunk back on the pillow. Summoning Mr. and Mrs. Miller, the agitated +Gertrude, believing that her own presence was too exciting, left the +dying woman to their care, and sought another part of the house. +Learning, about an hour afterwards, from Mrs. Miller, that Nan had +become comparatively calm, but seemed near her end, Gertrude thought it +best not to enter the room again; and, sitting down by the kitchen fire, +pondered over the strange scene she had witnessed. Day was just dawning +when Mrs. Miller came to tell her that Nan had breathed her last. + +Gerty's work of mercy, forgiveness, and Christian love being thus +finished, she hastened home to recruit her strength, and fortify herself +for the labour and suffering yet in store for her. In three weeks from +Nan Grant's death, Paul Cooper was smitten by the Destroyer's hand, and +he, too, was laid to his last rest; and though the deepest feelings of +Gertrude's heart were not in either case fully awakened, it was no +slight call upon the mental and physical endurance of a girl of eighteen +to bear up under the self-imposed duties caused by each event, and that, +too, at a time when her mind was racked by the apprehension of a new and +more intense grief. Emily's absence was also a sore trial to her, for +she was accustomed to rely upon her for advice and counsel, and in +seasons of peculiar distress, to learn patience and submission. Only one +letter had been received from the travellers, and that, written by Mrs. +Ellis, contained little that was satisfactory. It was written from +Havana, where they were boarding in a house kept by an American lady, +and crowded with visitors from Boston, New York, and other northern +cities. + +"It an't so very pleasant, after all, Gertrude," wrote Mrs. Ellis, "and +I wish we were safe home again; and not on my own account either, so +much as Emily's. She feels kind of strange here; and no wonder, for it's +a dreadful uncomfortable sort of a place. The windows have no glass +about them, but are grated like a prison; and there is not a carpet in +the house, nor a fire-place, though sometimes the mornings are cold. +There's a widow here, with a brother and some nieces. The widow is a +flaunting kind of a woman, that I begin to think is either setting her +cap for Mr. Graham, or means to make an old fool of him. She is one of +your loud-talking women, that dress up a good deal, and like to take the +lead; and Mr. Graham is silly enough to follow after her party, and go +to all sorts of rides and excursions;--it's so _ridiculous_--and he over +sixty-five years old! Emily and I have pretty much done going into the +parlour, for these gay folks don't take any sort of notice of us. Emily +doesn't say a word, or complain a bit, but I know she is not happy here, +and would be glad to be back in Boston; and so should I, if it wasn't +for that horrid steamboat. I liked to have died with sea-sickness, +Gertrude, coming out; and I dread going home so, that I don't know what +to do." + + * * * * * + +Gertrude wrote frequently to Emily, but, as Miss Graham was dependent +upon Mrs. Ellis's eyesight, and the letters must, therefore, be subject +to her scrutiny, she could not express her innermost thoughts and +feelings as she was wont to do in conversation with her sympathising and +indulgent friend. Every Indian mail brought news from William Sullivan, +who, prosperous in business, and rendered happy even in his exile by the +belief that the friends he loved best were in the enjoyment of the +fruits of his exertions, wrote always in a strain of cheerfulness. + +One Sabbath afternoon, a few weeks after Mr. Cooper's death, found +Gertrude with an open letter in her hand, the numerous post-marks upon +the outside of which proclaimed from whence it came. It had that day +been received, and Mrs. Sullivan, as she lay stretched upon the couch, +had been listening for the third time to the reading of its contents. +The bright hopes expressed by her son, and the gay tone in which he +wrote, all unconscious of the cloud of sorrow that was gathering for +him, formed so striking a contrast to her own reflections, that she lay +with her eyes closed, and oppressed with an unwonted degree of sadness; +while Gertrude, as she glanced at the passage in which Willie dilated +upon the "joy of once more clasping in his arms the dear mother whom he +so longed to see again," and then turned her gaze upon the wasted form +and cheek of that mother, felt a chill at her heart. Dr. Jeremy's first +fears were confirmed, and, her disease still further aggravated by the +anxiety which attended her father's sickness and death, Mrs. Sullivan +was rapidly passing away. + +Whether she was herself aware of this Gertrude had not yet been able to +determine. She had never spoken upon the subject, or intimated a +conviction of her approaching end; and Gertrude was almost inclined to +believe that she was deceiving herself with the expectation of recovery. +All doubt of this was soon removed; for after remaining a short time +engaged in deep thought, or perhaps in prayer, Mrs. Sullivan opened her +eyes, fixed them upon the young attendant, and said, in a calm, distinct +voice--"Gertrude, I shall never see Willie again." Gertrude made no +reply. + +"I wish to write and tell him so myself, or, rather, if you will write +for me, I should like to tell you what to say; and I feel that no time +is to be lost, for I am failing fast, and may not long have strength +enough to do it. It will devolve upon you, my child, to let him know +when all is over; but you have had too many sad duties already, and it +will spare you somewhat to have me prepare him to hear bad news. Will +you commence a letter to-day?" + +"Certainly, auntie, if you think it best." + +"I do, Gerty. What you wrote by the last mail was my father's sickness +and death; and there was nothing mentioned likely to alarm him on my +account, was there?" + +"Nothing at all." + +"Then it is time he should be forewarned, poor boy! I do not need Dr. +Jeremy to tell me that I am dying." + +"Did he tell you so?" asked Gertrude, as she went to her desk, and began +to arrange her writing materials. + +"No, Gerty! he was too prudent for that; but I told _him_ and he did not +contradict me. You have known it some time, have you not?" inquired she, +gazing earnestly in the face of Gertrude. + +"Some weeks," replied Gertrude, as she spoke imprinting a kiss upon the +pale brow of the sufferer. + +"Why did you not tell me?" + +"Why should I, dear auntie?" said Gertrude. "I knew the Lord could never +call you at a time when your lamp would not be trimmed and burning." + +"Feebly, it burns feebly!" said she. + +"Whose, then, is bright," said Gertrude, "if yours be dim! Have you not, +for years past, been a living lesson of piety? Unless it be Emily, +auntie, I know of no one who seems so fit for heaven." + +"Oh, no, Gerty! I am a sinful creature, full of weakness; much as I long +to meet my Saviour, my earthly heart pines with the vain desire for one +more sight of my boy, and all my dreams of heaven are mingled with the +aching regret that the one blessing I most craved on earth has been +denied me." + +"Oh, auntie!" exclaimed Gertrude, "we are all human! Until the mortal +puts on immortality, how can you cease to think of Willie, and long for +his presence in this trying hour! It cannot be a sin--that which is so +natural!" + +"I do not know, Gerty; perhaps it is not; and, if it be, I trust before +I go hence, I shall be blessed with a spirit of perfect submission, to +atone for the occasional murmuring of a mother's heart? Read to me, my +dear, some holy words of comfort; you always seem to open the good book +at the passage I most need. It is sinful, indeed, to me, Gertrude, to +indulge the least repining, blessed as I am in the love and care of one +who is dear to me as a daughter!" + +Gertrude took her Bible, and opening it at the Gospel of St. Mark, her +eye fell upon the account of Our Saviour's agony in the garden of +Gethsemane. She rightly believed that nothing could be more appropriate +to Mrs. Sullivan's state of mind than the touching description of the +struggle of our Lord's humanity; nothing more likely to sooth her +spirit, and reconcile her to the occasional rebellion of her own mortal +nature, then the evident contest of the human with the divine so +thrillingly narrated by the disciple; and that nothing could be more +inspiring than the example of that holy Son of God, who ever to His +thrice-repeated prayer that, if possible, the cup might pass from him, +added the pious ejaculation, "Thy will, not mine, be done." The words +were not without effect; for, when she had finished, she observed that +as Mrs. Sullivan lay still upon her couch, her lips seemed to be +repeating the Saviour's prayer. Not wishing to disturb her meditations, +Gertrude made no reference to the proposed letter to Willie, but sat +silently, and Mrs. Sullivan fell asleep. It was a gentle slumber, and +Gertrude sat and watched with pleasure the peaceful happy expression of +her features. Darkness had come on before she awoke, and so shrouded the +room that Gertrude, who still sat there, was invisible in the gloom. She +started on hearing her name, and, hastily lighting a candle, approached +the couch. + +"O, Gertrude!" said Mrs. Sullivan, "I have had such a beautiful dream! +Sit down by me, my dear, and let me tell it to you; it could not have +been more vivid, if it had all been reality:--" + + * * * * * + +THE DREAM:--"I thought I was sailing rapidly through the air, and for +some time I seemed to float on and on, over clouds and among bright +stars. The motion was so gentle that I did not grow weary, though in my +journey I travelled over land and sea. At last I saw beneath me a +beautiful city, with churches, towers, monuments, and throngs of gay +people moving in every direction. As I drew nearer, I could distinguish +the faces of these numerous men and women, and among them, in the +crowded street, there was one who looked like Willie. I followed him, +and soon felt sure it was he. He looked older than when we saw him last, +and much as I have always imagined him, since the descriptions he has +given in his letters of the change that has taken place in his +appearance. I followed him through several streets, and at last he +turned into a fine, large building, which stood near the centre of the +city. I went in also. We passed through large halls and beautifully +furnished rooms, and at last stood in a dining-saloon, in the middle of +which was a table covered with bottles, glasses, and the remains of a +rich desert, such as I never saw before. There was a group of young men +round the table, all well-dressed, and some of them fine-looking, so +that at first I was quite charmed with their appearance. I seemed, +however, to have a strange power of looking into their hearts, and +detecting all the evil there was there. One had a very bright, +intelligent face, and might have been thought a man of talent--and so he +was; but I could see better than people usually can, and I perceived, by +a sort of instinct, that all his mind and genius were converted into a +means of duping and deceiving those who were so foolish or so ignorant +as to be ensnared. + +"Another seemed by his wit and drollery to be the charm of the company; +but I could detect marks of intoxication. + +"A third was vainly attempting to look happy; but his soul was bared to +my searching gaze, and I saw that he had the day before lost at the +gaming-table his own and a part of his employer's money, and was +tortured with anxiety lest he might not this evening win it back. + +"There were many others present, and all, more or less, sunk in +dissipation, had reached various stages on the road to ruin. Their +faces, however, looked gay, and, as Willie glanced from one to another, +he seemed pleased and attracted. + +"One of them offered him a seat at the table, and all urged him to take +it. He did so, and the young man at his right filled a glass with bright +wine, and handed it to him. He hesitated, then took it and raised it to +his lips. Just then I touched him on the shoulder. He turned, saw me, +and instantly the glass fell from his hand, and was broken. I beckoned, +and he rose and followed me. The gay circle he had left called loudly +upon him to return; one of them even laid a hand upon his arm, and tried +to detain him; but he would not listen or stay--he shook off the hand, +and we went on. Before we had got outside the building, the man whom I +had first noticed, and whom I knew to be the most artful of the company, +came out from a room near the door, which he had reached by some other +direction, and, approaching Willie, whispered in his ear. Willie +faltered, turned, and would perhaps have gone back; but I stood in front +of him, held up my finger menacingly, and shook my head. He hesitated no +longer, but, flinging aside the tempter, rushed out of the door, and was +instantly down the long flight of steps. I seemed to move with great +rapidity, and was soon guiding my son through the intricate, crowded +streets of the city. Many were the snares we found laid for the unwary. +More than once my watchful eye saved the thoughtless boy by my side from +some pitfall or danger, into which, without me, he would have fallen. +Occasionally I lost sight of him, and had to turn back; once he was +separated from me by the crowd, and missed his way, and once he lingered +to witness or join in some sinful amusements. Each time, however, he +listened to my warning voice, and we went on in safety. + +"At last, however, in passing through a brilliantly-lighted street--for +it was now evening--I suddenly observed that he was absent from my side. +I hunted the streets, and called him by name; but there was no answer. I +then unfolded my wings, and, soaring high above the crowded town, +surveyed the whole, hoping that in that one glance I might, as I had at +first done, detect my boy. + +"I was not disappointed. In a gorgeous hall, dazzlingly lit, and filled +with a fashionable crowd, I beheld Willie. A brilliant young creature +was leaning on his arm, and I saw into her heart, and knew that she was +not blind to his beauty or insensible to his attractions. But, oh! I +trembled for him now! She was lovely and rich, and also fashionable and +admired. But I saw into her soul, and she was proud, cold-hearted, and +worldly; and if she loved Willie, it was his beauty, his winning +manners, and his smile that pleased her--not his noble nature, which she +knew not how to prize. As they promenaded through the hall, and she, +whom crowds were praising, gave all her time and thoughts to him, I, +descending in an invisible shape, and standing by his side, touched his +shoulder. He looked around, but, before he could see his mother's face, +the siren's voice attracted all his attention. Again and again I +endeavoured to win him away; but he heard me not. At length she spoke +some word that betrayed to my high-minded boy the folly and selfishness +of her worldly soul. I seized the moment when she had thus weakened her +hold upon him, and, clasping him in my arms, spread my wings, and soared +far, far away, bearing with me the prize I had toiled after and won. As +we rose into the air, my manly son became in my encircling arms a child +again, and there rested on my bosom the same little head, with its soft, +silken curls, that had nestled there in infancy. Back we flew, over sea +and land, and paused not until, on a soft, grassy slope, under the shade +of green trees, I thought I saw my darling Gerty, and was flying to lay +my precious boy at her feet, when I awoke pronouncing your name." + + * * * * * + +"And now, Gertrude, the bitterness of the cup I am called upon to drink +is passed away. A blessed angel has ministered unto me. I no longer wish +to see my son again on earth, for I am persuaded that my departure is in +accordance with the schemes of a merciful Providence. I now believe that +Willie's living mother might be powerless to turn him from temptation +and evil; but the spirit of that mother will be mighty still, and in the +thought that she, in her home beyond the skies, is ever watching around +his path, and striving to lead him in the narrow way, he may find a +truer shield from danger, a firmer rest to his tempted soul, than she +could have been while on earth. Now, oh, my Father, I can say, from the +depths of my heart, 'Thy will, not mine, be done!'" + +From this time until her death, which took place about a month +afterward, Mrs. Sullivan's mind remained in a state of perfect +resignation. The last pang had lost its bitterness. In the letter which +she dictated to Willie, she expressed her trust in the goodness and +wisdom of Providence, and exhorted him to cherish the same submissive +love for the All-wise. She reminded him of the early lessons she had +taught him, the piety and self-command, which she had inculcated, and +made it her dying prayer that her influence might be increased, rather +than diminished, and her presence felt to be a continual reality. + +After Gertrude had folded the letter, and left for her duties in school, +Mrs. Sullivan re-opened the sheet, and, with her feeble hand, recounted +the disinterested and loving devotion of Gertrude, thus: "So long, my +son, as you cherish in your heart the memory of your grandfather and +mother, cease not to bestow all the gratitude of which that heart is +capable upon one whose praises my hand is too feeble to portray." + +So slow and gradual was the decline of Mrs. Sullivan, that her death at +last came as an unexpected blow to Gertrude, who, though she saw the +ravages of disease, could not realise that a termination must come to +their work. In the dead hours of the night, with no one to sustain and +encourage her but the frightened Jane, did she watch the departing +spirit of her much-loved friend. "Are you afraid to see me die, +Gertrude?" asked Mrs. Sullivan, an hour before her death. On Gertrude's +answering that she was not--"Then turn me a little towards you," said +she, "that your face, my darling, may be the last to me of earth." + +It was done, and, with her hand locked fast in Gertrude's, and a look +that spoke the deepest affection, she expired. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +MORE CHANGES. + + +Not until her work of love was ended did Gertrude become conscious that +her lengthened labours by night and day had worn upon her frame, and +exhausted her strength. For a week after Mrs. Sullivan was in her grave, +Dr. Jeremy feared a severe illness for Gertrude. But, after struggling +with her dangerous symptoms for several days, she rallied; and, though +still pale and worn by care and anxiety, was able to resume her school +duties, and make arrangements for another home. + +Several homes had been offered to her, with a warmth and cordiality +which made it difficult to decline their acceptance; but Gertrude, +though deeply touched by the kindness thus manifested towards her in her +loneliness, preferred to seek a permanent boarding-place, and when the +grounds on which she based her decision were understood by her friends, +they approved her course. + +Mrs. Jeremy at first felt hurt at Gertrude's refusal to live with them +for any length of time that she chose; and the doctor was so peremptory +with his "Come, Gertrude, come right home with us--don't say a word!" +that she was afraid lest, in her weak state of health, she should be +carried off, without a _chance_ to remonstrate. But, after he had taken +upon himself to give Jane orders about packing her clothes and sending +them after her, and then locking up the house, he gave Gertrude an +opportunity to state her reasons for wishing to decline the generous +proposal. + +But all her reasoning upon general principles proved insufficient to +convince the warm-hearted couple. "It was all nonsense about independent +position. She would be perfectly independent with them, and her company +would be such a pleasure that she need feel no hesitation in accepting +their offer, and might be sure she would be conferring a favour, instead +of being the party obliged." At last she was compelled to make use of an +argument which had greatly influenced her own mind, and would, she felt +sure, carry no little weight with it in the doctor's own estimation. + +"Dr. Jeremy," said she, "I hope you will not condemn in me a motive +which has strengthened my firmness in this matter. I should be unwilling +to mention it if I did not know that you are so far acquainted with the +state of affairs between Mr. Graham and myself as to understand and +sympathize with my feelings. You know that he was opposed to my leaving +them and remaining here this winter, and must suspect that, when we +parted, there was not a perfectly good understanding between us. He +hinted that I should never be able to support myself, and should be +driven to a life of dependence; and, since the salary which I receive +from Mr. W. is sufficient for all my wants, I wish to be so situated on +Mr. Graham's return that he will perceive that my assurance that I could +earn my own living was not without foundation." + +"So Graham thought that, without his sustaining power, you would soon +come to beggary--did he? With your talents, too? that's just like him!" + +"Oh, no, no!" replied Gertrude, "I did not say that; but I seemed to him +a mere child, and he did not realise that in giving me an education he +had paid my expenses in advance. It was very natural he should distrust +my capacity--he had never seen me compelled to exert myself." + +"I understand--I understand," said the doctor. "He thought you would be +glad enough to come back to them; yes, yes, just like him!" + +"Well, now," said Mrs. Jeremy, "I don't believe he thought any such +thing. He was provoked, and didn't mind what he said. Ten to one he will +never think of it again, and it seems to me it is only a kind of pride +in Gertrude to care anything about it." + +"I don't know that, wife," said the doctor. "If it _is_ pride, it's an +honourable pride that I like; and I am not sure but, if I were in +Gertrude's place, I should feel just as she does; so I shan't urge her +to do any other ways than she proposes. She can have a boarding-place, +and yet spend much of her time with us." + +"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Jeremy; "and, if you feel set about it, Gerty, +dear, I am sure I shall want you to do whatever pleases you best; but +one thing I do insist on, and that is, that you leave this house, which +must look very dreary, this very day, go home with me, and stay until +you get recruited." + +Gertrude, gladly consenting to a short visit, compromised the matter by +accompanying them without delay, and it was chiefly owing to the +doctor's persevering skill and care bestowed upon his young guest, and +the motherly nursing of Mrs. Jeremy, that she escaped the illness which +had threatened her. + +Mr. and Mrs. W., who felt great sympathy for Gertrude, pressed her to +come to their house, and remain until the return of Mr. Graham and +Emily; but, on being assured by her that she was unaware of the period +of their absence, and should not probably reside with them for the +future, they were satisfied that she acted with wisdom and judgment in +at once providing herself with an independent situation. + +Mr. and Mrs. Arnold, who had been constant in their attentions, both to +Mrs. Sullivan and Gertrude, and were the only persons, except the +physician, who had been admitted to the sick room of the invalid, felt +that they had a peculiar claim to the care of the doubly-orphaned girl, +and urged her to become a member of their household. Mr. Arnold's family +being large, and his house and salary small, true benevolence alone +prompted this proposal; and on Gertrude's acquainting his economical and +prudent wife with the ample means she enjoyed from her own exertions, +and the decision she had formed of procuring an independent home, she +received the warm approbation of both, and found in the latter an +excellent adviser and assistant. + +Mrs. Arnold had a widowed sister who was in the habit of receiving, as +boarders, a few young ladies. Gertrude did not know this lady +personally, but had heard her warmly praised; and she indulged the hope +that through her friend, the minister's wife, she might obtain with her +an agreeable and not too expensive residence. In this she was not +disappointed. Mrs. Warren had fortunately vacant a large front chamber; +and, Mrs. Arnold having recommended Gertrude in the warmest manner, +suitable terms were agreed upon, and the room placed at her disposal. +Mrs. Sullivan had bequeathed to her all her furniture, and Mrs. Arnold +and her daughters insisted that, in consideration of her recent fatigue +and bereavement, she should attend only to her school duties, and leave +to them the furnishing of her room with such articles as she preferred +to have placed there, and superintended the packing away of all other +movables; for Gertrude was unwilling that anything should be sold. On +entering the dining-room the first evening after she took up her +residence at Mrs. Warren's, she expected to meet only strangers at the +tea-table, but was agreeably disappointed at the sight of Fanny Bruce, +who, left in Boston while her mother and brother were spending the +winter in travelling, had now been several weeks an inmate of Mrs. +Warren's house. Fanny was a school-girl, twelve or thirteen years of +age; a near neighbour to Gertrude, had been in the habit of seeing her +often at Mr. Graham's, and had sometimes begged flowers from her, +borrowed books, and obtained assistance in her fancy-work. She admired +Gertrude much; had hailed with delight the prospect of knowing her +better, as she hoped to do at Mrs. Warren's; and when she met the gaze +of her large, dark eyes, and saw a smile of pleasure overspread her +countenance at the sight of a familiar face, she came forward to shake +hands, and beg that Miss Flint would sit next her at the table. + +Fanny Bruce was a girl of good disposition and warm heart, but she had +been much neglected by her mother, whose pride was in her son, the same +Ben of whom we have previously spoken. She had often been left behind in +some boarding-house, while her pleasure-loving mother and indolent +brother passed their time in journeying; and had not always been so +fortunately situated as she was at present. + +Gertrude had not been long at Mrs. Warren's before she observed that +Fanny occupied an isolated position in the family. She was a few years +younger than her companions, three dressy misses, who could not +condescend to admit her into her clique. Although the privacy of her own +room was pleasing to Gertrude's feelings, pity for poor Fanny induced +her to invite her frequently to come and sit with her, and she often so +far forgot her own griefs as to exert herself in providing entertainment +for her young visitor, who considered it a privilege to share Gertrude's +retirement, read her books, and feel confident of her friendship. During +the stormy month of March Fanny spent almost every evening with +Gertrude; and she, who at first felt that she was making a sacrifice of +her comfort and ease by giving another constant access to her apartment, +realised the force of Uncle True's prophecy, that, in her efforts for +the happiness of others, she would at last find her own; for Fanny's +lively and amusing conversation drew Gertrude from brooding over her +sorrows. + +April arrived, and still no news from Emily; Gertrude's heart ached with +longing to once more pour out her griefs on the bosom of that dear +friend, and find her consolation and support. Gertrude had written +regularly, but of late she had not known where to direct her letters; +and since Mrs. Sullivan's death there had been no communication between +her and the travellers. She was sitting at her window one evening, +thinking of those friends lost by absence and by death, when she was +summoned to see Mr. Arnold and his daughter Anne. After the usual +civilities, Miss Arnold said, "Of course you have heard the news, +Gertrude?" + +"No," replied Gertrude. "I have heard nothing special." + +"What!" exclaimed Mr. Arnold, "have you not heard of Mr. Graham's +marriage?" + +Gertrude started up in surprise. "Do you really mean so, Mr. Arnold? Mr. +Graham married! When? To whom?" + +"To the widow Holbrook, a sister-in-law of Mr. Clinton's; she has been +staying at Havanna, with a party from the north, and the Grahams met her +there." + +"But, Gertrude," asked Mr. Arnold, "how does it happen you have not +heard of it? It is in all the newspapers--'Married in New Orleans, J. H. +Graham, Esq., to Mrs. Holbrook.'" + +"I have not seen a newspaper for a day or two," replied Gertrude. + +"And Miss Graham's blindness, I suppose, prevents her writing," said +Anne; "but I thought Mr. Graham would send wedding compliments." + +Gertrude made no reply, and Miss Arnold said, "I suppose his bride +engrosses all his attention." + +"Do you know anything of this Mrs. Holbrook?" asked Gertrude. + +"Not much," answered Mr. Arnold. "I have seen her occasionally at Mr. +Clinton's. She is a handsome, showy woman, fond of society, I should +think." + +"I have seen her very often," said Anne. "She is a coarse, noisy, +dashing person, just the one to make Miss Emily miserable." + +Gertrude looked distressed, and Mr. Arnold glanced reprovingly at her. +"Anne," said he, "are you sure you speak advisedly?" + +"Belle Clinton is my authority, father. I only judge from what I used to +hear her say at school about her Aunt _Bella_, as she always used to +call her." + +"Did Isabel represent her aunt so unfavourably?" + +"Not intentionally; she meant the greatest praise, but I never liked +anything she told us about her." + +"We will not condemn her until we can decide upon acquaintance," said +Mr. Arnold; "perhaps she will prove the reverse of what you suppose." + +"Can you tell me anything concerning Emily?" asked Gertrude, "and +whether Mr. Graham is soon to return?" + +"Nothing," said Miss Arnold. "When did you hear from them yourself?" + +Gertrude mentioned the date of the letter from Mrs. Ellis, the account +she had given of a gay party from the north, and suggested that probably +Mrs. Graham was the widow she had described. + +"The same, undoubtedly," said Mr. Arnold. + +Their knowledge of facts were so slight, however, that little remained +to be said concerning the marriage, and other topics of conversation +were introduced. But Gertrude found it impossible to think of any other +subject; the matter was so vitally important to Emily, that her mind +constantly recurred to it. The conversation was interrupted by the +sudden entrance of Dr. and Mrs. Jeremy. The former held in his hand a +sealed letter, directed to Gertrude, in the handwriting of Mr. Graham; +and, as he handed it to her, he rubbed his hands, and looking at Anne +Arnold, exclaimed, "Now, Miss Anne, we shall hear all about these famous +nuptials!" + +Finding her visitors eager to learn the contents of her letter, Gertrude +broke the seal, and hastily perused its contents. The envelope contained +two or three pages closely written by Mrs. Ellis, and also a lengthy +note from Mr. Graham. Surprised as Gertrude was at any communication +from one who had parted from her in anger, her desire was to hear from +Emily, and she preferred the housekeeper's document as most likely to +contain the desired information. It ran as follows:-- + + "NEW YORK, _March 31, 1852_. + + "DEAR GERTRUDE,--As there were plenty of Boston folks at the + wedding, you have heard before this of Mr. Graham's marriage. He + married the widow Holbrook, the same I wrote to you about. She was + determined to have him, and she's got him. I don't hesitate to say + he's got the worst of the bargain. He likes a quiet life, and he's + lost the chance of that--poor man!--for she's the greatest hand for + company that ever I saw. She followed Mr. Graham up pretty well at + Havanna, but I guess he thought better of it, and didn't mean to + have her. But when we got to New Orleans, she was there; and she + carried her point, and married him. Emily behaved beautifully; she + never said a word against it, and always treated the lady as + pleasantly as could be; but, dear me! how will our Emily get along + with so many folks about all the time, and so much noise and + confusion? For my part, I an't used to it, and it's not agreeable. + The new lady is civil enough to me, now she's married. I daresay + she thinks it stands her in hand, as long as she's one of the + family, and I've been in it so long. But I suppose you've been + wondering what had become of us, Gertrude, and will be surprised to + find we have got so far as New York, on our way home--_my_ way + home, for I'm the only one that talks of coming at present. I kept + meaning to write while we were in New Orleans, but there was so + much going on I didn't get the chance; and, after that horrid + steamboat from Charleston here, I wasn't good for anything for a + week. But Emily was so anxious that I couldn't put off writing any + longer. Poor Emily isn't very well; I don't mean that she's + downright sick--it's low spirits more than anything. She gets tired + and worried very quick, and easily disturbed, which didn't used to + be the case. It may be the new wife, and all the nieces and other + disagreeable things. She never complains, and nobody would know but + what she was pleased to have her father married again; but she + hasn't seemed happy all winter, and now it troubles me to see how + she looks sometimes. She talks a sight about you, and felt + dreadfully not to get any more letters. But to come to the + principal thing, they are all going to Europe--Emily and all. I + take it, it's the new wife's idea. Mr. Graham wanted me to go, but + I would as soon be hung as venture on the sea again, and I told him + so. So now he has written for you to go with Emily; and if you are + not afraid of sea-sickness, I hope you won't refuse, for it would + be dreadful for her to have a stranger, and you know she always + needs somebody on account of her blindness. I do not think she has + the least wish to go; but she would not ask to be left behind, for + fear her father should think she did not like the new wife. + + "As soon as they sail--the last of April--I shall come back to the + house in D----, and see to things there while they are away. I + write a postscript to you from Emily, and we shall be very + impatient to hear your answer; and I hope you will not refuse to go + with Emily. + + "Yours very truly, + + "SARAH H. ELLIS." + +The postscript contained the following:-- + + "I need not tell my darling Gertrude how much I have missed her, + and longed to have her with me again; how I have thought of her by + night and day, and prayed God to strengthen and fit her for many + trials and labours. The letter written soon after Mr. Cooper's + death is the last that has reached me, and I do not know whether + Mrs. Sullivan is still living. Write to me at once, my dear child, + if you cannot come to us. Father will tell you of our plans, and + ask you to accompany us to Europe. My heart will be light if I can + take my dear Gerty with me; I trust to you, my love, to decide + aright. You have heard of father's marriage. It is a great change + for us all, but will, I trust, result in happiness. Mrs. Graham + has two nieces, who are with us at the hotel. They are to be of + our party to go abroad, and are, I understand, very beautiful + girls, especially Bella Clinton, whom you saw in Boston some years + ago. Mrs. Ellis is very tired of writing, and I must close with + assuring my dearest Gertrude of the devoted affection of + + "EMILY GRAHAM." + +It was with great curiosity that Gertrude unfolded Mr. Graham's epistle. +She thought it would be awkward for him to address her, and wondered +much whether he would maintain his authoritative tone, or condescend to +apologise. Had she known him better, she would have been assured that +nothing would ever induce him to do the latter, for he was one of those +persons who never believe themselves in the wrong. + + "MISS GERTRUDE FLINT,--I am married, and intend to go abroad on the + 28th of April. My daughter will accompany us, and as Mrs. Ellis + dreads the sea, I propose that you join us in New York, and attend + the party as a companion to Emily. I have not forgotten the + ingratitude with which you once slighted a similar offer on my + part, and nothing would compel me to give you another opportunity + to manifest such a spirit, but a desire to promote the happiness of + Emily, and a sincere wish to be of service to a young person who + has been in my family so long that I feel a friendly interest in + providing for her. By complying with our wishes, you will remove + the recollection of your past behaviour; and, if you choose to + return to us, I shall enable you to maintain the place and + appearance of a lady. As we sail the last of the month, it is + important you should write and name the day. I will meet you at the + boat. Mrs. Ellis being anxious to return to Boston, I hope you will + come as soon as possible. I enclose a sum of money to cover + expenses. If you have contracted debts, let me know to what amount, + and I will see that all is paid before you leave. Trusting you are + now come to a sense of your duty, I subscribe myself your friend, + + "J. H. GRAHAM." + +Gertrude was sitting near a lamp, whose light fell directly upon her +face, which, as she glanced over Mr. Graham's note, flushed crimson with +wounded pride. Dr. Jeremy observed her colour change, and during the few +minutes that Mr. and Miss Arnold stayed to hear the news, he gave an +occasional glance of defiance at the letter, and as soon as they were +gone, begged to be made acquainted with its contents. + +"He writes," said Gertrude, "to invite me to accompany them to Europe." + +"Indeed!" said Dr. Jeremy, with a low whistle; "and he thinks you'll be +silly enough to pack up and start off at a minute's notice!" + +"Why, Gerty," said Mrs. Jeremy, "you'll like to go, shan't you, dear? It +will be delightful." + +"Delightful--nonsense! Mrs. Jeremy," exclaimed the doctor; "what is +there delightful, I want to know, in travelling about with an arrogant +old tyrant, his blind daughter, upstart dashy wife, and her two +fine-lady nieces? A pretty position Gertrude would be in--a slave to the +whims of all that company." + +"Why, Dr. Jeremy," interrupted his wife, "you forget Emily." + +"Emily--to be sure, she's an angel, and never would impose upon anybody, +least of all her own pet; but she'll have to play second fiddle herself, +and I'm mistaken if she doesn't find it very hard to defend her rights +and maintain a comfortable position in her father's enlarged family +circle." + +"So much the more need, then," said Gertrude, "that someone should be +enlisted in her interests, to ward off the approach of every annoyance." + +"Do you mean, then, to put yourself in the breach?" asked the doctor. + +"I mean to accept Mr. Graham's invitation," replied Gertrude, "and join +Emily at once; but I trust the harmony that seems to subsist between her +and her new connections will continue undisturbed, so that I shall have +no cause to take up arms on _her_ account, and on _my own_ I have not a +single fear." + +"Then you think you shall go?" said Mrs. Jeremy. + +"I do," said Gertrude; "nothing but my duty to Mrs. Sullivan and her +father led me to think of leaving Emily. That duty is at an end. I see +from Mrs. Ellis's letters that Emily is not happy; and nothing which I +can do to make her so must be neglected. Only think, Mrs. Jeremy, what a +friend she has been to me." + +"I know it," said Mrs. Jeremy, "and I dare say you will enjoy the +journey, in spite of all the scarecrows the doctor sets up to frighten +you; but it does seem a sacrifice for you to leave your comforts for +such an uncertain sort of life." + +"Sacrifice!" said the doctor; "it's the greatest sacrifice that ever I +heard of! It is not merely giving up a good income of her own earning, +and as pleasant a home as there is in Boston; it is relinquishing all +the independence that she has been striving after, and which she was so +anxious to maintain." + +"No, doctor," said Gertrude, warmly; "nothing that I do for _Emily's_ +sake can be called a sacrifice; it is my greatest pleasure." + +"Gerty always finds her pleasure in doing what is right," remarked Mrs. +Jeremy. + +"The thought," said Gertrude, "that our dear Emily was dependent upon a +stranger for all those little attentions that are only acceptable from +those she loves, would make me miserable; our happiness for years has +been in each other; and when one has suffered, the other has suffered +also. I _must_ go to her; I cannot think of doing otherwise." + +"I wish," muttered Dr. Jeremy, "that your sacrifice would be half +appreciated. But Graham, I'll venture to say, thinks it will be the +greatest favour to take you back again. Perhaps he addressed you as a +beggar; it wouldn't be the first time he's done such a thing. I wonder +what would have induced poor Philip Amory to go back. Has he made any +apology in his letter for past unkindness?" + +"I do not think he considered any to be needed," replied Gertrude. + +"Then he didn't make any excuse for his ungentlemanly behaviour? I +declare it's a shame you should be exposed to any more such treatment; +but I always _did_ hear that women were self-forgetful in their +friendship, and I believe it. Gertrude makes an excellent friend. Mrs. +Jeremy, we must cultivate her regard; and sometime or other, perhaps, +make a loud call upon her services." + +"And if ever you do, sir, I shall be ready to respond to it; if there is +a person in the world who owes a debt to society, it is myself. I hear +the world called cold, selfish, and unfeeling; but it has not been so to +me. I should be ungrateful if I did not cherish a spirit of universal +love; how much more so, if I did not feel bound, heart and hand, to +those dear friends who have bestowed upon me such affection as no orphan +ever found before!" + +"Gertrude," said Mrs. Jeremy, "I believe that you were right in leaving +Emily when you did, and that you are right in returning to her now; and, +if your being such a good girl as you are is at all due to her, she +certainly has a great claim upon you." + +"She has a claim, indeed, Mrs. Jeremy! It was Emily who first taught me +the difference between right and wrong----" + +"And she is going to reap the benefit of that knowledge in you," said +the doctor, in continuation of her remark. "That's fair! But if you are +resolved to take this European tour, you will be busy enough with your +preparations. Do you think Mr. W. will be willing to give you up?" + +"I hope so," said Gertrude. "I am sorry to be obliged to ask it of him, +for he has been very indulgent to me, and I have been absent from school +two weeks out of the winter already; but as it will shortly be the +summer vacation, he will, perhaps, be able to supply my place." + +Mrs. Jeremy interested herself in Gertrude's arrangements, offered an +attic-room for the storage of her furniture, gave up to her a dressmaker +she had engaged for herself, and a plan was laid out, by which Gertrude +could start for New York in less than a week. + +Mr. W., on being applied to, relinquished Gertrude, though deeply +regretting to lose so valuable an assistant; and after a few days +occupied in preparation, she bade farewell to the tearful Fanny Bruce, +the bustling doctor, and his kind-hearted wife, all of whom accompanied +her to the railroad station. She promised to write to the Jeremys; and +they agreed to forward her any letters that might arrive from Willie. + +In less than a fortnight from the time of her departure, Mrs. Ellis +returned to Boston, and brought news of the safe conclusion of +Gertrude's journey. A letter received a week after by Mrs. Jeremy +announced that they should sail in a few days. She was, therefore, +surprised when a second epistle was put into her hands, dated the day +succeeding that on which she supposed Mr. Graham's party to have left +the country. It was as follows:-- + + "NEW YORK, _April 29th_. + + "MY DEAR MRS. JEREMY,--As yesterday was the day on which we + expected to sail for Europe, you will be astonished to hear that we + are yet in New York, and still more so to learn that the foreign + tour is now postponed. Only two days since Mr. Graham was seized + with the gout, and the attack was so violent as to threaten his + life. Although to-day somewhat relieved, and considered by his + physician out of immediate danger, he remains a great sufferer, and + a sea-voyage is pronounced impracticable. His great anxiety is to + be at home; and, as soon as he can bear the journey, we shall + hasten to the house in D----.I enclose a note for Mrs. Ellis. It + contains various directions which Emily is desirous she should + receive; and, as we did not know how to address her, I have sent it + to you, trusting to your kindness to see it forwarded. Mrs. Graham + and her nieces, who had been anticipating much pleasure from going + abroad, are, of course, greatly disappointed. It is particularly + trying to Miss Clinton, as her father has been absent more than a + year, and she was hoping to meet him in Paris. + + "It is impossible that either me or Emily should regret a journey + of which we felt only dread, and, were it not for Mr. Graham's + illness being the cause of its postponement, we should find it hard + not to realise a degree of satisfaction in the prospect of + returning to the dear old place in D----, where we hope to be + established in the course of the next month. I say _we_, for + neither Mr. Graham nor Emily will hear of my leaving them again. + + "With the kindest regards to yourself, and my friend the doctor, + + "I am, yours very sincerely, + + "GERTRUDE FLINT." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +JEALOUSY. + + +Mr. Graham's country-house boasted a fine, old fashioned entry, with a +door at either end, both of which usually stood open during the warm +weather, admitting a current of air, and rendering the neighbourhood of +the front entrance a favourite resort of the family, during the early +hours of the day, when the sun had no access to the spot. Here, on a +pleasant June morning, Isabel Clinton and her cousin, Kitty Ray, had +made themselves comfortable. + +Isabel had drawn a large arm-chair close to the door-sill, ensconced +herself in it, and was gazing idly down the road. She was a beautiful +girl, tall and well-formed, with a delicate complexion, clear blue eyes, +and rich, light, flowing curls. The same lovely child, whom Gertrude had +gazed upon with rapture, as, leaning against the window of her father's +house, she once watched old True while he lit his lamp, had ripened into +an equally lovely woman. At an early age deprived of her mother, and +left for some years to the care of servants, she soon learned to +appreciate, at more than their true value, her outward attractions; and +her aunt, under whose tutelage she had been since she left school, did +not counteract this undue self-admiration. An appearance of conscious +superiority which distinguished her, and her independent air, might be +attributed to her conviction that Belle Clinton, the beauty and the +heiress, attired in a blue cashmere morning-dress, richly embroidered, +and open in front, for the purpose of displaying an equally rich +flounced cambric petticoat. + +On a low step at her feet sat Kitty Ray, a complete contrast to her +cousin in looks, manners and many points of character. She was a sweet +little creature, lively, playful, and affectionate. She was so small +that her childish manners became her; so full of spirits that her +occasional rudeness claimed pardon on that score; and for all other +faults her warm-heartedness and generous enthusiasm must plead an excuse +to one who wished to love her as she wished and expected to be loved by +everybody. She was a pretty girl, always bright and animated, mirthful +and happy; fond of her cousin Belle, and sometimes influenced by her, +though often enlisting on the opposite side of some contested question. +Unlike Belle, she was seldom well dressed, for she was very careless. On +the present occasion her dark silk wrapper was half-concealed by a +crimson flannel sack, which she held tightly around her, for she said it +was a chilly morning, and she was half-frozen to death--she certainly +would go and warm herself at the kitchen fire, if she did not fear +encountering that _she-dragon_, Mrs. Ellis; she was sure she did not +see, if they must sit in the doorway, why Belle couldn't come to the +side-door, where the sun shone beautifully. "O, I forgot, though," added +she; "her complexion!" + +"Complexion!" said Belle; "I'm no more afraid of hurting my complexion +than you are; I never freckle, or tan either." + +"But you burn all up, and look like a fright." + +"Well, if I didn't, I shouldn't go there to sit; I like to be at the +front of the house, where I can see the passing. I wonder who those +people are coming up the road." + +Kitty stood up, and looked as Belle pointed. After observing the +approaching couple for a minute or two she exclaimed, "Why, that's +Gertrude Flint! I wonder where she's been! And who can that be with +her? I didn't know there was a beau to be had about here." + +"Beau!" said Belle, sneeringly. + +"And why not a beau, Cousin Belle? I'm sure he looks like one." + +"I wouldn't give much for any of her beaux!" said Belle. + +"Wouldn't you?" said Kitty. "Wait until you see who they are; you +near-sighted people shouldn't decide in such a hurry. I can tell you +that he is a gentleman you wouldn't object to walking with yourself; +it's Mr. Bruce, the one we met in New Orleans." + +"I don't believe it!" exclaimed Belle, starting up. + +"You will soon have a chance to see for yourself; for he is coming home +with her." + +"_He is!_ What can he be walking with her for?" + +"To show his taste, perhaps. I am sure he could not find more agreeable +company." + +"You and I don't agree about that," replied Belle. "I don't see anything +very agreeable about her." + +"Because you are determined not to, Belle. Everybody else thinks her +charming, and Mr. Bruce is opening the gate for her as politely as if +she were a queen. I like him for that." + +"Do see," said Belle; "she's got on that white cape-bonnet of hers! and +that checked gingham dress! I wonder what Mr. Bruce thinks of her, and +he such a critic in regard to ladies' dress." + +Gertrude and her companion now drew near to the house. The former looked +up, saw the young ladies in the doorway, and smiled pleasantly at Kitty, +who was making strange grimaces and giving insignificant glances over +Belle's shoulder; but Mr. Bruce did not observe either of them; and they +heard him say, as he handed Gertrude a small parcel he had been carrying +for her, "I believe I won't come in; it's such a bore to have to talk to +strangers. Do you work in the garden, mornings, this summer?" + +"No," replied Gertrude, "there is nothing left of my garden but the +memory of it." + +"Why, Miss Gertrude!" said the young man, "I hope these new-comers +haven't interfered with----" Here, observing the direction of Gertrude's +eyes, he raised his own, saw Belle and Kitty standing opposite to him; +and compelled now to speak with them, went forward to shake hands, +trusting to his remarks about strangers in general, and these new-comers +in particular, not having been overheard. Although overheard, the young +ladies chose to take no notice of that which they supposed intended for +unknown individuals. + +They were mistaken, however, for Mr. Bruce knew, perfectly well that the +nieces of the present Mrs. Graham were the same girls whom he met at the +south, and was indifferent about renewing his acquaintance. But his +vanity was not proof against the evident pleasure they both manifested +at seeing him again; and he soon engaged in an animated conversation +with them, while Gertrude entered the house. She sought Emily's room, +and was giving an account of her morning's expedition to the village, +and how she had accomplished various commissions and errands, when Mrs. +Ellis came, and said, with distressed voice, "Hasn't Gertrude?--Oh, +there you are! Do tell me what Mrs. Wilkins said about the +strawberries?" + +"I engaged three quarts; hasn't she sent them?" + +"No, but I'm thankful to hear they're coming; I have been so plagued +about the dinner." + +She now came in, and seating herself, exclaimed, "I declare, Emily, such +an ironing as our girls have got to do to-day! You never saw anything +like it! There's no end to the fine clothes Mrs. Graham and her nieces +put into our wash. It's a shame! Rich as they are, they might put out +their washing. I've been helping, _myself_, as much as I could; but, as +Mrs. Prime says, one can't do everything at once; and I've had to see +the butcher, make puddings and blancmange, and been worried to death all +the time, because I forgot to engage those strawberries. So Mrs. Wilkins +hadn't sent her fruit to market when you got there?" + +"No, but she was in a great hurry getting ready; it would have been gone +in a very short time." + +"Well, that was lucky. I don't know what I should have done without, for +I've no time to hunt up anything else for dessert. I've got just as much +as I can do till dinner-time. Mrs. Graham never kept house before, and +don't know how to make allowance for anything. She comes home from +Boston, expects to find everything in apple-pie order, and never asks or +cares who does the work." + +Mrs. Prime called out, "Mrs. Ellis, the boy has brought your +strawberries, and the stalks an't off; he said they hadn't no time." + +"That's too bad," exclaimed the tired housekeeper. "Who's going to take +the stalks off, I should like to know? Kate is busy, and I can't do it." + +"I will, Mrs. Ellis; let _me_ do it," said Gertrude, following Mrs. +Ellis, who was now half-way downstairs. + +"No, no! don't you, Miss Gertrude," said Mrs. Prime; "they'll only stain +your fingers all up." + +"No matter if they do; my hands are not made of white kid. They'll bear +washing." + +Mrs. Ellis was only too thankful for Gertrude's help. Belle and Kitty +were doing their best to entertain Mr. Bruce, who, sitting on the +door-steps, from time to time cast his eyes down the entry, and up the +staircase, in hopes of Gertrude's reappearance; and despairing of it, he +was about to depart, when his sister Fanny came running up the yard, and +rushed past the assembled trio for the house. + +Her brother, however, stretched out his arm, caught her, and before he +let her go whispered something in her ear. + +"Who is that wild Indian?" asked Kitty Ray, as Fanny ran across the +entry and disappeared. + +"A sister of mine," answered Ben, in a nonchalant manner. + +"Why! is she?" inquired Kitty, with interest; "I have seen her here +several times, and never took any notice of her. I didn't know she was +_your_ sister. What a pretty girl she is." + +"Do you think so?" said Ben; "sorry I can't agree with you. I think +she's a fright." + +Fanny now reappeared, and stopping a moment on her way upstairs called +out, without any ceremony, "She says she can't come, she's busy." + +"Who?" asked Kitty, in her turn catching Fanny and detaining her. + +"Miss Flint." + +Mr. Bruce coloured slightly, and Belle Clinton observed it. + +"What is she doing?" inquired Kitty. + +"Picking strawberries." + +"Where are you going, Fanny?" + +"Upstairs." + +"Do they let you go all over the house?" + +"Miss Flint said I might go up and bring down the birds." + +"What birds?" + +"Her birds. I am going to hang them in the sun, and they'll sing +beautifully." + +She went, and soon returned with a cage containing the little monias +sent by Willie from Calcutta. + +"There Kitty," cried Belle; "those are the birds that wake us so early +every morning." + +"Very likely," said Kitty; "bring them here. Goodness! what little +creatures they are!--do look at them, Mr. Bruce--they are sweetly +pretty." + +"Put them down on the door-step, Fanny," said Ben, "so that we can see +them better." + +"I'm afraid you'll frighten them," replied Fanny; "Miss Gertrude doesn't +like to have them frightened." + +"No, we won't," said Ben; "we're disposed to be very friendly to Miss +Gertrude's birds. Where did she get them? Do you know, Fanny?" + +"Why, they are Indian birds; Mr. Sullivan sent them to her." + +"Who is he?" + +"Oh, he is a very particular friend; she has letters from him every +little while." + +"What Mr. Sullivan?" asked Belle. "Do you know his Christian name?" + +"I suppose it's William," said Fanny. "Miss Emily always calls the birds +little Willies." + +"Belle!" exclaimed Kitty, "that's your William Sullivan." + +"What a favourite man he seems to be!" said Mr. Bruce, in a tone of +sarcasm; "the property of one beautiful lady and the particular friend +of another." + +"I don't know what you mean, Kitty," said Belle, tartly. "Mr. Sullivan +is a junior partner of my father's, but I have not seen him for years." + +"Except in your dreams, Belle," suggested Kitty. "You forget." + +"Do you dream about Mr. Sullivan?" asked Fanny, fixing her eyes on Belle +as she spoke. "I mean to go and ask Miss Gertrude if she does." + +"Do," said Kitty; "I'll go with you." + +They ran across the entry into the dining room, and put the question at +the same time. Taken by surprise, Gertrude neither blushed nor looked +confused, but answered, quietly, "Yes, sometimes; but what do you know +of Mr. Sullivan?" + +"Oh, nothing," answered Kitty; "only _some others do_, and we are +inquiring around to see how many there are;" and she ran back in triumph +to tell Belle she might as well be frank, like Gertrude, and plead +guilty to the weakness; it looked so much better than blushing and +denying it. + +But it would not do to joke with Belle any longer; she was offended, and +did not conceal the fact. Mr. Bruce felt annoyed, and soon left, leaving +the two cousins to settle their difficulty as best they could. As soon +as he had gone, Belle folded up her work, and walked upstairs to her +room with great dignity, while Kitty stayed behind to laugh over the +matter, and improve her opportunity to make friends with Fanny Bruce; +for Kitty laboured under the idea that in cultivating the acquaintance +of the sister she should advance her cause. + +She therefore called Fanny to sit beside her, put her arm round her +waist, and commenced talking about Gertrude, and the origin and extent +of the intimacy which seemed to exist between her and the Bruce family. +Fanny, who was always communicative, willingly informed her of the +circumstances which had attached her so strongly to a friend who was +some years her senior. + +"And your brother," said Kitty, "he has known her some time, hasn't he?" + +"Yes, I suppose so," answered Fanny, carelessly. + +"Does he like her?" + +"I don't know; I should think he would; I don't see how he can help it." + +"What did he whisper to you when you came up the steps?" + +"Oh, he bade me ask Miss Gertrude if she wasn't coming back to see him +again, and tell her he was tired to death waiting for her." + +Kitty pouted and looked vexed. "Has Miss Flint been in the habit of +receiving company here, and been treated like an equal?" + +"Of course she has," answered Fanny, with spirit; "why shouldn't she? +She's the most perfect lady I ever saw, and mother says she has +beautiful manners, and I must take pattern by her." + +"Oh, Miss Gertrude!" called she, as Gertrude, who had been to place the +strawberries in the refrigerator, crossed the back part of the long +entry, "Are you ready now?" + +"Yes, Fanny, I shall be in a moment," answered Gertrude. + +"Ready for what?" inquired Kitty. + +"To read," said Fanny. "She is going to read the rest of Hamlet to Miss +Emily; she read the first three acts yesterday, and Miss Emily let me +sit in her room and hear it. I can't understand it when I read it +myself, but when I listen to Miss Gertrude it seems quite plain. She's a +splendid reader, and I came in to-day on purpose to hear the play +finished." + +Kitty's last companion having deserted her, she lay on the entry sofa +and fell asleep. She was wakened by her aunt, who returned from the city +a short time before dinner--"I say Kitty Ray, wake up and go dress for +dinner! I saw Belle at the chamber window looking like a beauty. I wish +you'd take half the pains she does to improve your appearance." + +Kitty yawned, and, after delaying a little, followed Mrs. Graham's +directions. It was Kitty's policy, after giving offence to her cousin +Belle, to appear utterly unconscious of the existence of any unkind +feelings; and, though Belle often manifested some degree of sulkiness, +she was too dependent upon Kitty's society to retain that disposition +long. They were soon chatting together as usual. + +"Belle," said Kitty, as she stood arranging her hair at the glass, "do +you remember a girl we used to meet every morning on our way to school, +walking with a paralytic old man?" + +"Yes." + +"Do you know, I think it was Gertrude Flint. She has altered very much, +to be sure; but the features are still the same, and there certainly +never was but one such pair of eyes." + +"I have no doubt she is the same person," said Belle, composedly. + +"Did you think of it before?" + +"Yes, as soon as Fanny spoke of her knowing Willie Sullivan." + +"Why, Belle, why didn't you speak of it?" + +"Lor', Kitty, I don't feel so much interest in her as you and some +others do." + +"What others?" + +"Why, Mr. Bruce; don't you see he is half in love with her?" + +"No, I don't see any such thing; he has known her for a long time (Fanny +says so), and, of course, he feels a respect for a girl that the Grahams +make so much account of. But I don't believe he'd think of such a thing +as being in love with a poor girl like her, with no family connections +to boast of." + +"Perhaps he didn't _think_ of being." + +"Well, he _wouldn't_ be. She isn't the sort of person that would suit +him. He has been in society a great deal, not only at home, but in +Paris; and he would want a wife that was very lively and fond of +company, and knew how to make a show with money." + +"A girl, for instance, like Kitty Ray." + +"How ridiculous, Belle! just as if people couldn't talk without thinking +of themselves all the time! What do I care about Ben Bruce?" + +"I don't know that you care anything about him; but I wouldn't pull all +the hair out of my head about it, as you are doing. There's the +dinner-bell." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE DISAPPOINTED WOOER. + + +Twilight found Gertrude and Emily seated at a window which commanded a +delightful western view. Gertrude had been describing to her blind +friend the gorgeous picture presented to her vision by the masses of +brilliantly-painted cloud; and Emily, as she listened to the glowing +description, experienced a participation in Gertrude's enjoyment. The +glory had now faded away, save a long strip of gold which skirted the +horizon; and the stars as they came out, one by one, seemed to look in +at the chamber window with a smile of recognition. + +In the parlour below there was company from the city, and the sound of +mirth and laughter came up on the evening breeze; so mellowed, however, +by distance, that it contrasted with the peace of the quiet room, +without disturbing it. + +"You had better go down, Gertrude," said Emily; "they appear to be +enjoying themselves, and I love to hear your laugh mingling with the +rest." + +"Oh, no, dear Emily!" said Gertrude; "I prefer to stay with you: they +are nearly all strangers to me." + +"As you please, my dear; but don't let me keep you from the young +people." + +"You can never keep me with you, dear Emily, longer than I wish to stay; +there is no society I love so well." And so she stayed, and they resumed +their pleasant conversation. They were interrupted by Katy, whom Mrs. +Graham sent to announce a new visitor--Mrs. Bruce--who had inquired for +Emily. + +"I suppose I must go down," said Emily; "you'll come too, Gertrude?" + +"No, I believe not, unless she asked for me. Did she, Katy?" + +"Mrs. Graham was only afther mintioning Miss Emily," said Katy. + +"Then I will stay here," said Gertrude; and Emily, finding it to be her +wish, went without her. There was soon another loud ring at the +door-bell. It seemed to be a reception evening, and this time Gertrude's +presence was particularly requested, to see Dr. and Mrs. Jeremy. + +When she entered the parlour a great number of guests were assembled, +and every seat occupied. As she came in alone, and unexpected by most of +the company, all eyes were turned upon her. Contrary to the expectation +of Belle and Kitty, who were watching her with curiosity, she manifested +no embarrassment, but glancing leisurely at the various groups, until +she recognised Mrs. Jeremy, crossed the large saloon with characteristic +grace, and as much ease as if she were the only person present. After +greeting that lady with her usual cordiality, she turned to speak to the +doctor; but he was sitting next Fanny Bruce, in the window-seat, and was +half-concealed by the curtain. Before he came Mrs. Bruce nodded +pleasantly from the opposite corner, and Gertrude went to shake hands +with her; Mr. Bruce, who formed one in a gay circle of young ladies and +gentlemen collected in that part of the room, and who had been observing +Gertrude's motions so attentively as to make no reply to a question put +to him by Kitty Ray, now offered his chair, saying, "Miss Gertrude, do +take this seat." + +"Thank you," said Gertrude, "but I see my friend the doctor on the other +side of the room; he expects me to speak to him, so don't let me disturb +you." + +Dr. Jeremy now came half-way across the room to meet her, and led her +into the recess formed by the window, and placed her in his own seat +next to Fanny Bruce. To the astonishment of all who knew him, Ben Bruce +brought his own chair, and placed it for the doctor opposite to +Gertrude. So much respect for age was not anticipated from the man of +fashion. + +"Is that a daughter of Mr. Graham's?" asked a young lady of Belle +Clinton, who sat next her. + +"No, indeed," replied Belle; "she is a person to whom Miss Graham gave +an education, and now she lives here to read to her and be a sort of +companion; her name is Flint." + +"What did you say that young lady's name was?" asked a dashing +lieutenant, addressing Isabel. + +"Miss Flint." + +"Flint, ah! she's a genteel-looking girl. How peculiarly she dresses her +hair!" + +"Very becoming, however, to that style of face," remarked the young lady +who had first spoken. "Don't you think so?" + +"I don't know," replied the lieutenant; "something becomes her; she +makes a fine appearance. Bruce," said he, as Mr. Bruce returned, after +his unusual effort of politeness, "who is that Miss Flint?--I have been +here two or three times, and I never saw her before." + +"Very likely," said Mr. Bruce; "she won't always show herself. Isn't she +a fine-looking girl?" + +"I haven't made up my mind yet; she's got a splendid figure; but who is +she?" + +"She's a sort of adopted daughter of Mr. Graham's, I believe, a +_protegee_ of Miss Emily's." + +"Ah, poor thing! An orphan?" + +"Yes, I suppose so," said Ben, biting his lips. + +"Pity!" said the young man; "poor thing! but she's good-looking, +particularly when she smiles; there is something very attractive about +her face." + +There certainly was to Ben, for, a moment after, Kitty Ray missed him +from the room, and immediately espied him, standing on the piazza, and +leaning through the open window to talk with Gertrude, Dr. Jeremy, and +Fanny. The conversation soon became very lively; there seemed to be a +war of wits going on; the doctor, especially, laughed very loud, and +Gertrude and Fanny often joined in the merry peal. Kitty endured it as +long as she could, and then ran, joined the party, and heard what they +were having so much fun about. + +But it was all an enigma to Kitty. Dr. Jeremy was talking with Mr. Bruce +concerning something which had happened many years ago; there was a +great deal about a fool's cap, with a long tassel, and taking afternoon +naps in the grass; the doctor was making queer allusions to some old +pear-tree, and traps set for thieves, and kept reminding Gertrude of +circumstances which attended their first acquaintance with each other +and with Mr. Bruce. + +Kitty was beginning to feel that she had placed herself in the position +of an intruder, and began to feel embarrassed, when Gertrude touched her +arm, and making room for her next herself, motioned to her to sit down, +saying, as she did so, "Dr. Jeremy is speaking of the time when he (or +he and I, as he chooses to have it) went fruit-stealing in Mrs. Bruce's +orchard, and were unexpectedly caught by Mr. Bruce." + +"You mean, my dear," interrupted the doctor, "that Mr. Bruce was +discovered by us. Why, it's my opinion he would have slept until this +time if I hadn't given him such a thorough waking up." + +"My first acquaintance with you was certainly the greatest awakening of +my life," said Ben, speaking as if to the doctor, but looking meaningly +at Gertrude; "that was not the only nap it cost me. How sorry I am, Miss +Gertrude, that you've given up working in the garden, as you used to! +Pray, how does it happen?" + +"Mrs. Graham has had it remodelled," replied Gertrude, "and the new +gardener neither needs nor desires my services. He has his own plans, +and it is not well to interfere with the professor of an art; I should +be sure to do mischief." + +"I doubt whether his success compares with yours," said Ben. "I do not +see anything like the same quantity of flowers in the room that _you_ +used to have." + +"I think," said Gertrude, "that he is not as fond of cutting them as I +was. I did not care so much for the appearance of the garden as for +having plenty of flowers in the house; but with him it is the reverse." + +Kitty made remark to Mr. Bruce on the subject of gardening, and +Gertrude, turning to Dr. Jeremy, continued in conversation with him, +until Mrs. Jeremy rose to go, when she said, "Dr. Jeremy, have you given +Gertrude her letter?" + +"Goodness me!" exclaimed the doctor. Then feeling in his pocket, he drew +forth an evidently foreign document, the envelope literally covered with +various coloured post-office stamps. "See here, Gerty, genuine Calcutta; +no mistake!" + +Gertrude took the letter, and, as she thanked the doctor, her +countenance expressed pleasure at receiving it; a pleasure, however, +somewhat tempered by sadness, for she had heard from Willie but once +since he learned the news of his mother's death, and that letter had +been such an outpouring of his vehement grief, that the sight of his +handwriting almost pained her, as she anticipated something like a +repetition of the outburst. + +Mr. Bruce, who kept his eyes upon her, and expected to see her change +colour, and look disconcerted, on the letter being handed to her in the +presence of so many witnesses, was reassured by the composure with which +she took it, and held it openly in her hand, while she bade the doctor +and his wife good evening. She followed them to the door, and was +retreating to her own apartment, when she was met by Mr. Bruce, who had +noticed the movement, and now entered from the piazza in time to arrest +her steps, and ask if her letter was of such importance that she must +deny the company the pleasure of her society in order to study its +contents. + +"It is from a friend of whose welfare I am anxious to hear," said +Gertrude, gravely. "Please excuse me to your mother, if she inquires for +me; and, as the rest of the guests are strangers, I shall not be missed +by them." + +"Oh, Miss Gertrude," said Mr. Bruce, "it's no use coming here to see +you, you are so frequently invisible. What part of the day is the most +likely to find you disengaged?" + +"Hardly any part," said Gertrude. "I am always a busy character; but +good night, Mr. Bruce--don't let me detain you from the other young +ladies;" and Gertrude ran upstairs, leaving Mr. Bruce uncertain whether +to be vexed with himself or her. + +Contrary to Gerty's expectations, William Sullivan's letter proved very +soothing to the grief she had felt on his account. His spirit had been +so crushed by the death of his grandfather, and by his second and still +greater loss, that his first communication to Gertrude had alarmed her, +from its despairing tone; she had feared lest his Christian fortitude +would give way to the force of his double affliction. She was much +relieved to find that he wrote in a calmer strain; that he had taken to +heart his mother's last entreaty and prayer for a submissive disposition +on his part; and that, although deeply afflicted, he was schooling +himself to patience and resignation. + +The three closely-written pages were devoted to fervent expressions of +gratitude to Gertrude for the kindness and love which had comforted the +last days of his much-regretted friends. He prayed that Heaven would +bless her, and reward her self-denying efforts, and closed with saying, +"You are all that is left to me, Gertrude. If I loved you before, my +heart is now bound to you by ties stronger than those of earth; my +hopes, my labours, my prayers, are all for you. God grant that we may +some day meet again!" + +For an hour Gertrude sat lost in meditation; her thoughts went back to +her home at Uncle True's, and the days when she and Willie passed so +many happy hours in close companionship, little dreaming of the long +separation so soon to ensue. She was startled at last from her reverie +by the voices of Mrs. Graham's visitors, who were now taking leave. + +Mrs. Bruce and her son lingered a little, until the carriages had left +with the guests for the city, and, as they were making their farewells +on the door-step, beneath Gertrude's window, she heard Mrs. Graham say, +"Remember, Mr. Bruce, we dine at two; and, Miss Fanny, we shall hope to +see you also." + +Mr. Bruce's attentions to her had that day been marked; and the +professions of admiration he had whispered in her ear had been still +more so. Both these attentions and this admiration were unsought and +undesired; neither were they flattering to the high-minded girl, who was +superior to coquetry, and whose self-respect was wounded by the assured +manner in which Mr. Bruce made his advances. As a youth of seventeen, +she had marked him as indolent and ill-bred. Her sense of justice, +however, would have obliterated this recollection, had his character and +manner been changed on the renewal of their acquaintance, some years +after. But this was not the case, for outward polish could not cloud +Gertrude's discernment; and she perceived that his old characteristics +remained, rendered more glaring by ill-concealed vanity. As a boy, he +had stared at Gertrude from impudence, and inquired her name out of idle +curiosity; as a youthful coxcomb he had resolved to flirt with her, +because his time hung heavy on his hands. But, to his surprise, he found +the country girl quite insensible to the flattery and notice which many +a city belle had coveted; and that when he tried raillery, he usually +proved the disconcerted party. + +It was something new to Mr. Bruce to find any lady thus indifferent to +his merits; and proved such an awakening to his ambition, that he +resolved to recommend himself to Gertrude, and consequently improved +every opportunity of gaining admittance to her society. But while +labouring to inspire her with a due appreciation of himself, he fell +into his own snare; for though he failed in awakening Gertrude's +interest, he could not be equally insensible to her attractions. Even +the dull intellect of Ben Bruce was capable of measuring her vast +superiority to most girls of her age; and her vivacious originality was +a contrast to the insipidity of fashionable life, which at length +completely charmed him. + +His earnestness and perseverance began to annoy the object of his +admiration before he left Mr. Graham's in the autumn; and she was glad +soon after to hear that he had accompanied his mother to Washington, as +it insured her against meeting him again for months to come. + +Mr. Bruce regretted losing sight of Gertrude, but amid the gaiety of +southern cities wasted his time with tolerable satisfaction. He was +reminded of her again on meeting the Graham party at New Orleans, and it +is some credit to his understanding to say, that in the comparison which +he constantly drew between her and the vain daughters of fashion, she +stood higher than ever in his estimation. He did not hesitate to tell +her so on the morning already mentioned, when, with evident +satisfaction, he had recognized and joined her; and, the increased +devotion of his words and manner, which now took a tone of truth in +which they had before been wanting, alarmed Gertrude, and led to a +serious resolve to avoid him on all possible occasions. + +On the day succeeding the one of which we have been speaking, Mr. Graham +returned from the city about noon, and joined the young ladies in the +entry, unfolded his newspaper, and, handing it to Kitty, asked her to +read the news. "What shall I read?" said Kitty, taking the paper rather +unwillingly. + +"The leading article, if you please." + +Kitty turned the paper inside and out, looked hastily up and down its +pages, and then declared her inability to find it. Mr. Graham was +astonished, and pointed in silence to the paragraph. She began, but had +scarcely read a sentence before Mr. Graham stopped her, saying, "Don't +read so fast--I can't hear a single word!" She now drawled so +intolerably that he interrupted her again, and bade her give the paper +to her cousin. + +Belle took it from the pouting Kitty, and finished the article--not, +however, without being once or twice compelled to go back and read more +intelligibly. + +"Do you wish to hear anything more, sir?" asked she. + +"Yes; won't you turn to the ship-news, and read me the list by the +steamer?" Belle, more fortunate than Kitty, found the place, and +commenced. "At Canton, April 30th, ship Ann Maria, Ray, _d-i-s-c-g_. +What does that mean?" + +"Discharging, of course; go on." + +"S-l-d--a-b-t 13th," spelt Belle, looking dreadfully puzzled all the +while. + +"Stupid!" muttered Mr. Graham, almost snatching the paper out of her +hands; "not know how to read ship-news! Where's Gertrude? Where's +Gertrude Flint? She's the only girl I ever saw that did know anything. +Won't you call her, Kitty?" + +Kitty went, though reluctantly, to call Gertrude, and told her for what +she was wanted. Gertrude was astonished; since the day when she had +persisted in leaving his house, Mr. Graham had never asked her to read +to him; but, obedient to the summons, she presented herself, and, taking +the seat which Belle had vacated near the door, commenced with the +ship-news, and, without asking questions, turned to various items of +intelligence, taking them in the order which she knew Mr. Graham +preferred. + +The old gentleman, leaning back in his easy-chair, and resting his gouty +foot upon an ottoman opposite to him, looked amazingly satisfied; and +when Belle and Kitty had gone off to their room, he remarked, "This +seems like old times, doesn't it, Gertrude?" He closed his eyes, and +Gertrude was soon aware that he had fallen asleep. Seeing that, as he +sat, it would be impossible for her to pass without waking him, she laid +down the paper, and was preparing to draw some work from her pocket, +when she observed a shadow in the doorway, and, looking up, saw the +person whom she had yesterday resolved to avoid. + +Mr. Bruce was staring in her face, with an indolent air of ease and +confidence, which she always found very offensive. He had in one hand a +bunch of roses, which he held up to her admiring gaze. "Very beautiful!" +said Gertrude, as she glanced at the little branches, covered with a +luxurious growth of moss rose-buds, both pink and white. + +She spoke in a low voice, fearing to awaken Mr. Graham. Mr. Bruce, in a +whisper, remarked, as he dangled them above her head, "I thought they +were pretty when I gathered them, but they suffer from the comparison. +Miss Gertrude," and he gave a meaning look at the roses in her cheeks. + +Gertrude, to whom this was a stale compliment, coming from Mr. Bruce, +took no notice of it, but, rising, advanced to make her exit by the +front-door, saying, "I will go across the piazza, Mr. Bruce, and send +the ladies word that you are here." + +"O, pray, don't!" said he, putting himself in her way. "It would be +cruel; I haven't the slightest wish to see them." He so effectually +prevented her, that she was unwillingly compelled to retreat from the +door and resume her seat. As she did so, she took her work from her +pocket, her countenance in the meantime expressing vexation. + +Mr. Bruce looked triumphant. + +"Miss Gertrude," said he, "will you oblige me by wearing these flowers +in your hair to-day?" + +"I do not wear gay flowers," replied Gertrude, without lifting her eyes +from the piece of muslin on which she was employed. + +Supposing this to be on account of her mourning (for she wore a plain +black dress), he selected the white buds from the rest, and, presenting +them to her, begged that, for his sake, she would display them in +contrast with her dark silken braids. + +"I am much obliged to you," said Gertrude; "I never saw more beautiful +roses, but I am not accustomed to be so much dressed, and, believe me, +you must excuse me." + +"Then you won't take my flowers?" + +"Certainly I will, with pleasure," said she, rising, "if you will let me +get a glass of water, and place them in the parlour, where we can all +enjoy them." + +"I did not cut my flowers, and bring them here for the benefit of the +whole household," said Ben, in a half-offended tone. "If you won't wear +them, Miss Gertrude, I will offer them to somebody that will." + +This, he thought, would alarm her, for his vanity was such that he +attributed her behaviour wholly to coquetry. + +"I will punish her," thought he, as he tied the roses together again, +and arranged them for presentation to Kitty, who he knew would be +flattered to receive them. + +"Where's Fanny to-day," asked Gertrude, anxious to divert the +conversation. + +"I don't know," answered Ben, which implied that he had no idea of +talking about Fanny. + +"How attentive you are to your work!" said he, at last: "your eyes +seemed nailed to it. I wish I were as attractive as that piece of +muslin!" + +"I wish you were as inoffensive," thought Gertrude. + +"I do not think you take much pains to entertain me," added he, "when +I've come here on purpose to see you." + +"I thought you came by Mrs. Graham's invitation," said Gertrude. + +"And didn't I have to court Kitty for an hour in order to get it?" + +"If you obtained it by artifice," said Gertrude, smiling, "you do not +deserve to be entertained." + +"It is much easier to please Kitty than you," remarked Ben. + +"Kitty is very amiable and pleasant," said Gertrude. + +"Yes; but I'd give more for one smile from you than----" + +Gertrude now interrupted him with, "Ah! here is an old friend coming to +see us; please let me pass, Mr. Bruce?" + +The gate at the end of the yard swung to as she spoke, and Ben, looking +in that direction, saw the person whom Gertrude seemed desirous to go +and meet. + +"Don't be in such a hurry to leave me!" said Ben; "that little crone, +whose coming seems to give you so much satisfaction, can't get here this +half hour, at the rate she is travelling." + +"She is an old friend," replied Gertrude, "I must go and welcome her." +Her countenance expressed so much earnestness that Mr. Bruce was ashamed +to persist in his incivility, and, rising, permitted her to pass. Miss +Patty Pace was over-joyed at seeing Gertrude, and commenced waving, in a +theatrical manner, a huge feather fan, her favourite mode of salutation. +As she drew near, Miss Patty took her by both hands, and stood talking +with her some minutes. They entered the house at the side door, and Ben, +thus disappointed of Gertrude's return, sallied into the garden in hopes +to attract the notice of Kitty. + +Ben Bruce had such confidence in the power of wealth and a high station +in fashionable life that it never occurred to him to doubt that Gertrude +would gladly accept his hand and fortune if they were placed at her +disposal. Many a worldly-wise mother had sought his acquaintance; many a +young lady of property and rank had received his attention with favour, +and believing, as he did, that he had money enough to purchase. He +determined to win Gertrude's good opinion and affection; and although +more interested in her than he was aware of himself, he at present made +that his ultimate object. He felt conscious that as yet she had given no +evidence of his success; and having resolved to resort to some new means +of winning her, he, with a too common baseness, fixed upon a method +which was calculated, if successful, to end in the mortification, if not +the unhappiness, of a third party. He intended, by marked devotion to +Kitty Ray, to excite the jealousy of Gertrude. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +TRUE POLITENESS. + + +A half-hour before dinner Mrs. Graham and her nieces, Mr. Bruce, his +sister Fanny, and Lieutenant Osborne, as they sat in the large room, had +their curiosity much excited by the merriment which existed in Emily's +room. Gertrude's clear laugh was distinguishable, and even Emily joined +in the outburst, while another person appeared to be of the party, as a +most singular voice mingled with the rest. + +Kitty ran to the entry two or three times to listen, and at last +returned with the announcement that Gertrude was coming down stairs with +the very queen of witches. Presently Gertrude opened the door, which +Kitty had slammed behind her, and ushered in Miss Patty Pace, who +advanced with measured, mincing steps to Mrs. Graham, and, stopping in +front of her, made a low curtsey. + +"How do you do, ma'am?" said Mrs. Graham, half inclined to believe that +Gertrude was playing off a joke upon her. + +"This, I presume, is the mistress," said Miss Patty. + +Mrs. Graham acknowledged her claim to that title. + +"A lady of presence!" said Miss Patty, to Gertrude, in an audible +whisper, pronouncing each syllable with a manner and emphasis peculiar +to herself. Then, turning to Belle, who was shrinking into the shadow of +a curtain, she approached her, held up both her hands in astonishment, +and exclaimed, "Miss Isabella, as I still enjoy existence! and radiant, +too, as the morning! Bless my heart! how your youthful charms have +expanded!" + +Belle had recognised Miss Pace the moment she entered the room, but was +ashamed to acknowledge the acquaintance of so eccentric an individual, +and would have still feigned ignorance, but Kitty now came forward, +exclaiming, "Why, Miss Pace, where did you come from?" + +"Miss Catharina," said Miss Pace, taking her hands in an ecstasy of +astonishment, "_then you know me_! Blessings on your memory of an old +friend!" + +"Certainly, I knew you in a minute; you're not so easily forgotten, I +assure you. Belle, don't you remember Miss Pace? It's at your house I've +always seen her." + +"Oh, is it she?" said Belle, with a poor attempt to conceal the fact +that she had any previous knowledge of a person who had been a frequent +visitor at her father's house, and was held in esteem by both her +parents. + +"I apprehend," said Miss Patty to Kitty, in the same loud whisper, "that +she carries a proud heart." Then, without having appeared to notice the +gentlemen, who were directly behind her, she added, "Sparks, I see Miss +Catharina, young sparks! Whose?--yours or hers?" + +Kitty laughed, for she saw that the young men heard her, and were much +amused, and replied without hesitation, "O mine, Miss Patty, mine, both +of 'em!" Miss Patty now looked around the room, and, missing Mr. Graham, +advanced to his wife, saying, "And where, madam, is the bridegroom?" + +Mrs. Graham, a little confused, replied that her husband would be in +presently, and invited Miss Pace to be seated. + +"No, mistress, I am obliged to you; I have an inquiring mind, and, with +your leave, will take a survey of the apartment. I love to see +everything that is modern." She then examined the pictures upon the +walls, but had not proceeded far before she turned to Gertrude and +asked, loud enough to be heard, "Gertrude, my dear, what have they done +with the second wife?" Gertrude looked surprised, and Miss Pace +corrected her remark, saying, "Oh, it is the counterfeit that I have +reference to; the original, I am aware, departed long since; but where +is the counterfeit of the second Mrs. Graham? It always hung here, if my +memory serves me." + +Gertrude whispered a reply to this question, and Miss Pace then uttered +the following soliloquy: "The garret! well, 'tis the course of nature; +what is new obliterates _the recollection, even_, of the old." + +She now linked her arm in Gertrude's, and made her the companion of her +survey. When they had completed the circuit of the room, she stopped in +front of the group of young people, all of whom were eyeing her with +great amusement, and claimed the acquaintance of Mr. Bruce, and asked to +be introduced to that member of the war department, as she styled +Lieutenant Osborne. Kitty introduced her with great formality, and at +the same time presented the lieutenant to Gertrude. A chair was now +brought, Miss Patty joined their circle and entertained them until +dinner time. Gertrude again sought Emily's room. + +At the table, Gertrude sat next to Emily, whose wants she always made +her care, and with Miss Patty on the other side, had no time or +attention to bestow on anyone else; much to the chagrin of Mr. Bruce, +who was anxious she should observe his assiduous devotion to Kitty, +whose hair was adorned with the moss-rose buds, and her face with +smiles. + +Belle was also made happy by the marked admiration of the young officer. +Occasionally, some remark made by Miss Pace irresistibly attracted the +attention of every one at the table, and extorted either the laughter it +was intended to excite, or a mirth which, though perhaps ill-timed, it +was impossible to repress. + +Mr. Graham treated Miss Patty with politeness and attention, and Mrs. +Graham spared no pains to bring out the old lady's conversational +powers. She found that Miss Patty was acquainted with everybody, and +made most amusing comments upon almost every person who became the topic +of conversation. Mr. Graham at last led her to speak of herself and her +lonely mode of life; and Fanny Bruce, who sat next, asked her bluntly, +why she never got married. + +"Ah, my young miss," said she, "we all wait our time, and I may take a +companion yet." + +"You should," said Mr. Graham. "Now you have property, Miss Pace, and +ought to share it with some nice thrifty man." + +"I have but an insignificant trifle of worldly wealth," said Miss Pace, +"and am not as youthful as I have been; but I may suit myself with a +companion, notwithstanding. I approve of matrimony, and have my eye upon +a young man." + +"_A young man!_" exclaimed Fanny Bruce, laughing. + +"O yes, Miss Frances," said Miss Patty; "I am an admirer of youth, and +of everything that is modern. Yes, I cling to life--I cling to life." + +"Certainly," remarked Mrs. Graham. "Miss Pace must marry somebody +younger than herself; someone to whom she can leave all her property, if +he should happen to outlive her." + +"Yes," said Mr. Graham; "at present you would not know how to make a +will, unless you left all your money to Gertrude, here; I rather think +she would make good use of it." + +"That would certainly be a consideration to me," said Miss Pace; "I +should dread the thought of having my little savings squandered. Now, I +know there's more than a sufficiency of pauper population; and plenty +that would be glad of legacies; but I have no intention of bestowing on +such. Why, sir, nine-tenths of them will _always_ be poor. No, no! I +shouldn't give to such! No, no! I have other intentions." + +"Miss Pace," asked Mr. Graham, "what has become of General Pace's +family?" + +"_All dead!_" replied Miss Patty, promptly, "_all dead!_ I made a +pilgrimage to the grave of that branch of the family. It was a touching +scene," said she in a pathetic tone. "There was a piece of grassy +ground, belted about with an iron railing, and in the centre a beautiful +white marble monument, in which they were all buried; it was pure as +alabaster, and on it was inscribed these lines: + + 'Pace.'" + +"What were the lines?" inquired Mrs. Graham. + +"Pace, ma'am, Pace; nothing else." + +Solemn as was the subject, a universal titter pervaded the circle: and +Mrs. Graham, perceiving that Kitty and Fanny would soon burst into +uncontrollable fits of laughter, made the move for the company to quit +the table. + +The gentlemen did not care to linger, and followed the ladies into the +wide entry, the coolness of which invited every one to loiter there +during the heat of the day. Miss Patty and Fanny Bruce compelled the +unwilling Gertrude to join the group there assembled; and Mrs. Graham, +who could not forego her afternoon nap, was the only one who absented +herself. + +So universal was the interest Miss Patty excited, that all private +dialogue was suspended, and close attention given to whatever topic the +old lady was discussing. + +Belle maintained a slightly scornful expression of countenance, and +tried with partial success to divert Lieutenant Osborne's thoughts into +another channel; but Kitty was so delighted with Miss Pace's +originality, that she made no attempt at any exclusive conversation, +and, with Mr. Bruce sitting beside her and joining in her amusement, +looked more than contented. + +Dress and fashion, two favourite themes with Miss Patty, were now +introduced, and, after discoursing upon her love of the beautiful, as +witnessed in the mantua-making and millinery arts, she deliberately left +her seat, and going towards Belle (who wished to avoid her), began to +examine the material of her dress, and requested her to rise and permit +her to further inspect the mode in which it was made, declaring the +description of so modern a master-piece of art would be a feast to the +ears of some of her junior acquaintances. + +Belle indignantly refused to comply, and shook off the hand of the old +lady as if there had been contamination in her touch. + +"Do stand up, Belle," said Kitty, in an undertone; "don't be so cross." + +"Why don't you stand up yourself," said Belle, "and show off your own +dress, for the benefit of her low associates?" + +"She didn't ask me," replied Kitty, "but I will, with pleasure, if she +will condescend to look at it. Miss Pace," continued she gaily, placing +herself in front of the inquisitive Miss Patty, "do admire my gown at +your leisure, and take a pattern of it, if you like, I should be proud +of the honour." + +For a wonder, Kitty's dress was pretty and well worthy of observation. +Miss Patty made many comments, and her curiosity being satisfied, +commenced retreating towards the place she had left, first glancing +behind her to see if it was still vacant, and then moving towards it +with a backward motion, consisting of a series of curtseys. + +Fanny Bruce, who stood near, observing that she had made an exact +calculation how many steps would be required to reach her seat, placed +her hand on the back of the chair, as if to draw it away; and encouraged +by a look and smile from Isabel, moved it, slightly, but still enough to +endanger the old lady's safety. + +On attempting to regain it, Miss Pace stumbled, and would have fallen, +but Gertrude--who had been watching Fanny's proceedings--sprang forward +in time to fling an arm around her, and place her safely in the chair, +casting at the same time a reproachful look at Fanny, who, much +confused, turned to avoid Gertrude's gaze, and in doing so accidentally +trod on Mr. Graham's gouty toes, which drew from him an exclamation of +pain. + +"Fan," said Mr. Bruce, who had observed the latter accident only, "I +wish you could learn politeness." + +"Whom am I to learn it from?" asked Fanny, pertly,--"you?" + +Ben looked provoked, but forbore to reply; while Miss Pace, who had +recovered her composure, said--"Politeness! Ah, a lovely but rare +virtue; perceptibly developed, however, in the manners of my friend +Gertrude, which I hesitate not to affirm would well become a princess." + +Belle curled her lip, and smiled disdainfully. "Lieutenant Osborne," +said she, "don't you think Miss Devereux has beautiful manners?" + +"Very fine," replied the lieutenant; "the style in which she receives +company, on her reception-day, is elegance itself." + +"Who are you speaking of?" inquired Kitty; "Mrs. Harry Noble?" + +"Miss Devereux, we were remarking upon," said Belle; "but Mrs. Noble is +also very stylish." + +"I think she is," said Mr. Bruce; "do you hear, Fanny?--we have found a +model for you,--you must imitate Mrs. Noble." + +"I don't know anything about Mrs. Noble," retorted Fanny; "I'd rather +imitate Miss Flint. Miss Gertrude," said she, "how _shall_ I learn +politeness?" + +"Do you remember," asked Gertrude, speaking low, "what your music-master +told you about learning to _play_ with expression? I should give you the +same rule for improvement in politeness." + +Fanny blushed deeply. "What is that?" said Mr. Graham; "Fanny, what is +Gertrude's rule for politeness." + +"She only said," answered Fanny, "that it was the same my music-master +gave me last winter." + +"And what did _he_ say?" inquired her brother. + +"I asked Mr. Hermann," said Fanny, "how I should learn to play with +expression, and he said, 'You must cultivate your _heart_, Miss Bruce, +you must cultivate your _heart_.'" + +This new direction for the attainment of a great accomplishment was +received with countenances that indicated as great a variety of +sentiments as there was difference of character among Fanny's audience. +Mr. Graham bit his lip, and walked away; for _his_ politeness was +founded on no such rule, and he knew that Gertrude's _was_. Belle looked +glorious disdain; Mr. Bruce and Kitty, puzzled and half amused; while +Lieutenant Osborne proved himself not quite callous to a noble truth, by +turning upon Gertrude a glance of admiration. Emily's face evidenced how +fully she coincided in the opinion thus unintentionally made public, and +Miss Patty expressed her approbation. + +"Miss Gertrude's remark is a verity," said she. "The only politeness +which is trustworthy is the spontaneous offering of the heart. Perhaps +this goodly company of masters and misses would condescend to give ear +to an old woman's tale of a rare instance of true politeness, and the +fitting reward it met." + +All expressed strong desire to hear Miss Patty's story, and she began: +"On a winter's day, some years ago, an old woman, of many foibles and +weaknesses, but with a keen eye and her share of worldly wisdom--Miss +Patty Pace by name--started, by special invitation, for the house of one +worshipful Squire Clinton, the honoured parent of Miss Isabella, the +fair damsel yonder. Every tall tree in our good city was spangled with +frost work, more glittering far than gems that sparkle in Golconda's +mine, and the side-walk were a snare to the feet of the old and unwary. + +"I lost my equilibrium, and fell. Two gallant gentlemen lifted and +carried me to a neighboring apothecary's emporium, restored my scattered +wits, and, revived me with a fragrant cordial. I went on my way with +many a misgiving, however, and scarcely should I have reached my +destination with bones unbroken, had it not been for a knight with a +rosy countenance, who overtook me, placed my old arm within his own more +strong and youthful one, and protected my steps to the end of my +journey. No slight courage either, my young misses, did my noble escort +need, to carry him through what he had undertaken. Paint to your +imagination a youth, fresh and beautiful as a sunbeam, straight as an +arrow--a perfect Apollo--linked to the little bent body of poor Miss +Patty Pace. I will not spare myself, young ladies; for, had you seen me +then, you would have considered me now vastly ameliorated in outer +presentment. My double row of teeth were stowed away in my pocket, my +frisette was pushed back from my head by my recent fall, and my +gogs--the same my father wore before me--covered my face, and they alone +attracted attention, and created some excitement. But he went on +unmoved; and, in spite of many a captivating glance and smile from rows +of beautiful young maidens whom we met, and many a sneer from youths of +his own age, he sustained my feeble form with as much care as if I had +been an empress, and accommodated his buoyant step to the slow movement +which my infirmities compelled. Ah! what a spirit of conformity he +manifested! my knight of the rosy countenance! Could you have seen him, +Miss Catharina, or you, Miss Frances, your palpitating hearts would have +taken flight for ever. He was a paragon, indeed. + +"Whither his own way tended I cannot say, for he moved in conformity to +mine, and left me not until I was safe at the abode of Mistress Clinton. +I hardly think he coveted my old heart, but I sometimes believe it +followed him, for truly he is still a frequent subject of my +meditations." + +"Ah! then _that_ was his reward!" exclaimed Kitty. + +"Not so, Miss Kitty; guess again." + +"I can think of _nothing so desirable_, Miss Patty." + +"His _fortune in life_, Miss Catharina--that was his reward; it may be +that he cannot yet estimate the full amount of his recompense." + +"How so?" exclaimed Fanny. + +"I will briefly narrate the rest. Mistress Clinton encouraged me always +to converse much in her presence. She knew my taste was disposed to +humour me, and I was pleased to be indulged. I told my story, and +enlarged upon the merits of my noble youth, and his wonderful spirit of +conformity. The squire, a gentleman who estimates good breeding, was +present, with his ears opened, when I recommended my knight, with all +the eloquence I could command; he was amused, interested, pleased. He +promised to see the boy, and did so; the noble features spake for +themselves, and gained him a situation as clerk; from which he has since +advanced in the ranks, until now he occupies the position of partner and +confidential agent in a creditable and wealthy house. Miss Isabella, it +would rejoice my heart to hear the latest tidings from Mr. William +Sullivan." + +"He is well, I believe," said Isabella, sulkily. "I know nothing to the +contrary." + +"Oh, Gertrude knows," said Fanny. "Gertrude knows all about Mr. +Sullivan; she will tell you." + +All turned, and looked at Gertrude, who, with face flushed, and eyes +glistening with the interest she felt in Miss Patty's narrative, stood +leaning upon Emily's chair. Miss Patty now appealed to her, much +surprised, however, at her having any knowledge of her much admired +young escort. Gertrude drew near, and answered all her questions without +the least hesitation or embarrassment. + +Gertrude gave Miss Pace an account of the curiosity which Willie and his +friends had felt concerning the original author of his good fortune; and +the old lady was so delighted at hearing the various conjectures about +Mr. Clinton's unexpected summons, and of the matter being attributed to +the agency of Santa Claus, that she loudly laughed. Miss Pace was just +taxing Gertrude with messages of remembrance to be despatched in her +next letter to Willie, when Mrs. Graham presented herself, and arrested +the attention of the whole company by exclaiming, in her abrupt manner +and loud tones--"What! are you all here? I thought you were bound for a +walk in the woods. Kitty, what has become of your cherished scheme of +climbing Sunset Hill?" + +"I proposed it, aunt, an hour ago, but Belle insisted it was too warm. +_I_ think the weather is just right for a walk." + +"It will soon be growing cool," said Mrs. Graham, "and I think you had +better start; it is some distance, if you go round through the woods." + +"Who knows the way?" asked Kitty. + +No one responded to the question, and all professed ignorance; much to +the astonishment of Gertrude, who believed that every part of the woody +ground and hill beyond were familiar to Mr. Bruce. She did not stay, +however, to hear any further discussion of their plans; for Emily was +beginning to suffer from headache and weariness, and Gertrude insisted +that she should seek the quiet of her own room, and she went with her. +She was just closing the chamber door, when Fanny called from the +staircase, "Miss Gertrude ain't you going for a walk with us?" + +"No," replied Gertrude; "not to-day." + +"Then I won't go," said Fanny, "if you don't. Why don't you go, Miss +Gertrude?" + +"I shall walk with Miss Emily, by-and-bye, if she is well enough; you +can accompany us, if you like, but you would enjoy going to Sunset Hill +much more." + +Meantime a whispered consultation took place below, in which someone +suggested that Gertrude was well acquainted with the path which the +party wished to follow through the woods. Belle opposed her being +invited to join them; Kitty hesitated between her liking for Gertrude +and her fears regarding Mr. Bruce's allegiance; Lieutenant Osborne +forbore to urge what Belle disapproved; and Mr. Bruce remained silent, +trusting to the final necessity of her being invited to act as guide, in +which capacity he had purposely concealed his own ability to serve. This +necessity was so obvious, that, as he had foreseen, Kitty was at last +despatched to find Gertrude and make known their request. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +HAUTEUR. + + +Gertrude would have declined, and made her attendance upon Emily an +excuse for non-compliance; but Emily, believing that the exercise would +be beneficial to Gertrude, interfered, and begged her to agree to +Kitty's proposal; and, on the latter declaring that the expedition must +otherwise be given up, she consented to join it. To change her slippers +for thick walking boots occupied a few minutes only; a few more were +spent in a vain search for her flat hat, which was missing from the +closet where it usually hung. + +"What are you looking for?" said Emily, hearing Gertrude twice open the +door of the closet. + +"My hat! but I don't see it. I believe I shall have to borrow your +sun-bonnet again," and she took up a white sun-bonnet, the same she had +worn in the morning, and which now lay on the bed. + +"Certainly, my dear," said Emily. + +"I shall begin to think it mine before long," said Gertrude, gaily, as +she ran off, "I wear it so much more than you do." Emily now called from +the staircase, "Gertrude, my child, have you thick shoes? It is always +very wet in the meadow beyond Thornton place." Gertrude assured her that +she had; but fearing that the others were less carefully equipped, +inquired of Mrs. Graham whether Belle and Kitty were insured against the +dampness they might encounter. + +Mrs. Graham declared they were not. "I have some very light +india-rubbers," said Gertrude; "I will take them with me, and Fanny and +I shall be in time to warn them before they come to the place." + +It was an easy matter to overtake Belle and the lieutenant, for they +walked very slowly, and seemed not unwilling to be left in the rear. The +reverse was the case with Mr. Bruce and Kitty, who appeared purposely to +keep in advance; Kitty hastening her steps from her reluctance to allow +an agreeable _tete-a-tete_ to be interfered with, and Ben from a desire +to give Gertrude a fair opportunity to observe his devotion to Kitty, +which increased the moment _she_ came in sight. + +They had now passed the Thornton farm, and only one field separated them +from the meadow, which was in the centre a complete quagmire, and only +passable to the thickly-shod, by keeping close to the wall, and thus +skirting the field. Gertrude and Fanny were some distance behind, and +nearly out of breath with a pursuit in which the others had gained so +great advantage. As they were passing the farm-house, Mrs. Thornton came +to the door and addressed Gertrude, who, foreseeing that she would be +detained some minutes, bade Fanny run on, acquaint her brother and Kitty +with the nature of the soil in advance, and begged them to wait at the +bars until the rest of the party came up. Fanny was too late, +notwithstanding the haste she made; they were half across the meadow +when she reached the bars, proceeding in perfect safety, for Mr. Bruce +was conducting Kitty by the only practicable path, close under the wall, +proving to Gertrude, who in a few moments joined Fanny, that he was no +stranger to the place. When they were half-way across, they encountered +some obstacle, for Kitty stood poised on one foot and clinging to the +wall, while Mr. Bruce placed a few stepping-stones across the path. He +then helped her over, and they went on, their figures soon disappearing +in the grove beyond. + +Isabel and the lieutenant were so long making their appearance that +Fanny became very impatient, and urged Gertrude to leave them to their +fate. They at last turned the corner near the farm-house, and came on, +Belle maintaining her leisurely pace. "Are you lame, Miss Clinton?" +called out Fanny, so soon as they were within hearing. + +"Lame!" said Belle; "what do you mean?" + +"Why, you walk so slow," said Fanny; "I thought something must be the +matter with your feet." + +Belle disdained any reply, and, tossing her head, entered the damp +meadow, in close conversation with her devoted young officer, not +deigning even to look at Gertrude, who, without appearing to notice her +haughtiness, took Fanny's hand, and, turning away from the direct path, +to make the circuit of the field, said to Belle, with calm courtesy of +manner, "This way, if you please, Miss Clinton; we have been waiting to +guide you through this wet meadow." + +"Is it wet?" asked Belle, in alarm, glancing down at her delicate +slipper. She then added, in a provoked tone, "I should have thought you +would have known better than to bring us this way. I shan't go across." + +"Then you can go back," said the pert Fanny; "nobody cares." + +"It was not my proposition," remarked Gertrude, mildly, though with a +heightened colour; "but I think I can help you through the difficulty. +Mrs. Graham was afraid you had worn thin shoes, and I brought you a pair +of india-rubbers." + +Belle took them, and, without the grace to express any thanks, said, as +she unfolded the paper in which they were wrapped, "Whose are they?" + +"Mine," replied Gertrude. + +"I don't believe I can keep them on," muttered Belle; "they'll be +immense, I suppose." + +"Allow me," said the lieutenant; and, taking one of the shoes, he +stooped to place it on her foot, but found it difficult to do so, as it +was too small. Belle, perceiving it, bent down to perform, the office +for herself, and treated Gertrude's property with such angry violence +that she snapped the strap which passed across the instep, and even +then only succeeded in partially forcing her foot into the shoe. + +Meantime, as she bent forward, Fanny's attention was attracted by a very +tasteful broad-brimmed hat, which she wore jauntily on one side of her +head, and which Fanny recognised as Gertrude's. It was a somewhat +fanciful article of dress, that Gertrude would hardly have thought of +purchasing for herself, but which Mr. Graham had brought home to her the +previous summer to replace a common garden hat which he had accidentally +crushed. As the style of it was simple and in good taste, she had been +in the habit of wearing it often in her country walks, and kept it hung +in the closet, where it had been found and appropriated by Belle. It had +been seen by Fanny in Gertrude's room at Mrs. Warren's; she had also +been permitted to wear it on one occasion, when she took part in a +charade. Having heard Gertrude say it was missing, she was astonished to +see it adorning Belle; and, as she stood behind her, made signs to +Gertrude, and performed a series of pantomimic gestures expressive of an +intention to snatch it from Miss Clinton's head, and place it on that of +its rightful owner. + +Gertrude's gravity nearly gave way. She shook her head at Fanny, held up +her finger, made signs to her to forbear, and, with a face whose +laughter was only concealed by the deep white bonnet which she wore, +took her hand, and hastened with her along the path, leaving Belle and +her beau to follow. + +"Fanny," said she, "you must not make me laugh so; if Miss Clinton had +seen us she would have been very much hurt." + +"She has no business to wear your hat," said Fanny, "and she shan't." + +"Yes, she shall," replied Gertrude; "she looks beautiful in it, I am +delighted to have her wear it, and you must not intimate to her that it +is mine." + +The walk through the woods was delightful, and Gertrude and her young +companion, in the quiet enjoyment of it, had almost forgotten that they +were members of a gay party, when they suddenly came in sight of Kitty +and Mr. Bruce. They were sitting at the foot of an old oak, Kitty +earnestly engaged in the manufacture of an oak-wreath, which she was +just fitting to her attendant's hat; while he himself, when Gertrude +first caught sight of him, was leaning against the tree in a careless +attitude. But as soon as he perceived their approach, he bent forward, +inspected Kitty's work, and when they came within hearing, was uttering +a profusion of thanks and compliments, which he took care should reach +Gertrude's ears, and Kitty received with manifest pleasure--a pleasure +which was still further enhanced by her perceiving that Gertrude had +apparently no power to withdraw his attention from her. Poor, simple +Kitty! she believed him honest while he bought her heart with +counterfeits. "Miss Gertrude," said Fanny, "I wish we could go into some +pine woods, so that I could get some cones to make baskets and frames +of." + +"There are plenty of pines in that direction," said Gertrude, pointing +with her finger. + +"Why can't we go and look for cones?" asked Fanny; "we could get back by +the time Belle Clinton reaches this place." + +Gertrude and Fanny started off, having first tied their bonnets to the +branch of a tree. They were gone some time, for Fanny found plenty of +cones, but was at a loss how to carry them home. "I have thought," said +she, at last; "I will run back and borrow brother Ben's handkerchief; +or, if he won't let me have it, I'll take my own bonnet and fill it +full." Gertrude promised to await her return, and she ran off. When she +came near the spot where she had left Kitty and Mr. Bruce, she heard +several voices and loud laughter. Belle and the lieutenant had arrived, +and they were having great sport about something. Belle was standing +with the white cape bonnet in her hand. She had bent it completely out +of shape, so as to give it the appearance of an old woman's cap, had +adorned the front with white-weed and dandelions, and finally pinned on +a handkerchief to serve as a veil. She held it up on the end of the +lieutenant's cane, and was endeavouring to obtain a bid for Miss Flint's +bridal bonnet. + +Fanny listened a moment with an indignant countenance, then advanced +with a bound, as if just running from the woods. Kitty caught her frock +as she passed, and exclaimed, "Why, Fanny, are you here? Where's +Gertrude?" + +"Oh, she's in the pine woods!" replied Fanny, "and I'm going back; she +only sent me to get her hat, the sun's so warm where we are." + +"Ah, yes!" said Belle, "her Paris hat. Please give it to her, with our +compliments." + +"No, that isn't hers," said Fanny; "_that_ is Miss Emily's. _This_ is +hers;" and she laid her hand upon the straw head-dress which the +gentlemen had but a moment before been assuring Belle was vastly +becoming, and, without ceremony, snatched it from her head. + +Belle's eyes flashed angrily. "What do you mean?" said she; "you saucy +little creature! Give me that hat!" and she stretched out her hand to +take it. + +"I shan't do any such thing!" said Fanny; "it's Gertrude's hat. She +looked for it this afternoon, but concluded it was either lost or +stolen, and so borrowed Miss Emily's cape-bonnet; but she'll be very +glad to find it, and I'll carry it to her. I rather think," said she, +looking over her shoulder, as she ran off, "I rather think Miss Emily +would be willing you should wear her bonnet home, if you'll be careful, +and not bend it." + +A few moments of anger to Belle, laughter from Kitty and Mr. Bruce, and +concealed amusement on Lieutenant Osborne's part, and Gertrude came +hastily from the woods, with the hat in her hand, Fanny following her; +and, taking advantage of Belle's position, with her back towards her, +resumed her pantomimic threats and insinuations. "Miss Clinton," said +Gertrude, as she replaced the hat in her lap, "I am afraid Fanny has +been very rude in my name. I did not send her for either hat or bonnet, +and shall be pleased to have you wear this as often as you like." + +"I don't want it," said Belle, scornfully; "I'd no idea it belonged to +you." + +"Certainly not; I am aware of it," said Gertrude. "But I trust that will +not prevent you making use of it for to-day, at least." Without urging +the matter further, she proposed that they should hasten on to the top +of the hill, which they could not otherwise reach before sunset; and set +the example by moving forward in that direction, Fanny accompanying her, +and busying herself as she went by stripping the decorations from +Emily's despised bonnet; Belle tying an embroidered handkerchief under +her chin; and Mr. Bruce swinging on his arm the otherwise neglected +hat. + +Belle did not recover her temper during the evening; the rest found +their excursion agreeable, and it was nearly dark when they reached the +Thornton farm on their return. Here Gertrude left them, telling Fanny +that she had promised to stop and see Jenny Thornton, one of her +Sunday-school class, who was in a fever, and refusing to let her remain, +as her mother might not wish her to enter the house, where several of +the family were sick. About an hour after, as Gertrude was walking home +in some haste, she was joined near Mr. Graham's house by Mr. Bruce, who, +with her hat still hanging on his arm, seemed to have been awaiting her +return. She started on his abruptly joining her, for it was so dark that +she did not at once recognise him, and supposed it might be a stranger. + +"Miss Gertrude," said he, "I hope I don't alarm you." + +"Oh no," said she, reassured by the sound of his voice; "I did not know +who it was." + +He offered his arm, and she took it; for his recent devotion to Kitty +had served in some degree to relieve her of any fear she had felt lest +his attentions carried meaning with them; and concluding that he liked +to play beau-general, she had no objection to his escorting her home. + +"We had a very pleasant walk this evening," said he; "at least, I had. +Miss Kitty is a very entertaining companion." + +"I think she is," replied Gertrude; "I like her frank, lively manners +much." + +"I am afraid you found Fanny rather poor company. I should have joined +you occasionally, but I could hardly find an opportunity to quit Miss +Kitty, we were so much interested in what we were saying." + +"Fanny and I are accustomed to each other, and very happy together," +said Gertrude. + +"Do you know we have planned a delightful drive for to-morrow?" + +"No; I was not aware of it." + +"I suppose Miss Kay expects I shall ask her to go with me; but +supposing, Miss Gertrude, I should give you the preference, and ask you, +what should you say?" + +"That I was much obliged to you, but had an engagement to take a drive +with Miss Emily," replied Gertrude, promptly. + +"Indeed!" said he, in a suppressed and provoked tone; "I thought you +would like it; but Miss Kitty, I doubt not will accept. I will go in and +ask her. Here is your hat." + +"Thank you," said Gertrude, and would have taken it; but Ben still held +it by one string, and said---- + +"Then you won't go, Miss Gertrude?" + +"My engagement with Miss Emily cannot be postponed on any account," +answered Gertrude, thankful that she had so excellent a reason for +declining. + +"Nonsense!" said Mr. Bruce; "you could go with me if you chose; and if +you don't, I shall certainly invite Miss Kitty." + +The weight he seemed to attach to this threat astonished Gertrude. "Can +it be possible," thought she, "that he expects thus to pique and annoy +me?" and she replied by saying, "I shall be happy if my declining prove +the means of Kitty's enjoying a pleasant drive; she is fond of variety, +and has few opportunities here to indulge her taste." + +They now entered the house. Mr. Bruce sought Kitty in the recess of the +window, and Gertrude, not finding Emily present, stayed but a short time +in the room--long enough, however, to observe Mr. Bruce's exaggerated +devotion to Kitty, which was marked by others beside himself. Kitty +promised to accompany him the next day, and did so. Mrs. Graham, Mrs. +Bruce, Belle, and the lieutenant, went also in another vehicle, and +Emily and Gertrude took a different direction, and driving white Charlie +in the old-fashioned buggy, rejoiced in their quiet independence. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +VANITY. + + +Days and weeks passed on, and no marked event took place in Mr. Graham's +household. The weather became intensely warm, and no more walks and +drives were planned. The lieutenant left the city, and Isabel, who could +neither endure with patience excessive heat nor want of society, grew +more irritable than ever. + +To Kitty, however, these summer days were fraught with interest. Mr. +Bruce visited constantly at the house, and had great influence upon her +outward demeanour and her inward happiness, which fluctuated as his +attentions were freely bestowed or altogether suspended. No wonder the +poor girl was puzzled to understand one whose conduct was certainly +inexplicable to any but those initiated into his motives. Believing, as +he did, that Gertrude would in time show a disposition to win him back, +he was anxious only to carry his addresses to Kitty to such a point as +would excite a serious alarm in the mind of the poor _protegee_ of the +Grahams, who dared to slight his proffered advances. Acting then as he +did almost wholly with reference to Gertrude, it was only in her +presence, or under such circumstances that he was sure it would reach +her ears, that he manifested a marked interest in Kitty; and his +behaviour was, therefore, in the highest degree, unequal, leading the +warm-hearted Kitty to believe one moment that he felt for her almost the +tenderness of a lover, and the next to suffer under the apprehension of +having unconsciously wounded or offended him. Unfortunately, too, Mrs. +Graham took every opportunity to congratulate her upon her conquest, +thereby increasing the simple girl's confidence in the sincerity of Mr. +Bruce's admiration. + +Gertrude, whose eyes were soon opened to the existing state of things, +was filled with apprehension on account of Kitty, for whose peace and +welfare she felt great concern. The suspicions to which Mr. Bruce's +conduct gave rise were soon strengthened into convictions; for, on +several occasions, after he had offered Kitty proofs of devotion, he +tested their effect upon Gertrude by some attention to herself; +intimating that she had it in her power to rob Kitty of all claim upon +his favour. + +Gertrude availed herself of every opportunity to acquaint him with the +truth, that he could not render himself more odious in her eyes than by +the use of such mean attempts to mortify her; but attributing her warmth +to jealousy, which he desired to excite, the selfish young man +persevered in his course of wickedness. As he only proffered his +attentions, and made no offer of his heart and hand, Kitty, having +forgotten that she had a few weeks back looked upon Gertrude as a rival, +now chose her for her bosom friend; and the transparency of her +character was such that she betrayed her secret to Gertrude. Though no +one but Gertrude appeared to observe it, Kitty was wonderfully +changed;--the gay, laughing, careless Kitty had now her fits of +musing--her sunny face was subject to clouds, that flitted across it, +and robbed it of all its brightness. If she found Gertrude sitting alone +in her room she would approach, throw her arm around her, and talk on +her favourite topic. She would relate the complimentary speeches and +polite attentions of Mr. Bruce, talk about him for an hour, and question +Gertrude as to her opinion of his merits. She would ask if Gertrude +really supposed he meant all he said, and add, that of course she didn't +believe he did--it was all nonsense. And if Gertrude avowed the same +opinion, and declared it was best not to trust his flatteries, poor +Kitty's face would fail, and she would give her reasons for _sometimes_ +thinking he was sincere--he had such a _truthful, earnest_ way of +speaking. + +At last Mr. Bruce tried Gertrude's firmness by offering to her +acceptance a rich ring. Not a little surprised at his presumption, she +declined it without ceremony, and the next day saw it on the finger of +Kitty, who was eager to give an account of its presentation. + +"And did you _accept_ it?" asked Gertrude, with such a look of +astonishment, that Kitty observed it, and evaded an acknowledgment of +having done so, by saying, with a blushing countenance, that she agreed +to wear it a little while. + +"I wouldn't," said Gertrude. + +"Why not?" + +"Because, in the first place, I do not think it is in good taste to +receive such rich gifts from gentlemen; and then, again, if strangers +notice it, you may be subjected to unpleasant, significant remarks." + +"What would you do with it?" asked Kitty. + +"I should give it back." + +Kitty looked very undecided; but concluded to offer it to Mr. Bruce, and +tell him what Gertrude said. She did so, and that gentleman, little +appreciating Gertrude's motives, and believing her only desirous of +making difficulty between him and Kitty, jumped at the conclusion that +her heart was won at last. He was disappointed, therefore, when, on his +next meeting with her, she treated him as she had invariably done of +late, with cool civility; indeed, it seemed to him that she was more +insensible than ever to his attractions, and hastily quitted the house, +much to the distress of Kitty. + +"Shall I," thought he, "marry this poor girl? Shall I, who have a +handsome fortune, and additional expectations to make a brilliant +alliance, condescend to share my wealth with this adopted child of the +Grahams? If she were one atom less charming, I would disappoint her, +after all! I wonder how she'd feel if I should marry Kitty! I dare say +that she would come to my wedding, bend her slender neck as gracefully +as ever, and say, '_Good evening, Mr. Bruce_,' as calmly as she does +now, every time I go to the house! But, as _Mrs. Bruce_, I should be +proud of that manner, certainly. I wonder how I ever got in love with +her; I'm sure I don't know. She isn't handsome; mother thinks she isn't, +and so does Belle Clinton. But Lieutenant Osborne noticed her the minute +she came into the room; and Fan raves about her beauty. I don't know +what I think myself; I believe she's bewitched me, so that I'm not +capable of judging; but, if it isn't beauty, it's something more than +mere good looks." + +About this time, Mrs. Graham and Mrs. Bruce, with their families, +received cards for a _levee_ at the house of an acquaintance five miles +distant. Mrs. Bruce, who had a close carriage, invited both the cousins +to go; and, as Mr. Graham's carriage, when closed, would only +accommodate himself and lady, the proposal was acceded to. + +The prospect of a gay assembly revived Isabel's drooping spirits. Her +rich evening dresses were brought out, and she stood before her mirror, +and tied on first one wreath, and then another, and looked so beautiful +in each that it was difficult to choose. Kitty, who stood by, went to +consult Gertrude. + +"Gertrude," said Kitty, "what shall I wear this evening? I've been +trying to get Belle to tell me, but she never will hear what I ask her, +when she's thinking about her own dress! She's dreadfully selfish." + +"Who advises _her_?" asked Gertrude. + +"Oh, nobody; she always decides for herself; but then she has so much +taste, and I haven't the least in the world! So do tell me, Gertrude, +what had I better wear to-night?" + +"I'm the last person you should ask, Kitty; I never went to a +fashionable party in my life." + +"That doesn't make any difference. I'm sure if you did go, you'd look +better than any of us; and I'm not afraid to trust to your opinion, for +I never in my life saw you wear anything that didn't look genteel--even +your gingham morning-gown has a sort of stylish air." + +"Stop, stop, Kitty; you are going too far; you must keep within bounds +if you want me to believe you." + +"Well then," said Kitty, "to say nothing of yourself (for you're +superior to flattery, Gertrude--_somebody_ told me so)--who furnishes +Miss Emily's wardrobe? Who selects her dresses?" + +"I have done so lately, but----" + +"I thought so!--I thought so!" interrupted Kitty. "I knew poor Miss +Emily was indebted to you for always looking so nice and so beautiful." + +"No, indeed, Kitty, you are mistaken; I have never seen Emily better +dressed than she was the first time I met her; and her beauty is not +borrowed from art--it is all her own." + +"Oh, I know she is lovely, and everybody admires her; but no one can +suppose she would take pains to wear such pretty things, and put them on +so gracefully, just to please herself." + +"It is not done merely to please herself; it was to please her father +that Emily first made the exertion to dress with taste as well as +neatness. I have heard that, for some time after she lost her eyesight, +she was disposed to be very careless; but, having accidentally +discovered that it was an additional cause of sorrow to him, she roused +herself at once, and, with Mrs. Ellis's assistance, contrived always +afterwards to please him in that particular. But you observe, Kitty, she +never wears anything showy or conspicuous." + +"No, indeed, that is what I like; but, Gertrude, hasn't she always been +blind?" + +"No; until she was sixteen she had beautiful eyes, and could see as well +as you can." + +"What happened to her? How did she lose them?" + +"I don't know." + +"Didn't you ever ask?" + +"No." + +"Why not?--how queer!" + +"I heard that she didn't like to speak of it." + +"But she would have told you; she worships you." + +"If she had wished me to know, she would have told without my asking." + +Kitty stared at Gertrude, wondering much at such unusual delicacy and +consideration, and instinctively admiring a forbearance of which she was +conscious she should herself have been incapable. + +"But your dress!" said Gertrude, smiling at Kitty's abstraction. + +"Oh, yes! I had almost forgotten what I came here for," said Kitty. +"What shall it be, then--thick or thin; pink, blue, or white?" + +"What has Isabel decided upon?" + +"Blue--a rich blue silk; that is her favourite colour, always; but it +doesn't become me." + +"No, I should think not," said Gertrude; "but come, Kitty, we will go to +your room and see the dresses, and I will give my opinion." + +Kitty's wardrobe having been inspected, a delicate white crape was fixed +upon. And now her head-dresses did not prove satisfactory. "I cannot +wear any of them," said Kitty; "they look so mean by the side of +Isabel's; but oh!" exclaimed she, glancing at a box which lay on the +dressing-table, "these are just what I should like! Oh, Isabel, where +did you get these beautiful carnations?" and she took up some flowers +which were, indeed, a rare imitation of nature, and, displaying them to +Gertrude, added that they were just what she wanted. + +"Oh, Kitty," said Isabel, angrily, "don't touch my flowers! you will +spoil them!" and snatching them from her, she replaced them in the box, +and deposited them in the bureau, and locked them up--an action which +Gertrude witnessed with astonishment, mingled with indignation. + +"Kitty," said she, "I will arrange a wreath of natural flowers for you, +if you wish." + +"Will you, Gertrude?" said the disappointed and provoked Kitty. "Oh that +will be delightful. I should like it of all things! And, Isabel, you +cross old miser, you can keep all your wreaths to yourself!" + +Gertrude prepared a head-dress for Kitty; and tastefully mingled the +choicest productions of the garden, that, when Isabel saw her cousin +look so beautiful with it, she felt a sharp pang of jealousy of Kitty +and dislike to Gertrude. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +THE REJECTED. + + +Emily was not well this evening. It was often the case, lately, that +headache, weariness, or a nervous shrinking from noise and excitement +sent her to her own room or to her couch at an early hour. After Mrs. +Graham and her nieces had gone downstairs to await Mr. Graham's +pleasure, and Mrs. Bruce's arrival, Gertrude returned to Emily, and +found her suffering more than usual from her head. She was easily +induced to seek the only infallible cure--sleep; and Gertrude, seating +herself on the bedside, as she was frequently in the habit of doing, +bathed her temples until she fell into a quiet slumber. The noise of +Mrs. Bruce's carriage disturbed her a little; but she was soon in so +sound a sleep that, when Mr. and Mrs. Graham departed, the loud voice of +the latter did not startle her in the least. Gertrude sat some time +longer without changing her position, then, quietly rising, and +arranging everything for the night, according to Emily's wishes, she +closed the door, sought a book in her own room, and, entering the +parlour, seated herself at a table to enjoy the rare opportunity for +stillness and repose. But she soon left her seat, and going towards the +glass doors and leaning her head upon her hands, was absorbed in +meditation. + +She had not long sat thus when she heard a footstep in the room, and, +turning, saw Mr. Bruce beside her. She started, and exclaimed, "Mr. +Bruce! is it possible? I thought you had gone to the wedding." + +"No, there were greater attractions for me at home. Could you believe, +Miss Gertrude, I should find any pleasure in a party which did not +include yourself?" + +"I certainly should not have the vanity to suppose the reverse?" replied +Gertrude. + +"I wish you had a little more vanity, Miss Gertrude. Perhaps then you +would believe what I say." + +"I am glad you have the candour to acknowledge, Mr. Bruce, that, without +that requisite, one would find it impossible to put faith in your fair +speeches." + +"I acknowledge no such thing. I only say to you what any other girl but +yourself would be willing enough to believe; but how shall I convince +you that I am serious, and wish to be so understood?" + +"By addressing me with simple truthfulness, and sparing me those words +and attentions which I wish to convince you are unacceptable to me and +unworthy of yourself." + +"But I have a meaning, Gertrude, a _deep_ meaning. I have been trying +long to find an opportunity to tell you of my resolve, and you _must_ +listen to me now;" for he saw her change colour and look anxious and +uneasy. "You must give me an answer at once, and one that will, I trust, +be favourable to my wishes. You like plain speaking; and I will be plain +enough, now that my mind is made up. My relatives and friends may talk +and wonder as much as they please at my choosing a wife who has neither +money nor family to boast of; but I will defy them all, and offer +without hesitation to share my prospects with you. What is money good +for, if it does not make a man independent to do as he pleases? And, as +to the world, I don't see but that you can hold your head as high as +anybody, Gertrude; so, if you've no objection to make, we'll play at +cross purposes no longer;" and he endeavoured to take her hand. + +But Gertrude drew back; the colour flushed her cheeks, and her eyes +glistened as she fixed them upon his face, with an expression of +astonishment and pride. The penetrating look of those dark eyes spoke +volumes, and Mr. Bruce replied to their inquiring gaze in these words: +"I hope you are not displeased at my frankness." + +"With your frankness," said Gertrude, calmly; "no, that is a thing that +never displeases me. But what I have unconsciously done to inspire you +with so much confidence, that, while you defend yourself for defying the +wishes of your friends, you hardly give me a voice in the matter?" + +"Nothing," said Bruce; "but I thought you had laboured under the +impression that I was disposed to trifle with your affections, and had +therefore kept aloof and maintained a distance towards me which you +would not have done had you known I was in earnest; but, believe me, I +only admired you the more for behaving with so much dignity, and if I +have presumed upon your favour, you must forgive me." + +The expression of wounded pride vanished from Gertrude's face. "He knows +no better," thought she; "I should pity his vanity and ignorance, and +sympathize in his disappointment; and, in disclaiming with a +positiveness which left no room for self-deception, any interest in Mr. +Bruce beyond that of an old acquaintance and well-wisher, she +nevertheless softened her refusal by the choice of the mildest language. +She felt gratitude and consideration were due to the man who, however +little she might esteem _him_, had paid _her_ the highest honour;" and, +though her regret in the matter was tempered by the thought of Kitty, +and the strangeness of Mr. Bruce's conduct towards her, now rendered +doubly inexplicable, she did not permit that reflection to prevent her +from maintaining the demeanour of a perfect lady, who, in giving pain to +another, laments the necessity of so doing. But she almost felt as if +her thoughtfulness for his feelings had been thrown away, when she +perceived the spirit in which he received her refusal. + +"Gertrude," said he, "you are either trifling with me or yourself. If +you are still disposed to coquet with me, I shall not humble myself to +urge you further; but if, on the other hand, you are so far forgetful of +your own interests as deliberately to refuse such a fortune as mine, I +think it's a pity you haven't got some friend to advise you. Such a +chance doesn't occur every day, especially to poor school-mistresses; +and if you are so foolish as to overlook it, you'll never have another." + +Gertrude's _old temper_ rose at this insulting language; but her +feelings had been too long under strict regulation to yield, and she +replied in a tone which, though slightly agitated, was far from being +angry, "Allowing I could so far forget _myself_, Mr. Bruce, I would not +do _you_ such an injustice as to marry you for your fortune. I do not +despise wealth, for I know the blessing it may often be; but my +affections cannot be bought with gold;" and as she spoke she moved +towards the door. + +"Stay!" said Mr. Bruce, catching her hand; "listen to me one moment; let +me ask you one question. Are you jealous of my late attentions to +another?" + +"No," answered Gertrude; "but I confess I have not understood your +motives." + +"Did you think," asked he, "that I care for silly Kitty? Did you believe +that I had any other desire than to show you that my devotion was +acceptable elsewhere? No, I never had the least particle of regard for +her; my heart has been yours all the time, and I only danced attendance +upon _her_, in hopes to win a glance from _you_--an _anxious_ glance, if +might be. Oh, I have wished that you would show only one quarter of the +pleasure that she did in my society; would blush and smile as she did; +would look sad when I was dull, and laugh when I was merry; so that I +might flatter myself that your heart was won. But as to _loving_ +her,--pooh! Mrs. Graham's poodle-dog might as well try to rival you as +that soft----" + +"Stop! stop!" exclaimed Gertrude; "for _my_ sake, if not for your _own_! +Oh, how----" She could say no more; but, sinking into a seat, burst into +tears, and hiding her face in her hands, as had been her habit in +childhood, wept without restraint. + +Mr. Bruce stood by in utter amazement; at last he approached her, and +asked, in a low voice, "What is the matter? what have I done?" + +It was some minutes before she could reply; then, lifting her head, and +tossing the hair from her forehead, she displayed features expressive +only of the deepest grief, and said, in broken accents, "What have you +done? Oh, how can you ask? She is gentle, and amiable, and affectionate. +She loves everybody, and trusts everybody. You have _deceived_ her, and +_I_ was the cause of it. Oh, how, how could you do it!" + +Ben exclaimed, "She will get over it." "Get over _what_!" said Gertrude; +"her love for you? Perhaps so; I know not how deep it is. But, think of +her happy, trusting nature, and how it has been betrayed! Think how she +believed your flattering words, and how hollow they were, all the while! +Think how her confidence has been abused! how that fatherless and +motherless girl, who had a claim to the sympathy of all the world, has +been taught a lesson of distrust." + +"I didn't think you would take it so," said Ben. + +"How else could I view it?" asked Gertrude; "could you expect that such +a course would win my respect?" + +"You take it very seriously, Gertrude; such flirtations are common." + +"I am sorry to hear it," said Gertrude. "To my mind, unversed in the +ways of society, it is a dreadful thing to trifle thus with a human +heart. Whether Kitty loves you is not for me to say; but what opinion, +alas! will she have of your sincerity?" + +"I think you're rather hard, Miss Gertrude, when it was my love for you +that prompted my conduct." + +"Perhaps I am," said Gertrude. "It is not my place to censure; I speak +only from the impulse of my heart. One orphan girl's warm defence of +another is but natural. Perhaps she views the thing lightly, and does +not _need_ an advocate; but, oh, Mr. Bruce, do not think so meanly of my +sex as to believe that one woman's heart can be won to love and +reverence by the author of another's betrayal! She were less than woman +who could be so false to her sense of right and honour." + +"Betrayal!--Nonsense! you are very high-flown." + +"So much so, Mr. Bruce, that half-an-hour ago I could have wept that you +should have bestowed your affection where it met with no requital; and +if now I wept for the sake of her whose ears have listened to false +professions, and whose peace has, to say the least, been _threatened_ on +my account, you should attribute it to the fact that my sympathies have +not been exhausted by contact with the world." + +A short silence ensued. Ben went a step or two towards the door, then +stopped, came back, and said, "After all, Gertrude Flint, I believe the +time will come when your notions will grow less romantic, and you will +look back to this night and wish you had acted differently." He +immediately left the room, and Gertrude heard him shut the hall-door +with a bang. + +A moment after the silence that ensued was disturbed by a slight sound +which seemed to proceed from the recess in the window. Gertrude started, +and, as she went towards the spot, heard a smothered sob. She lifted a +curtain, and there, upon the window-seat, her head buried in the +cushions, and her little slender form distorted into a strange attitude, +sat, or rather crouched, poor Kitty Ray. + +"Kitty?" cried Gertrude. At the sound of her voice Kitty sprung suddenly +from her recumbent posture, threw herself into Gertrude's arms, laid her +head upon her shoulder, and though she did not, _could_ not weep, shook +with an agitation uncontrollable. Her hand which grasped Gertrude's was +cold; her eyes fixed; and at intervals the same hysterical sound which +had at first betrayed her in her hiding-place alarmed her young +protector, to whom she clung. Gertrude supported her to a seat, and +then, folding the slight form to her bosom, chafed the cold hands, and +again and again kissing the rigid lips, succeeded in restoring her to +something like composure. For an hour she lay thus, receiving Gertrude's +caresses with evident pleasure, and now and then returning them +convulsively, but speaking no word and making no noise. Gertrude, with +the truest delicacy, refrained from asking questions, or recurring to a +conversation, the whole of which had been thus overheard and +comprehended; but, patiently waiting until Kitty grew more calm, +prepared for her a soothing draught; and then, finding her completely +prostrated, both in mind and body, passed her arm around her waist, +guided her upstairs, and took her into her own room, where, if she +proved wakeful, she would be spared the scrutiny of Isabel. Still +clinging to Gertrude, the poor girl, to whose relief tears came at last, +sobbed herself to sleep. Gertrude, though nearly the same age as Kitty, +had seen too much trouble to enjoy in times of disquiet the privilege of +sinking easily to repose. She felt under the necessity, too, of +remaining awake until Isabel's return, that she might inform her what +had become of Kitty, whom she would be sure to miss from the room which +they both occupied. It was past midnight when Mrs. Graham and her niece +returned home, and Gertrude went immediately to inform the latter that +her cousin was asleep in her room. The noise of the carriage, however, +had awakened the sleeper, and when Gertrude returned she was rubbing her +eyes, and trying to collect her thoughts. Suddenly the recollection of +the scene of the evening flashed upon her, and with a deep sigh she +exclaimed, "Oh, Gertrude, I have been dreaming of Mr. Bruce! Should you +have thought he would have treated me so?" + +"No, I should not," said Gertrude; "but I wouldn't dream about him, +Kitty, nor think of him any more; we will both go to sleep and forget +him." + +"It is different with you," said Kitty, with simplicity. "He loves you, +and you do not care for him; but I--I----" Here her feelings overpowered +her, and she buried her face in her pillow. + +Gertrude approached, laid her hand kindly upon the head of the poor +girl, and finished the sentence for her. + +"You have such a large heart, Kitty, that he found some place there, +perhaps; but it is too good a heart to be shared by the mean and base. +You must think no more of him--he is not worthy of your regard." + +"I can't help it," said Kitty; "I am silly, just as he said." + +"No, you are not," said Gertrude, encouragingly; "and you must prove it +to him." + +"How?" + +"Let him see that, with all her softness, Kitty Ray is brave; that she +believes not his flattery, and values his professions at just what they +are worth." + +"Will you help me, Gertrude? You are my best friend; you took my part, +and told him how wicked he had been to me. May I come to you for comfort +when I can't make believe happy any longer to him, and my aunt, and +Isabel?" + +Gertrude's fervent embrace assured her. + +"You will be as bright and as happy as ever in a few weeks," said she; +"you will soon cease to care for a person whom you no longer respect." + +Kitty disclaimed the possibility of ever being happy again; but Gertrude +was more hopeful. She saw that Kitty's outburst of sobs and tears was +like an impetuous grief, but that the deepest recesses of her nature +were safe. She felt a deep compassion for her, and many fears lest she +would want sufficient strength of mind to behave with dignity and +womanly pride in her future intercourse with Mr. Bruce. + +Fortunately, the trial was spared her by Mr. Bruce's absenting himself +from the house, and in a few days leaving home for the remainder of the +summer; and, as this circumstance involved his own and Mrs. Graham's +family in wonder as to the cause of his sudden departure, Kitty's trials +were in the perpetual questionings from her aunt and cousin as to her +share in this occurrence. Had she quarrelled with him?--and why? Kitty +denied that she had; but she was not believed. + +Mrs. Graham and Isabel were aware that Kitty's refusing at the last +moment to attend the wedding _levee_ was owing to her having learned, +just before the carriage drove to the door, that Mr. Bruce was not to be +one of the party; and, as they got her to confess that he had passed a +part of the evening at the house, they came to the conclusion that some +misunderstanding had arisen between the lovers. + +Isabel was too well acquainted with Kitty's sentiments to believe she +had voluntarily relinquished an admirer who had evidently been highly +prized; and she also saw that the sensitive girl winced under every +allusion to the deserter. Where was her affection? For she made Mr. +Bruce and his disappearance her constant topic; and, on the slightest +difference between herself and Kitty, she distressed the latter by +cutting sarcasm relative to her late love-affair. Kitty would then seek +refuge with Gertrude, and claim her sympathy; and she not only found in +her a friendly listener to her woes, but invariably acquired in her +society greater strength and cheerfulness than she could elsewhere rally +to her aid. + +Many a time, when Isabel had been tantalising Kitty beyond what her +patience could endure, a little figure would present itself at the door +of Miss Graham's room, and with the sweetest of voices say, "I hear you, +Kitty; come in, my dear; we shall be glad of your pleasant company;" and +seated by the side of Gertrude, learning from her some little art in +needlework, listening to an agreeable book, or Emily's more agreeable +conversation, Kitty passed hours which were never forgotten, so peaceful +were they, so serene, so totally unlike any she had ever spent before. + +None could live in familiar intercourse with Emily, listen to her words, +observe the radiance of her heavenly smile, and breathe in the pure +atmosphere that environed her very being, and not carry away with them +the _love_ of virtue and holiness, if not something of their _essence_. +She was so unselfish, so patient, notwithstanding her privations, that +Kitty would have been ashamed to repine in her presence; and there was a +contagious cheerfulness ever pervading her apartment, which, in spite of +Kitty's recent cause of unhappiness, often led her to forget herself, +and break into her natural tone of buoyancy and glee. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +ENVY, HATRED, AND MALICE. + + +Little did Gertrude imagine, while she was striving to promote the +welfare of Kitty, who had thrown herself upon her love and care, the +jealousy and ill-will she was exciting in others. Isabel, who had never +liked one whose tone of action and life reproached her own vanity and +selfishness, and who saw in her the additional crime of being the +favoured friend of a youth of whose interesting boyhood she herself +retained a sentimental recollection, was eager to render her odious to +Mrs. Graham. She was not slow to observe the confidence that existed +between Kitty and Gertrude; that her cousin had forsaken her own room +for that of the latter the night after her probable quarrel and parting +with Bruce; and her resentment, excited still further by the growing +friendship which her own unkindness to Kitty served only to confirm, she +communicated to Mrs. Graham her suspicion that Gertrude had selfishly +made a difficulty between Bruce and Kitty, and fostered and widened the +breach, and succeeded in breaking off the match. Mrs. Graham readily +adopted Belle's opinion. "Kitty," said she, "is weak-minded, and much +under Miss Flint's influence. I shouldn't be surprised if you were +right, Belle!" + +Thus they tried to entrap Kitty into a confession that Gertrude had +driven away her lover. But Kitty, while she indignantly denied +Gertrude's having injured her, refused to reveal the occurrences of the +eventful evening. Mrs. Graham and Belle were angry, and many were their +private discussions on the subject, and as they became more and more +incensed against Gertrude, so they began to manifest it in their +demeanour. + +Gertrude soon perceived their incivility. With wonderful patience, +however, did she preserve her equanimity. She had never looked for +kindness and attention from Mrs. Graham and Isabel. They were irritated +by her calmness and patience, now made their attack in another quarter; +and Emily, the sweet, lovely, and unoffending Emily, became the object +against which they aimed many of their shafts of ill-will. + +Gertrude could bear injury, injustice, and even cruel language, towards +herself only; but her blood boiled when she perceived that her cherished +Emily was becoming the victim of neglect and ill-usage. To address the +gentle Emily in other words than those of courtesy was next to +impossible; it was equally hard to find fault with the actions of one +whose life was so good and beautiful; and the isolated position which +she occupied on account of her blindness seemed to render her free from +interference. But Mrs. Graham was coarse and blunt, Isabel selfish and +unfeeling; and long before the blind girl was aware of any unkind +intention on their part, Gertrude's spirit had rebelled at the knowledge +of many a word and act well calculated to distress a sensitive mind. +Many a stroke was warded off by Gertrude; many a nearly defeated plan, +which Emily was known to have had at heart, carried through by +Gertrude's perseverance and energy; and for some weeks Emily was kept +ignorant of the fact that many a little office formerly performed for +her by a servant was now fulfilled by Gertrude, who would not let her +know that Bridget had received from her mistress orders which were quite +inconsistent with her usual attendance upon Miss Graham's wants. + +Mr. Graham was absent on business at New York. His presence would have +been a great restraint upon his wife, who was well aware of his devoted +affection for his daughter. His love for Emily, and the devotion +manifested towards her by every member of the household, had rendered +her an object of jealousy to Mrs. Graham. + +Shortly before Mr. Graham's return, Mrs. Graham and Isabel were +indulging themselves in an unlimited abuse of the rest of the household, +when a letter was brought to Mrs. Graham, which proved to be from her +husband. After glancing over its contents, she remarked, with an air of +satisfaction, "Here is good news for us, Isabel, and a prospect of some +pleasure in the world." And she read aloud the following--"The +troublesome affair which called me here is nearly settled, and the +result is very favourable to my wishes and plans. I now see nothing to +prevent our starting for Europe the latter part of next month, and the +girls must make their arrangements accordingly. Tell Emily to spare +nothing towards a full and complete equipment for herself and Gertrude." + +"He speaks of Gertrude," said Isabel, sneeringly, "as if she were one of +the family. I'm sure I don't see any very great prospect of pleasure in +travelling all through Europe with a blind woman, and her disagreeable +appendages; I can't think what Mr. Graham wants to take them for." + +"I wish he would leave them at home," said Mrs. Graham; "it would be a +good punishment for Gertrude. But, mercy! he would as soon think of +going without his right hand as without Emily." + +"I hope, if ever I'm married," exclaimed Isabel, "it won't be to a man +that's got a blind daughter! Such a dreadful good person, too, whom +everybody has got to worship, and admire, and wait upon!" + +"I don't have to wait upon her," said Mrs. Graham; "that's Gertrude's +business--it's what she's going for." + +"That's the worst of it; a blind girl has to have a waiting-maid, and a +waiting-maid is a great lady, who doesn't mind cheating your nieces out +of their lovers, and even robbing them of each other's affection." + +"Well, what can I do, Belle? I'm sure I don't want Gertrude's company +any more than you do; but I don't see how I can get rid of her." + +"I should think you'd tell Mr. Graham some of the harm she's done +already. If you have any influence over him, you might prevent her +going." + +"It would be no more than she deserves," said Mrs. Graham; "and I may +give him a hint of her behaviour; he'll be surprised enough when he +hears of Bruce's sudden flight. I knew he thought it would be a match +between him and Kitty." + +As Isabel descended the staircase, to meet with smiles and compliments +the guests whom in her heart she wished a thousand miles away on this +intensely hot afternoon, Gertrude came up from the kitchen, and passed +along a passage to her own room. She carried, over one arm, a dress of +white muslin, and a number of collars, sleeves, and ruffles, with other +articles fresh from the ironing-board. Her face was heated; she looked +tired, and, as she reached her room, and deposited her burden upon the +bed, she drew a long breath, as if fatigued, seated herself by a +window, brushed the hair back from her face, and threw open a blind. +Just then Mrs. Prime put her head in at the door; and, seeing Gertrude +alone, entered the room, but stood in astonishment on observing the +evidences of her recent laborious employment; then, glancing at the +fruits of her diligence, she burst forth indignantly, "My sakes alive! +Miss Gertrude, I believe you've been doin' up them muslins yourself, +after all!" + +Gertrude smiled, but did not reply. + +"Now, if that ain't too bad!" said the kind-hearted woman; "to think you +should ha' been at work down in that 'ere hot kitchen, and all the rest +on us takin' a spell o' rest in the heat of the day. I'll warrant if +Miss Emily knew it, she'd never put on that white gown!" + +"It hardly looks _fit_ for her to wear," said Gertrude. "I'm not much +used to ironing, and have had a great deal of trouble with it; one side +got dry before I could smooth out the other." + +"It looks elegant, Miss Gertrude; but what should you be doin' Bridget's +work for, I want to know?" + +"Bridget always has enough to do," said Gertrude, evading a direct +answer; "and it's very well for me to have some practice; knowledge +never comes amiss, you know, Mrs. Prime." + +"'Tant no kind of an afternoon for 'speriment o' that sort; and you +wouldn't ha' done it, I'll venture to say, if you hadn't been afeard +Miss Emily would want her things, and find out they wan't done. Times is +changed in this house, when Mr. Graham's own daughter, that was once the +head of everything, has to have her clothes laid by to make room for +other folks. Bridget ought to know better than to mind these upstarters, +when they tell her, as I heard Miss Graham yesterday, to let alone that +heap o' muslins, and attend to something that was o' more consequence. +Our Katy would ha' known better; but Bridget's a new-comer like all the +rest. Thinks I to myself then, what would Miss Gertrude say, if she +suspected how Miss Emily was bein' neglected! But I'll _tell_ Miss +Emily, as sure as my name's Prime, just how things go--you shan't get so +red in the face with ironing agin, Miss Gertrude. If the kind o' frocks +she likes to wear can't be done up at home--and yourn too, what's +more--the washin' ought to be put out. There's money enough, and some of +it ought to be spent for the use o' the ladies as is ladies! I wish to +heart _that_ Isabella would have to start round a little lively; 'twould +do her good; but, Lor', Miss Gertrude, it goes right to my heart to see +all the vexatious things as is happenin' nowadays! I'll go right to Miss +Emily this minute, and tell how things go on." + +"No, you won't, Mrs. Prime," said Gertrude, persuasively; "when I ask +you not. You forget how unhappy it would make her, if she knew that Mrs. +Graham was so wanting in consideration. I would rather iron dresses +every day, or do anything else for our dear Miss Emily, than let her +_suspect_ even that anybody could willingly be unkind to her." + +Mrs. Prime hesitated. "Miss Gertrude, I thought I loved our dear young +lady as well as anybody, but I believe you love her better still, to be +so thoughtful all for her sake; and I wouldn't say nothing about it, +only I think a sight o' _you_, too; you've been here ever since you was +a little gal, and we all set lots by you, and I can't see them folks +ride over your head, as I know they mean to." + +"I know you love me, Mrs. Prime, and Emily too; so, for the sake of us +both, you mustn't say a word to anybody about the change in the family +arrangements. We'll all do what we can to keep Emily from pain; and, as +to the rest, we won't care for ourselves; if they don't pet and indulge +me as much as I have been accustomed to, the easiest way is not to +notice it." + +"Lord bless yer heart, Miss Gertrude, them folks is lucky to have you to +deal with; it isn't everybody as would put up with 'em. They don't come +much in my way, thank fortin! I let Miss Graham see, right off, that I +wouldn't put up with interference; cooks is privileged to set up for +their rights, and I scared her out o' my premises pretty quick, I tell +yer! It's mighty hard for me to see our own ladies imposed upon; but +since you say 'mum,' Miss Gertrude, I'll try and hold my tongue as long +as I can. It's a shame, though, I do declare." + +An hour after, Gertrude was at the glass, braiding her long hair, when +Mrs. Ellis, after a slight knock, entered. "Well, Gertrude," said she, +"I didn't think it would come to this!" + +"Why, what is the matter?" inquired Gertrude, anxiously. + +"It seems we are going to be turned out of our rooms!" + +"Who?" + +"You, and I next, for ought I know." + +Gertrude coloured, but did not speak, and Mrs. Ellis related that she +had received orders to fit up Gertrude's room for some visitors who were +expected. She was astonished to hear that Gertrude had not been +consulted on the subject. Mrs. Graham had spoken so carelessly of her +removal, and seemed to think it so agreeable for Emily to share her +apartment with her young friend, that Mrs. Ellis concluded the matter +had been pre-arranged. + +Deeply wounded and vexed on her own and Emily's account, Gertrude stood +for a moment silent. She then asked if Mrs. Ellis had spoken to Emily on +the subject. She had not. Gertrude begged her to say nothing about it. + +"I cannot bear," said she, "to let her know that the little sanctum she +fitted up so carefully has been unceremoniously taken from me. I sleep +in her room more than half the time, as you know; but she always likes +to have me call this chamber mine, that I may be sure of a place where I +can read and study. If you will let me remove my bureau into your room, +Mrs. Ellis, and sleep on a couch there occasionally, we need not say +anything about it to Emily." + +Mrs. Ellis assented. She had grown strangely humble and compliant within +a few months, and Gertrude had won her good-will, first by forbearance, +and latterly by the frequent assistance she had rendered to the +overburdened housekeeper. But, though yielding and considerate towards +Gertrude, whom, with Emily and Mrs. Prime, she now considered members of +the injured party to which she herself belonged, no words could express +her indignation with regard to the late conduct of Mrs. Graham and +Isabel. "It is all of a piece," said she, "with the rest of their +conduct! Sometimes I almost feel thankful that Emily is blind; it would +grieve her to see the goings-on. I should have liked to box Isabella's +ears for taking your seat at the table so impudently as she did +yesterday, and then neglecting to help Emily to anything at all; and +there sat dear Emily, angel as she is! all unconscious of her shameful +behaviour, and asking her for butter as sweetly as if it were by mere +accident that you had been driven from the table, and she left to +provide for herself. And all those strangers there, too! I saw it all +from the china-closet! And then Emily's dresses and muslins!--there they +laid in the press-drawer, till I thought they would mildew. I'm glad to +see Bridget has been allowed to do them at last, for I began to think +Emily would, one of these warm days, be without a clean gown in the +world. But all I wish is, that they'd all go off to Europe, and leave us +here to ourselves. You don't want to go, do you, Gertrude?" + +"Yes, if Emily goes." + +"Well, you're better than I am; I couldn't make such a martyr of myself +even for her sake." + +It is needless to detail the many petty annoyances to which Gertrude was +daily subjected; nor with all the pains taken to prevent it, could Emily +be long kept in ignorance of the light estimation in which both herself +and Gertrude were regarded. Kitty, incensed at the incivility of her +aunt and Isabel, and indifferent towards the visitors, hesitated not to +express both to Emily and Gertrude her sense of the injuries they +sustained. But Kitty was no formidable antagonist to Mrs. Graham and +Belle, for her spirits were greatly subdued, and she no longer dared, as +she would once have done, to stand between her friends and the +indignities to which they were exposed. + +But Mrs. Graham became at last entangled in difficulties of her own +weaving. Her husband returned, and it now became necessary to set bounds +to her own insolence, and, what was far more difficult, to that of +Isabel. Mrs. Graham knew just how far her husband's forbearance would +extend--just the point to which his perceptions might be blinded. But in +his absence she permitted Belle to fill the house with her lively young +acquaintances, and winked at the many flagrant violations of politeness +manifested by the young people towards the daughter of their absent +host, and their youthful friend and attendant. But now a check must be +put to all indecorous proceedings; and, unfortunately for the execution +of the wife's precautions, the head of the family returned unexpectedly, +and under circumstances which forestalled any preparation. He arrived +just at dusk, having come from town in an omnibus. It was a cool +evening, the windows and doors were closed, and the drawing-room was so +brilliantly lighted that he suspected that a large company was being +entertained there. He felt vexed, for it was Saturday night, and, in +accordance with New England customs, Mr. Graham loved to see his +household quiet on that evening. He was also suffering from a violent +headache, and, avoiding the drawing-room, passed on to the library, and +then to the dining-room. He then went upstairs, walked through several +rooms, glanced indignantly at their slovenly appearance, and finally +gained Emily's chamber. + +A bright wood fire burned upon the hearth; a couch was drawn up beside +it, on which Emily was sitting; and Gertrude's little rocking-chair +occupied the opposite corner. The peaceful face of Emily, and the +radiant expression of Gertrude's countenance, as she saw the father of +her blind friend looking pleasantly in upon them, proved such a charming +contrast to the scenes presented in other parts of the house, that the +old gentleman, warmed to more than usual satisfaction with both of the +inmates, greeted his surprised daughter with a hearty paternal embrace, +and gave Gertrude an equally affectionate greeting, exclaiming, as he +took the arm-chair, "Now, girls, this looks pleasant and home-like! What +in the world is going on downstairs?" Emily explained that there was +company staying in the house. + +"Ugh! company!" grunted Mr. Graham, in a dissatisfied tone. "I think so! +Been emptying rag-bags about the chambers, I should say, from the +looks." + +Gertrude asked if he had been to tea. He had not, and should be thankful +for some; he was tired. + +"Don't tell anybody that I've got home, Gerty," called he, as she left +the room; "I want to be left in peace _to-night_, at least." + +While Gertrude was gone, Mr. Graham questioned Emily as to her +preparations for the European tour. To his surprise, he learned that she +had never received his message communicated in the letter to Mrs. +Graham, and knew nothing of his plans. Astonished and angry, he +restrained his temper; he did not like to acknowledge to himself, far +less to his daughter, that his commands had been disregarded by his +wife. After he had enjoyed a comfortable repast, at which Gertrude +presided, they both returned to Emily's room; and now Mr. Graham's first +inquiry was for the _Evening Transcript_. + +"I will go for it," said Gertrude, rising. + +"Ring!" said Mr. Graham, imperatively. He had observed that Gertrude's +ringing was disregarded, and wished to know the cause of so strange a +piece of neglect. Gertrude rang several times, but obtained no answer to +the bell. At last she heard Bridget's step in the entry, and, opening +the door, said to her, "Bridget, won't you find the _Transcript_, and +bring it to Miss Emily's room?" Bridget soon returned with the +announcement that Miss Isabella was reading it, and declined to give it +up. + +A storm gathered on Mr. Graham's brow. "Such a message to _my +daughter_!" he exclaimed. "Gertrude, go yourself and tell the +impertinent girl that _I_ want the paper! What sort of behaviour is +this?" he muttered. + +Gertrude entered the drawing-room with great composure, and, amid the +stares of the company, spoke in a low tone to Belle, who immediately +yielded up the paper, looking much confused as she did so. Belle was +afraid of Mr. Graham; and, on her informing her aunt of his return, that +lady was also disconcerted. She had fully calculated upon seeing her +husband before he had access to Emily. But it was too late now, but she +used all her tact to disperse her friends at an early hour, and then +found Mr. Graham smoking in the dining-room. + +He was in an unpleasant mood; but she contrived to conciliate rather +than irritate him, avoided all discordant subjects, and the next morning +introduced to her friends an apparently affable host. + +But this serenity was disturbed long before the Sabbath drew to a close. +As he walked up the aisle, before morning service, with Emily, according +to custom, leaning upon his arm, his brow darkened at seeing Isabel +complacently seated in that corner of the old fashioned pew which had +for years been sacred to his blind daughter. Mrs. Graham winked at her +niece, but Isabel was mentally rather obtuse, and was subjected to the +mortification of having Mr. Graham remove her from the seat, in which he +placed Emily, while the displaced occupant, who had been so mean for the +last three Sundays to deprive Miss Graham of this old-established right, +was compelled to sit in the only vacant place, beside Mr. Graham, with +her back to the pulpit. And very angry was she at observing the smiles +visible upon many countenances in the neighboring pews. + +Mr. Graham had not been at home a week before he understood the state of +feeling in the mind of his wife and Isabel, and the manner in which it +was likely to act upon the happiness of the household. He saw that Emily +was superior to complaint; she had never in her life complained; he +observed, too, Gertrude's devotion to his much-loved child, and it +stamped her in his mind as one who had a claim to his regard which +should never be disputed. It is not, then, to be wondered at, that when +Mrs. Graham made her intended insinuations against his youthful +_protegee_, Mr. Graham treated them with contempt. + +He had known Gertrude from a child. She was high-spirited--he had +sometimes thought her wilful--but _never_ mean or false. It was no use +to tell him all that nonsense;--he was glad that it was all off between +Kitty and Bruce; for Ben was an idle fellow, and would never make a good +husband; and, as to Kitty, he thought her much improved of late, and if +it were owing to Gertrude's influence, the more they saw of each other +the better. + +Mrs. Graham was in despair. "It is all settled," said she to Isabel. "It +is no use to contest the point; Mr. Graham is firm as a rock, and as +sure as _we_ go to Europe, Emily and Gertrude will go _too_." + +She was almost startled; therefore, by an excess of good-luck, when +informed, a few days afterwards, that the couple she had so dreaded to +have of the party were to be left behind, at Miss Graham's special +request. Emily's scruples with regard to mentioning to her father the +little prospect of pleasure the tour was likely to afford her all +vanished when she found that Gertrude would be a still greater sufferer +from the society to which she would be subjected. + +Blind as she was, Emily understood and perceived almost everything that +was passing around her. Quick of perception, and with a hearing rendered +doubly intense by her want of sight, the events of the summer were, +perhaps, more familiar to her than to any other member of the family. +She more than suspected the exact state of matters betwixt Mr. Bruce and +Gertrude, though the latter had never spoken to her on the subject. She +imagined how Kitty was involved in the affair (no very difficult thing +to conceive by one who enjoyed the confidence which the simple-hearted +girl unconsciously made during her intercourse with her). + +As Mrs. Graham's and Isabel's abuse of power became more open, Mrs. +Ellis and Mrs. Prime considered the embargo upon free speech in Miss +Graham's presence wholly removed; and any pain which the knowledge of +their neglect might have caused her was more than compensated to Emily +by the proofs it had called forth of devoted attachment and willing +service on the part of her adopted child, as she loved to consider +Gertrude. + +Calmly and promptly did she resolve to adopt a course which should free +Gertrude from her self-sacrificing service. She encountered much +opposition from her father; but he had seen, during the previous winter +at the South, how Emily's infirmity unfitted her for travelling, +especially when deprived of Gertrude's attendant eyes; he now realised +how contrary to her tastes and habits were those of his new wife and her +nieces; and, unwilling to be convinced of the folly of his sudden +choice, and probably of unhappiness from it, he appreciated the wisdom +of Emily's proposal, and felt relief in the adoption of a course which +would satisfy all parties. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +TRAVEL AND A MYSTERY. + + +Mrs. Warren's pleasant boarding-house was chosen by Emily for her own +and Gertrude's winter home; and one month from the time of Mr. Graham's +return from New York his country-house was closed; he, his wife, Isabel, +and Kitty went to Havre; Mrs. Ellis went to enjoy a little rest from +care with some cousins at the eastward; and Mrs. Prime was established +as cook in Mrs. Warren's household. + +Although ample arrangements were made by Mr. Graham, and sufficient +means provided for the support of both Emily and Gertrude, the latter +was anxious to be usefully employed, and, therefore, resumed a portion +of her school duties at Mr. W's. Much as Emily loved Gertrude's constant +presence, she gladly resigned her for a few hours every day, rejoiced in +the spirit which prompted her exertions, and rewarded her with praise. +In the undisturbed enjoyment of each other's society, and in their +intercourse with a small, intelligent circle of friends, they passed a +season of sweet tranquility. They read, walked, and communed, as in +times long past. Together they attended lectures, concerts, and +galleries of art. + +It was a blissful and an improving winter which they passed together. +They lived not for themselves alone; the poor blessed them, the +sorrowful came to them for sympathy, and the affection which they +inspired in the family circle was boundless. Spring came and passed +while there, and they were loth to leave a place where they had been so +happy; at last a sudden failure in Emily's health occurred, and Dr. +Jeremy's peremptory command caused them to seek the country air. + +Added to her anxiety about Emily, Gertrude began to feel much troubled +at Willie Sullivan's long silence; no word from him for two or three +months. Willie could not have forgotten or meant to neglect her. That +was impossible. She tried, however, not to feel disturbed about it, and +gave all her care to Emily, who now began indeed to require it. + +They went to the sea-side for a few weeks; but the bracing atmosphere +brought no strength to the blind girl's feeble frame. She was obliged to +give up her daily walks; a continued weariness robbed her step of its +elasticity, and her mind became subject to depression, while her nervous +temperament became so susceptible that the utmost care was requisite to +preserve her from all excitement. + +The doctor often came to see his favourite patient; but as she got worse +instead of better, he ordered her back to the city, declaring that Mrs. +Jeremy's front chamber was as cool and comfortable as the contracted +apartments of the crowded boarding-house at Nahant, and he insisted upon +both her and Gertrude to take up their quarters for a week or two; and +then, if Emily were no better, he hoped to have leisure to start off +with them in search of health. Emily thought she was doing very well +where she was, and was afraid to be troublesome to Mrs. Jeremy. + +"Don't talk about trouble, Emily; you ought to know Mrs. Jeremy better +by this time. Come up to-morrow; I'll meet you at the cars! Good-bye!" + +Gertrude followed him. "I see, doctor, you think Emily is not so well." + +"No; how should she be? What with the sea roaring on one side, and Mrs. +Fellows's babies on the other, it's enough to wear away her strength. I +won't have it so! This isn't the place for her, and do you bring her up +to my house to-morrow." + +"The babies don't usually cry as much as they have to-day," said +Gertrude, smiling; "and as to the ocean, Emily loves dearly to hear the +waves rolling in." + +"Knew she did!" said the doctor. "Shan't do it; bad for her; it makes +her sad, without her knowing why. Bring her up to Boston, as I tell +you." + +It was three weeks after the arrival of his visitors before the popular +physician could steal away from his patients to enjoy a few weeks' +recreation in travelling. For his own sake he would hardly have thought +of attempting so unusual a thing as a journey; and his wife, too, loved +home so much better than any other place that she was loth to start for +parts unknown; but both were willing to sacrifice their long-indulged +habits for the advantage of their young friends. + +Emily was decidedly better; and viewed with pleasure the prospect of +visiting West Point, Catskill, and Saratoga, even on her own account; +and when she reflected upon the probable enjoyment the trip would afford +Gertrude, she felt herself endowed with new strength for the +undertaking. Gertrude needed change of scene and diversion of mind +almost as much as Emily. The excessive heat, and her constant attendance +in the invalid's room, had paled the roses in her cheeks, while care and +anxiety had weighed upon her mind. + +New York was their first destination; but the heat and dust of the city +were almost insufferable, and during the day they passed there only Dr. +Jeremy ventured out of the hotel except once, when Mrs. Jeremy and +Gertrude went in search of dress-caps. But the doctor passed the whole +day in the revival of old acquaintances, and some of these warm-hearted +friends having presented themselves at the hotel in the evening to be +introduced to Mrs. Jeremy and her companions, their room was enlivened +until a late hour by the cheerful conversation of a group of elderly +men, who, as they recalled the scenes and incidents of their youthful +days, seemed to renew their youthful spirits. The conversation, however, +was not of a character to exclude the ladies from participating in as +well as enjoying it. Emily listened with delight to a conversation which +had such varied charms, and shared with Gertrude the admiration of the +doctor's friends, who were all excited to the warmest sympathy for her +misfortune. + +Upon hearing that Dr. Jeremy's party was going up the Hudson next +morning, Dr. Gryseworth, of Philadelphia, who had been a student of our +good doctor's, expressed his pleasure to meet them on the boat, and to +introduce to Gertrude his two daughters, whom he was to accompany to +Saratoga to meet their grandmother. + +Gertrude, who slept soundly until wakened by Miss Graham, started up in +astonishment on seeing her dressed and standing by the bedside--a most +unusual circumstance, as Gertrude's morning kiss was wont to be Emily's +first intimation of daylight. + +"Six o'clock, Gerty, and the boat starts at seven! The doctor has +knocked at our door." + +"How soundly I have slept!" exclaimed Gertrude. "I wonder if it's a +pleasant day." + +"Beautiful!" replied Emily, "but very warm. The sun was shining so +brightly that I had to close the blinds on account of the heat." + +Gertrude made haste, but was not quite dressed when they were summoned +to breakfast. She had trunks to lock, and therefore insisted upon the +others preceding her to the breakfast-hall. The company was small, +consisting only of two parties besides Dr. Jeremy's, and a few +gentlemen, most of them business men. Of those who still lingered at the +table when Gerty made her appearance, there was only one whom she +particularly observed during the few moments allowed for breakfast. + +This was a gentleman who sat at some distance from her, idly balancing +his tea-spoon on the edge of his cup. He seemed quite at his leisure, +and previous to Gertrude's entrance had won Mrs. Jeremy's animadversions +by a slight propensity to make a more critical survey of her party than +she found agreeable. + +"Do, pray," said she to the doctor, "send the waiter to ask that man to +take something himself; I can't bear to have anybody looking at me so +when I'm eating!" + +"He isn't looking at you, wife; it's Emily that has taken his fancy. +Emily, my dear, there's a gentleman, over opposite, who admires you +exceedingly." + +"Is there?" said Emily, smiling, "I am very much obliged to him. May I +venture to return the compliment?" + +"Yes. He's a fine-looking fellow, though wife, here, doesn't seem to +like him very well." + +Gertrude now joined them, and, as she made her morning salutions to the +doctor and his wife, and gaily apologised to the former for her +tardiness, the fine colour which mantled her countenance, and the deep +brilliancy of her eyes, drew affectionate admiration from the kind old +couple, and were, perhaps, the cause of the stranger's attention being +transferred from the lovely face of Emily to the more youthful and +eloquent features of Gertrude. Taking her seat, she soon perceived the +notice she was attracting. It embarrassed her, and she was glad to see, +in a few minutes, the gentleman rise and depart. As he passed out, she +had an opportunity of observing him, which she had not done while he sat +opposite to her. He was above the middle height, slender, but finely +formed, and of a dignified bearing. His features were rather sharp, but +expressive, and even handsome; his dark eyes were most penetrating, +while his compressed lips indicated strength of resolution and will. + +His hair was peculiar; it was deeply tinged with grey, and in the +vicinity of his temples, white. This was strikingly in contrast with the +youthful fire of his eye, and the lightness of his step, that instead of +seeming the effect of age, it enhanced the contradictory claims of his +otherwise apparent youth and vigour. + +"What a queer-looking man," exclaimed Mrs. Jeremy, when he had passed +out. + +"An elegant-looking man, isn't he?" said Gertrude. + +"Elegant?" rejoined Mrs. Jeremy. "What! with that grey head?" + +"I think it's beautiful," said Gertrude; "but I wish he didn't look so +melancholy; it makes me quite sad to see him." + +"How old should you think he was?" asked Dr. Jeremy. + +"About fifty," said Mrs. Jeremy. + +"About thirty," said Gertrude. + +"A wide difference," remarked Emily. "Doctor, you must decide the +point." + +"Impossible! I wouldn't venture to tell that man's age within ten years, +at least. Wife has got him old enough, certainly; perhaps I might see +him as low as Gertrude's mark. Age never turned _his_ hair grey!--that +is certain." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. + + +To travellers in the United States, a trip from Boston into New York +state is an everyday affair, scarce worth calling a journey; but to Dr. +Jeremy it was a momentous event, calling the good physician out of a +routine of daily professional visits, which, for twenty years, had not +been interrupted by a week's absence from home, and plunging him at once +into that whirl of hurry, tumult, and excitement, which exists on all +our great routes, especially in the summer season. + +The doctor was by nature and habit a social being; never shrinking from +intercourse with his fellow-men, but seeking and enjoying their +companionship. He knew how to adapt himself to the taste of young and +old, rich and poor, and was well acquainted with city life in all its +forms. In the art of travelling, however, he was totally unversed. + +Thankful were the party when they were safe on the steamboat; and were +congratulating themselves and each other, when the doctor called from +the other end of the saloon--"Come, come, wife--Gertrude, Emily! what +are you staying down in this confined place for? you'll lose the best +view;" and, coming toward them, he took Gertrude's arm, and would have +hurried her away, leaving Mrs. Jeremy and Emily to follow; but Gertrude +would not trust Emily to ascend the cabin-stairs under any guardianship +but her own, and Mrs. Jeremy immediately engaged the doctor in an +animated discussion as to the advisability of his adopting a straw hat, +which the thoughtful wife had brought from home. By the time the +question was settled, and Emily, at Gertrude's persuasion, had been +induced to change her thin mantilla for a light travelling-cloak, the +boat had proceeded some distance, and when our party gained the head of +the stairs, and looked about them for seats on deck, not a single vacant +bench was to be seen. There was a large number of passengers, nearly all +of whom were collected at the stern of the boat. Dr. Jeremy went in +search of chairs. + +"Don't let us stay here," whispered Mrs. Jeremy to Gertrude and Emily. +"Let's go right back before the doctor comes! There are beautiful great +rocking-chairs down in the cabin, without a soul to sit in them, and I'm +sure we ain't wanted here to make up a company. I hate to stand with all +these people staring at us, and crowing to think they've got such nice +places; don't you, Emily?" Mrs. Jeremy just then forgot that Emily could +not see. But Gertrude never forgot it; and, as she stood with her arm +lightly pressed around her friend's waist, to prevent the motion of the +boat from throwing her off her balance, they attracted attention; the +one so bright, erect, and strong with youth and health, that she seemed +a fit protector for the other, who, in her sweet and gentle +helplessness, leaned upon her so trustingly. + +Here Mrs. Jeremy was interrupted by the salutation of Dr. Gryseworth, +who insisted upon giving up his seat to Mrs. Jeremy; and another +gentleman, till now unnoticed by our party, rose, and bowing politely, +placed his own chair for Emily, and walked quickly away. It was the +stranger whom they had seen at breakfast. Gertrude recognised his keen, +dark eye, and his singular hair; and, as she thanked him, and placed +Emily in the seat, she coloured under his earnest glance. But Dr. +Gryseworth soon claimed her attention for the introduction to his +daughters, and all thoughts of the retreating stranger were banished for +the present. + +The Misses Gryseworth were intelligent-looking girls; the eldest, lately +returned from Europe, where she had been travelling with her father, was +considered a very elegant and superior person, and Gertrude was charmed +with the lady-like cordiality with which they both made her +acquaintance, and still more with the sympathising attentions which they +paid to Emily. By the time that Dr. Jeremy returned with a chair he +found Gertrude and Dr. Gryseworth comfortably accommodated, and was +thus enabled to sink at once into his seat, and into that state of easy +unconcern which became his pleasant, genial temperament. + +Long before the boat reached West Point, where the Jeremys were to land, +an excellent understanding subsisted between Gertrude and the Misses +Gryseworth. They had been about an hour in each other's society, when +Netta Gryseworth, glancing towards another part of the boat, said in an +undertone, "Ellen, do invite Mr. Phillips to come back and be introduced +to Miss Flint!--see how lonesome the poor man looks." + +Gertrude followed the direction of Netta's eye, and saw the stranger of +the morning at some distance, slowly pacing up and down, with a serious +and distracted air. + +"He has not been near us for an hour," said Netta. + +"I hope we have not frightened your friend away," said Gertrude. + +"Oh, no, indeed!" replied Ellen. "Although Mr. Phillips is but a recent +acquaintance, we have found him so independent, and sometimes so +whimsical, that I am never astonished at being suddenly forsaken by him. +There are some people, you know, for whom it is always sufficient excuse +to say, _It is their way_. I wish he would condescend to join us again, +however; I should like to introduce him to you, Miss Flint." + +"You wouldn't like him," said Netta. + +"Now, that is not fair, Netta!" said her sister, "to prejudice Miss +Flint against my friend. You mustn't let her influence you," said she to +Gertrude. "She hasn't known him half as long as I have; and I do not +dislike him. My straightforward sister never likes odd people, and I +must confess that Mr. Phillips is eccentric; but he interests me all the +more on that account, and I am sure he and you would have many ideas and +sentiments in common." + +"How can you say so, Ellen?" said Netta. "I think they are totally +different." + +"You must consider Netta's remark complimentary, Miss Flint," said +Ellen; "it would not be quite so much so if it had come from me." + +"But you wished me to become acquainted with your oddity," said +Gertrude. "I suspect you act on the principle that one's misfortunes +should be shared by one's friends." + +Netta laughed. "Not exactly," said she; "it was compassion _for him_ +that moved me. I can't help pitying him when he looks so home-sick, and +I thought your society would brighten him up and do him good." + +"Ah, Netta!" said her sister, "he has excited your sympathy, I see. A +few days more, and I shouldn't be surprised if you went beyond me in +your admiration of him. If so, take care, you transparent creature, not +to betray your inconsistency." Then she said to Gertrude, "Netta met Mr. +Phillips only yesterday and has not seemed very favourably impressed. +Father and I were passengers in the same steamer in which he came from +Liverpool a few weeks ago. He had an ill turn in the early part of the +voyage, and it was in a professional way that father first made his +acquaintance. I was surprised at seeing him on board to-day, for he +mentioned no such intention yesterday." + +Gertrude suspected that the young lady might herself be the cause of his +journey; but she did not say so, and the conversation taking another +turn, Mr. Phillips was not again adverted to, though Gertrude observed, +just before the boat stopped at West Point, that Dr. Jeremy and Dr. +Gryseworth had joined him, and that the trio were engaged in a colloquy +which seemed to interest them all. At West Point, Gertrude parted from +her new friends, who expressed a wish to meet in Saratoga. + +Our travellers passed one night only at West Point. The weather +continued hot, and Dr. Jeremy, perceiving that Emily drooped under the +oppressive atmosphere, was desirous to reach the summit of Catskill +Mountain before the coming Sabbath. + +One solitary moonlight evening sufficed to give Gertrude some idea of +the beauties of the place. She could not observe it in detail, only as a +whole; but, thus presented in all the dreamy loveliness of a summer's +night, it left on her mind a vague sentiment of wonder and delight at +the surpassing sweetness of what seemed rather a glimpse of Paradise +than an actual show of earth, so harmonious was the scene, so still, so +peaceful. "Emily, darling," said she, as they stood together in a rustic +arbour, commanding the most striking prospect both of the river and the +shore, "it looks like you; you ought to live here and be the priestess +of such a temple;" and, locking her hand in that of Emily, she poured +into her ear the holy and elevated sentiments to which the time and the +place gave birth. + +At an early hour in the morning they steamed up the river. But West +Point was hardly passed before Gertrude's watchful eye detected in +Emily's countenance signs of weariness and debility. Sacrificing, +without hesitation, the pleasure she was herself deriving from beautiful +scenes through which the boat was passing, she proposed that they should +seek the cabin, where Miss Graham might rest in greater stillness. But +Emily would not listen to the proposal; would not think of depriving +Gertrude of the pleasure she knew she must be experiencing. + +"The prospect is all lost upon me now, Emily," said Gertrude. "I see +only your tired face. Do go and lie down, if it be only to please me; +you hardly slept at all last night." + +"Are you talking of going below?" exclaimed Mrs. Jeremy. "I, for one, +shall be thankful, too; it's as comfortable again, and we can see all we +want to from the cabin windows; can't we, Emily?" + +"Should you really prefer it?" inquired Emily. + +"Indeed, I should!" said Mrs. Jeremy, with such emphasis that her +sincerity could not be doubted. + +"Then, if you will promise to stay here, Gertrude," said Emily, "I will +go with Mrs. Jeremy." + +Gertrude assented to the plan; but insisted upon first accompanying +them, to find a vacant berth for Emily, and see her under circumstances +which would promise repose. Emily was too weak to endure the noise on +deck, and after she had laid down in the quiet saloon, Gertrude stood +smoothing back her hair, and watching her pale countenance, until she +was accused of violating the agreement, and was at last sent off by the +good-natured doctor's lady, who declared herself perfectly well able to +take care of Emily. + +"You'd better make haste back," she said, "before you lose your seat; +and, Gerty, don't let the doctor come near us; he'll be teasing us to go +back again, and we shall not." Mrs. Jeremy untied her bonnet-strings, +put her feet up in the opposite chair, clapped her hands at Gertrude, +and bade her begone. + +Gertrude ran off laughing, and a smile was on her face when she reached +the staircase. As she came up with her quick and light step, a tall +figure moved aside to let her pass. It was Mr. Phillips. He bowed, and +Gertrude, returning the salutation, passed on to the place she had left, +wondering how he came to be again their travelling companion. He could +not have been on board previously to her going below with Emily. + +Gertrude had sat about five minutes, when a shadow passed before her, +and looking up, she betrayed a little confusion at again encountering a +pair of eyes, whose magnetic gaze bewildered her. She was turning away, +when the stranger spoke. "Good morning, young lady! our paths still lie +in the same direction, I see. Will you honour me by making use of my +guide-book?" + +As he spoke he offered her a little book containing a map of the river, +and the shores on either side. Gertrude took it, and thanked him. As she +unfolded the map he stationed himself a few steps distant, and leaned +over the railing, in an apparently absent state of mind; nor did he +speak to her again for some minutes. Then, suddenly turning towards her, +he said, "You like this very much?" + +"Very much," said Gertrude. + +"You have never seen anything so beautiful before in your life." He did +not seem to question her; he spoke as if he knew. + +"It is an old story to you, I suppose," said Gertrude. + +"What makes you think so?" asked he, smiling. + +Gertrude was disconcerted by his look, and still more by his smile; it +changed his whole face so--it made him look so handsome, and yet so +melancholy. She blushed and could not reply; he saved her the trouble. +"That is hardly a fair question, is it? You probably think you have as +much reason for your opinion as I had for mine. You are wrong, however; +I never was here before; but I am too old a traveller to carry my +enthusiasm in my eyes--as you do," added he, after a moment's pause, +during which he looked her full in the face. Then seeming to perceive +the embarrassment which his scrutiny of her features caused, he turned +away, and a shadow passed over his fine countenance, lending it for a +moment an expression of mingled bitterness and pathos, which served to +disarm Gertrude's confusion. + +Presently, taking a vacant chair next hers, he directed his attention +to a beautiful country residence on their right, spoke of its former +owner, whom he had met in a foreign land, and related some interesting +anecdotes concerning a journey which they had taken together. This +introduced other topics, chiefly connected with wanderings in countries +almost unknown; and so rich and varied was the stranger's conversation, +so graphic were his descriptions, so exuberant his imagination, and so +powerful his command of words and his gift of expressing his thoughts, +that his listener sat entranced with delight. + +When Dr. Jeremy came in search of his young charge, conversation between +her and the stranger had assumed so much ease and freedom that the +doctor opened his eyes in astonishment, shrugged his shoulders, and +exclaimed, "This is pretty well, I declare!" + +Gertrude did not see the doctor approach, but looked up at the sound of +his voice. Conscious of the surprise it must be to find her talking so +familiarly with a stranger, she coloured slightly; but observing that +her companion only smiled, she felt rather amused than embarrassed; and +she began to feel confidence in her fellow-traveller, who rose, shook +hands with Dr. Jeremy, to whom he had, the previous day, been +introduced, and said, with perfect composure, "Will you have the +kindness, sir, to present me to this lady? We have already had some +conversation together, but do not yet know by what name we may address +each other." + +Dr. Jeremy having performed the ceremony of introduction, Mr. Phillips +bowed gracefully, and looked at Gertrude in such a benignant, fatherly +way, that she hesitated not to take his offered hand. He detained hers a +moment while he said, "Do not be afraid of me when we meet again;" and +then walked away, and paced slowly up and down the deck until passengers +for Catskill were summoned to dinner, when he, Dr. Jeremy, and Gertrude +went below. The doctor tried to rally Gertrude about her grey-headed +beau, declaring that he was yet young and handsome, and that she could +have his hair dyed any colour she pleased. But he could not succeed in +annoying her in that way, for her interest in him, which she could not +deny, was quite independent of his personal appearance. + +The bustle, however, of dinner, and going on shore at Catskill, banished +from the doctor's head all thought of everything except the safety of +himself, his ladies, and their baggage. + +Emily, whose nervous system was somewhat disordered, clung tremblingly +to Gertrude; and Gertrude found herself, she knew not how, leaning on +the arm of Mr. Phillips, to whose silent exertions they were both +indebted for their safety in disembarking. Mrs. Jeremy was counting up +the trunks, while her husband was loudly denouncing the steamboat, its +conductors, and the whole hurrying, skurrying Yankee nation. + +Two stage-coaches were waiting at the wharf to take passengers up the +mountain, and before Dr. Jeremy had turned his back upon the river, +Emily and Gertrude were placed in one of them by Mr. Phillips, who, +without speaking, took this office upon himself, and then went to inform +the doctor of their whereabouts, and the doctor and his wife soon joined +them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +THE ROCK OF AGES. + + +Before they had gained the road leading to the Mountain House, they +became conscious of the vast difference between the temperature of the +river and that of the inland country, and, in being suddenly deprived of +the refreshing breeze they had enjoyed on board the boat, they fully +realised the extreme heat of the weather. For the first few miles +Gertrude's care was required to shield Emily and herself from the rays +of the burning sun; and it was a great relief when they reached the +beautifully-shaded road which led up the side of the mountain. The +atmosphere being clear, the gradually widening prospect was beautiful, +and Gertrude's delight was such that the restraint imposed by +stage-coach decorum was almost insupportable. When, therefore, the +ascent became so laborious that the gentlemen alighted to relieve the +weary horses, Gertrude gladly accepted Dr. Jeremy's proposal that she +should accompany him on a walk of a mile or two. + +Gertrude was an excellent walker, and she and the active doctor soon +left the coaches far behind. At a sudden turn in the road they stopped +to view the scene below, and stood enjoying the stillness and beauty of +the spot, when they were startled by hearing a voice, saying, "A fine +landscape, certainly!" + +It came from Mr. Phillips, seated upon a moss-grown rock, against which +Gertrude was leaning. His attitude was easy and careless, his +broad-brimmed straw hat lay on the ground, and his snow-besprinkled hair +was tossed back from his high and expanded forehead. He immediately +joined Dr. Jeremy and Gertrude. + +"You have got the start of us, sir," said the former. + +"Yes; I have walked from the village--my practice always when the roads +are such that no time can be gained by riding." + +As he spoke, he placed in Gertrude's hand, without looking at her, or +seeming conscious what he was doing, a bouquet of rich laurel blossoms. +She would have thanked him, but his absent manner was such that it +afforded her no opportunity, especially as he went on talking with the +doctor, as if she had not been present. + +All three resumed their walk. Mr. Phillips and Dr. Jeremy conversed in +an animated manner, and Gertrude, content to be a listener, soon +perceived that she was not the only person to whom the stranger had +power to render himself agreeable. Dr. Jeremy engaged him upon a variety +of subjects, upon all of which he appeared equally well informed; and +Gertrude smiled to see her old friend rub his hands together--his mode +of expressing satisfaction. + +Gertrude thought their new acquaintance must be a botanist by +profession, so versed was he in everything relating to that science. +Again, she was sure that geology must have been with him an absorbed +study, so intimate seemed his acquaintance with mother earth; and both +of these impressions were in turn dispelled when he talked of the ocean +like a sailor, of the counting-house like a merchant, of Paris like a +man of fashion and the world. In the meantime she walked beside him, +silent but not unnoticed; for, as they approached a rough and steep +ascent, he offered his arm, and expressed a fear lest she should become +fatigued. Dr. Jeremy declared his belief that Gerty could outwalk them +both; and, thus satisfied, Mr. Phillips resumed the broken thread of +their discourse, into which Gertrude was drawn almost unawares. + +Mr. Phillips no longer seemed in Gertrude's eyes a stranger--he was a +mystery, but not a forbidding one. She longed to learn the history of a +life which many an incident of his own narrating proved to have been +made up of strange and mingled experience; especially did her +sympathetic nature desire to fathom the cause of that deep-seated +melancholy which shadowed and darkened his noble countenance, and made +his very smile a sorrowful thing. Dr. Jeremy, who shared her curiosity, +asked a few questions, in hopes to obtain some clue to his new friend's +history; but in vain. Mr. Phillips' lips were sealed on the subject. + +The doctor now felt very weary, and seating themselves by the roadside, +they awaited the arrival of the coach. There had been a short silence, +when the doctor, looking at Gertrude, remarked, "There will be no church +for us to-morrow, Gerty." + +"No church," exclaimed Gerty, gazing about her with a look of reverence; +"how _can_ you say so?" + +Mr. Phillips smiled, and said in a peculiar tone, "There is no Sunday +here, Miss Flint; it doesn't come up so high." + +He spoke lightly--too lightly, Gertrude thought--and she replied with +some seriousness and much sweetness, "I have often rejoiced that the +Sabbath has been sent _down_ into the _lower_ earth; the higher we go +the nearer we come, I trust, to the eternal Sabbath." + +Mr. Phillips bit his lip, and turned away without replying. There was an +expression about his mouth which Gertrude did not like; but she could +not find it in her heart to reproach him for the slight sneer which his +manner, rather than his look, implied; for as he gazed a moment or two +into vacancy there was in his absent countenance such a look of sorrow +that she could only pity and wonder. The coaches now came up, and, as he +placed her in her former seat, he resumed his wonted serene and kind +expression, and she felt convinced that it was only doing justice to his +frank and open face to believe that nothing was hid behind it that would +not do honour to the man. + +An hour brought them to the Mountain House, and to their joy they were +shown to some of the most excellent rooms the hotel afforded. As +Gertrude stood at the window of the chamber allotted to herself and +Emily, and heard the loud murmurs of some of her fellow-travellers who +were denied any tolerable accommodation, she could not but be astonished +at Dr. Jeremy's unusual good fortune. Emily, being greatly fatigued with +the toilsome journey, had supper brought to her own room, and Gertrude +partaking of it with her, neither of them sought other society that +night, but at an early hour went to rest. The last thing that Gertrude +heard before falling asleep was the voice of Dr. Jeremy saying, as he +passed their door, "Take care, Gerty, and be up in time to see the sun +rise." + +But she was not up in time, nor was the doctor; neither of them had +calculated upon the sun being such an early riser; and though Gertrude +sprang up almost before her eyes were open, a flood of daylight was +pouring in at the window, and a scene met her gaze which banished regret +at having overslept herself, since nothing, she thought, could be more +glorious than that which now lay outspread before her. + +Far out to the distant horizon nothing was to be seen but a sea of snowy +clouds, which wholly overshadowed the lower earth and hid it from view. +Vast, solid, and of the most perfect whiteness, they stretched on every +side, forming, as they lay in thick masses, between which not a crevice +was discernible, an unbroken curtain, dividing the heavens from the +earth. The foliage of the oaks, the pines, and the maples, which had +found root in this lofty region, was rich in varied hues, and tame and +fearless birds of various note were singing in the branches. Gertrude +gave one long look, then hastened to dress herself and go out upon the +platform. + +She was soon joined by Dr. and Mrs. Jeremy, the former full of life, and +dragging forward his reluctant, sleepy partner, whose countenance +proclaimed how unwillingly she had forgone her morning nap. The doctor +rubbed his hands as they joined Gertrude. "Very fine, this, Gerty! A +touch beyond anything I had calculated upon," Gertrude turned upon him +her beaming eyes, but did not speak. + +The doctor stepped to the edge of the flat rock upon which they stood, +placed his hands beneath his coat tails, and indulged in a soliloquy, +made up of short exclamations and interjectional phrases, expressive of +his approbation. + +"Why, this looks queer, doesn't it?" said Mrs. Jeremy, rubbing her +eyes, and gazing about her; "but I daresay it would be just so an hour +or two hence. I don't see what the doctor would make me get up so early +for." Then she darted forward, exclaiming, "Dr. Jeremy, for mercy's +sake, don't stand so near the edge of that precipice! Why, are you +crazy, man? You frighten me to death! You'll fall over and break your +neck!" + +Finding the doctor deaf to her entreaties, Mrs. Jeremy grew so disturbed +by his dangerous position that, looking most imploringly at Gertrude, +she begged her to get the doctor away, for the poor man was so +venturesome he would surely be killed. + +"Suppose we explore that little path at the right of the house," +suggested Gertrude; "it looks attractive." + +"So it does," said Mrs. Jeremy; "beautiful little shady path. Come, +doctor, Gerty and I are going to walk up here--come!" + +The doctor looked in the direction in which she pointed. + +"Ah!" said he, "that is the path the man at the office spoke about; it +leads up to the pine gardens. We'll climb up, by all means, and see what +sort of a place it is." + +Gertrude led the way, all walking in single file, for the path was a +mere foot-track. The ascent was very steep, and they had not proceeded +far before Mrs. Jeremy, panting with heat and fatigue, stopped short, +and declared her inability to reach the top; she would not have come if +she had known what a hard hill she would have to climb. Encouraged and +assisted by her husband and Gertrude, she was induced to make a further +attempt; and they had gone on some distance, when Gertrude, who was some +steps in advance, heard Mrs. Jeremy give a slight scream. She looked +back; the doctor was laughing heartily, but his wife, who was the +picture of consternation, was trying to pass him and retrace her steps +down the hill. + +"What is the matter?" asked Gertrude. + +"Matter!" cried Mrs. Jeremy; "why, this hill is covered with +rattlesnakes; and here we are all going up to be bitten to death!" + +"No such thing, Gerty!" said the doctor, still laughing. "I only told +her there had been one killed here this summer, and now she's making it +an excuse for turning back." + +"I don't care!" said the good-natured lady, half laughing herself, in +spite of her fears; "if there's been one, there may be another; and I +won't stay a minute longer! I thought it was a bad enough place before, +and now I am going down faster than I came up." + +Finding her determined, the doctor hastened to accompany her, calling to +Gertrude and assuring her there was no danger, and begging her wait for +him at the top of the hill, where he would join her after he left his +wife in safety at the hotel. Gertrude, therefore, went on alone. For the +first few yards she looked about her, and thought of rattlesnakes; but +the path was so well worn that she felt sure it must be often trod, and +was probably safe; and the beauty of the place engrossed all her +attention. After active climbing, she reached the highest point of +ground, and found herself once more on the elevated platform, from which +she could look forth upon the unbroken sea of clouds. + +She seated herself at the foot of an immense pine-tree, removed her +bonnet, for she was warm from recent exercise; and she inhaled the +refreshing mountain breeze. She had sat thus but a moment when a slight +rustling noise startled her; she remembered the rattlesnakes, and was +springing to her feet; but hearing a low sound, as of some one +breathing, turned her eyes in the direction from which it came, and saw, +only a few yards from her, the figure of a man stretched upon the +ground, apparently asleep. She went towards it with a careful step, and +before she could see the face, the large straw hat and the long, +blanched, wavy hair betrayed the identity of the individual. Mr. +Phillips was, or appeared to be, sleeping; his head was pillowed upon +his arm, his eyes were closed, and his attitude denoted perfect repose. +Gertrude stood still and looked at him. As she did so, his countenance +suddenly changed; the peaceful expression gave place to the same unhappy +look which had at first excited her sympathy. His lips moved, and in his +dreams he spoke, or rather shouted, "No! no! no!" each time that he +repeated the word pronouncing it with more emphasis; then wildly +throwing one arm above his head he let it fall heavily upon the ground, +and, the excitement subsiding from his face, he uttered the simply +words, "_Oh, dear!_" much as a grieved and tired child might do as he +leans his head upon his mother's knee. + +Gertrude was deeply touched. She forgot that he was a stranger; she +only saw a sufferer. An insect lit upon his fair, open forehead; she +leaned over him, brushed it away, and, as she did so, one of her tears +fell upon his cheek. He awoke, and looked full in the face of the +embarrassed girl, who started, and would have hastened away; but, +leaning on his elbow, he caught her hand and detained her. He gazed at +her a moment without speaking; then said, in a grave voice, "My child, +did you shed that tear for me?" + +She did not reply, except by her eyes, which were still glistening with +the dew of sympathy. + +"I believe you _did_," said he, "and from my heart I bless you! But +never again weep for a stranger. You will have woes enough of your own +if you live to be my age." + +"If I had not had sorrows," said Gertrude, "I should not know how to +feel for others; if I had not often wept for myself I should not weep +now for you." + +"But you are happy?" + +"Yes." + +"Some find it easy to forget the past." + +"_I_ have not forgotten it." + +"Children's griefs are trifles, and you are still scarce more than a +child." + +"I _never_ was a child," said Gertrude. + +"Strange girl!" soliloquised her companion. "Will you sit down and talk +with me a few minutes?" + +Gertrude hesitated. + +"Do not refuse; I am an old man, and very harmless. Take a seat here +under this tree, and tell me what you think of the prospect." + +Gertrude smiled inwardly at the idea of his being such an old man, and +calling her a child; but, old or young, she had it not in her heart to +fear him, or refuse his request. She sat down, and he seated himself +beside her, but did not speak of the prospect, or of anything, for a +moment or two; then turning to her abruptly, he said, "So you never were +unhappy in your life?" + +"Never?" exclaimed Gertrude. "Oh, yes; often." + +"But never long?" + +"Yes, I can remember whole years when happiness was a thing I had never +even dreamed of." + +"But comfort came at last. What do you think of those to whom it never +comes?" + +"I know enough of sorrow to pity and wish to help them." + +"What can you do for them?" + +"_Hope_ for them--_pray_ for them!" said Gertrude, with a voice full of +feeling. + +"What if they be past hope--beyond the influence of prayer?" + +"There are no such," said Gertrude, with decision. + +"Do you see," said Mr. Phillips, "this curtain of thick clouds, now +overshadowing the world? Even so many a heart is weighed down and +overshadowed by thick and impenetrable darkness." + +"But the light shines brightly above the clouds," said Gertrude. + +"Above! well, that may be; but what avails it to those who see it not?" + +"It is sometimes a weary and toilsome road that leads to the +mountain-top; but the pilgrim is well repaid for the trouble which +brings him _above the clouds_," replied Gertrude, with enthusiasm. + +"Few ever find the road that leads so high," responded her melancholy +companion; "and those who do cannot live long in so elevated an +atmosphere. They must come down from their height, and again dwell among +the common herd; again mingle in the warfare with the mean, the base, +and the cruel." + +"But they have seen the glory; they know that the light is ever burning +on high, and will have faith to believe it will pierce the gloom at +last. See, see," said she, her eyes glowing with the fervour with which +she spoke--"even now the heaviest clouds are parting; the sun will soon +light up the valley!" + +She pointed as she spoke to a wide fissure which was gradually +disclosing itself, as the hitherto solid mass of clouds separated on +either side, and then turned to the stranger to see if he observed the +change; but, with the same smile upon his unmoved countenance, he was +watching, not the display of nature in the distance, but that close at +his side. He was gazing with intense interest upon the young and ardent +worshipper of the beautiful and the true; and, in studying her features +and observing the play of her countenance, he seemed so wholly absorbed +that Gertrude--believing he was not listening to her words, but had +fallen into one of his absent moods--ceased speaking, rather abruptly, +and was turning away, when he said---- + +"Go on, happy child! Teach _me_, if you can, to see the world tinged +with the rosy colouring it wears for _you_; teach me to love and pity as +you do that miserable thing called _man_. I warn you that you have a +difficult task, but you seem to be very hopeful." + +"Do you hate the world?" asked Gertrude, with straightforward +simplicity. + +"Almost," was Mr. Phillips' answer. + +"_I_ did _once_," said Gertrude, musingly. + +"And will again, perhaps." + +"No, that would be impossible; it has been a good foster mother to its +orphan child, and now I love it dearly." + +"Have they been kind to you?" asked he, with eagerness. "Have heartless +strangers deserved the love you seem to feel for them?" + +"Heartless strangers!" exclaimed Gertrude, the tears rushing to her +eyes. "Oh, sir, I wish you could have known my Uncle True, and Emily, +dear, blind Emily! you would think better of the world for their sakes." + +"Tell me about them," said he, and he looked fixedly down into the +precipice which yawned at his feet. + +"There is not much to tell, only that one was old and poor, and the +other wholly blind; and yet they made everything rich, and bright, and +beautiful to me--a poor, desolate, injured child." + +"Injured! Then you acknowledge that you had previously met with wrong +and injustice?" + +"I!" exclaimed Gertrude; "my earliest recollections are only of want, +suffering, and much unkindness." + +"And these friends took pity on you?" + +"Yes. One became an earthly father to me, and the other taught me where +to find a heavenly one." + +"And ever since then you have been free and light as air, without a wish +or care in the world." + +"No, indeed, I did not say so--I do not mean so," said Gertrude. "I have +had to part from Uncle True, and to give up other dear friends, some for +years and some forever; I have had many trials, many lonely, solitary +hours, and even now am oppressed by more than one subject of anxiety and +dread." + +"How, then, so cheerful and happy?" asked Mr. Phillips. + +Gertrude had risen, for she saw Dr. Jeremy approaching. She smiled at +Mr. Phillips' question; and after looking into the deep valley beneath +her, gave him a look of holy faith, and said, in a low but fervent tone, +"I see the gulf yawning beneath me, but I lean upon the Rock of Ages." + +Gertrude had spoken truly when she said that more than one anxiety and +dread oppressed her; for, mingled with a fear lest the time was fast +approaching when Emily would be taken from her, she had of late been +grieved by the thought that Willie Sullivan, towards whom her heart +yearned with more than a sister's love, was forgetting the friend of his +childhood, or ceasing to regard her with the love of former years. It +was now some months since she had received a letter from India; the last +was short, and written in a haste which Willie apologised for on the +score of business duties; and Gertrude was compelled unwillingly to +admit the chilling presentiment that, now that his mother and +grandfather were no more, the ties which bound the exile to his native +home were sensibly weakened. + +Nothing would have induced her to hint, even to Emily, a suspicion of +neglect on Willie's part; nothing would have shocked her more than +hearing such neglect imputed to him by another; and still, in the depths +of her heart, she sometimes mused with wonder upon his long silence, and +his strange diminution of intercourse between herself and him. During +several weeks, in which she had received no tidings, she had still +continued to write as usual, and felt sure that such reminders must have +reached him by every mail. What, then, but illness or indifference could +excuse his never replying to her faithfully-despatched missives? + +Dr. Jeremy's approach was the signal for hearty congratulations between +himself and Mr. Phillips; the doctor began to converse in his animated +manner, spoke with hearty delight of the beauty and peacefulness of that +bright Sabbath morning in the mountains; and Mr. Phillips, compelled to +exert himself and conceal the gloom which weighed upon his mind, talked +with an ease, and even playfulness, which astonished Gertrude, who +walked back to the house wondering at this strange and inconsistent man. +She did not see him at breakfast, and at dinner he sat at some distance +from Dr. Jeremy's party, and merely gave a graceful salutation to +Gertrude as she left the dining-hall. + +The Jeremys stayed two days longer at the Mountain House; the +invigorating air benefited Emily, who appeared stronger than she had +done for weeks past, and was able to take many a little stroll in the +neighborhood of the house. Gertrude was never weary of the glorious +prospect; and an excursion which she and the doctor made on foot to the +cleft in the heart of the mountain, where a narrow stream leaps a +distance of two hundred feet into the valley below, furnished the theme +for many a descriptive reverie, of which Emily reaped a part of the +enjoyment. They saw no more of their new acquaintance, who had +disappeared. Dr. Jeremy inquired of their host concerning him, and +learned that he left at an early hour on Monday, and took up a +pedestrian course down the mountain. The doctor was disappointed, for he +liked Mr. Phillips much, and had flattered himself, from some particular +inquiries he had made concerning their proposed route, that he had an +idea of attaching himself to their party. + +"Never mind, Gertie," said he, "I daresay we shall come across him yet +some time when we least expect it." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +THE INVISIBLE CHARM. + + +From Catskill Dr. Jeremy proceeded directly to Saratoga. The place was +crowded with visitors, for the season was at its height, and the +improvident travellers having neglected to secure rooms, they had no +right to expect any accommodation. + +"Where do you propose stopping?" inquired an acquaintance of the +doctor's, whom they met in the cars. + +"At Congress Hall," was the reply. "It will be a quiet place for us old +folks, and more agreeable than any other house to Miss Graham, who is an +invalid." + +"You are expected, I conclude?" + +"Expected?--No; who should be expecting us?" + +"Your landlord. If you have not engaged rooms you will fare badly, for +every hotel is crowded." + +"We must take our chance then," said the doctor, with indifference; but +arriving at his destination, he found his friend's words were true. + +"I don't know what we are going to do," said he, as he joined the +ladies; "they say every house is full; and, if so, we'd better take the +next train of cars and be off, for we can't sleep in the street." + +"Carriage, sir?" shouted a cabman, a few steps distant, and beckoning to +the doctor, while another tapped his shoulder, and made a similar +suggestion. + +"Carriage!" repeated the doctor, angrily. "What for? where would you +carry us, for mercy's sake? There isn't a garret to be had in your town, +for love or money." + +"Well, sir," said the last petitioner, "the houses are pretty full just +now, to be sure, but may be you can get colonised out." + +"_Colonised out!_" said the doctor, in a tone of vexation. "That's what +I think we are already; what I want is to get _in_ somewhere. Where do +you usually drive your coach?" + +"To Congress Hall." + +"Drive up, then, and let us get in; and, mind, if they don't take us at +Congress Hall, we shall expect you to keep us until we find +accommodation." + +Mrs. Jeremy, Emily, and Gertrude were assisted into a small omnibus. The +doctor took a seat on the outside, and, the moment the vehicle stopped, +hastened to the landlord. There was not a vacant corner in the house. +Wishing to accommodate him, the office-keeper said that he might be able +before night to furnish him with one room in a house in the next street. + +"One room! in the next street!" cried the doctor. "Ah, that's being +colonised out, is it? Well, sir, it won't do for me; I must have a place +to put my ladies in at once. Why, in conscience, don't you have hotels +enough for your visitors?" + +"It is the height of the season, sir, and----" + +"Why, Dr. Jeremy!" exclaimed the youthful voice of Netta Gryseworth, who +was passing through the hall with her grandmother. "How do you do, sir? +Are Miss Graham and Miss Flint with you? Have you come to stay?" + +Before the doctor could answer her questions and pay his respects to +Madam Gryseworth, a venerable old lady whom he had known for thirty +years, the landlord of the hotel accosted him. "Dr. Jeremy?" said he. +"Excuse me, I did not know you. Dr. Jeremy, of Boston?" + +"The same," said the doctor, bowing. + +"Ah, we are all right, then. Your rooms are reserved, and will be made +ready in a few minutes; they were vacated two days ago, and have not +been occupied since." + +"What is all this?" exclaimed the honest doctor. "I engaged no rooms." + +"A friend did it for you, then, sir; a fortunate circumstance, +especially as you have ladies with you. Saratoga is very crowded at this +season; there were seven thousand strangers in the town yesterday." + +The doctor thanked his unknown friend, and summoned the ladies to enjoy +their good fortune. + +"Why, now, ain't we lucky?" said Mrs. Jeremy, as she glanced around the +comfortable room allotted to herself, and then she took a survey of +Emily's and Gertrude's apartment. + +The doctor, having attended to the baggage, approached the door and +heard his wife's last remark, and entering with his finger on his lip, +exclaimed, in a low voice, "Hush! hush! don't say too much about it! We +are profiting by a glorious mistake on the part of our good landlord. +These rooms were engaged for somebody, that's certain, but not for us. +However, they can't do no more than turn us out when the right folks +come, and until then we have a prospect of very good lodgings." + +But if they were not the right folks, the right folks never came, and, +in the course of a week, our party not only ceased to be conscious of +their precarious footing in the house, but obtained a favourable +exchange for Emily to a bed-room upon the first floor, which opened +directly into the drawing-room, and saved her from passing up and down +the often crowded staircases. + +It was nearly tea-time on the day of their arrival, and Emily and +Gertrude had just completed their toilet, when there was a light rap +upon their door. Gertrude opened it, and admitted Ellen Gryseworth, who, +while she saluted her with southern warmth of manner, hesitated, saying, +"I am afraid you will think me an intruder, but Netta told me you had +arrived, and hearing from the chamber-maid that you had the next room to +mine, I could not forbear stopping a moment as I passed to tell you how +very glad I am to see you again." + +Gertrude and Emily expressed their pleasure at the meeting, urged her to +come in and remain until the gong sounded for tea. She accepted the +invitation, and, taking a seat upon the nearest trunk, inquired +concerning their travels and Emily's health since they parted at West +Point. + +Among other adventures, Gertrude mentioned their having again +encountered Mr. Phillips. "Indeed!" said Miss Gryseworth; "he seems to +be an ubiquitous individual. He was in Saratoga a day or two ago, and +sat opposite to me at our dinner-table, but I have not seen him since. +Did you become acquainted with him, Miss Graham?" + +"I am sorry to say I did not," replied Emily; then, looking smilingly at +Gertrude, she added, "Gerty was so anxious for an opportunity to +introduce me that I was quite grieved for her disappointment." + +"Then you liked him?" Miss Gryseworth asked Gertrude, and speaking with +great earnestness. "I knew you would." + +"He interested me much," replied Gertrude. "He is very agreeable, very +peculiar, and to me rather incomprehensible." + +"Non-committal, I see," said Miss Gryseworth, archly. "I hope you will +have a chance to make up your mind; it is more than I can do, I confess, +for every time I am in his company I recognise some new trait of +character. He got so angry at one of the waiters the day he dined with +us in New York, that I was frightened. But I believe my fears were +groundless, for he is too much of a gentleman to bandy words with an +inferior, and though his eyes flashed like coals of fire, he kept his +temper from blazing forth. I will do him the justice to say that this +great indignation did not spring from any neglect he had himself +received, but from the man's inattention to two dowdy-looking women from +the country, who had never thought of seeing him, and therefore got +nothing to eat until everybody else had finished, and looked all the +time as disappointed as if they were just out of the State Prison." + +"Too bad!" exclaimed Gertrude, energetically. "I don't wonder Mr. +Phillips felt provoked with the mercenary fellow. I like him for that." + +"It _was_ too bad," said Miss Gryseworth; "I couldn't help pitying them +myself. One of them--a young girl, fresh from the churn, who had worn +her best white gown on purpose to make a figure in the city--was near +weeping." + +"I hope such instances of neglect are not very common," said Gertrude. +"I am afraid, if they are, Emily and I shall be on the crying list, for +Dr. Jeremy will not fee the waiters beforehand; he says it is a mean +thing, and he will not command attention in that way." + +"Oh, you need have no such fear," said Miss Gryseworth. "Persons +accustomed to hotel life can always command attention, especially in so +well-regulated an establishment as this. Grandmamma shares the doctor's +views with regard to bargaining for it beforehand, but no one ever sees +her neglected here." + +Another light tap at the door, and this time it was Netta Gryseworth who +entered, exclaiming, "I hear Ellen's voice, so I must come in. I am +provoked," added she, as she kissed Emily's hand, and shook Gertrude's +with a freedom which seemed to spring from girlish hoydenism and +high-bred independence of manner, "to think that while I have been +watching about the drawing-room doors for this last half-hour, so as to +see you the first minute you came in, Ellen has been sitting here on a +trunk, as sociable as all the world, enjoying your society, and telling +you every bit of the news." + +"Not every bit, Netta," said Ellen; "I have left several choice little +morsels for you." + +"Have you told Miss Flint about the Foxes and the Coxes that were here +yesterday?--Has she, Miss Flint?" + +"Not a word about them," said Gertrude. + +"Nor about the fright we had on board the steamboat?" + +"No." + +"Nor about Mr. Phillips being here?" + +"Oh, yes, she told us that." + +"Ah, she did!" exclaimed Netta, with an arch look which called up her +sister's blushes. "And did she tell you how he occupied this room, and +how we heard him through the thin partition pacing up and down all +night, and how it kept me from sleeping, and gave me a terrible headache +all the next day?" + +"No, she did not tell me that," said Gertrude. + +"You don't either of you walk all night, do you?" asked Netta. + +"Not often." + +"Oh, how thankful we ought to be to have you for neighbours!" replied +Netta. "If that horrible man had stayed here and kept up that measured +tread, there would have been a suicide either in this room or ours +before many nights." + +"Do you think he was ill?" asked Gertrude. + +"No, indeed," said Ellen; "it was nothing very remarkable--not for him, +at least--all his habits are peculiar; but it kept Netta awake an hour +or two, and made her fidgety." + +"An hour or two, Ellen!" cried Netta. "It was the whole night." + +"My dear sister," said Ellen, "you don't know what a whole night is." + +A little sisterly discussion might have ensued about the length of Mr. +Phillips' walk and Netta's consequent wakefulness, but, fortunately, the +gong sounded for tea. + +Saratoga is a queer place. One sees congregated there, at the height of +the season, delegates from every part of the world. Fashion's ladder is +transplanted thither, and all its rounds are filled. Beauty, wealth, +pride, and folly are well represented; also wit, genius, and learning. +Idleness reigns supreme, and no one, not even the most active and +industrious citizens of our working land, dares, in this her legitimate +province, to dispute her temporary sway. Every rank of society, every +profession, and almost every trade, meet each other on an easy and +friendly footing. The acknowledged belle, the bearer of an aristocratic +name, the owner of a well-filled purse, the renowned scholar, artist, or +poet, have all a conspicuous sphere to shine in. + +It was a new experience to Gertrude, and although in the Congress Hall +she saw only the reflection of Saratoga gaiety, and heard only the echo +of its distant hum, there was enough of novelty and excitement to +entertain and surprise one who was a novice in fashionable life. In the +circle of high-bred, polished, literary, and talented persons whom Madam +Gryseworth drew about her, and into which Dr. Jeremy's party were +admitted, Gertrude found much that was congenial to her cultivated +taste, and she soon was appreciated as she deserved. Madam Gryseworth +was a lady of the old school--one who had all her life been accustomed +to the best society, and who continued, in spite of her advanced years, +to enjoy and to adorn it. For the first day or two Mrs. Jeremy stood +much in awe of her, and could not feel quite at ease in her presence; +but this feeling wore off, and the stout little doctor's lady soon +became confiding and chatty towards the august dame. + +One evening, when the Jeremys had been a week at Saratoga, as Emily and +Gertrude were leaving the tea-table, they were joined by Netta +Gryseworth, who, linking her arm in Gertrude's, exclaimed, in her usual +gay manner, "Gertrude, I shall quarrel with you soon!" + +"Indeed!" said Gertrude; "on what grounds?" + +"Jealousy." + +Gertrude blushed slightly. + +"Oh, you needn't turn so red; it is not on account of any grey-headed +gentleman staring at you all dinner-time from the other end of the +table. No; I'm indifferent on that score. Ellen and you may disagree +about Mr. Phillips' attentions, but I'm jealous of those of another +person." + +"I hope Gertrude isn't interfering with your happiness in any way," said +Emily, smiling. + +"She is, though," replied Netta. "My happiness, my pride, my comfort; +she is undermining them all. She would not dare to so conduct herself, +Miss Graham, if you could see her behaviour." + +"Tell me all about it," said Emily, coaxingly, "and I will promise to +interest myself for you." + +"I doubt that," answered Netta; "I am not sure but you are a coadjutor +with her. However, I will state my grievance. Do you not see how +entirely she engrosses the attention of an important personage? Are you +not aware that Peter has ceased to have eyes for anyone else? For my own +part, I can get nothing to eat or drink until Miss Flint is served, and +I'm determined to ask papa to change our seats at the table. It isn't +that I care about my food; but I feel insulted--my pride is essentially +wounded. A few days ago I was a great favourite with Peter, and all my +pet dishes were sure to be placed in front of me; but now the tune is +changed, and this very evening I saw him pass Gertrude the blackberries, +which the creature knows I delight in, while he pushed a dish of blues +towards me in a contemptuous manner, which seemed to imply, +'Blueberries are good enough for _you_, miss!'" + +"I have noticed that the waiters are very attentive to us," said Emily; +"do you suppose Gertrude has been secretly bribing them?" + +"She says not," replied Netta. "Didn't you tell me so yesterday, +Gertrude, when I was drawing a similar comparison between their devotion +to you and to our party? Didn't you tell me that neither the doctor nor +any of you ever gave Peter anything?" + +"Certainly," answered Gertrude; "his attentions are all voluntary; but I +attribute them entirely to Emily's influence and his desire to serve +her." + +"It is no such thing," said Netta; "it's sorcery, I'm sure of it; you've +been practising the black art, Gertrude, and I'll warn Peter this very +day." + +They now went to the corner of the drawing-room where the old ladies of +Gryseworth and Jeremy were sitting upon a sofa, engaged in earnest +conversation, while Ellen, who had just returned from a drive with her +father, stood talking with him and a Mr. Petrancourt, who had just +arrived from New York. + +The ladies on the sofa made room for Emily, and Netta and Gertrude +seated themselves. Madame Gryseworth was annoyed by a group of children +on the other side of the room, who by their shouts interrupted her +remarks, and prevented her understanding those of her neighbour. +Gertrude's attention was attracted by them to such a degree that she did +not hear half of the sallies of wit and nonsense which Netta continued +to pour forth. + +"Do go and play with those children, Gertrude," said Netta at last; "I +know you're longing to go." + +"I'm longing to stop their play!" said Gertrude. + +Some half-dozen gaily-dressed children had collected around a strange +little new-comer, whom they were subjecting to every species of +persecution. Her clothes, though of rich materials, were mostly untidily +arranged, and soiled by travelling. Her little black silk frock (for the +child was clad in mourning) was quite outgrown, being much shorter than +some of her other garments, and her whole appearance denoted great +neglect. Gertrude saw the little girl standing in their midst, looking +wildly about her, as if to escape; but this the children prevented, and +continued to ply her with questions, each of which called forth their +derisive shouts, which made her cry. Whether the scene reminded Gertrude +of some of her own experiences, or merely touched the chord of sympathy +for the injured, she could not keep her eyes from the little party; and +just as Netta was upon one of her favourite topics--namely, Mr. Phillips +and his unaccountable conduct--she sprang from her seat, exclaiming, +"They shan't torment that child so!" and hastily crossed the room. + +Netta burst into a hearty laugh at Gertrude's excited manner of starting +on her benevolent errand; and this, together with her so hastily +crossing the large and crowded room, drew the inquiries of all the +circle whom she had left, and during her absence she became the subject +of discussion and remark. + +"What is the matter, Netta?" asked Madame Gryseworth. "Where has +Gertrude gone?" + +"To offer herself as a champion, grandmamma, for that little rowdy-dowdy +looking child." + +"Is she the one who has been making all this noise?" + +"No, indeed; but I believe she is the cause of it." + +"It isn't every girl," said Ellen, "who could cross a room like this so +gracefully as Gertrude can." + +"She has a remarkably good figure," said Madame Gryseworth, "and knows +how to walk." + +"She is a very well-formed girl," remarked Dr. Gryseworth, "but the true +secret of her looking so completely the lady lies in her having uncommon +dignity of character, being wholly unconscious of observation and +independent of the wish to attract it. She dresses well, too; Ellen, I +wish you would imitate Miss Flint's style of dress; nothing could be in +better taste." + +"Or a greater saving to your purse, papa," whispered Netta. "Gertrude +dresses very simply." + +"Miss Flint's style of dress would not become Miss Gryseworth," said +Mrs. Petrancourt, who approached in time to hear the doctor's remark. +"Your daughter, sir, is a noble, showy-looking girl, and can carry off a +great deal of dress." + +"So can a milliner's doll, Mrs. Petrancourt. However, I suppose, in a +certain sense, you are right. The two girls are not sufficiently alike +to resemble each other, if their dresses were matched with Chinese +exactness." + +"Resemble each other! You surely would not wish to see your beautiful +daughter the counterpart of one who has not half her attractions." + +"Are you much acquainted with Miss Flint?" + +"Not at all; but Netta pointed her out to me at the tea-table as being a +particular friend." + +"Then you must excuse me, ma'am, if I remark that it is impossible you +should have any idea of her attractions, as they do not lie on the +surface." + +"You confess, then, that you do not think her handsome, sir?" + +"To tell you the truth, I never thought anything about it. Ask +Petrancourt; he is an acknowledged judge;" and the doctor bowed in a +flattering manner to the lady who had been the belle of the season at +the time her husband paid his addresses to her. + +"I will, when I can get a chance; but he is standing too near the blind +lady--Miss Flint's aunt, is she not?" + +"Particular friend; not her aunt." + +This conversation had been carried on in a low voice, that Emily might +not hear it. Others, however, were either more careless or more +indifferent to her presence; for Madam Gryseworth began to speak of +Gertrude without restraint, and she was at this moment saying, "One must +see her under peculiar circumstances to be struck with her beauty at +once; for instance, as I did yesterday, when she had just returned from +riding, and her face was in a glow from exercise and excitement; or as +she looks when animated by her intense interest in some glowing and +eloquent speaker, or when her feelings are suddenly touched and the +tears start into her eyes, and her whole soul shines out through them!" + +"Why, grandmamma," cries Netta, "you are really eloquent!" + +"So is Gertrude, at such times as those I speak of. Oh, she is a girl +after my own heart!" + +"She must be a very agreeable young lady, from your account," said Mr. +Petrancourt. "We must know her." + +"You will not find her of the same stamp as most of the agreeable young +ladies whom you meet in gay circles. I must tell you what Horace Willard +said of her. He is an accomplished man and a scholar--his opinion is +worth something. He had been staying a fortnight at the United States +Hotel, and used to call occasionally to see us. The day he left he came +to me and said--'Where is Miss Flint? I must have one more refreshing +conversation with her before I go. It is a perfect rest to be in that +young lady's society, for she never seems to be making the least effort +to talk with me, or to expect any attempt on my part; she is one of a +few girls who never speak unless they have something to say.' How she +has contrived to quiet those children!" + +Mr. Petrancourt followed the direction of Madame Gryseworth's eyes. "Is +that the young lady you were speaking of?" asked he. "The one with great +dark eyes, and such a splendid head of hair? I have been noticing her +for some time." + +"Yes, that is she, talking to the little girl in black." + +"Madame Gryseworth," said Dr. Jeremy, through the long, open window, and +stepping inside as he spoke, "I see you appreciate our Gerty; I did not +say too much in praise of her good sense, did I?" + +"Not half enough, doctor; she is a very bright girl, and a very good +one, I believe." + +"Good!" exclaimed the doctor; "I didn't know that goodness counted in +these places; but if goodness is worth speaking of, I should like to +tell you a little of what I know of that girl;" and, without going +closely into particulars, he commenced dilating enthusiastically upon +Gertrude's noble and disinterested conduct under trying circumstances, +and had recounted, in a touching manner, her devotion to one old +paralytic--to another infirm and ill-tempered old man and his +slowly-declining daughter--and would have proceeded to speak of her +recent self-sacrificing labours in Emily's service; but Miss Graham +touched his arm, spoke in a low voice, and interrupted him. + +He stopped abruptly. "Emily, my dear," said he, "I beg your pardon; I +didn't know you were here; but what you say is very true. Gertrude is a +private character, and I have no right to bring her before the public. I +am an old fool, certainly; but there, we are all friends." And he looked +around the circle a little anxiously, casting a slightly suspicious +glance at the Petrancourts, and finally rested his gaze upon a figure +behind Ellen Gryseworth. The latter turned, not having been previously +aware that any stranger was near, and, to her surprise, found herself +face to face with Mr. Phillips! "Good evening, sir," said she, on +recognising him; but he did not seem to hear her. Madam Gryseworth, who +had never seen him before, looked up inquiringly. + +"Mr. Phillips," said Ellen, "shall I make you acquainted with Mrs. +Gryseworth, my----" But before she could complete the introduction he +had darted through the window, and was walking across the piazza with +hasty strides. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +A SURPRISE. + + +Later in the evening, when Gertrude, having resigned her little charge +to the nurse who came to seek her, had again joined her party, the +attention of every one assembled in the drawing-room was attracted by +the entrance of a beautiful and showily-dressed young lady, attended by +two or three gentlemen. After glancing round the room for the person +whom she came to seek, she advanced towards Mrs. Petrancourt, who rose +to receive her young visitor. Unexpected as the meeting was to Gertrude, +she recognized Isabel Clinton, who passed both her and Emily without +observing them, and, there being no vacant chair near at hand, seated +herself with Mrs. Petrancourt on a couch a little farther up the room, +and entered into earnest conversation; nor did she change her position +or look in the direction of Dr. Jeremy's party until she was taking +leave. She would have passed them then without noticing their presence, +but hearing Dr. Gryseworth address Miss Flint by name, she half turned, +caught Gertrude's eye, spoke a careless "How do you do?" with that +indifference with which one salutes a very slight acquaintance, cast a +look back at Emily, surveyed with an impertinent air of curiosity the +rest of the circle to which they belonged, and unceremoniously walked +off, whispering to her companions some satirical comments upon the place +and the company. + +"Oh, what a beauty!" exclaimed Netta to Mrs. Petrancourt. "Who is she?" + +Mrs. Petrancourt related what she knew of Miss Clinton, told how she had +travelled with her in Switzerland, and met her in Paris, where she was +universally admired; then, turning to Gertrude, she remarked, "You are +acquainted with her, I see, Miss Flint." Gertrude replied that she knew +her before she went abroad, but had seen nothing of her since her +return. + +"She has just arrived," said Mrs. Petrancourt; "she came with her father +in the last steamer, and has been in Saratoga but a day or two. She is +making a great sensation at the 'United States,' and has troops of +beaux." + +"Most of whom are probably aware," remarked Mr. Petrancourt, "that she +will have plenty of money one of these days." + +Emily's attention was by this time attracted. She had been conversing +with Ellen Gryseworth, but now turned to ask Gertrude if they were +speaking of Isabel Clinton. + +"Yes," said Dr. Jeremy, "and if she were not the rudest girl in the +world, my dear, you would not have remained so long in ignorance of her +having been here." + +Emily forbore to make any comment. Gertrude was silent also; but she +burned inwardly, as she always did, at any slights being offered to the +gentle Emily. + +Gertrude and Dr. Jeremy were always among the earliest morning visitors +at the spring. The doctor enjoyed drinking the water at this hour; and, +as Gertrude was fond of walking before breakfast, he made it a point +that she should accompany him, partake of the beverage of which he was +so fond, and afterwards join him in brisk pedestrian exercise till near +breakfast time. + +On the morning succeeding the evening of which we have been speaking, +they had presented themselves at the spring. Gertrude had gratified the +doctor, and made a martyr of herself by imbibing a tumblerful of water +which she found very unpalatable; and he having quaffed his seventh +glass, they had both proceeded some distance on one more walk around the +grounds when he suddenly missed his cane, and believing that he had left +it at the spring, declared his intention to return and look for it. + +Gertrude would have gone back also, but, as there might be some +difficulty in recovering it, he insisted upon her continuing her walk in +the direction of the circular railway, promising to come round the other +way and meet her. She had proceeded some little distance, and was +walking thoughtfully along, when, at an abrupt winding in the path, she +observed a couple approaching her--a young lady leaning on the arm of a +gentleman. A straw hat partly concealed the face of the latter, but in +the former she recognised Bella Clinton. It was evident that Bella saw +Gertrude, and knew her, but did not mean to acknowledge her +acquaintance; for, after the first glance, she kept her eyes obstinately +fixed either upon her companion or the ground. This conduct did not +disturb Gertrude in the least; Bella could not feel more indifferent +about the acquaintance than she did; but being thus saved the necessity +of awaiting and returning any salutation from that quarter, she +naturally bestows her passing glance upon the gentleman who accompanied +Miss Clinton. He looked up at the same instant, fixed his full grey eyes +upon her, with that careless look with which one stranger regards +another, then, turning as carelessly away, made some slight remark to +his companion. + +They pass on. They have gone some steps--but Gertrude stands fixed to +the spot. She feels a great throbbing at her heart. She knows that look, +that voice, as well as if she had seen and heard them yesterday. Could +Gertrude forget Willie Sullivan? But he has forgotten her. Shall she run +after him and stop him, and catch both his hands in hers, and compel him +to see, and know, and speak to her? She started one step forward in the +direction he had taken, then suddenly paused and hesitated. A crowd of +emotions choked, blinded, suffocated her, and while she wrestled with +them, and they with her, he turned the corner and passed out of sight. +She covered her face with her hands and leaned against a tree. + +It was Willie. There was no doubt of that; but not her Willie--the _boy_ +Willie. It was true time had added but little to his height or breadth +of figure, for he was a well-grown youth when he went away. But six +years of Eastern life, including no small amount of travel, care, +exposure, and suffering, had done the work that time would ordinarily +have accomplished. The winning attractiveness of the boy had but given +place to equal, if not superior, qualities in the man, who was still +very handsome, and gifted with that natural grace and ease of deportment +which win universal commendation. The broad, open forehead, the lines of +mild but firm decision about the mouth, the frank, fearless manner, +were as marked as ever, and were alone sufficient to betray his identity +to one upon whose memory these and all his other characteristics were +indelibly stamped; and Gertrude needed not the sound of his well-known +voice, that too fell upon her ear, to proclaim to her beating heart that +Willie Sullivan had met her face to face, had passed on, and that she +was left alone, unrecognised, unknown, unthought of, and uncared for! + +For a time this bitter thought, "He does not know me," was present to +her mind; it engrossed her entire imagination, and sent a thrill of +surprise and agony through her whole frame. She did not stop to reflect +upon the fact that she was but a child when she parted from him, and +that the change in her appearance must be immense. The one painful idea, +that she was forgotten and lost to the dear friend of her childhood, +obliterated every other recollection. Other feelings, too, soon crowded +into her mind. Why was Willie here, and with Isabel Clinton leaning on +his arm? How came he on this side the ocean? and why had he not +immediately sought herself, the earliest and, as she had supposed, +almost the only friend, to welcome him back to his native land? Why had +he not written and warned her of his coming? How should she account for +his strange silence, and the still stranger circumstance of his hurrying +at once to the haunts of fashion, without once visiting the city of his +birth and the sister of his adoption? + +But among all her visions there had been none which approached the +reality of this painful experience that had suddenly plunged her into +sorrow. Her darkest dreams had never pictured a meeting so chilling; her +most fearful forebodings had never prefigured anything so heart-rending +as this seemingly annihilation of all the sweet and cherished relations +that had subsisted between herself and the long-absent wanderer. No +wonder, then, that she forgot the place, the time, everything but her +own overwhelming grief; and that, as she stood leaning against the old +tree, her chest heaved with sobs too deep for utterance, and great tears +trickled from her eyes and between the little taper fingers that vainly +sought to hide her disturbed countenance. + +She was startled from her position by the sound of a footstep. Hastily +starting forward, without looking in the direction from which it came, +and throwing her veil so as to hide her face, she wiped away her +fast-flowing tears and hastened on, to avoid being observed by any of +the numerous strangers who frequented the grounds at this hour. + +Half-blinded, however, by the thick folds of the veil, and her sight +rendered dim by the tears which filled her eyes, she was scarcely +conscious of the unsteady course she was pursuing, when suddenly a loud, +whizzing noise close to her ears frightened and confused her so that she +knew not which way to turn; at the same instant an arm was suddenly +flung round her waist, she was forcibly lifted from her feet as if she +had been a little child, and found herself detained and supported by the +same strong arm, while just in front of her a little hand-car, +containing two persons, was whirling by at full speed. One step more and +she would have reached the track of the miniature railway, and been +exposed to fatal injury from the rapidly-moving vehicle. Flinging back +her veil, she perceived her fortunate escape; and being released from +the firm grasp of her rescuer, she turned upon him a half-confused, +half-grateful face. + +Mr. Phillips--for it was he--looked upon her in the most tender and +pitying manner. "Poor child!" said he soothingly, at the same time +drawing her arm through his, "you were very much frightened. Here, sit +down upon this bench," and he would have drawn her towards a seat, but +she shook her head and signified by a movement her wish to proceed +towards the hotel. She could not speak; the kindness of his look and +voice only served to increase her trouble and rob her of the power to +articulate. So he walked on in silence, supporting her with the greatest +care and bestowing upon her many an anxious glance. At last making a +great effort to recover her calmness, she partially succeeded--so much +so that he ventured to speak again, and asked, "Did _I_ frighten you?" + +"You!" replied she, in a low and somewhat unsteady voice. "Oh no! you +are very kind." + +"I am sorry you are so disturbed," said he; "those little cars are +troublesome things; I wish they'd put a stop to them." + +"The car!" said Gertrude, in an absent way; "oh, yes, I forgot." + +"You are a little nervous, I fear; can't you get Dr. Jeremy to prescribe +for you?" + +"The doctor! He went back for his cane, I believe." + +Mr. Phillips saw that she was bewildered. He forbore any conversation, +and they continued their walk to the hotel in silence. Just before +leaving her he said, in a tone of the deepest interest, as he held her +hand for a moment at parting, "Can I do anything for you? Can I help +you?" + +Gertrude looked up at him. She saw that he understood that she was +unhappy, not nervous. Her eyes thanked him as they glistened behind a +shower of tears. "No, no," gasped she, "but you are very good;" and she +hastened into the house, leaving him gazing at the door, as if she was +still in sight and he were watching her. + +Gertrude's first thought was how she might best conceal all her fears, +and especially from Miss Graham any knowledge of her grief. That she +would receive sympathy from Emily there could be no doubt; but as she +loved her benefactress, did she shrink from any disclosure which was +calculated to lessen Willie Sullivan in the estimation of one in whose +opinion she was anxious that he should sustain the high place to which +her own praises had exalted him. The chief knowledge that Emily had of +Willie was derived from Gertrude, and with a mingled feeling of +tenderness for him and pride on her own account did the latter dread to +disclose the fact that he had returned, and that she had met him at +Saratoga, and that he had passed her carelessly by. + +It was very hard for her to appear as usual and elude the vigilance of +Emily, who was keenly alive to every sensation experienced by Gertrude. + +Gertrude's love for Willie was undying, and she could not think that he +would attach himself to one so worldly, vain, and selfish as Isabel +Clinton. True, she was the daughter of Willie's early and generous +employer, now the senior partner in the mercantile house to which he +belonged, and would be expected to pay her every polite attention; but +still Gertrude could not but feel a greater sense of estrangement, a +chilling presentiment of sorrow, from seeing him thus familiarly +associated with one who had treated her with scorn. + +She had to summon all her self-command, and endeavour to behave with +serenity and composure. Gertrude compelled herself to enter the room +where Emily was awaiting her, bid her a cheerful "good morning," and +assist in her toilet. Her face bore indications of recent tears, but +that Emily could not see, and by breakfast-time even they were +effectually removed. + +New trials too awaited her, for Dr. Jeremy, according to his promise, +after recovering his cane, went to meet her as agreed upon, and, finding +her false to her appointment, was full of inquiries as to the path she +had taken. The truth was, that when Gertrude heard Mr. Phillips +approaching in the direction she should have taken, she, in her +eagerness to avoid meeting any one, took the contrary path to that she +had been pursuing, and, after he joined her, retraced her steps to the +hotel the same way she had come, consequently eluding the search of the +doctor. But before she could plead any excuse Netta Gryseworth came up, +full of pleasantry and fun, and leaning over Gertrude's shoulder, said, +in a whisper loud enough to be heard by all the little circle, who were +being delayed on their way to breakfast by the doctor's demand for an +explanation, "Gertrude, my dear, such affecting partings ought to be +private; I wonder you allow them to take place directly at the +door-step." + +This remark did not lessen Gertrude's discomfiture, which became extreme +on Dr. Jeremy's taking Netta by the arm and insisting upon knowing her +meaning, declaring that he always had suspicions of Gertrude, and wanted +to know with whom she had been walking. + +"Oh, a certain tall young beau of hers, who stood gazing after her when +she left him, until I began to fear the cruel creature had turned him +into stone. What did you do to him, Gertrude?" + +"Nothing," replied Gertrude. "He saved me from being thrown down by the +little rail-car, and afterwards walked home with me." Gertrude answered +seriously; she could have laughed and joked with Netta at any other +time, but now her heart was too heavy. The doctor did not perceive her +agitation, and pushed the matter further. + +"Quite romantic! imminent danger! providential rescue! _tete-a-tete_ +walk home, carefully avoiding the old doctor, who might prove an +interruption!--I understand!" Poor Gertrude, blushing and distressed, +tried to offer some explanation and stammered out, with a faltering +voice, that she did not notice--she didn't remember. + +At breakfast she could not conceal her want of appetite, and was glad +when Emily went with her to their own room, where, after relating her +escape from accident, and Mr. Phillips' agency in that escape, she was +permitted by her apparently satisfied hearer to sit down and read to her +in a book lent them by that gentleman, to whom, however, no opportunity +had yet occurred of introducing Emily. + +The whole morning passed away, and nothing was heard from Willie. Every +time a servant passed, Gertrude was on the tiptoe of expectation; and +when she heard a tap at the door she trembled so that she could hardly +lift the latch. But there was no summons to the parlour, and by noon the +excitement had brought a deep flush into her face, and she had a severe +headache. Conscious, however, of the wrong construction put upon her +conduct if she absented herself from the dinner-table, she made the +effort to dress with as much care as usual; and, as she passed up the +hall to her seat, it was not strange that, though suffering herself, the +rich glow that mantled her cheeks, and the brilliancy which excitement +had given to her dark eyes, attracted the notice of others besides Mr. +Phillips. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +THE STRICKEN DEER. + + +When Gertrude went to her room after dinner, which she did as soon as +she had seen Emily comfortably established in the drawing-room in +conversation with Madam Gryseworth, she found there a beautiful bouquet +of the choicest flowers, which the chamber-maid said she had been +commissioned to deliver to herself. She rightly imagined the source from +whence they came, divined the motives of kindness which had prompted the +donor of so acceptable a gift, and felt that, if she must accept pity +from any quarter, Mr. Phillips was one from whom she could more easily +bear to receive it than from any other. + +Notwithstanding Netta's intimations, she did not suspect that any other +motives than those of kindness had prompted the offering of the +beautiful flowers. Nor had she reason to do so; Mr. Phillips' manner +towards her was rather fatherly than lover-like, and though she began +to regard him as a valuable friend, that was the only light in which she +had ever thought of him or believed that he ever regarded her. She +placed the flowers in water, returned to the parlour, and constrained +herself to talk on indifferent subjects until the breaking up of the +circle--part to ride, part to take a drive, and the rest a nap. Among +these last was Gertrude, who made her headache as an excuse to Emily for +this unwonted indulgence. + +In the evening she had an urgent invitation to accompany Dr. Gryseworth, +his daughters, and the Petrancourts to a concert at the United States +Hotel. This she declined. She felt that she could not undergo another +such encounter as that of the morning--she should be sure to betray +herself; and now that the whole day had passed and Willie had made no +attempt to see her, she felt that she would not, for the world, put +herself in his way and run the risk of being recognised by him in a +crowded concert-room. + +Thus the parlour, being half deserted, was very quiet--a great relief to +Gertrude's aching head and troubled mind. Later in the evening an +elderly man, a clergyman, had been introduced to Emily, and was talking +with her; Madam Gryseworth and Dr. Jeremy were entertaining each other, +Mrs. Jeremy was nodding, and Gertrude, believing that she should not be +missed, was gliding out of the room to sit in the moonlight when she met +Mr. Phillips in the hall. + +"What are you here all alone for?" asked he. "Why didn't you go to the +concert?" + +"I have a headache." + +"I saw you had at dinner. Is it no better?" + +"No. I believe not." + +"Come and walk with me on the piazza a little while. It will do you +good." + +She went; and he talked very entertainingly to her, told her a great +many amusing anecdotes, succeeded in making her smile, and even laugh, +and seemed pleased at having done so. He related many amusing things he +had seen and heard since he had been staying at Saratoga in the +character of a spectator, and ended by asking her if she didn't think it +was a heartless show. + +Gertrude asked his meaning. + +"Don't you think it is ridiculous in so many thousand people coming here +to enjoy themselves?" + +"I don't know," answered Gertrude; "but it has not seemed so to me. I +think it's an excellent thing for those who do enjoy themselves." + +"And how many do?" + +"The greater part, I suppose." + +"Pshaw! no they don't. More than half go away miserable, and nearly all +the rest dissatisfied." + +"Do you think so? Now, I thought the charm of the place was seeing so +many happy faces; they have nearly all looked happy to me." + +"Oh, that's all on the surface; and, if you'll notice, those who look +happy one day are wretched enough the next. Yours was one of the happy +faces yesterday, but it isn't to-day, my poor child." + +Then, perceiving that his remark caused the hand which rested on his arm +to tremble, while the eyes which had been raised to his suddenly fell +and hid themselves under their long lashes, he said, "However, we will +trust soon to see it as bright as ever. But they should not have brought +you here. Catskill Mountain was a fitter place for your lively +imagination and reflecting mind." + +"Oh!" exclaimed Gertrude, imagining that Mr. Phillips suspected her to +be smarting under some neglect, feeling of wounded pride, or, perhaps, +serious injury, "you speak harshly; all are not selfish, all are not +unkind." + +"Ah! you are young, and full of faith. Trust whom you can, and as long +as you can. _I_ trust _no one_." + +"No one! Are there none, then, in the whole world whom you love and +confide in?" + +"Scarcely; certainly not more than one. Whom should I trust?" + +"The good, the pure, the truly great." + +"And who are they? How shall we distinguish them? I tell you, my young +friend, that in my experience--and it has been rich, ay, very rich"--and +he set his teeth and spoke with bitterness--"the so-called good, the +honourable, the upright man, has proved but the varnished hypocrite, the +highly finished and polished sinner. Yes," continued he, his voice +growing deeper, his manner more excited, "I can think of one, a +respectable man, a church-member, whose injustice and cruelty made my +life what it has been--a desert, a blank, or worse than that; and I can +think of another, an old, rough, intemperate sailor, over whose head a +day never passed that he did not take the name of his God in vain, yet +had at the bottom of his heart a drop of such pure, unsullied essence of +virtue as could not be distilled from the souls of ten thousand of your +polished rogues. Which, then, shall I trust--the good religious men, or +the low, profane, and abject ones?" + +"Trust in _goodness_, wherever it be found," answered Gertrude; "but oh, +trust _all_ rather than _none_." + +"Your world, your religion, draws a closer line. You are a good child, +and full of hope and charity," said Mr. Phillips, pressing her arm +closely to his side. "I will try and have faith in _you_. But see! our +friends have returned from the concert." + +Alboni had excelled herself; and they were so sorry Gertrude did not go. +"But, perhaps," whispered Netta, "you have enjoyed yourself more at +home." But Gertrude, as she stood leaning unconcernedly upon Mr. +Phillips' arm, looked so innocent of confusion or embarrassment, that +her manner refuted Netta's suspicions. + +"Miss Clinton was there," continued Netta, "and looked beautiful. She +had a crowd of gentlemen about her; but didn't you notice (and she +turned to Mrs. Petrancourt) that one met with such marked favour that I +wonder the rest were not discouraged. I mean that tall, handsome young +man who waited upon her into the hall and went out soon after. She +devoted herself to him while he stayed." + +"The same one, was it not," asked Ellen, "who towards the close of the +concert came in and stood leaning against the wall for some minutes?" + +"Yes," answered Netta; "but he only waited for Alboni to finish singing, +and then approaching Miss Clinton, whispered in her ear. After that she +got up, left her seat, and they both went off, rather to the +mortification of the other gentlemen." + +"Oh, it is not strange, under the circumstances," said Mr. Petrancourt, +"that Miss Clinton should prefer a walk with Mr. Sullivan to the best +music in the world." + +"Why?" asked Netta. "Is he very agreeable? Is he supposed to be the +favoured one?" + +"I should think there was no doubt of it," answered Mr. Petrancourt. "I +believe it is generally thought to be an engagement. He was in Paris +with them during the spring, and they all came home in the same steamer. +Everybody knows it is the wish of Mr. Clinton's heart, and Miss Isabel +makes no secret of her preference." + +"Oh, certainly," interposed Mrs. Pentracourt; "it is an understood +thing." + +What became of Gertrude all this time? Could she, who for six years had +nursed the fond idea that to Willie she was, and should still continue +to be, all in all--could she stand patiently by and hear him thus +disposed of and given to another? She did do it; not consciously, +however, for her head swam round, and she would have fallen but for the +firm support of Mr. Phillips, who held her arm so tightly that, though +he felt, the rest could not see how she trembled. Fortunately, too, none +but he saw her blanched face; and, as she stood in the shadow, he alone +was watching the strained and eager eyes, the parted and rigid lips, the +death-like pallor of her countenance. + +Standing there with her heart beating, and almost believing herself in a +horrid dream, she listened, heard, and comprehended every word. She +could not, however, have spoken or moved for her life, and in an instant +more accident might have betrayed her excited condition. But Mr. +Phillips acted, spoke, and moved for her, and she was spared an exposure +from which her sensitive spirit would have shrunk. + +"Mr. Sullivan!" said he. "Ah! a fine fellow; I know him. Miss Gertrude, +I must tell you an anecdote about that young man;" and moving forward in +the direction in which they had been walking when they met the party +from the concert, he related that he and Mr. Sullivan were, a few years +previous, travelling across an Arabian desert, when the latter proved of +signal service in saving him from a sudden attack by a wandering tribe +of Bedouins. He stopped in his narration and perceived that all danger +of observation was passed, and without ceremony placed her in an +arm-chair just by. "Sit here," said he, "while I bring you a glass of +water." He wrapped her mantle tightly about her and walked quickly away. +Oh, how Gertrude thanked him in her heart for thus considerately leaving +her and giving her time to recover herself! It was the most judicious +thing he could have done, and the kindest. He saw that she would not +faint, and knew that left alone she would soon rally her powers. + +When here returned she was perfectly calm. She tasted the water, but he +did not urge her to drink it; he knew she did not require it. "I have +kept you out too long," said he; "come, you had better go in now." + +She rose; he put her arm once more through his, guided her feeble steps +to a window which opened into her and Emily's room; and then, pausing a +moment, said in a meaning tone, at the same time enforcing his words by +the fixed glance of his piercing eye, "You exhort me, Miss Gertrude, to +have faith in everybody; but I bid you, all inexperienced as you are, to +beware lest you believe too much. Where you have good foundation for +confidence, abide by it, if you can, firmly, but trust nothing which you +have not fairly tested, and rest assured that the idle gossip of a place +like this is utterly unworthy of credit. Good night." What an utter +revulsion of feeling these words occasioned Gertrude! They came to her +with all the force of a prophecy, and struck deep into her heart. + +During their long and regular correspondence no letter had come from +Willie that did not breathe a devoted affection for Gertrude--an +exclusive affection, in which there could be no rivalship. All his +thoughts of home and future happy days were inseparably associated with +her; and although Mrs. Sullivan, with that instinctive reserve which was +one of her characteristics, never broached the subject to Gertrude, her +whole treatment of the latter sufficiently evinced that to her mind the +event of her future union with her son was a thing certain. The bold +declaration on Willie's part, conveyed in the letter received by +Gertrude soon after his mother's death, that his hopes, his prayers, his +labours were now all for her, was not a more convincing proof of the +tender light in which he regarded her than all their previous +intercourse had been. Should Gertrude, then, distrust him? Should she at +once set aside all past evidences of his worth, and give ready credence +to his prompt desertion of his early friend? No! she resolved to banish +the unworthy thought; to cherish still the firm belief that some +explanation would shortly offer itself which would yet satisfy her +aching heart. + +Gertrude continued during the remainder of the evening in an elevated +frame of mind, and she was able to go back to the drawing-room for +Emily, say good night to her friends with a cheerful voice, and before +midnight she sought her pillow and went quietly to sleep. But this +calmness of mind, however, was the result of strong excitement, and +therefore could not last. The next morning she yielded to depressed +spirits, and the effort which she made to rise, dress, and go to +breakfast was almost mechanical. She excused herself from her customary +walk with the doctor, for to that she felt unequal. Her first wish was +to leave Saratoga; she longed to go home, to be in a quiet place, where +so many eyes would not be upon her; and when the doctor came in with the +letters which had arrived by the early mail, she looked at them so +eagerly that he observed it, and said, smilingly, "None for you, Gerty; +but one for Emily, which is the next best thing, I suppose." + +To Gertrude this was the _very_ best thing, for it was a long-expected +letter from Mr. Graham, who had arrived at New York, and desired them to +join him there the following day. Gertrude could hardly conceal her +satisfaction, and Emily, delighted at the prospect of so soon meeting +her father, was eager to prepare for leaving. + +They retired to their own room, and Gertrude's time until dinner was +occupied in packing. During the whole of the previous day she had been +anxiously hoping that Willie would make his appearance at their hotel; +now she dreaded such an event. To meet him in so public a manner, too, +as must here be inevitable, would be insupportable; she would prefer to +be in Boston when he should first recognize her; and, if she tormented +herself yesterday with the fear that he would not come, the dread that +he might do so was a still greater cause of distress to her to-day. + +She was therefore relieved when, after dinner, Mr. Phillips proposed to +drive to the lake. Dr. Gryseworth and one of his daughters had agreed to +take seats in a carriage he had provided, and he hoped she would not +refuse to occupy the fourth. + +At the lake Dr. Gryseworth and his daughter Ellen had been persuaded by +a party whom they had met there to engage in bowling. Mr. Phillips and +Gertrude declined taking part, and stood looking on. As they sat thus, +surveying the beautiful sheet of water, a couple approached and took up +a position near them. Mr. Phillips was screened from their observation +by the trunk of a tree, and Gertrude sufficiently so to be unnoticed, +yet the paleness of her face as they drew near indicated that she saw +and recognized William Sullivan and Isabel Clinton. The words which they +spoke fell distinctly upon her ear. "Shall I then be so much missed?" +asked Isabel, looking earnestly into the face of her companion, who, +with a serious air, was gazing out upon the water. + +"Missed!" replied he, turning towards her and speaking in a slightly +reproachful voice; "how can it be otherwise? Who can supply your place?" + +"But it will be only two days." + +"A short time under ordinary circumstances," said Willie, "but an +eternity----" He here checked himself and made a sudden motion to +proceed on their walk. Isabel followed him, saying, "But you will wait +here until my return?" + +He turned to reply, and this time the reproachful look of his features +was visible to Gertrude as he said, with earnestness, "Certainly; can +you doubt it?" The strange, fixed, unnatural expression of Gertrude's +countenance as she listened to this conversation, to her so deeply +fraught with meaning, was fearful to witness. + +"Gertrude!" exclaimed Mr. Phillips, after watching her for a moment; +"Gertrude, for Heaven's sake do not look so! Speak, Gertrude! What is +the matter?" + +But she did not turn her eyes, did not move a feature of that stony +face; she evidently did not hear him. He took her hand. It was cold as +marble. His face now wore an appearance of distress almost equal to her +own; great tears rolled down his cheeks. Once he stretched forth his +arms as if he would gladly clasp her to his bosom and soothe her like a +little child, but he repressed the emotion. "Gertrude," said he, leaning +forward and fixing his eyes full upon hers, "what have these people done +to you? Why do you care for them? If that young man has injured you--the +rascal!--he shall answer for it;" and he sprung to his feet. The words +and the action brought Gertrude to herself. "No, no!" said she, "he is +not that. I am better now. Do not speak of it; don't tell," and she +looked anxiously in the direction of the bowling-alley. "I am a great +deal better;" and to his astonishment--for the fearful, rigid look upon +her face had frightened him--she rose with composure and proposed going +home. + +He accompanied her silently, and before they were half-way up the hill, +where they had left the carriage, they were overtaken by the rest of +their party, driving toward Saratoga. During the whole drive and the +evening which followed Gertrude preserved this same unnatural composure. +Once or twice before they reached the hotel Dr. Gryseworth asked her if +she felt ill. The very tones of her voice were constrained--so much so +that Emily asked, "What is the matter, my dear child?" + +But she declared herself quite well, and went through all the duties of +the evening, bidding farewell to many of her friends, and arranged with +the Gryseworths to see them in the morning. + +Emily was the more troubled of the two, for she could not be deceived, +and reflected back, in her whole demeanour, the better concealed +sufferings of Gertrude. Gertrude neither knew at the time, nor could +afterwards recall, one-half the occurrences of that evening. She never +could understand what it was that sustained her and enabled her, half +unconsciously, to perform her part in them. How she so successfully +concealed her misery she never could comprehend or explain. + +That Willie was faithless to his first love she could not doubt; and +with this conviction she realised that the stay of her life had fallen. +Uncle True and Mrs. Sullivan were both her benefactors, and Emily was +still a dear and steadfast friend; but all of these had been more or +less dependent upon Gertrude, and although she could ever repose in the +assurance of their love, two had, long before they passed away, come to +lean wholly upon her youthful arm; and the other trusted to her to guide +her uncertain steps, but those steps were tending downwards to the +grave. Upon whom, then, should Gertrude lean? To whom could she with +confidence turn for counsel, protection, support, and love? To whom but +Willie? And Willie had given his heart to another--and Gertrude would +soon be left alone! No wonder, then, that she wept as the broken-hearted +weep, wept until the fountain of her tears was dry, and she felt herself +sick, faint, and exhausted. And then she thought she heard voices, as in +her childhood, whispering, "Gerty!--Gerty!--poor little Gerty!" She sank +upon her knees, her uplifted face, her clasped hands, the sweet +resignation of her countenance gave evidence that in her prayer to God +her soul held deep communion with its Maker, and once more her spirit +was uttering the simple words, "Here am I, Lord!" + +Oh, blessed religion, which can sustain the heart in such an hour as +this! Oh, blessed faith and trust which, when earthly support fails us, +and our strongest earthly stay proves but a rope of sand, lifts the soul +above all other need, and clasps it to the bosom of its God! + +And now a gentle hand is laid upon her head. She turns and sees Emily, +whom she believed to be asleep, but from whom anxiety and the sobs of +Gertrude banished slumber, is standing by her side. + +"Gertrude," said she, "are you in trouble, and did you seek to hide it +from me? Do not turn from me, Gertrude!" and, throwing her arms around +her, she drew her head close to her bosom, and whispered, "Tell me all, +my darling! What is the matter with my poor child?" + +And Gertrude unburdened her heart to Emily, disclosing to her the only +secret she had ever kept from her; and Emily wept as she listened, and +when Gertrude had finished she pressed her again and again to her heart, +exclaiming with an excitement which Gertrude had never before witnessed +in the usually placid blind girl, "Strange, strange, that you, too, +should be thus doomed! Oh, Gertrude, my darling, we may well weep +together; but still, believe me, your sorrow is less bitter than mine!" + +And then in the darkness of that midnight hour was Gertrude's confidence +rewarded by the revelation of that tale of grief and woe which twenty +years before had blighted Emily's youth, and which was still vivid to +her recollection casting over her life a dark shadow, of which her +blindness was but a single feature. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +A TALE OF SORROW. + + +"I was younger than you, Gertrude," said she, "when my trial came, and +hardly the same person in any respect that I have been since you first +knew me. My mother died when I was too young to retain any recollection +of her; but my father soon married again, and in that step-parent I +found a love and care which fully compensated my loss. I can recall her +now as she looked towards the latter part of her life--a tall, delicate, +feeble woman, with a very sweet face. She was a widow when my father +married her, and had one son, who became my sole companion, the partner +of all my youthful pleasures. You told me, many years ago, that I could +not imagine how much you loved Willie, and I then had nearly confided to +you my early history, and to convince you that my own experience taught +me how to understand such a love; but I checked myself, for you were too +young then to know so sad a story as mine. How dear my young playmate +became to me no words can express. The office which each filled, the +influence which each of us exerted upon the other, created mutual +dependence; for though his was the leading spirit, the strong and +determined will, and I was ever submissive to a rule which to my easily +influenced nature was never irksome, there was one respect in which my +bold young protector and ruler ever looked to me for aid. It was to act +as mediator between him and my father; for while the boy was almost an +idol to his mother, he was ever treated with coldness and distrust by my +father, who never appreciated his noble qualities, but seemed always to +regard him with dislike. + +"That my father's sternness towards her son was distressing to our +mother I doubt not; for I remember the anxiety with which she strove to +conceal his faults and the frequent occasions on which she instructed me +to propitiate the parent, who, for my sake, would often forgive the boy, +whose adventurous disposition was continually bringing him into +collision with one of whose severity, when displeased, you can judge. My +step-mother had been poor in her widowhood, and her child having +inherited nothing which he could call his own, was wholly dependent upon +my father's bounty. This was a stinging cause of mortification to the +pride of which even as a boy he had an unusual share; and often have I +seen him irritated at the reception of favours which he well understood +were far from being awarded by a paternal hand. + +"While our mother was spared to us we lived in comparative harmony, but +when I was sixteen years old she suddenly died. Well do I remember the +last night of her life, her calling me to her bedside and saying, +'Emily, my dying prayer is that you will be a guardian angel to my boy!' +God forgive me," ejaculated the tearful blind girl, "if I have been +faithless in the trust! + +"He of whom I am telling you was then about eighteen. He had lately +become a clerk in my father's employ against his will, for he desired a +collegiate education; but my father was determined, and at his mother's +and my persuasion he was induced to submit. My step-mother's death knit +the tie between her son and myself more closely than ever. He continued +an inmate of our house, and we passed a deal of time in the enjoyment of +each other's society; for my father was much from home, and when there, +retired to his library, leaving us to entertain each other. I was then a +school-girl, fond of books, and an excellent student. How often, when +you have spoken of the help Willie was in your studies, have I been +reminded of the time when I received similar encouragement and aid from +my youthful friend, who was ever ready to exert hand and brain in my +behalf! But we were not invariably happy. Often did my father's face +wear a frown which I dreaded to see; while the disturbed and +occasionally angry countenance of his step-son denoted that some storm +had occurred, probably at the counting-house, of which I had no +knowledge, except from its after effects. My office of mediator, too, +was suspended from the fact that the censure arose concerning some +supposed mismanagement of business matters by the young and +inexperienced clerk. Matters went on thus for six months, when it became +evident that my father had either been influenced by insinuations from +some foreign quarter, or had himself conceived a new idea. He is honest +and straightforward in his purposes, whatever they may be, and incapable +of carrying out any species of artifice. We saw that he was resolved to +put a check upon the freedom of intercourse which had subsisted between +the two youthful inmates of the house, to forward which purpose he +introduced in the position of housekeeper Mrs. Ellis, who has continued +with us ever since. The almost constant presence of this stranger, and +the interference of my father with his step-son's familiar intimacy with +me, indicated his intention to destroy the closeness of our friendship. + +"It is true, I lent myself unhesitatingly to a species of petty +deception to elude the vigilance which would have kept us apart. My +father, however, saw more of our man[oe]uvring than we were aware of, +and imagined far more than ever in reality existed. He watched us +carefully, and, contrary to his usual course of proceeding, forbore for +a time any interference. I have since been led to think that he designed +to wean us from each other in a less unnatural manner than that which he +had at first attempted, by taking the earliest opportunity to transfer +his step-son to a situation connected with his own mercantile +establishment in a foreign country, or a distant part of our own; and +forbore, until his plans were ripe, to distress me by giving way to the +feelings of displeasure which were burning within him--for he was, and +had ever been, as kind and indulgent towards his undeserving child as +was consistent with a due maintenance to his authority. + +"Before such a course could be carried out, however, circumstances +occurred, and suspicions became aroused, which destroyed one of their +victims, and plunged the other----" + +Here Emily's voice failed her. She laid her head upon Gertrude's +shoulder and sobbed bitterly. + +"Do not try to tell me the rest, dear Emily," said Gertrude. "It is +enough for me to know that you are so unhappy. Do not distress yourself +by dwelling, for my sake, upon past sorrows." + +"Past!" replied Emily, recovering her voice and wiping away her +tears. "No, they are never past. Nor am I unhappy, Gertrude. It is +but rarely that my peace is shaken; nor would I now allow my weak +nerves to be unstrung by imparting to another the secrets of that +never-to-be-forgotten time of trial, were it not that, since you know so +well how harmoniously and sweetly my life is passing on to its great and +eternal awakening, I desire to prove to my darling child the power of +that heavenly faith which has turned my darkness into marvellous light, +and made afflictions such as mine the blessed harbingers of ever-during +joy. + +"I was suddenly taken ill with a fever. Mrs. Ellis, whom I had always +treated with coldness, and often with disdain, nursed me by night and +day with a care and devotion which I did not expect, and under her +nursing, and the skilful treatment of Dr. Jeremy, I began to recover. +One day, when I was able to be up and dressed for several hours at a +time, I went for change of air and scene into my father's library, and +there lay half reclining upon the sofa. Mrs. Ellis had gone to attend to +household duties, but before she left me she placed within my reach a +small table, upon which were arranged various phials, glasses, etc., and +other things which I might require before her return. It was in an +evening in June, and I lay watching the approach of sunset from an +opposite window. I was oppressed, with a sad sense of loneliness, for +during the past six weeks I had enjoyed no society but that of my nurse +and periodical visits from my father; and felt, therefore, no common +pleasure when my most congenial but now nearly forbidden associate +entered the room. He had not seen me since my illness, and after this +protracted and painful separation our meeting was tender and +affectionate. He had, with all the fire of a hot and ungoverned temper, +a woman's depth of feeling, warmth of heart, and sympathising sweetness +of manner. Well do I remember the expression of his noble face, the +manly tones of his voice, as, seated beside me on the wide couch, he +bathed the temples of my aching head with eau-de-cologne, which he took +from the table near by, at the same time expressing again and again his +joy at once more seeing me. + +"How long we had sat thus I cannot tell, but the twilight was deepening +in the room when we were suddenly interrupted by my father, who entered +abruptly, came towards us with hasty steps, but stopping short when +within a yard or two, confronted his step-son with such a look of angry +contempt as I had never before seen upon his face. The latter rose and +stood before him with a glance of proud defiance, and then ensued a +scene which I have neither the wish nor power to describe. + +"It is sufficient to say that in the double accusation which my excited +parent now brought against the object of his wrath, he urged the fact of +his seeking by mean, base, and contemptible artifice to win the +affections, and with them the expected fortune, of his only child as a +secondary and pardonable crime compared with his deeper, darker, and +just but detected guilt of forgery--forgery of a large amount, and upon +his benefactor's name. + +"To this day, so far as I know," said Emily, with feeling, "that charge +remains uncontradicted; but I did not then, I do not now, and I never +_can_ believe it. Whatever were his faults--and his impetuous temper +betrayed him into many--of this dark crime--though I have not even his +own word of attestation--I dare pronounce him innocent. + +"You cannot wonder, Gertrude, that in my feeble condition I was hardly +capable of realising at the time, far less of retaining, any distinct +recollection of the circumstances that followed my father's words. A few +dim pictures, however, the last my poor eyes ever beheld, are still +engraved upon my memory and visible to my imagination. My father stood +with his back to the light, and from the first moment of his entering +the room I never saw his face again; but the countenance of the object +of his accusation, illumined as it was by the last rays of the golden +sunset, stands ever in the foreground of my recollection. His head was +thrown proudly back; conscious innocence proclaimed itself in his clear, +calm eye, which shrunk not from the closest scrutiny; his hand was +clenched, as if he were vainly striving to repress the passion which +proclaimed itself in the compressed lips, the set teeth, the deep and +angry indignation which overspread his face. He did not +speak--apparently he could not command voice to do so; but my father +continued to upbraid him in language cutting and severe, though I +remember not a word of it. It was fearful to watch the working of the +young man's face, while he stood there listening to taunts and enduring +reproaches which were believed by him who uttered them to be just and +merited, but which wrought the youth to a degree of frenzy which it was +terrible to witness. Suddenly he took one step forward, slowly lifted +the clenched hand which had hitherto hung at his side. I know not +whether he might then have intended to call Heaven to witness his +innocence of the crime, or whether he might have designed to strike my +father; for I sprang from my seat prepared to rush between them, and +implore them for my sake, to desist; but my strength failed me, and, +with a shriek, I sunk back in a fainting fit. + +"Oh, the horror of my awakening! How shall I find words to tell it?--and +yet I must! Listen, Gertrude. He--the poor, ruined boy--sprung to help +me; and, maddened by injustice, he knew not what he did. Heaven is my +witness, I never blamed him; and if, in my agony, I uttered words that +seemed like a reproach, it was because I was too frantic, and knew not +what I said!" + +"What!" exclaimed Gertrude, "he did not----" + +"No, no! he did not--he did _not put_ out my eyes!" exclaimed Emily; "it +was an accident. He reached forward for the eau-de-cologne, which he had +just had in his hand. There were several bottles, and in his haste he +seized one containing a powerful acid which Mrs. Ellis had found +occasion to use in my sick-room. It had a heavy glass stopper--and +he--his hand being unsteady, and he spilt it all----" + +"On your eyes?" shrieked Gertrude. + +Emily bowed her head. + +"Oh, poor Emily!" cried Gertrude, "and wretched, wretched young man!" + +"Wretched indeed!" ejaculated Emily. "Bestow all your pity on him, +Gertrude, for his was the harder fate of the two." + +"Oh, Emily! how intense must have been the pain you endured! How could +you suffer so, and live?" + +"Do you mean the pain from my eyes? That was severe indeed, but the +mental agony was worse!" + +"What became of him?" said Gertrude. + +"I cannot give you an exact account of what followed. I was in no state +to know anything of my father's treatment of his step-son. He banished +him from his sight and knowledge for ever; and it is easy to believe it +was with no added gentleness, since he had now, besides the other crimes +imputed to him, been the cause of his daughter's blindness." + +"And did you never hear from him again?" + +"Yes. Through the good doctor--who alone knew all the circumstances--I +learned that he had sailed for South America; and in the hope of once +more communicating with the poor exile, and assuring him of my continued +love, I rallied from the sickness, fever, and blindness into which I had +fallen; the doctor had even a thought of restoring sight to my eyes. +Several months passed, and my kind friend, who was persevering in his +inquiries, having learned the residence and address of the ill-fated +youth, I was commencing, through the aid of Mrs. Ellis (whom pity had +now won to my service), a letter of love, and an entreaty for his +return, when a fatal seal was put to all my earthly hopes. He died in a +foreign land, alone, unnursed, and uncared for; he died of that +southern disease which takes the stranger for its victim; and I, on +hearing the news of it, sunk back into a more pitiable malady; and--and +alas, for the encouragement of the good doctor had held out of my +gradual restoration to sight!--I wept all his hopes away!" + +Emily paused. Gertrude put her arms around her, and they clung closely +to each other; grief and sorrow made their union dearer than ever. + +"I was then, Gertrude," continued Emily, "a child of the world, eager +for worldly pleasures, and ignorant of any other. For a time, therefore, +I dwelt in utter darkness--the darkness of despair. I began, too, again +to feel my bodily strength restored, and to look forward to a useless +and miserable life. You can form no idea of the utter wretchedness in +which my days were passed. + +"But at last a dawn came to my dark night. It came in the shape of a +minister of Christ, our own dear Mr. Arnold, who opened the eyes of my +understanding, lit the lamp of religion in my now softened soul, taught +me the way to peace, and led my feeble steps into that blessed rest +which even on earth remaineth to the people of God. + +"In the eyes of the world I am still the unfortunate blind girl; cut off +from every enjoyment; but so great is the awakening I have experienced +that to me it is far otherwise, and I am ready to exclaim, like him who +in old time experienced his Saviour's healing power, 'Once I was blind, +but now I see!'" + +Gertrude half forgot her own troubles while listening to Emily's sad +story; and when the latter laid her hand upon her head, and prayed that +she too might be fitted for a patient endurance of trial, and be made +stronger and better thereby, she felt her heart penetrated with that +deep love and trust which seldom come to us except in the hour of +sorrow, and prove that it is through suffering only we are made +perfect. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +THE HOUR OF PERIL. + + +As Mr. Graham had expressed in his letter the intention of being at the +steamboat wharf in New York to meet his daughter and Gertrude on their +arrival, Dr. Jeremy thought it unnecessary to accompany his charges +further than Albany, where he could see them safely on their way, and +then proceed to Boston with his wife over the Western Railroad. + +"Good-bye, Gerty," said the doctor, as he bade them farewell on the deck +of one of the Hudson river-boats. "I'm afraid you've lost your heart in +Saratoga; you don't look quite so bright as you did when we first +arrived there. It can't have strayed far, however, I think, in such a +place as that; so be sure and find it before I see you in Boston." + +It wanted a few minutes only of the time for the boat to start, when a +gay group of fashionables appeared talking and laughing. Among them was +Miss Clinton, whose companions were making her the object of a great +deal of wit and pleasantry, by which, although she feigned to be teased, +her smiling face gave evidence that she felt flattered and pleased. At +length the significant gesture of some of the party, and a +half-smothered hush-h! indicated the approach of some one, and presently +William Sullivan, with a travelling-bag in his hand, a heavy shawl +thrown over one arm, and his grave face, as if he had not recovered from +the chagrin of the previous evening, appeared, passed Gertrude, whose +veil was drawn over her face, and joined Isabel, placing his burden on a +chair which stood near. + +Just then the violent ringing of the bell gave notice to all but the +passengers to quit the boat, and he was compelled to make haste to +depart. As he did so he drew a step nearer Gertrude, a step further from +her whom he was addressing, and the former distinguished the words: +"Then, if you will do your best to return on Thursday I will try not to +be impatient in the meantime." + +A moment more and the boat was on its way; just then a tall figure, who +reached the landing just as she started, had, to the horror of the +spectators, daringly leaped the gap that already divided her from the +shore; after which he sought the gentlemen's saloon, threw himself upon +a couch, drew a book from his pocket, and commenced reading. + +As soon as the boat was fairly under weigh and quiet prevailed in the +neighbourhood, Emily spoke softly to Gertrude, and said---- + +"Didn't I just now hear Isabel Clinton's voice?" + +"She is here," replied Gertrude, "on the opposite side of the deck, but +sitting with her back towards us." + +"Didn't she see us?" + +"I believe she did," answered Gertrude. "She stood looking this way +while her party were arranging their seats." + +"Perhaps she is going to New York to meet Mrs. Graham." + +"Very possible," replied Gertrude. "I didn't think of it before." + +"Who was the gentleman who spoke to her just before the boat started?" + +"Willie," was the tremulous response. + +Emily pressed Gertrude's hand and was silent. She, too, had overheard +his farewell remark, and felt its significance. Several hours passed, +and they had proceeded some distance down the river; for the motion of +the boat was rapid--too rapid, as it seemed to Gertrude, for safety. She +observed several circumstances, which excited so much alarm, that, +effectually aroused from her train of reflection, she had leisure only +to take into view her own and Emily's situation, and its probable +consequence. + +Several times, since they left Albany, had the boat passed and repassed +another of similar size, with living freight, and bound in the same +direction. Occasionally, during their headlong course, the contiguity of +the two boats excited serious alarm. They were racing, and racing +desperately. Some few, regardless of danger, watched with pleased +eagerness the mad career of rival ambition; but by far the majority of +the company, who had reason and sense, looked on in indignation and +fear. The usual stopping places on the river were either recklessly +passed by, or only paused at, while, with indecent haste, passengers +were shuffled backwards and forwards at the risk of life and limb, +their baggage (or somebody's else) unceremoniously flung after them, the +panting, snorting engine in the meantime bellowing with rage at the +check thus unwillingly imposed upon its freedom. + +Gertrude sat with her hand locked in Emily's, anxiously watching every +indication of terror, and endeavouring to judge from the countenances +and words of her most intelligent-looking fellow-travellers the actual +degree of their insecurity. Emily, rendered through her acute hearing, +conscious of the prevailing alarm, was calm, though very pale, and from +time to time questioned Gertrude concerning the vicinity of the other +boat, a collision with which was the principal cause of fear. + +At length their boat for a few moments distanced its competitor; the +assurance of perfect safety was impressively asserted; anxiety began to +be relieved, and most of the passengers gained their wonted composure. +Emily looked pallid, and, as Gertrude fancied, a little faint. "Let us +go below, Emily," she said; "it appears now to be very quiet and safe." + +Gertrude opened her travelling-basket, which contained their luncheon. +It consisted merely of such dry morsels as had been hastily collected +and put up at their hotel, in Albany, by Dr. Jeremy's direction. +Gertrude was hesitating which she could recommend to Emily, when a +waiter appeared, bearing a tray of refreshments, which he placed upon +the table. + +"This is not for us," said Gertrude. "You have made a mistake." + +"No mistake," replied the man. "Orders was for de blind lady and hansum +young miss. I only 'beys orders. Anything furder, miss?" + +Gertrude dismissed the man with the assurance that they wanted nothing +more, and then, turning to Emily, asked, with an attempt at +cheerfulness, what they should do with this Aladdin-like repast. + +"Eat it, my dear, if you can," said Emily; "it is no doubt meant for +us." + +"But to whom are we indebted for it?" + +"To my blindness and your beauty, I suppose," said Emily, smiling. +"Perhaps the chief steward, or master of ceremonies, took pity on our +inability to come to dinner, and so sent the dinner to us." + +The sable waiter, when he came to remove the dishes, really looked sad +to see how little they had eaten. Gertrude drew out her purse, and after +bestowing a fee upon the man, inquired whom she should pay for the meal. + +"Pay, miss!" said the man, grinning. "Bless my stars! de gentleman pays +for all!" + +"Who? What gentleman?" asked Gertrude, in surprise. + +But before he could reply another waiter appeared and beckoned to his +fellow-waiter, who snatched up his tray and trotted off, leaving +Gertrude and Emily to wonder who the gentleman might be. + + + * * * * * + +"What time is it?" asked she, on awaking. + +"Nearly a quarter past three," replied Gertrude, glancing at her watch +(a beautiful gift from a class of her former pupils). + +Emily started up. "We can't be far from New York," said she; "where are +we now?" + +"I think we must be near the Palisades;" said Gertrude; "stay here, I +will go and see." She passed across the saloon, and was ascending the +staircase, when she was alarmed by a rushing sound, mingled with hurried +steps. She kept on, however, and had gained the head of the stairway, +when a man rushed past gasping for breath, and shrieking, "Fire! fire!" +A scene of dismay and confusion ensued too terrible for description. +Shrieks rose upon the air, groans and cries of despair burst from hearts +that were breaking with fear for others, or maddened at the certainty of +their own destruction. Those who had never prayed before poured out +their souls in the fervent ejaculation, "Oh, my God!" + +Gertrude gazed around upon every side. Towards the centre of the boat, +where the machinery, heated to the last degree, had fired the vessel, a +huge volume of flame was visible, darting out its fiery fangs, and +causing the stoutest hearts to shrink and crouch in horror. She gave but +one glance; then bounded down the stairs to save Emily. But she was +arrested at the very onset. One step only had she taken when she was +encircled by two powerful arms, and a movement made to rush with her +upon deck: while a familiar voice gasped forth, "Gertrude, my child! my +own darling! Be quiet--be quiet!--I will save you!" + +She was struggling madly. "No, no!" shouted she; "Emily! Emily! Let me +die! but I must find Emily!" + +"Where is she?" asked Mr. Phillips; for it was he. + +"There, there," pointed Gertrude--"in the cabin. Let me go! let me go!" + +He cast one look around him; then said, in a firm tone, "Be calm, my +child! I can save you both; follow me closely!" + +With a leap he cleared the staircase, and rushed into the cabin. In the +furthest corner knelt Emily, her hands clasped, and her face like that +of an angel. + +Gertrude and Mr. Phillips were by her side in an instant. He stooped to +lift her in his arms, Gertrude at the same time exclaiming, "Come, +Emily, come! He will save us!" But Emily resisted. "Leave me, +Gertrude--leave me, and save yourselves! Oh!" said she, imploringly, +"leave me, and save my child." But ere the words had left her lips she +was borne half way across the saloon; Gertrude followed closely. + +"If we can cross to the bows of the boat we are safe!" said Mr. +Phillips, in a husky voice. + +To do so, however, proved impossible. The centre of the boat was now one +sheet of flame. "Good heavens!" exclaimed he, "we are too late! we must +go back!" + +With much difficulty they regained the saloon. The boat, as soon as the +fire was discovered, had been turned towards the shore, struck upon the +rocks, and parted in the middle. Her bows were brought near to the land, +near enough to almost ensure the safety of such persons as were at the +top part of the vessel. But, alas for those near the stern! + +Mr. Phillips' first thought was to beat down a window-sash, spring upon +the guards, and drag Emily and Gertrude after him. Some ropes hung upon +the guards; he seized one and made it fast to the boat; then turned to +Gertrude, who stood firm by his side. "Gertrude," said he, "I shall swim +to the shore with Emily. If the fire comes too near, cling to the +guards; as a last chance hold on to the rope. Keep your veil flying; I +shall return." + +"No, no!" cried Emily. "Gertrude, go first." + +"Hush, Emily!" exclaimed Gertrude; "we shall both be saved." + +"Cling to my shoulder in the water, Emily," said Mr. Phillips, utterly +regardless of her protestations. He took her once more in his arms; +there was a splash, and they were gone. At the same instant Gertrude was +seized from behind. She turned and found herself grasped by Isabel +Clinton, who, kneeling upon the platform, and frantic with terror, was +clinging so closely to her as utterly to disable them both; she shrieked +out, "Oh, Gertrude! Gertrude! save me!" But Gertrude thus imprisoned, +she was powerless to do anything for her own or Isabel's salvation. She +looked forth in the direction Mr. Phillips had taken, and, to her joy, +she saw him returning. He had deposited Emily on board a boat, and was +now approaching to claim another burden. A volume of flame swept so near +the spot where the two alarmed girls were stationed that Gertrude felt +the scorching heat, and both were almost suffocated with smoke. An +heroic resolution was now displayed by Gertrude. One of them could be +saved; for Mr. Phillips was within a few rods of the wreck. It should be +Isabel! She had called on her for protection, and it should not be +denied! Moreover, Willie loved Isabel. Willie would weep for her loss, +and that must not be. He would not weep for Gertrude--at least, not +much; and, if one must die, it should be she. "Isabel," said +she--"Isabel, do you hear me? Stand up on your feet; do as I tell you, +and you shall be saved. Do you hear me, Isabel?" + +She heard, shuddered; but did not move. Gertrude stooped down, and +wrenching apart the hands which were convulsively clenched, said +sternly, "Isabel, if you do as I tell you, you will be on shore in five +minutes, safe and well; but if you stay there we shall both be burned to +death. For mercy's sake, get up quickly, and listen to me!" Isabel rose, +fixed her eyes upon Gertrude's calm, steadfast face, and said, "What +must I do? I will try." + +"Do you see that person swimming this way?" + +"Yes." + +"He will come to this spot. Hold fast to that piece of rope, and I will +let you gradually down to the water. But, stay!"--and, snatching the +deep blue veil from her own head she tied it round the neck and flung it +over the fair hair of Isabel. Mr. Phillips was within a rod or two. +"Now, Isabel, now!" exclaimed Gertrude, "or you will be too late!" +Isabel took the rope, but shrunk back, appalled at the sight of the +water. One more hot burst of fire gave her renewed courage to brave a +mere seeming danger; and aided by Gertrude, who helped her over the +guards, she allowed herself to be let down to the water's edge. Mr. +Phillips was just in time to receive her, for she was so utterly +exhausted that she could not have clung long to the rope. Gertrude had +no opportunity to follow them with her eye; her own situation was now +all-engrossing. The flames had reached her. She could hardly breathe. +She could hesitate no longer. She seized the piece of rope, and grasping +it with all nor might, leaped over the side of the vessel. How long her +strength would have enabled her thus to cling--how long the guards, as +yet unapproached by the fire, would have continued a sure support for +the cable--there was no opportunity to test; for, just as her feet +touched the cold surface of the water, the huge wheel, which was but a +little distance from where she hung, gave one sudden revolution, +sounding like a death-dirge through the water, which came foaming and +dashing up against the boat, and, as it swept away again, bore with it +the light form of Gertrude! + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +SUSPENSE. + + +Let us now revisit the country seat of Mr. Graham. The old gentleman, +wearied with travels and society not congenial to his years, is pacing +up and down his garden walks; his countenance denoting plainly enough +how glad he is to find himself once more in his cherished homestead. It +is supposed that such satisfaction arose from the circumstance that the +repose of his household is rendered complete by the absence of its +excitable mistress, whom he has left in New York. This was like the good +old times. + +Emily and Gertrude, too, are closely associated with those good old +times; and it adds greatly to the delusion of his fancy to dwell upon +the certainty that they are both in the house, and that he shall see +them both at dinner. Yes, Gertrude is there, as well as the rest, +saved--she hardly knew how--from a watery grave that almost engulfed +her, and established once more in the peaceful and endeared spot, now +the dearest to her on earth. + +When, with some difficulty, restored to consciousness, she was informed +that she had been picked up by some humane persons who had pushed a boat +from the shore to rescue the sufferers; that she was clinging to the +chair, which she had probably grasped when washed away by the sudden +rushing of the water, and that her situation was such that, a moment +more, and it would have been impossible to save her from the flames, +close to which she was drifting. But of all this she had herself no +recollection. From the moment when she committed her light weight to the +frail tenure of the rope until she opened her eyes in a quiet spot, and +saw Emily leaning anxiously over the bed upon which she lay, all had +been a blank to her senses. A few hours from the time of the terrible +catastrophe brought Mr. Graham to the scene, and the next day restored +all three in safety to the old mansion-house in D----. This venerable +habitation, and its adjoining grounds, wore nearly the same aspect as +when they met the admiring eyes of Gerty on the first visit that she +made Miss Graham in her early childhood--that long-expected and +keenly-enjoyed visit, which proved a lasting topic for her young mind to +dwell upon. + +The old house had a look of contentment and repose. The hall door stood +wide open. Mr. Graham's arm-chair was in its usual place; Gertrude's +birds, of which Mrs. Ellis had taken excellent care, were hopping about +on the slender perches of the great Indian cage which hung on the wide +piazza. The old house-dog lay stretched in the sun. Plenty of flowers +graced the parlour, and all was very comfortable. Mr. Graham thought so +as he came up the steps, patted the dog, whistled to the birds, sat down +in the arm-chair, and took the morning paper from the hand of the neat +housemaid. The dear old place was the dear old place still. + +Mr. Graham has been having new experiences; and he is, in many respects, +a changed man. Emily is sitting in her own room. She is paler than ever, +and her face has an anxious expression. Every time the door opens she +starts, trembles, a sudden flush overspreads her face, and twice during +the morning she has suddenly burst into tears. Every exertion, even that +of dressing, seems a labour to her; she cannot listen to Gertrude's +reading, but will constantly interrupt her to ask questions concerning +the burning boat, her own and others' rescue, and every circumstance +connected with the late terrible scene of agony and death. Her nervous +system is shattered, and Gertrude looks at her and weeps. + +Gertrude withdrew, but returned in an hour to help her to dress for +dinner--a ceremony which Miss Graham would never omit, her chief desire +seeming to be to maintain the appearance of health and happiness in the +presence of her father. Gertrude retired to her own room, leaving Emily +to bow her head upon her hands, and utter a few hysterical sobs. +Gertrude is followed by Mrs. Ellis, who seats herself, and in her +exciting style adds to the poor girl's fear and distress by stating the +dreadful effect the recollection of that shocking accident is having +upon poor Emily. "She's completely upset, and if she don't begin to mend +in a day or two there's no knowing what the consequences may be. Emily +is feeble, and not fit to travel; I wish she had stayed at home." + +Gertrude is again interrupted. The housemaid brought her a letter! With +a trembling hand she receives it, fearing to look at the writing or +post-mark. Her first thought is of Willie; but before she could indulge +either a hope or a fear on that score the illusion is dispelled, for, +though the post-mark is New York, and he might be there, the handwriting +is wholly strange. She breaks the seal, and reads:-- + + "MY DARLING GERTRUDE,--My much-loved child--for such you indeed + are, though a father's agony of fear and despair alone wrung from + me the words that claimed you. It was no madness that, in the dark + hour of danger, compelled me to clasp you to my heart, and call you + mine. A dozen times before had I been seized by the same emotion, + and as often had it been subdued and smothered. And even now I + would crush the promptings of nature, and depart and weep my poor + life away alone; but the voice within me has spoken once, and + cannot again be silenced. Had I seen you happy, gay, and + light-hearted, I would not have asked to share your joy, far less + would I have cast a shadow on your path; but you are sad and + troubled, my poor child, and your grief unites the tie between us + closer than that of kindred, and makes you a thousand times my + daughter; for I am a wretched, weary man, and know how to feel for + others' woe. + + "You have a kind and a gentle heart, my child. You have wept once + for the stranger's sorrows--will you now refuse to pity, if you + cannot love, the solitary parent, who, with a breaking heart and a + trembling hand, writes the ill-fated word that dooms him, perhaps, + to the hatred and contempt of the only being on earth with whom he + can claim the fellowship of a natural tie? Twice before have I + striven to utter it, and, laying down my pen, have shrunk from the + cruel task. But, hard as it is to speak, I find it harder to still + the beating of my restless heart; therefore, listen to me, though + it may be for the last time. Is there one being on earth whom you + shudder to think of? Is there one associated only in your mind with + deeds of darkness and of shame? Is there one name which you have + from your childhood learned to abhor and hate; and, in proportion + as you love your best friend, have you been taught to shrink from + and despise her worst enemy? It cannot be otherwise. Ah! I tremble + to think how my child will recoil from her father when she learns + the secret, so long preserved, so sorrowfully revealed, that he is + + "PHILLIP AMORY!" + +As Gertrude finished reading this strange and unintelligible letter her +countenance expressed complete bewilderment--her eyes glistened with +tears, her face was flushed with excitement; but she was evidently at a +total loss to account for the meaning of the stranger's words. She sat +for an instant wildly gazing into vacancy; then, springing suddenly up, +with the letter grasped in one hand, ran to Emily's room, to read the +wonderful contents, and ask her opinion of their hidden meaning. She +stopped, however, when her hand was on the door-lock. Emily was already +ill--it would not do to distress or even disturb her; and, retreating to +her own room, Gertrude sat down to re-peruse the singular letter. + +That Mr. Phillips and the letter-writer were identical she at once +perceived. It was no slight impression that his exclamation and conduct +during the time of their imminent danger on board the boat had left upon +the mind of Gertrude. During the three days that succeeded the accident +the words, "My child! my own darling!" had been continually ringing in +her ears, and haunting her imagination. Now the blissful idea would +flash upon her, that the noble, disinterested stranger, who had risked +his life in her own and Emily's cause, might indeed be her father; and +every fibre of her being had thrilled at the thought, while her head +grew dizzy and confused with the strong sensation of hope that almost +overwhelmed her brain. + +Her first inquiries, on recovering consciousness, had been for the +preserver of Emily and Isabel, but he had disappeared; no trace of him +could be obtained, and Mr. Graham arriving and hurrying them from the +neighbourhood, she had been compelled to abandon the hope of seeing him +again. The same motives which induced her not to consult Emily +concerning the mysterious epistle had hitherto prevented her from +imparting the secret of Mr. Phillips' inexplicable language and manner; +but she had dwelt upon them none the less. + +The first perusal of the letter served only to excite and alarm her. But +as she sat for an hour gazing upon the page, which she read and re-read +until it was blistered with the varying expression of her face denoted +the emotions that, one after another, possessed her; and which at last, +snatching a sheet of paper, she committed to writing with a feverish +rapidity that betrayed how she staggered beneath the weight of +contending hopes and gloomy fears. + + "MY DEAR, DEAR FATHER,--If I may dare to believe that you are so, + and if not that, my best of friends--how shall I write to you, and + what shall I say, since all your words are a mystery? Father! + blessed word. Oh, that my noble friend were indeed my father! Yet + tell me, tell me, how can this be? Alas! I feel a sad presentiment + that the bright dream is all an illusion, an error. I never before + remember to have heard the name of Phillip Amory. My sweet, pure, + and gentle Emily has taught me to love all the world; and hatred + and contempt are foreign to her nature, and, I trust, to my own. + Moreover, she has not an enemy in the wide world, never had, or + could have. One might as well war with an angel of heaven as with a + creature so holy and lovely as she. + + "Nor bid me think of yourself as a man of sin and crime. It cannot + be. It would be wronging a noble nature to believe it, and I say + again it cannot be. Gladly would I trust myself to repose on the + bosom of such a parent; gladly would I hail the sweet duty of + consoling the sorrows of one so self-sacrificing, so kind, so + generous; whose life has been so freely offered for me, and for + others whose existence was dearer to me than my own. When you took + me in your arms and called me your child, your darling child, I + fancied that the excitement of that dreadful scene had for the + moment disturbed your mind and brain so far as to invest me with a + false identity--perhaps confound my image with that of some loved + and absent one. I now believe that it was no sudden madness, but + rather that I have been all along mistaken for another, whose glad + office it may perhaps be to cheer a father's saddened life, while I + remain unrecognized, unsought--the fatherless, motherless one, I am + accustomed to consider myself. If you have lost a daughter, God + grant she may be restored to you, to love you as I would do, were I + so blessed as to be that daughter! And I--consider me not a + stranger; let me be your child in heart; let me love, pray, and + weep for you; let me pour out my soul in thankfulness for the kind + care and sympathy you have already given me. And yet, though I + disclaim it all, and dare not, yes, dare not, dwell for a moment on + the thought that you are otherwise than deceived in believing me + your child, my heart leaps up in spite of me, and I tremble and + almost cease to breathe as there flashes upon me the possibility, + the blissful God-given hopes! No, no! I will not think of it, lest + I could not bear to have it crushed! Oh, what am I writing? I know + not. I cannot endure the suspense long; write quickly, or come to + me, my father--for I will call you so once, though perhaps never + again. + + "GERTRUDE." + +Mr. Phillips--or rather Mr. Amory, for we shall call him by his true +name--had neglected to mention his address. Gertrude did not observe +this circumstance until she was preparing to direct her letter. She for +a moment experienced a severe pang in the thought that her communication +would never reach him. But she was reassured on examining the post-mark, +which was evidently New York, to which she addressed her missive; and +then, unwilling to trust it to other hands, tied on her bonnet, caught +up a veil with which to conceal her agitated face, deposited the letter +herself in the village post-office. + +Gertrude's case was a peculiarly trying one. She had been already, for +a week past, struggling in suspense which agitated her almost beyond +endurance; and now a new cause of mystery had arisen, involving an +almost equal amount of self-questioning and torture. It seemed almost +beyond the power of so sensitive, and so inexperienced a girl to rally +such self-command as would enable her to control her emotions, disguise +them from observation, and compel herself to endure alone and in silence +this cruel destiny. But she did do it, and bravely too. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +TIES--NOT OF EARTH. + + +In a private room of one of those first-class hotels in which New York +city abounds, Phillip Amory sat alone. It was evening, the curtains were +drawn, the gas-lamps burning brightly and giving a cheerful glow to the +room, the comfortable appearance of which contrasted strongly with the +pale countenance and desponding attitude of its solitary inmate, who +leaned upon a table in the centre of the apartment. He had thus sat for +nearly an hour without once moving or looking up. Suddenly he started +up, straightened his commanding figure to its full height, and slowly +paced the room. A slight knock at the door arrested his steps; a look of +annoyance overspread his countenance; he again flung himself into his +chair, and, in reply to the servant's announcing, "A gentleman, sir," +was preparing to say, "I cannot be interrupted"--but it was too late; +the visitor had advanced within the door, which the waiter quietly +closed and repeated. + +The new-comer--a young man--stepped quickly and eagerly forward, but +checked himself, abashed at the coldness of the reception by his host. + +"Excuse me, Mr. Phillips," said William Sullivan, for it was he; "I fear +my visit is an intrusion." + +"Do not speak of it," replied Mr. Amory. "I beg you to be seated;" +politely handing a chair. + +Willie availed himself of the offered seat no further than to lean +lightly upon it with one hand, while he still remained standing. "You +have changed, sir," continued he, "since I last saw you." + +"Changed! Yes, I am," said the other, absently. + +"Your health, I fear, is not----" + +"My health is excellent," said Mr. Amory, interrupting his remark. "It +is a long time, sir, since we met. I have not yet forgotten the debt I +owe you for your timely interference between me and Ali, that Arab +traitor, with his rascally army of Bedouin rogues." + +"Do not name it, sir," said Willie. "Our meeting was fortunate; but the +benefit was as mutual as the danger to which we were alike exposed." + +"I cannot think so. You seemed to have a most excellent understanding +with your own party of guides and attendants, Arabs though they were." + +"True; I have had some experience in Eastern travel, and know how to +manage those inflammable spirits of the desert. But at the time I joined +you, I was myself entering the neighbourhood of hostile tribes, and +might soon have found our party overawed but for having joined forces +with yourself." + +"You set but a modest value upon your conciliatory powers, young man. To +you, who are so well acquainted with the facts in the case, I can hardly +claim the merit of frankness for the acknowledgment that it was only my +own hot temper and stubborn will which exposed us both to the imminent +danger which you were fortunately able to avert. No, no! I must once +more express my gratitude for your invaluable aid." + +"You are making my visit, sir," said Willie, smiling, "the very reverse +of what it was intended to be. I did not come here this evening to +receive but to render thanks." + +"For what, sir?" asked Mr. Amory, abruptly, almost roughly. "You owe me +nothing." + +"The friends of Isabella Clinton, sir, owe you a debt of gratitude which +it will be impossible for them ever to repay." + +"You are mistaken, Mr. Sullivan; I have done nothing which places that +young lady's friends under a particle of obligation to me." + +"Did you not save her life?" + +"Yes; but nothing was further from my intention." + +Willie smiled. "It could have been no accident, I think, which led you +to risk your own life to rescue a fellow-passenger." + +"It was no accident which led to Miss Clinton's safety from destruction. +I am convinced of that. But you must not thank _me_; it is due to +another than myself that she does not now sleep in death." + +"May I ask to whom you refer?" + +"I refer to a dear and noble girl, to whom I swam in that burning wreck +to save. Her veil had been agreed upon as a signal between us. That +veil, carefully thrown over the head of Miss Clinton, whom I found +clinging to the spot assigned to--to her whom I was seeking, deceived +me, and I bore in safety to the shore the burden which I had ignorantly +seized from the gaping waters, leaving my own darling, who had offered +her life as a sacrifice to----" + +"Oh, not to die!" exclaimed Willie. + +"No; to be saved by a miracle. Go thank her for Miss Clinton's life." + +"I thank God," said Willie, with fervour, "that the horrors of such +scenes of destruction are half redeemed by heroism like that." + +The stern countenance of Mr. Amory softened as he listened to the young +man's enthusiastic outburst of admiration at Gertrude's noble +self-devotion. + +"Who is she? Where is she?" continued Willie. + +"Ask me not!" replied Mr. Amory, with a gesture of impatience; "I cannot +tell you if I would. I have not seen her since that ill-fated day." + +His manner seemed to intimate an unwillingness to enter into further +explanation regarding Isabel's rescue, and Willie, perceiving it, stood +for a moment silent and irresolute. Then advancing nearer, he said, +"Though you so utterly disclaim, Mr. Phillips, any participation in Miss +Clinton's escape, I feel that my errand would be but imperfectly +fulfilled if I should fail to deliver the message which I bring to one +who was the final means if not the original cause of her safety. Mr. +Clinton, the young lady's father, desired me to tell you that, in saving +the life of his only surviving child, the last of seven, all of whom but +herself had an early death, you have prolonged his life, and rendered +him grateful to that degree which words on his part are powerless to +express; but that, as long as his feeble life is spared, he shall never +cease to bless your name and pray to heaven for its choicest gifts upon +you and those who dwell next your heart." + +There was a slight moisture in the penetrating eye of Mr. Amory, but a +courteous smile upon his lip, as he said, "All this from Mr. Clinton! +Very gentlemanly, and equally sincere, I doubt not; but you surely do +not mean to thank me wholly in his name, my young friend. Have you +nothing to say for your own sake?" + +Willie looked surprised, but replied, unhesitatingly, "Certainly, sir; +as one of a large circle of acquaintances and friends whom Miss Clinton +honours with her regard, my admiration and gratitude for your +disinterested exertions are unbounded; and not only on her account, but +on that of whom you nobly rescued from a most terrible death." + +"Am I to understand that you speak only as a friend of humanity, and +that you felt no personal interest in any of my fellow-passengers?" + +"I was unacquainted with nearly all of them. Miss Clinton was the only +one I had known for any greater length of time than during two or three +days of Saratoga intercourse; but I should have mourned her death, since +I was in the habit of meeting her familiarly in her childhood, have +lately been continually in her society, and am aware that her father, my +respected partner, an old and invaluable friend, who is now much +enfeebled in health, could hardly have survived so severe a shock as the +loss of an only child, whom he idolises." + +"You speak very coolly, Mr. Sullivan. Are you aware that the prevailing +belief gives you credit for feeling more than a mere friendly interest +in Miss Clinton?" The dilating of Willie's eyes, as he fixed them +inquiringly upon Mr. Amory--the half-scrutinising expression of his +face, as he seated himself in the chair, were sufficient evidence of the +effect of the question unexpectedly put to him. "Sir," said he, "I +either misunderstood you, or the prevailing belief is a most mistaken +one." + +"Then you never before heard of your own engagement." + +"Never, I assure you. Is it possible that so idle a report has obtained +an extensive circulation among Miss Clinton's friends!" + +"Sufficiently extensive for me, a mere spectator of Saratoga life, to +hear it whispered from ear to ear, as a fact worthy of credit." + +"I am surprised and vexed at what you tell me," said Willie. +"Nonsensical and false as such a rumour is, it will, if it should reach +Miss Clinton, be a source of annoyance to her; and on that account, I +regret the circumstances which have probably given rise to it." + +"Do you refer to considerations of delicacy on the lady's part, or have +you the modesty to believe that her pride would be wounded by having her +name thus coupled with that of her father's junior partner, a young man +hitherto unknown to fashionable circles? But, excuse me; perhaps I am +stepping on dangerous ground." + +"By no means, sir; you wrong me if you believe my pride to be of such a +nature. But I have not only reference to both the motives you name, but +to many others, when I assert my opinion of the resentment Miss Clinton +would probably cherish if your remarks should reach her ears." + +"Mr. Sullivan," said Mr. Amory, "are you sure you are not standing in +your own light? Are you aware that undue modesty with false notions of +refinement has oft prevented many a man's good fortune, and is likely to +interfere with your own?" + +"How so, sir? You speak in riddles, and I am ignorant of your meaning." + +"Handsome young fellows, like you, can often command any amount of +property for the asking; but many such chances rarely occur to one +individual; and the world will laugh at you if you waste so fair an +opportunity as you now have." + +"Opportunity for what? You surely do not mean to advise me----" + +"I do, though. I am older than you are, and I know something of the +world. A fortune is not made in a day, nor is money to be despised. Mr. +Clinton's life is almost worn out in toiling after that wealth which +will soon be the inheritance of his daughter. She is young, beautiful, +and the pride of that high circle in which she moves. Both father and +daughter smile upon you; you need not look disconcerted--I speak as +between friends, and you know the truth of that which strangers have +observed, and which I have frequently heard mentioned as beyond doubt. +Why do you hesitate!" + +"Mr. Phillips," said Willie, with embarrassment, "the comments of mere +casual acquaintances, such as most of those with whom Miss Clinton +associated in Saratoga, are not to be depended upon. The relations in +which I stand towards Mr. Clinton have been such as to draw me into +constant intercourse with himself and his daughter. He is almost without +relatives, has scarcely any trustworthy friend at command, and therefore +appears to the world more favourably disposed towards me than would be +found to be the case should I aspire to his daughter's hand. The lady, +too, has so many admirers, that it would be vanity in me to believe----" + +"Pooh, pooh!" exclaimed Mr. Phillips, "tell that, Sullivan, to a greater +novice, a more unsophisticated individual, than I am! It is very +becoming in you to say so; but a few reminders will hardly harm a youth +who has such a low opinion of his own merits. Pray, who was the +gentleman for whose society Miss Clinton was, a few nights since, so +ready to forego the music of Alboni, the crowded hall, and the smiles of +a train of adorers?" + +Willie said, "I remember!--That, then, was one of the causes of +suspicion. I was then a messenger merely, to summon Miss Isabel to the +bedside of her father, by whom I had been watching for hours, and who, +on awakening from a lethargic sleep, which alarmed the physician, +eagerly inquired for his daughter, that I did not hesitate to interrupt +the pleasure of the evening and call her to the post of duty in the +cottage occupied by Mr. Clinton, at the extremity of the grounds, to +which I accompanied her by moonlight." + +Mr. Amory laughed, cast upon Willie that look of benignity which became +his fine countenance, and exclaimed, "So much for watering-place gossip! +I must forbear speaking of any further evidences of a tender interest +manifested by either of you. But believe, dear Sullivan, that though the +young lady's heart be still, like her fortune, in the united keeping of +herself and her father, there is nothing easier than for you to win and +claim them both. You possess business talent indispensable to the elder +party; if, with your handsome face, figure, and accomplishments, you +cannot render yourself equally so to the younger, there is no one to +blame but yourself." + +Willie laughed. "If I had that object in view, I know of no one to whom +I would so soon come for encouragement as to you, sir; but the +flattering prospect you hold out is quite wasted upon me." + +Mr. Amory said, "I cannot believe you will be so foolish as to neglect +the opportunity of taking that stand in life to which your education and +qualities entitle you. Your father was a respectable clergyman; you +profited by every advantage in your youth, and have done yourself such +credit in India as would enable you, with plenty of capital at command, +to take the lead in a few years among mercantile men. A man just +returned from a long residence abroad is thought to be an easy prey to +the charms of the first of his fair countrywomen into whose society he +may be thrown; and it can scarcely be wondered at, if you are subdued by +such winning attractions as are rarely to be met with in this land of +beautiful women. Nor can it be possible that you have for six years +toiled beneath an Indian sun without learning to appreciate the +looked-for but happy termination of your toils, whose crowning blessing +will be the possession of your beautiful bride." + +"Mr. Phillips," said Willie, speaking with decision and energy, which +proved how heart-felt were the words he uttered, "I have not spent many +of the best years of my life toiling beneath a burning sun, and in exile +from all that I held most dear, without being sustained by high hopes, +aims, and aspirations. But you misjudge me greatly if you believe that +the ambition that has spurred me on can find its gratification in those +rewards which you have so vividly presented to my imagination. No, sir! +believe me, I aspire to something higher yet, and should think my best +efforts wasted if my hopes tended not to a still more glorious good." + +"And to what quarter do you look for the fulfilment of such prospects?" +asked Mr. Amory. + +"Not to the gay circles of fashion," replied Willie, "nor yet to that +moneyed aristocracy which awards to each man his position in life. I do +not depreciate an honourable standing in the eyes of my fellow-men; I am +not blind to the advantages of wealth, or to the claims of grace and +beauty; but these were not the things for which I left my home, and it +is not to claim them that I have returned. Young as I am, I have seen +enough of trial to believe that the only blessings worth striving for +are something more enduring, more satisfying, than precarious wealth or +fleeting smiles." + +"To what, then, I ask, do you look forward?" + +"To a _home_, and that not so much for myself as for another, with whom +I hope to share it. A year since"--and Willie's lip trembled, his voice +faltered--"there were others, besides that dear one whose image now +fills my heart, whom I had fondly hoped, and should have rejoiced, to +see reaping the fruits of my exertions. But we were not permitted to +meet again; and now--but pardon me, sir; I would not trouble you with my +private affairs." + +"Go on," said Mr. Amory; "I deserve some confidence in return for the +disinterested advice I have been giving you. Speak to me as to an old +friend; I am much interested in what you say." + +"It is long since I have spoken freely of myself," said Willie, "but +frankness is natural to me, and, since you profess a desire to learn +something of my aim in life, I know of no motive I have for reserve or +concealment. But my position, sir, even as a child, was singular; and +excuse me if I briefly refer to it. I could not have been more than +twelve or fourteen years of age when I began to realise the necessity +which rested upon me. My widowed mother and her aged father were the +only relatives I knew. One was feeble, delicate, and unequal to active +exertion; the other was old and poor, being wholly dependent upon a +small salary for officiating as sexton of a neighbouring church. Yet in +spite of these circumstances they maintained me for several years in +comfort and decency, and gave me an excellent education. + +"At an age when kites and marbles are so engrossing, I had an earnest +desire to relieve my mother and grandfather of a part of their care and +labour; and I obtained a situation, in which I was well treated and well +paid, and which I retained until the death of my excellent master. Then, +for a time, I felt bitterly the want of employment, and became +despondent; a state of mind which was fostered by constant association +with my desponding grandfather, who, having met with great +disappointment in life, encouraged me not, but was ever hinting at the +probability of my failing in every scheme for advancement. + +"I have since thought his doubtings answered a good purpose; for nothing +so urged me on to efforts as the desire to prove the mistaken nature of +his gloomy predictions, and few things have given me more satisfaction +than the assurances I have received during the past few years that he +came at last to a full conviction that my prosperity was established, +and that one of his ill-fated family was destined to escape the trials +of poverty. + +"My mother was a quiet, gentle woman, small in person, with great +simplicity, and some reserve of manner. She loved me like her own soul; +she taught me everything I know of goodness; there is no sacrifice I +would not have made for her happiness. I would have died to save her +life; but we shall never meet again in this world, and I--I--am learning +to be resigned. + +"For these two, and one other, whom I shall speak of presently, I was +ready to go away, and strive, and suffer, and be patient. The +opportunity came and I embraced it. And soon one great object of my +ambition was won; I was able to earn a competency for myself and for +them. And I began to look forward to a day when my long looked-for +return should render our happiness complete. I little thought then that +the sad tidings of my grandfather's death were on their way, and the +news of my mother's slow but sure decline so soon to follow. But they +are both gone; and I should now be so solitary as almost to long to +follow them but for one other, whose love will bind me to earth so long +as she is spared." + +"And she?" exclaimed Mr. Amory, with an eagerness which Willie, +engrossed with his own thoughts, did not observe. + +"Is a young girl," continued Willie, "without family, wealth, or beauty; +but with a spirit so elevated as to make her great--a heart so noble as +to make her rich--a soul so pure as to make her beautiful." + +Mr. Amory's fixed attention, his evident waiting to hear more, +emboldened Willie to add: "There lived in the same house which my +grandfather occupied an old man, a city lamplighter. He was poorer even +than we were, but there never was a better or a kinder-hearted person in +the world. One evening, when engaged in his round of duty, he picked up +and brought home a little ragged child, whom a cruel woman had thrust +into the street to perish with cold, or die a more lingering death in +the almshouse; for nothing but such devoted care as she received from my +mother and Uncle True (so we always called our old friend) could have +saved the half-starved creature from the consequences of long exposure +and ill-treatment. Through their unwearied watching and efforts she was +spared, to repay in after years more than all the love bestowed upon +her. She was then miserably thin, and plain in her appearance, besides +being possessed of a violent temper, which she had never been taught to +restrain, and a stubbornness which resulted from her having long lived +in opposition to all the world. + +"All this, however, did not repel Uncle True, under whose loving +influence new virtues and capacities soon began to manifest themselves. +In the atmosphere of love in which she now lived she soon became a +changed being; and when, in addition to the example and precepts taught +her at home, a divine light was shed upon her life by one who, herself +sitting in darkness, casts a halo forth from her own spirit to illumine +those of all who are blessed with her presence, she became, what she has +ever since been, a being to love and to trust for a lifetime. For +myself, there were no bounds to the affection I soon came to cherish for +the little girl, to whom I was first attracted by compassion merely. + +"We were constantly together; we had no thoughts, no studies, no +pleasures, sorrows, or interests that were not shared. I was her +teacher, her protector, the partner of all her childish amusements; and +she was by turns an advising and sympathising friend. In this latter +character she was indispensable to me, for she had a hopeful nature, and +a buoyancy of spirit which imparted itself to me. I well remember when +my kind employer died, and I was plunged in grief and despair, the +confidence and energy with which she, then very young, inspired me. The +relation between her and Uncle True was beautiful. Boy as I was I could +not but view with admiration the old man's devoted love for the adopted +darling of his latter years (his birdie, as he always called her), and +the grateful affection which she bore him in return. + +"During the first few years she was wholly dependent upon him, and +seemed only a fond, affectionate child; but a time came at last when the +case was reversed, and the old man, stricken with disease, became infirm +and helpless. It was then that the beauty of her woman's nature shone +forth triumphant; and, oh! how gently, child as she was, she guided his +steps as he descended to the grave. Often have I gone to his room at +midnight, fearing lest he might be in need of care which she in her +youth and inexperience would be unable to render; and never shall I +forget the little figure seated calmly by his bedside, at an hour when +many of her years would be shrinking from fears conjured up by the night +and the darkness, with a lamp dimly burning on a table before her, and +she herself, with his hand in hers, sweetly soothing his wakefulness by +her loving words, or with her eyes bent upon her little Bible, reading +to him holy lessons. But all her care could not prolong his life; and +just before I went to India he died, blessing God for the peace imparted +to him through his gentle nurse. + +"It was my task to soothe our little Gerty's sorrows, and do what I +could to comfort her, an office which, before I left the country, I was +rejoiced to transfer to the willing hands of the excellent blind lady +who had long befriended both her and Uncle True. Before I went away, I +solemnly committed to Gerty, who had in one instance proved herself both +willing and able, the care of my mother and grandfather. She promised to +be faithful to her trust; and nobly was that promise kept. In spite of +the unkindness and deep displeasure of Mr. Graham (the blind lady's +father), upon whose bounty she had for a long time been dependent, she +devoted herself heart and hand to the fulfilment of duties which in her +eyes were sacred and holy. In spite of suffering, labour, watching, and +privation, she voluntarily forsook ease and pleasure, and spent day and +night in the patient service of friends whom she loved with a greater +love than a daughter's, for it was that of a saint." + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +THE EXAMINATION. + + +"Certainly," said Mr. Amory, "I can well understand that a man of a +generous spirit could hardly fail to cherish a deep and lasting +gratitude for one who devoted herself so disinterestedly to a toilsome +attendance upon the last hours of beloved friends, to whose wants he +himself was prevented from ministering; and the warmth with which you +eulogise this girl does you credit, Sullivan. She must be a young person +of great excellence to have fulfilled so well a promise of such remote +date that it would probably have been ignored by a less disinterested +friend. + +"I can hardly believe that a young man who has had the ambition to mark +out, and the energy to pursue, such a course on the road to fortune as +you have thus far successfully followed, can have made a serious resolve +to unite himself and his prospects with an insignificant little +playmate, of unacknowledged birth, without beauty or fortune, unless +there is already an engagement, by which he is bound, or he allows +himself to be drawn on to matrimony by the belief that the highest +compliment he can pay (namely, the offer of himself) will alone cancel +the immense obligations under which he labours. May I ask if you are +already shackled by promises?" + +"I am not," replied Willie. + +"Then listen a moment. My motives are friendly when I beg you not to act +rashly in a matter which will affect the happiness of your own life; and +to hear, with patience, too, if you can, the few words which I have to +say on the subject. You must mistake, my young friend, if you believe +that the happiness of Gerty, as you call her--a very ugly name--can be +insured, any more than your own, by an ill-assorted union, of which you +will both find cause to repent. You have not seen her for six years, +think then of all that has happened in the meantime, and beware of +acting with precipitation. You have all this time been living abroad in +active life, growing in knowledge of the world, and its various phases +of society. In India you witnessed a mode of life wholly different from +that which prevails with us, or in European cities; but the +independence, both of character and manner, which you there acquired +fitted you admirably for the polished sphere of Parisian life, to which +you were so suddenly introduced, and in which you met with such marked +success. + +"Notwithstanding the privilege you enjoy of being presented in polite +circles as the friend of a man so well known and so much respected as +Mr. Clinton, you cannot have been insensible to the marked attentions +bestowed upon you by American residents abroad, or unaware of the +advantage you enjoyed, on your return home, from having been known as +the object of such favour. Though I did not meet you in Paris, I was +there at the same time, and became acquainted with facts which you would +have too much modesty to acknowledge. It is also evident that your pride +must have been flattered by the favourable reception you have met, both +abroad and at home, especially from the young and beautiful women who +have honoured you with their smiles, and among whom she whose name the +crowd already associates with your own stands preeminent. + +"When I think of all this, and of those pecuniary hopes you may indulge, +and imagine you flinging all these aside to chivalrously throw yourself +at the feet of your mother's little nurse, I find it impossible to keep +silent and avoid reminding you of the disappointment that must ensue on +finding yourself at once and for ever shut out from participation in +pleasures which have been within your reach and voluntarily discarded. +You must remember that much of the consideration which is paid to a +young bachelor of growing prospects ceases to be awarded to him after +marriage, and is never extended to his bride, unless she be chosen from +the select circles to which he aspires. This unportioned orphan with +whom you propose to share your fate--this little patient +school-mistress----" + +"I did not tell you she had ever been a teacher!" exclaimed Willie, +stopping short in his walk up and down the room--"I did not tell you +anything of the sort! How did you know it?" + +Mr. Amory, who had thus betrayed more knowledge than he had been +supposed to possess, hesitated a moment, but quickly recovering himself +answered, with apparent frankness, "To tell the truth, Sullivan, I have +seen the girl in company with an old doctor." + +"Dr. Jeremy?" asked Willie, quickly. + +"The same." + +"When did you see her? How did it happen?" + +"I happened to see the old gentleman in the course of my travels, and +this Gertrude Flint was with him. He told me a few facts concerning her; +nothing to her disadvantage, however; in warning you against a +misalliance, I speak only in general terms." + +Willie looked at Mr. Amory wondering, and was anxious to learn further +particulars. Mr. Amory went on without giving him a chance to speak. + +"This Gerty, Sullivan, will be a dead weight upon your hands--a constant +drawback to all your efforts to attain fashionable society, in which she +cannot be fitted to shine. You yourself pronounce her to be without +wealth or beauty; of her family you know nothing, and have certainly +little reason to expect that, if discovered, it would do her any credit. +I believe, then, that I only speak from the dictates of common sense +when I bid you beware how you make, in the disposal of yourself, such an +unequal bargain." + +"I am willing to believe, sir," said Willie, "that the arguments you +have adduced upon a question most important to my welfare are based upon +calm reasoning and a disinterested desire to promote my prosperity. I +confess you are the last man, judging from our short acquaintance, from +whom I should have expected such advice, for I had believed you so +indifferent to the applause of the world that they would weigh but +little with you in forming estimates for the guidance of others. Still, +though your suggestions have failed to change my sentiments or +intentions, I thank you for the sincerity and earnestness with which you +have sought to mould my judgment by your own, and will reply to your +arguments with such frankness as will, I think, persuade you that, so +far from following the impulses of a blind enthusiasm, to plunge with +haste into a course of action hereafter to be deplored, I am actuated by +feelings which reason approves, and which have already stood the test of +experience. + +"You speak truly when you impute to me a natural taste for good society; +a taste which poverty, and the retirement in which my boyhood was +passed, gave me little opportunity to manifest, but which had some +influence in determining my aims and ambition in life. The fine houses, +equipages, and clothes of the rich had less charm for my fancy than the +ease, refinement, and elegance of manner which distinguished some few of +their owners who came under my observation; and, much as I desired the +attainment of wealth for the sake of intrinsic advantages, and the means +it would afford of contributing to the happiness of others, it would +have seemed to me divested of its value should it fail to secure to its +possessor a free admittance to the polite and polished circle upon which +I looked with admiring eyes. + +"I needed not, therefore, the social deprivations I experienced in India +to prepare me to enter with eager zest into the excitement and pleasures +of Parisian life, to which, through the kindness of Mr. Clinton, I +obtained, as it seems you are aware, a free and immediate introduction. + +"It is true I was summoned thither at a time when my spirits had been +for months struggling with depression, caused by sad news from home, and +had not, therefore, the least disposition to avail myself of Mr. +Clinton's politeness; but the feebleness of his health, and his +inability to enjoy the gaieties of the place, compelled me to offer +myself as an escort to his daughter, who, fond of society, accepted my +services, thus drawing me into the very whirl and vortex of fashionable +life, in which I soon found much to flatter, bewilder, and intoxicate. I +could not be insensible to the privileges so unexpectedly accorded to +me, nor could my vanity be wholly proof against the assaults made upon +it. Nor was my manliness of character alone at stake. But the soundness +of principle and simplicity of habit implanted in me from childhood, and +hitherto preserved intact, soon found themselves at stake. I had +withstood every kind of gross temptation, but my new associates now +presented it to me in that subtle form which often proves a snare. The +wine-cup could never have enticed me to the disgusting scenes of drunken +revelry; but held in the hands of the polished gentlemen, who had, but a +moment before, been the recipients of popular favour and women's smiles, +it sparkled with a richer lustre, and its bitter dregs were forgotten. +The professed gamester would vainly have sought me for an accomplice; +but I was not equally on my guard against the danger which awaited me +from other unexpected quarters; for how could I believe that my friends, +Mr. Clinton's friends, the ornaments of the sphere in which they moved, +would unfairly win my money, and lead me to ruin? I wonder as I look +back upon my residence in Paris that I did not fall a victim to one of +the snares that were on every side spread for my destruction, and into +which my social disposition and unsophisticated nature rendered me prone +to fall. Nothing but the recollection of my pure-minded and watchful +mother, whose recent death had recalled to my mind her warning +counsels--deemed by me, at the time, unnecessary; but now, springing up +and arming themselves with a solemn meaning--nothing but the +consciousness of her gentle spirit, ever hovering around my path, +saddened by my conflicts, rejoicing in my triumphs, could ever have +given me courage and perseverance to resist, and finally escape, the +pitfalls into which my unwary steps would have plunged me. Had I +approached the outskirts of fashionable life, and been compelled to +linger with longing eyes at the threshold; I might even now be loitering +there, a deceived spectator of joys which it was not permitted to me to +enter and share; or, having gained a partial entrance, be eagerly +employed, in pushing my way onward. + +"But admitted at once into the arcana of a sphere I was eager to +penetrate, my eyes were soon opened to the vain and worthless nature of +the bauble Fashion. Not that I did not meet within its courts the wit, +talent, and refinement which I had hoped to find there, or that these +were invariably accompanied by less attractive qualities. No; I truly +believe there is no class which cannot boast of its heroes and heroines, +and that there are, within the walks of fashionable life, men and women +who would grace a wilderness. Nor do I despise forms and ceremonies +which are becoming in themselves, and conducive to elegance and good +breeding. As long as one class is distinguished by education and refined +manners, and another is marked by ignorance and vulgarity, there must be +a dividing line between the two, which neither perhaps would desire to +overstep." + +"You are young," said Mr. Amory, "to be such a philosopher. Many a man +has turned away with disgust from an aristocracy into which he could +himself gain no admittance; but few renounce it voluntarily." + +"Few, perhaps," replied Willie, "few _young_ men have had to penetrate +its secrets. I may say without treachery, since I speak in general terms +only, that I have seen more ignorance, more ill-breeding, meanness, and +immorality in the so-called aristocracy of our country than I should +have believed it possible would be tolerated there. I have known +instances in which the most accomplished gentleman, or the most +beautiful lady, of a gay circle has given evidence of want of +information on the most common topics. I have seen elegant evening +assemblies disgraced by the greatest rudeness and incivility. I have +seen the lavish expenditure of to-day atoned for by a despicable +parsimony on the morrow; and I have seen a want of principle exhibited +by both sexes, which proves that a high position is no security against +such contamination of the soul as unfits it for an exalted place +hereafter." + +"I have witnessed no less myself," said Mr. Amory; "but my experiences +have not been like those of other men, and my sight has been sharpened +by circumstances. I am still astonished that you should have been awake +to these facts." + +"I was not at first," answered Willie. "It was only gradually that I +recovered from the blinding effect which the glitter and show of Fashion +imposed upon my perceptions. My suspicions of its falsehood and vanities +were based upon instances of selfishness, folly, and cold-heartedness +which came to my knowledge. I could relate thousands of mean deceits, +contemptible rivalries, and neglect of sacred duties which came under my +immediate observation. + +"Especially was I astonished at the effect of an uninterrupted pursuit +of pleasure upon the sensibilities, the tempers, and the domestic +affections of women. Though bearing within my heart an image of female +goodness and purity, this sweet remembrance might possibly have been +driven from its throne and supplanted by one of the lovely faces which +at first bewildered me by their beauty, had these last been the index to +souls of equal perfection. There may be noble and excellent women moving +in the highest walks of life whose beauty and grace are less admirable +than their own high natures; but among those with whom I became +familiarly acquainted there was not one who could in the least compare +with her who was continually present to my memory, who is still, and +ever must be, a model to her sex. + +"Gertrude Flint was the standard by which each in my mind was measured. +How could I help contrasting the folly, the worldliness, and the +cold-heartedness around me with the cultivated mind, the +self-sacrificing and affectionate disposition of one who possesses every +quality that can adorn life? You failed to convince me that Gertrude can +in any way be a drawback to the man who shall be so fortunate as to call +her his. For my own part, I desire no better, no more truly aristocratic +position in life than that to which she is so well entitled, and to +which she would be one of the brightest ornaments--the aristocracy of +true refinement, knowledge, grace, and beauty. You talk to me of wealth. +Gertrude has no money in her purse, but her soul is the pure gold, tried +in the furnace of sorrow and affliction, and thence come forth bright +and unalloyed. You speak of family and an honourable birth. She has no +family, and her birth is shrouded in mystery; but the blood that courses +in her veins would never disgrace the race from which she sprung, and +every throb of her unselfish heart allies her to all that is noble. + +"You are eloquent upon the subject of beauty. When I parted from +Gertrude, she was, in all but character, a mere child, being only +thirteen years of age. Though much altered and improved since the time +when she first came among us, I scarcely think she could have been said +to possess much of what the world calls beauty. It was a matter of which +I seldom thought or cared; and had I been less indifferent on the +subject, she was so dear to me that I should have been unable to form an +impartial judgment of her claims in this respect. + +"I well remember, however, the indignation I once felt at hearing a +fellow-clerk, who had met her in one of our walks, sneeringly contrast +her personal appearance with that of our employer's handsome daughter, +Miss Clinton; and the proportionate rapture with which I listened to the +excellent teacher, Miss Brown, when, being present at a school +examination, I overheard her commenting to a lady upon Gertrude's +wonderful promise in person as well as in mind. Whether the first part +of this promise has been fulfilled I have no means of judging; but as I +recall her dignified and graceful little figure, her large, intelligent, +sparkling eyes, the glow of feeling that lit up her countenance, and the +peaceful, almost majestic expression which purity of soul imparted to +her yet childish features, she stands forth to my remembrance the +embodiment of all that I hold most dear. + +"Six years may have outwardly changed her much; but they cannot have +robbed her of what I prize the most. She has charms over which time can +have no power, a grace that is a gift of Heaven, a beauty that is +eternal. Could I ask for more? Do not believe, then, that my fidelity to +my early playmate is an emotion of gratitude merely. It is true I owe +her much--far more than I can ever repay; but the honest warmth of my +affection for the noble girl springs from the truest love of a purity of +character and singleness of heart which I had never seen equalled. + +"What is there in the foolish walks of Fashion, the glitter of wealth, +the homage of an idle crowd, that could so elevate my spirit and inspire +my exertions as the thought of a peaceful, happy home, blessed by a +presiding spirit so formed for confidence, love, and a communion that +time can never dissolve and eternity will but render more secure and +unbroken?" + +"And she whom you love so well--are you sure----" asked Mr. Phillips, +speaking with a visible effort, and faltering ere he had completed his +sentence. + +"No," answered Willie, anticipating the question. "I know what you would +ask. I am _not_ sure. I have no reason to indulge the hopes I have been +dwelling upon so fondly; but I do not regret having spoken with such +candour; for, should she grieve my heart by her coldness, I should still +be proud to have loved her. Until this time, since I gained my native +land, I have been shackled with duties which, sacred as they were, have +chafed a spirit longing for freedom to follow its own impulses. In this +visit to you, sir, I have fulfilled the last obligation imposed upon me +by my excellent friend, and to-morrow I shall be at liberty to go where +my duty alone prevented me from at once hastening." + +He offered his hand to Mr. Amory, who grasped it with a cordiality very +different from the feeble greeting he had given him on his entrance, +"Good-bye," said he, "You carry with you my best wishes for a success +which you seem to have so much at heart; but some day or other I feel +sure you will be reminded of all I have said to you this evening." + +"Strange man!" thought Willie, as he walked towards his hotel. "How +warmly he shook my hand at parting! and how affectionately he bade me +farewell, notwithstanding the cold reception he gave me, and the +pertinacity with which I rejected his opinions and repelled his advice!" + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +THE LONG LOOKED-FOR RETURNED. + + +"Miss Gertrude," said Mrs. Prime, opening the parlour-door, putting her +head cautiously in, looking round, and then advancing with a stealthy +pace--"my! how busy you are! Lor's sakes alive, if you an't rippin' up +them great curtains of Mrs. Graham's for the wash! I wouldn't be +botherin' with 'em, Miss Gertrude; she won't be here this fortnight, and +Mrs. Ellis will have time enough." + +"Oh, I have nothing else to do, Mrs. Prime; it's no trouble." Then, +looking up pleasantly at the old cook, she added, "It seems very cosy +for us all to be at home--doesn't it?" + +"It seems beautiful!" answered Mrs. Prime; "and I can't help thinking +how nice it would be if we could all live on jist as we are now, without +no more intrusions." + +Gertrude smiled and said, "Everything looks as it used to in old times, +when I first came here. I was quite a child then," continued she, with a +sigh. + +"Gracious me! What are you now?" said Mrs. Prime. "For mercy's sake, +Miss Gertrude, don't you begin to think about growin' old. There's +nothin' like feelin' young to keep young. There's Miss Patty Pace, +now----" + +"I have been meaning to ask after her," exclaimed Gertrude; "is she +alive and well yet?" + +"She!" replied Mrs. Prime; "Lor', she won't never die! Old women like +her, that feel themselves young gals, allers live for ever; but the +baker's boy that fetched the loaves this mornin' brought an arrant from +her, and she wants to see you the first chance; but I wouldn't hurry +either about goin' there or anywhere, Miss Gertrude, till I got rested; +for you an't well, you look so kind o' tired out." + +"Did she wish to see me?" asked Gertrude. "Poor old thing! I'll go and +see her this very afternoon; and you needn't feel anxious about me, Mrs. +Prime--I am quite well." + +Gertrude went. She found Miss Patty nearly bent double with rheumatism, +dressed with less than her usual care, and crouching over a miserable +fire. She was in tolerable spirits, and hailed Gertrude's entrance by a +cordial greeting. Innumerable were the questions she put to Gertrude +regarding her own personal experiences during the past year. + +"So you have not yet chosen a companion," said she, after Gertrude had +responded to all her queries. "That is a circumstance to be regretted. +Not," continued she, with a little smirk, "that it is ever too late in +life for one to meditate the conjugal tie, which is often assumed with +advantage by persons of fifty or more; and certainly you, who are still +in the bloom of your days, need not despair of a youthful swain. +Existence is twofold when it is shared with a congenial partner; and I +had hoped that before now, Miss Gertrude, both you and myself would have +formed such an alliance; for the protection of the matrimonial union is +one of its greatest advantages." + +"I hope you have not suffered from the want of it," said Gertrude. + +"I have, Miss Gertrude, suffered incalculably. But the keenest pangs +have been the sensibilities; yes, the sensibilities--the finest part of +our nature, and that which will least bear wounding." + +"I am sorry to hear that you have been thus grieved," said Gertrude. "I +should have supposed that, living alone, you might have been spared this +trial." + +"Oh, Miss Gertrude!" exclaimed the old lady, lifting up both hands, and +speaking in a pitiable tone--"Oh, that I had the wings of a dove, +wherewith to fly away from my kindred! I fondly thought to have +distanced them, but during the past year they have discovered my +retreat, and I cannot elude their vigilance. Hardly can I recover from +the shock of one visitation--made for the sole purpose of taking an +inventory of my possessions and measuring the length of my days--before +the vultures are again seen hovering round my dwelling. But," exclaimed +she, raising her voice and chuckling as she spoke, "they shall fall into +their own snare; for I will dupe every one of them yet!" + +"I was not aware that you had any relations," said Gertrude; "and it +seems they are such only in name." + +"Name!" said Miss Pace, emphatically. "I am glad at the thought that +they are not honoured with a cognomen which not one of them is worthy to +bear. No, they pass by a different name--a name as plebeian as their own +coarse souls. Three of them stand to each other in a fraternal relation, +yet they are alike hateful to me. One, a contemptible coxcomb, comes +here to overawe me with his presence, which he conceives to be imposing; +calls me aunt--aunt; thus testifying by his speech to a consanguinity +which he blindly fancies makes him nearer akin to my property!" The old +lady almost shrieked the last word. "And the other two are beggars! +always were--always will be; let 'em be--I'm glad of it!" + +"You hear me, Miss Gertrude; you are a young lady of quick +comprehension, and I will avail myself of your contiguity, which, +although you deny the charge, may shortly be interrupted by some eager +lover, to request at your hands a favour, such as I little thought once +I should ever feel compelled to seek. I sent for you to write (Miss +Patty whispered) the last will and testament of Miss Patty Pace." + +The poor woman's trembling voice evinced a deep compassion for herself, +which Gertrude could not help sharing; and she expressed a willingness +to comply with her wishes as far as was in her power, at the same time +declaring her utter ignorance of all the forms of law. + +To Gertrude's astonishment, Miss Patty announced a perfect acquaintance +with all the legal knowledge which the case demanded; and in so complete +a manner did she dictate the words of the important instrument that, +being afterwards properly witnessed, signed, and sealed, it was found in +a few months--at which time Miss Patty died--free from imperfection and +flaw, and proved a satisfactory direction for the disposal of the +inheritance. + +It may be as well to state here, however, that he who was pronounced +sole heir to the valuable property never availed himself of the +bequest, otherwise than to make a careful bestowal of it among her +relatives. The solo inheritor of her estate was William Sullivan, the +knight of the rosy countenance, who with chivalrous spirit captivated +Miss Patty's virgin heart, and gained her lasting favour. But that +chivalrous spirit accepted not a reward so disproportioned to the slight +service he had rendered the old lady. + +Gertrude found it no easy task to gather and transfix in writing the +exact idea which the old woman's rambling dictation was intended to +convey; and it was two or three hours before the manuscript was +completed. + +The sky was overcast, and a drizzling rain began to fall, as she walked +home; but the distance was not great, and the only damage she sustained +was a slight dampness to her garments. Emily perceived it, and said, +"Your dress is quite wet, you must sit by the parlour fire. I shall not +go down until tea-time, but father is there, and will be glad of your +company; he has been alone all the afternoon." + +Gertrude found Mr. Graham sitting in front of a pleasant wood fire, +half-dozing, half-reading. She took a book and a low chair and joined +him. But to avoid the heat she went to the sofa. Soon there was a ring +at the front door bell. The housemaid, who was passing by the door, +opened it, and immediately ushered in a visitor. It was Willie! + +Gertrude rose, but trembling from head to foot, so that she dared not +trust herself to take a step forward. Willie advanced to the centre of +the room, looked at Gertrude, bowed, hesitated, and said, "Miss +Flint!--is she here?" The colour rushed into Gertrude's face. She +attempted to speak, but failed. It was not necessary. The blush was +enough. Willie recognised her, and starting forward, eagerly seized her +hand. + +"Gerty! is it possible?" + +The perfect naturalness and ease of his manner, the warmth with which he +took and retained her hand, reassured the agitated girl. The spell +seemed partially removed. For a moment he became in her eyes the Willie +of old, her dear friend and playmate, and she found voice to exclaim, +"Oh, Willie, you have come at last! I am so glad to see you!" The sound +of their voices disturbed Mr. Graham, who had fallen into a nap. He +turned round in his easy chair, then rose. Willie dropped Gertrude's +hand and stepped towards him. "Mr. Sullivan," said Gertrude, with a +feeble attempt at a suitable introduction. + +They shook hands, and then all three sat down. + +And now all Gertrude's embarrassment returned. It is often the case that +when the best of friends meet after a long separation they salute or +embrace each other, and then, notwithstanding the weight of matter +pressing on the mind of each--sufficient, perhaps, to furnish subjects +of conversation for weeks to come--nothing of importance presents itself +at once, and a pause ensues, which is finally filled up by some trivial +question concerning the journey of the newly-arrived party. She had seen +Willie before; she was aware of his arrival; knew even the steamer in +which he had come; but was anxious to conceal from him this knowledge. +She could not tell him, since he seemed so ignorant of the fact himself, +that they had met before; and she was at an utter loss what to do or say +under the circumstances. Her embarrassment soon communicated itself to +Willie; and Mr. Graham's presence, which was a restraint to both, made +matters worse. Willie, however, first broke the momentary silence. + +"I should hardly have known you, Gertrude. I did not know you. How----" + +"How did you come?" asked Mr. Graham, abruptly, apparently unconscious +that he was interrupting Willie's remark. + +"In the _Europa_," replied Willie. "She got into New York about a week +ago." + +"Out here, I mean," said Mr. Graham, rather stiffly. "Did you come out +in the coach?" + +"Oh, excuse me, sir," replied Willie; "I misunderstood you. No, I drove +out from Boston in a chaise." + +"Did anyone take your horse?" + +"I fastened him in front of the house." + +Willie glanced out of the window (it was now nearly dusk) to see that +the animal was still there. Mr. Graham settled himself in his easy chair +and looked into the fire. "You are changed, too," said Gertrude, in +reply to Willie's unfinished comment. Then, fearing he might feel hurt +at what he must know to be true in more ways than one, the colour which +had retreated mounted once more to her cheeks. But he did not seem to +feel hurt, but replied, "Yes, an Eastern climate makes great changes; +but I think I can hardly have altered more than you have. Why, only +think, Gerty, you were a child when I went away! I suppose I must have +known I should find you a young lady, but I begin to think I never fully +realised it." + +"When did you leave Calcutta?" + +"The latter part of February. I passed the spring months in Paris." + +"You did not write," said Gertrude in a faltering voice. + +"No, I was expecting to come across by every steamer, and wanted to +surprise you." + +Gertrude looked confused, but replied, "I was disappointed about the +letters; but I am very glad to see you again, Willie." + +"You can't be so glad as I am," said he, lowering his voice and looking +at her with great tenderness. "You seem more and more like yourself to +me every minute that I see you. I begin to think, however, that I ought +to have written and told you I was coming." + +Gertrude smiled. Willie's manner was so unchanged, his words so +affectionate, that it seemed unkind to doubt his friendliness, although +to his undivided love she felt she could have no claim. "No," said she, +"I like surprises. Don't you remember, I always did?" + +"Remember? Certainly," replied he; "I have never forgotten anything that +you liked." + +Just at this moment Gertrude's birds, whose cage hung in the window at +which Willie sat, commenced a little twittering noise which they always +made just at night. He looked up. "Your birds," said Gertrude; "the +birds you sent me." + +"Are they all alive and well?" asked he. + +"Yes, all of them." + +"You have been a kind mistress to the little things. They are very +tender." + +"I am very fond of them." + +"You take such care of those you love, dear Gerty, that you are sure to +preserve their lives as long as may be." His tone still more than his +words betrayed the deep meaning with which he spoke. Gertrude was +silent. + +"Is Miss Graham well?" asked Willie. + +Gertrude related, in reply, that her nerves had been recently much +disturbed by the terrible experiences through which she had passed; and +this led to the subject of the recent disaster, at which Gertrude +forebore to mention her having been herself present. Willie spoke with +feeling of the sad catastrophe, and with severity of the reckless +carelessness which had been the cause of it; and said that he had valued +friends on board the boat, but was unaware that Miss Graham, whom he +loved for Gertrude's sake, was among them. + +Conversation between Gertrude and Willie had by this time assumed +something of their former familiarity. He had taken a seat near her on +the sofa, that they might talk unrestrainedly; for although Mr. Graham +might have dropped asleep again, yet it was not easy to forget his +presence. There were many subjects on which it would have seemed natural +for them to speak, had not Gertrude avoided them. The causes of Willie's +sudden return, his probable stay, his future plans in life, and his +reasons for having postponed his visit until he had been in the country +more than a week--all these were inquiries which curiosity would have +suggested; but to Gertrude they all lay under embargo. She neither felt +prepared to receive nor willing to force the confidence on matters which +must be influenced by his engagement with Miss Clinton, and therefore +preserved silence on these topics. And Willie, deeply grieved at this +strange want of sympathy on her part, forebore to thrust upon her notice +these seemingly neglected circumstances. + +They talked of Calcutta life, of Parisian novelties, of Gertrude's +school-keeping, and many other things, but not a word of matters nearest +to the hearts of both. At length a servant announced tea. Mr. Graham +rose and stood with his back to the fire. Willie rose also and prepared +to take leave. Mr. Graham, with frigid civility, invited him to remain, +and Gertrude urged him to do so; but he declined with such decision that +the latter understood that he felt the neglect with which Mr. Graham had +treated him and his visit. In addition to the fact that the old +gentleman disliked young men as a class, and that Willie had intruded +upon the privacy in which he was indulging, there was the bitter +recollection that Gertrude had once forsaken himself and Emily (for so +he in his own mind styled her conscientious choice between conflicting +duties) for the very family of which their visitor was the only +remaining member--a recollection which did not tend to conciliate the +prejudiced man. + +Gertrude accompanied Willie to the door. The rain had ceased, but the +wind whistled across the piazza. It was growing cold. Willie buttoned +his coat, and promised to see Gertrude on the following day. + +"You have no overcoat," said she; "the night is chilly, and you are +accustomed to a hot climate. You had better take this shawl;" and she +took from the hat-tree a heavy Scotch plaid. He thanked her and threw it +over his arm; then, taking both her hands in his, looked her steadily in +the face for a moment, as if he would fain have spoken. But, seeing that +she shrank from his affectionate gaze, he dropped her hands and, with a +troubled expression, bade her good-night. + +Gertrude stood with the handle of the door in her hand until she heard +the sounds of the horse's hoofs as he drove down the road; then retired +to her own room. Well as she had borne up during the longed-for yet +much-dreaded meeting, calmly as she had sustained her part, her courage +all forsook her now, and in looking forward to days, weeks, and months +of frequent intercourse, she felt that the most trying part of the +struggle was yet to come. + +Had Willie changed to her? No; he had come back as he went--generous, +manly, and affectionate. He had manifested the same unaffected warmth of +feeling, the same thoughtful tenderness, he had ever shown. In short, he +was the Willie she had thought of, dreamed of, imagined, and loved. +There was a light tap at her door. Thinking it a summons to the +tea-table, she said, "Jane, I do not wish for any supper." + +"It isn't that," said the girl; "but I have brought you a letter." +Gertrude sprang up and opened the door. + +"A little boy handed it to me and then ran off," said the girl, placing +a large package in her hand. "He told me to give it to you straight +away." + +"Bring me a light," said Gertrude. + +The girl went for a lamp, while Gertrude wondered what a package so +large could contain. She thought no letter could so soon arrive from Mr. +Amory. While she was wondering, Jane brought a lamp, by the light of +which she detected his handwriting; and, breaking the seal, she drew +from the envelope several closely-written pages, whose contents she +perused with the greatest eagerness and excitement. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +THE FATHER'S STORY. + + +"MY DAUGHTER,--My loving, kind-hearted girl. Now that your own words +encourage me with the assurance that my first fear was unfounded--now +that I can appeal to you as to an impartial witness, I will disclose the +story of my life; and, while I prove to you your parentage, will hope +that my unprejudiced child at least will believe, love, and trust her +father, in spite of a world's injustice. + +"I will conceal nothing. I will plunge at once into those disclosures +which I most dread to utter, and trust to after explanation to palliate +the darkness of my tale. + +"Mr. Graham is my step-father, and my blessed mother, long since dead, +was, in all but the tie of nature, a true mother to Emily. Thus allied +to those whom you love best, I am parted from them by a heavy curse; +for, not only was mine the ill-fated hand (oh, hate me not yet, +Gertrude!) which locked poor Emily up in darkness, but I stand accused +in the eyes of my fellow-men of another crime, deep, dark, and +disgraceful. And yet, though living under a ban, wandering up and down +the world a doomed and broken-hearted man, I am innocent as a child of +all intentional wrong, as you will learn, if you can trust to the truth +of the tale I am about to tell. + +"Nature gave and education fostered in me a rebellious spirit. I was the +idol of my invalid mother, who, though she loved me with a love for +which I bless her memory, had not the energy to subdue the passionate +and wilful nature of her boy. But I was neither cruelly nor viciously +disposed; and though my sway at home and among my school-fellows was +alike indisputable, I made many friends, and not a single enemy. But a +sudden check was at length put to my freedom. My mother married, and I +soon came to feel bitterly the check which her husband, Mr. Graham, was +likely to impose upon my boyish independence. Had he treated me with +kindness, had he won my affections (which he might easily have done, for +my sensitive and impassioned nature disposed me to every tender and +grateful emotion), great would have been his influence in moulding my +yet unformed character. + +"But his behaviour towards me was that of chilling coldness and reserve. +He repelled with scorn the first advance on my part which led me, at my +mother's instigation, to address him by the paternal title--an offence +of which I never again was guilty. And yet, while he seemed to ignore +the relationship, he assumed its authority, thus wounding my pride and +exciting opposition to his commands. + +"Two things strengthened my dislike for my overbearing step-father. One +was the consciousness of my dependence upon his bounty; the other a +hint, which I received through a domestic, that Mr. Graham's dislike to +me had its origin in an old enmity between himself and my own father--an +honourable and high-minded man, whom it was ever my greatest pride to be +told that I resembled. + +"Great as was the warfare in my heart, power rested with Mr. Graham; for +I was yet but a child, and necessarily subject to government--nor could +I be deaf to my mother's entreaties that, for her sake, I would learn +submission. It was only, therefore, when I had been most unjustly +thwarted that I broke into direct rebellion; and even then there were +influences ever at work to preserve outward harmony in our household. +Thus years passed on, and though I did not love Mr. Graham more, the +force of habit, the interest afforded by my studies, and increasing +self-control, rendered my life less obnoxious to me than it had once +been. + +"I had one great compensation for my trials--the love I cherished for +Emily, who responded to it with equal warmth on her part. It was not +because she stood between me and her father, a mediator and a friend; +nor because she submitted to my dictation and aided me in all my plans; +it was because our natures were made for each other, and, as they grew +and expanded, were bound together by ties which a rude hand only could +rend asunder. This tenderness and depth of affection became the life of +my life. + +"At length my mother died. I was at that time, sorely against my will, +employed in Mr. Graham's counting-house, and an inmate of his family. +And now, without excuse, my step-father began a course of policy as +unwise as it was cruel; and so irritating to my pride, and so torturing +to my feelings, that it angered me almost to frenzy. He tried to rob me +of the only thing that sweetened and blest my existence--the love of +Emily. I will not here recount the motives I imputed to him, nor the +means he employed. But they were such as to change my former dislike +into bitter hatred and opposition. + +"Instead of submitting to his tyrannical interference, I sought Emily's +society on all occasions, and persuaded the gentle girl to lend herself +to my schemes for thwarting her father's purposes. I did not speak to +her of love; I did not seek to bind her to me by promises; I hinted not +at marriage; a sense of honour forbade it. But, with a boyish +independence, which I fear was the height of imprudence, I sought every +occasion, even in her father's presence, to maintain that constant +familiarity of intercourse which had been the growth of circumstances, +and could not, without force, be restrained. + +"At length Emily was taken ill, and for six weeks I was debarred her +presence. When sufficiently recovered to leave her room, I sought and at +last obtained an opportunity to see her. We had been together in the +library more than an hour when Mr. Graham suddenly entered, and came +towards us with a face whose severity I shall not soon forget. I did not +heed an interruption, for the probable consequences of which I believed +myself prepared. But I was little prepared for the attack actually made +upon me. + +"That he would accuse me of disobedience to wishes which he had hinted +in every possible way, and even intimate more plainly his resolve to +place barriers between Emily and myself, I fully expected, and was ready +with my replies; but when he burst forth with a torrent of ungentlemanly +abuse--when he imputed to me mean and selfish motives, which had never +occurred to my mind--I was struck dumb with surprise and anger. + +"Then, in the presence of the pure-minded girl whom I worshipped, he +charged me with a horrid crime--the crime of forgery--asserting my guilt +as recently discovered, but positive and undoubted. My spirit had raged +before--now it was on fire. I lifted my hand and clenched my fist. What +I would have done I know not. Whether I should have found words to +assert my innocence, and refute a charge utterly false--or whether, my +voice failing me from passion, I should have swept Mr. Graham from my +path, perhaps felled him to the floor, while I strode away to rally my +calmness in the open air--I cannot now conjecture; for a wild shriek +from Emily recalled me to myself, and, turning, I saw her fall fainting +upon the sofa. + +"Forgetting everything but the apparently dying condition into which the +horror of the scene had thrown her I sprang forward to her relief. There +was a table beside her and some bottles upon it. I hastily snatched what +I believed to be a simple restorative, and in my agitation emptied the +contents of the phial in her face. I know not what the exact character +of the mixture could have been; but its matters not--its effect was too +awfully evident. The fatal deed was done--and mine was the hand that did +it! + +"Brought suddenly to consciousness by the intolerable torture that +succeeded, the poor girl sprang screaming from the sofa, flung her arms +wildly above her head, rushed in a frantic manner through the room, and +crouched in a corner. I followed in an agony scarce less than her own; +but she repelled me with her hands, uttering piercing shrieks. Mr. +Graham, who for an instant had looked like one paralysed by the scene, +now rushed forward like a madman. Instead of aiding me in my efforts to +lift poor Emily from the floor, and so far from compassionating my +situation, which was only less pitiable than hers, he, with a fierceness +redoubled at my being the sole cause of the disaster, attacked me with a +storm of cruel reproaches, declaring that I had killed his child. With +words like these, which are still ringing in my ears, he drove me from +the room and the house; a repulsion which I, overpowered by contrition +and remorse, had neither the wish nor the strength to resist. + +"Oh! the terrible night and day that succeeded! I wandered out into the +country, spent the whole night walking beneath the open sky, +endeavouring to collect my thoughts and compose my mind, and still +morning found me with a fevered pulse and excited brain. With the +returning light, however, I began to realise the necessity of forming +some future plan of action. + +"Emily's sad situation, and my intense anxiety to learn the worst +effects of the fatal accident, urged me to hasten with the earliest +morning, either openly or by stealth, to Mr. Graham's house. Everything +also which I possessed--all my money, the residue of my last quarter's +allowance, my clothing, and a few valuable gifts from my mother--were in +the chamber which I had occupied. There seemed to be no other course +left for me than to return thither, and I retracted my steps to the +city, determined, if it were necessary in order to gain the desired +particulars concerning Emily, to meet her father face to face. But as I +drew near the house I hesitated and dared not proceed. Mr. Graham had +exhausted upon me every angry word, had threatened even deeds of +violence should I again cross his threshold; and I feared to trust my +own fiery spirit to a collision in which I might be led on to an open +resistance of the man whom I had already sufficiently injured. In the +terrible work I had but yesterday done--a work of whose fatal effect I +had even then a gloomy foreshadowing--I had blighted the existence of +his worshipped child, and drawn a dark pall over his dearest hopes. It +was enough. I would not for worlds be guilty of the sin of lifting my +hand against the man who, unjust as he had been towards an innocent +youth, had met a retaliation far too severe. + +"Still, I knew his wrath to be unmitigated, was well aware of his power +to excite my hot nature to frenzy, and resolved to beware how I crossed +his path. Meet him I must, to refute the false charges he had brought +against me; but not within the walls of his dwelling, the home of his +suffering daughter. In the counting-house, where the crime of forgery +was said to have been committed, and in the presence of my +fellow-clerks, I would publicly deny the deed, and dare him to its +proof. But first I must either see or hear from Emily before I met the +father at all. I must learn the exact nature and extent of the wrong I +had done him in the person of his child. For this, however, I must wait +until, under cover of the next night's darkness, I could enter the house +unperceived. + +"So I wandered about all day in torment, without having food or rest, +the thought of my poor, darling, tortured Emily ever present to my +wretched thoughts. The hours seemed interminable. I remember that day of +suspense as if it had been a whole year of misery. But night came at +last, cloudy, and the air thickened with a heavy fog which, as I +approached the street where Mr. Graham lived, concealed the house until +I was opposite to it. I shuddered at the sight of the physician's +chaise standing before the door; for I knew that Dr. Jeremy had closed +his visits to Emily more than a week previously, and must have been +summoned to attend her since the accident. Thinking it probable that Mr. +Graham was in the house, I forbore to enter, but stood concealed by the +mist, and watching my opportunity. + +"Once or twice Mrs. Ellis, the housekeeper, passed up and down the +staircase, as I could distinctly see through the sidelights of the door, +and Dr. Jeremy descended, followed by Mr. Graham. The doctor would have +passed hastily out, but Mr. Graham detained him, to question him +regarding his patient, as I judged from the anxiety depicted on my +step-father's countenance. The doctor's back was towards me, and I could +only judge of his replies by the effect they produced on the questioner, +whose haggard appearance became more distressed at every syllable that +fell from the honest and truthful lips of the medical man, whose words +were oracles to all who knew his skill. + +"I needed, therefore, no further testimony to force the conviction that +Emily's fate was sealed; and as I looked with pity upon the afflicted +parent, and shudderingly thought of my agency in the work of +destruction, I felt that the unhappy father could not curse me more +bitterly than I cursed myself. Deeply, however, as I mourned, and have +never ceased to repent, my share in the exciting of that storm wherein +the poor girl had been so cruelly shipwrecked, I could not forget the +part that Mr. Graham had borne in the transaction, or forgive the wicked +injustice and insults which had so unmanned me as to render my hand a +fit instrument only of ruin; and as, after the doctor's departure, I +watched my step-father walk away, and saw by a street-lamp that the look +of pain had passed from his face, giving place to his usual composed and +arrogant expression, and, understood by the loud and measured manner in +which he struck his cane upon the pavement, that he was far from sharing +my humble, penitent mood, I ceased to waste upon him a compassion which +he seemed so little to require or deserve; and, pitying myself only, I +looked upon his stern face with a soul which cherished for him no other +sentiment than that of unmitigated hatred. Do not shrink from me, +Gertrude, as you read this frank confession of my passionate and deeply +stirred nature. You know not, perhaps, what it is to hate; but have you +ever been tried as I was? + +"As Mr. Graham turned the corner of the street, I approached his house, +drew forth a pass-key of my own, by means of which I opened the door, +and went in. It was perfectly quiet, and no person was to be seen in any +of the lower rooms. I passed noiselessly upstairs, and entered a little +chamber at the head of the passage which communicated with Emily's room. +I waited here a long time, hearing no sound and seeing no one. But +fearing that Mr. Graham would shortly return, I determined to ascend to +my own room, collect my money and a few articles of value, and then make +my way to the kitchen, and gain what news I could of Emily from Mrs. +Prime, the cook, a kind-hearted woman, who would, I felt sure, befriend +me. + +"The first part of my object was accomplished; and I had descended the +back staircase to gain Mrs. Prime's premises, when I suddenly met Mrs. +Ellis coming from the kitchen, with a bowl of gruel in her hand. She was +acquainted with all the particulars of the accident, and had been a +witness to my expulsion from the house. She stopped short on seeing me, +gave a slight scream, dropped the bowl of gruel, and prepared to make +her escape, as if from a wild beast, which I doubt not that I resembled; +since wretchedness, fasting, suffering, and desperation must all have +been depicted in my features. I placed myself in her path, and compelled +her to stop and listen to me. But before my eager questions could find +utterance, an outburst from her confirmed my worst fears. + +"'Let me go!' she exclaimed. 'You villain! you will be putting my eyes +out next!' + +'Where is Emily?' I cried. 'Let me see her!' + +"'See her!' replied she. 'You horrid wretch! No! she has suffered enough +from you. She is satisfied herself now.' + +'What do you mean?' shouted I, shaking the housekeeper violently by the +shoulder, for her words seared my very soul, and I was frantic. + +"'I mean that Emily will never see anybody again; and if she had a +thousand eyes, you are the last person upon whom she would wish to +look!' + +"'Does Emily hate me, too?' burst from me then, in the form of a +soliloquy rather than a question. The reply was ready, however. 'Hate +you? Yes--more than that; she cannot find words bad enough for you! She +mutters, even in her pain, 'Cruel!--wicked!' She shudders at the sound +of your name; and we are all forbidden to speak it in her presence.' I +waited to hear no more, but rushed out of the house. That moment was the +crisis of my life. The thunderbolt had fallen upon and crushed me. My +hopes, my happiness, my fortune, my good name, had gone before; but one +solitary light had, until now, glimmered in the darkness. It was Emily's +love. I had trusted in that--that only. It had passed away, and with it +my youth, my faith, my hope of heaven. + +"From that moment I ceased to be myself. Then fell upon me the cloud in +which I have ever since been shrouded, and under which you have seen and +known me. In that instant the blight had come, under the gnawing +influence of which my happy laugh changed to the bitter smile; my frank +and pleasant speech to tones of ill-concealed irony and sarcasm; my hair +became prematurely grey, my features sharp and severe; my fellow-men, to +whom I hoped to prove some day a benefactor, were henceforth the armed +hosts of antagonists, with whom I would wage endless war--and the God +whom I had worshipped--whom I had believed in, as a just and faithful +friend and avenger--who was He?--where was He?--and why did He not right +my cause? What direful and premeditated deed of darkness had I been +guilty of that He should thus desert me? Alas!--I lost my faith in +Heaven! + +"I know not what direction I took on leaving Mr. Graham's house. I have +no recollection of any of the streets through which I passed, though +doubtless they were all familiar; but I paused not until, having reached +the end of a wharf, I found myself gazing down into the deep water, +longing to take one mad leap and lose myself in everlasting oblivion! +But for this final blow, beneath which my manhood had fallen, I would +have cherished my life, at least until I could vindicate its fair fame; +I would never have left a blackened memory for men to dwell upon and for +Emily to weep over. But now what cared I for my fellow-men! And +Emily!--she had ceased to love, and would not mourn; and I longed for +the grave. There are moments in human life when a word, a look, or a +thought, may weigh down the balance in the scales of fate and decide a +destiny. + +"So it was with me. I was incapable of forming any plan for myself; but +accident, as it were, decided for me. I was startled from the apathy +into which I had fallen by the sudden splashing of oars in the water +beneath, and in a moment a little boat was moored to a pier within a rod +of the spot where I stood. I also heard footsteps on the wharf, and, +turning, saw by the light of the moon, which was just appearing from +behind a heavy cloud, a stout seafaring man, with a heavy pea-jacket +under one arm and an old-fashioned carpet-bag in his left hand. He had a +ruddy, good-humoured face, and as he was about to pass me and leap into +the boat, where two sailors, with their oars dipped and ready for +motion, were awaiting him, he slapped me on the shoulder, and exclaimed, +'Well, my fine fellow, will you ship with us?' I answered as readily in +the affirmative; and, with one look in my face, and a glance at my +dress, which seemed to assure him of my station in life and probable +ability to make compensation for the passage, he said, in a laughing +tone, 'In with you, then!' + +"To his astonishment--for he had scarcely believed me in earnest--I +sprang into the boat, and in a few moments was on board of a fine bark, +bound I knew not whither. The vessel's destination was Rio Janeiro--a +fact which I did not learn till we had been two or three days at sea, +and to which I felt wholly indifferent. There was one other passenger +beside myself--the captain's daughter, Lucy Grey, whom during the first +week I scarcely noticed, but who appeared to be as much at home, whether +in the cabin or on deck, as if she had passed her whole life at sea. I +might have made the entire passage without giving another thought to +this young girl--half child, half woman--had not my strange behaviour +led her so to conduct herself which surprised and finally interested me. +My wild and excited countenance, my constant restlessness, avoidance of +food, and indifference to everything about me, excited her wonder and +sympathy. She believed me partially deranged, and treated me +accordingly. She would take a seat on deck directly opposite mine, look +in my face, either ignorant or regardless of my observing her, and then +walk away with a heavy sigh. Occasionally she would offer me some little +delicacy, begging that I would eat; and as, touched by her kindness, I +took food more readily from her hand than any other, these little +attentions became at last habitual. As my manners grew calmer and I +settled into a melancholy which, though equally deep, was less fearful +than the feverish torment under which I had laboured, she became +reserved, and when I began to appear somewhat like my fellow-men, went +regularly to the table, and, instead of pacing the deck all night, spent +a part of it quietly in my state-room, Lucy absented herself wholly from +that part of the vessel where I passed the greater portion of the day, +and I seldom exchanged a word with her, unless I purposely sought her +society. + +"The stormy weather drove me to the cabin, where she usually sat on the +transom reading or watching the troubled waves; and, as the voyage was +long, we were thrown much in each other's way, especially as Captain +Grey, who had invited me to ship with him, and who seemed to take an +interest in my welfare, good-naturedly encouraged an intercourse by +which he probably hoped I might be won from a state of melancholy that +seemed to grieve the jolly ship-master almost as much as it did his +kind-hearted, sensitive child. + +"Lucy's shyness, therefore, wore gradually away, and before our tedious +passage was completed I ceased to be a restraint upon her. She talked +freely with me; for while I maintained a rigid silence concerning my own +past experiences, of which I could scarcely endure to think, she exerted +herself freely for my entertainment, and related with simple frankness +almost every circumstance of her past life. Sometimes I listened +attentively; sometimes, absorbed in my own painful reflections, I would +be deaf to her voice and forgetful of her presence. Then I often +observed that she had suddenly ceased speaking, and, starting from my +reverie and looking quickly up, would find her eyes fixed upon me so +reproachfully that, rallying my self-command, I would try to appear, and +sometimes became, seriously interested in the artless narratives of my +little entertainer. She told me that until she was fourteen years old +she lived with her mother in a little cottage on Cape Cod, their home +being only occasionally enlivened by the return of her father from his +long absences at sea. They would visit the city where his vessel lay, +pass a few weeks in great enjoyment, and then return to mourn the +departure of the cheerful sea-captain, and patiently count the weeks and +months until his return. She told me how her mother died; how bitterly +she mourned her loss, and how her father wept when he came home and +heard the news; how she had lived on shipboard ever since; and how sad +and lonely she felt in time of storms when she sat alone in the cabin +listening to the roar of the winds and waves. + +"Tears would come into her eyes when she spoke of these things, and I +would look upon her with pity as one whom sorrow made my sister. Trial, +however, had not robbed her of an elastic, buoyant spirit; and when, +after the completion of some eloquent tale of early grief, the captain +would approach unseen and surprise her by a sudden joke or sly piece of +mischief, thus provoking her to retaliate, she was always ready for a +war of wits, a laughing frolic, or even a game of romps. Her tears dried +up, her merry voice and playful words would delight her father, and the +cabin would ring with peals of laughter; while I, shrinking from a mirth +sadly at variance with my own happiness, and the sound so discordant to +my sensitive nerves, would retire to brood over miseries for which it +was hopeless to expect sympathy which could not be shared, and with +which I must dwell alone. + +"Such a misanthrope had my misfortunes made me that the sportive +raillery between the captain and his merry daughter, and the musical +laugh with which she would respond to the witticisms of two old sailors, +grated upon my ears like something scarce less than personal injuries; +nor could I have believed it possible that one so little able as Lucy to +comprehend the depth of my sufferings could feel any sincere compassion +for them had I not once or twice been touched to see how her innocent +mirth would give place to sudden sadness of countenance if she chanced +to encounter my woe-begone face, rendered doubly gloomy when contrasted +with the gaiety of herself and of her companions. + +"But I must not linger too long upon the details of our life on +shipboard. I must forbear giving account of a terrific gale that we +encountered, during which, for two days and a night, poor Lucy was half +frantic with fear; while I, careless of outward discomforts and +indifferent to personal danger, was afforded an opportunity to requite +her kindness by such protection and encouragement as I was able to +render. + +"Captain Grey died. We were within a week's sail of our destination when +he was taken ill, and three days before we were safely anchored in the +harbour of Rio he breathed his last. I shared with Lucy the office of +ministering to the suffering man, closed his eyes at last, and carried +the fainting girl in my arms to another part of the vessel. With kind +words and persuasions I restored her to her senses; and then, as the +full consciousness of her desolation rushed upon her, she sunk at once +into a state of hopeless despondency painful to witness. Captain Grey +had made no provision for his daughter. Well might the poor girl lament +her sad fate! for she was without a relative in the world, penniless, +and approaching a strange shore, which afforded no refuge to the orphan. +We buried her father in the sea; and that sad office fulfilled, I sought +Lucy and endeavoured to arouse her to a sense of her situation and +advise with her concerning the future; for we were now so near our port +that in a few hours we might be compelled to leave the vessel and seek +quarters in the city. She listened to me without replying. I hinted at +the necessity of my leaving her, and begged to know if she had any plans +for the future. She answered me only by a burst of tears. I begged her +not to weep. + +"And then, with many sobs, and interrupting herself by frequent +exclamations of vehement sorrow, she threw herself upon my compassion, +and, with child-like artlessness, entreated me not to leave her or, as +she termed it, to desert her. She reminded me that she was alone in the +world; that the moment she stepped foot on shore she should be in a land +of strangers; and, appealing to my mercy, besought me not to leave her +to die alone. + +"What could I do? I had nothing on earth to live for. We were both alike +orphaned and desolate. There was but one point of difference. I could +work and protect her; she could do neither for herself. It would be +something for me to live for; and for her, though but a refuge of +poverty and want, it was better than the exposure and suffering that +must otherwise await her. I told her how little I had to offer; that my +heart even was crushed and broken; but that I was ready to labour in her +behalf, to guard her from danger, to pity, and perhaps in time learn to +love her. The unsophisticated girl had never thought of marriage; she +had sought the protection of a friend, not a husband; but I explained to +her that the latter tie only would obviate the necessity of our parting; +and, in the humility of sorrow, she finally accepted my unflattering +offer. + +"The only confidant to our sudden engagement, the only witness of the +marriage, which within a few hours ensued, was an old, weather-beaten +sailor, who had known and loved Lucy from her childhood--Ben Grant. He +accompanied us on shore and to the church. He followed us to the humble +lodgings with which we contrived for the present to be contented, and +devoted himself to Lucy with self-sacrificing, but in one instance, +alas! (as you will soon learn), with mistaken and fatal zeal. + +"After much difficulty, I obtained employment from a man in whom I +accidentally recognized an old and valued friend of my father. He had +been in Rio several years, and was actively engaged in trade, and +willingly employed me as a clerk, occasionally despatching me from home +to transact business at a distance. My duties being regular and +profitable, we were soon raised above want, and I was enabled to place +my young wife in a situation of comfort. + +"The sweetness of her disposition, the cheerfulness with which she +endured privation, the earnestness with which she strove to make me +happy, were not without effect. I perseveringly rallied from my gloom; I +succeeded in banishing the frown from my brow; and the premature +wrinkles, which her hand would softly sweep away, finally ceased to +return. The few months that I passed with your mother, Gertrude, form a +sweet episode in the memory of my stormy life. I came to love her +much--not as I loved Emily;--that could not be expected--but, as the +solitary flower that bloomed on the grave of all my early hopes, she +cast a fragrance round my path; and her child is not more dear to me, +because a part of myself, than as the memento of the cherished blossom +snatched hastily from my hand and rudely crushed. + +"About two months after your birth, my child, and before your eyes had +ever learned to brighten at the sight of your father, who was +necessarily much from home, the business in which I was engaged called +me in the capacity of an agent to a station some distance from Rio. I +had been absent nearly a month, and had written regularly to Lucy, +informing her of all my movements (though I suspect the letters never +reached her), when the neighbourhood in which I was stationed became +infected with a fatal malaria. For the sake of my family I took every +measure to ward off contagion, but failed. I was seized with fever, and +lay for weeks near death. I was cruelly neglected during my illness; for +I had no friends near me, and my slender purse held out little +inducement for mercenary service; but my sufferings and forebodings on +account of Lucy and yourself were far greater than any which I endured +from my bodily torments, although the latter were great. I had all sorts +of imaginary fears; but nothing, alas! which could compare with the +reality that awaited me when, after my dreadful illness, I made my way, +destitute, ragged, and emaciated, back to Rio. I sought my former home. +It was deserted, and I was warned to flee from its vicinity, as the +fearful disease of fever had nearly depopulated that and the +neighbouring streets. I made every inquiry, but could obtain no +intelligence of my wife and child. I hastened to the charnel-house +where, during the raging of the pestilence, the unrecognized dead were +exposed; but among the disfigured remains it was impossible to +distinguish friends from strangers. I lingered about the city for weeks +in hopes to gain some information concerning Lucy; but could find no one +who had ever heard of her. All day I wandered about the streets and on +the wharves--the latter being places which Ben Grant (in whose faithful +charge I had left your mother and yourself) was in the habit of +frequenting--but not a syllable could I learn of any persons that +answered my description. + +"My first thought had been that they would naturally seek my employer, +to learn, if possible, the cause of my prolonged absence; and on finding +my home empty I had hastened in search of him. But he too had, within a +recent period, fallen a victim to the prevailing distemper. His place of +business was closed and the establishment broken up. I continued my +inquiries until hope died within me. I was told that scarce an inmate of +the fatal neighbourhood where I had left my family had escaped; and +convinced, finally, that my fate was still pursuing me with an +unmitigated wrath, of which this last blow was but a single expression, +that I might have foreseen and expected, I madly agreed to work my +passage in the first vessel which promised me an escape from scenes so +fraught with harrowing recollections. + +"And now commenced a course of wretched wandering. With varied ends in +view, following strongly contrasted employments, and with fluctuating +fortune, I have travelled over the world. My feet have trodden almost +every land. I have sailed on every sea and breathed the air of every +clime. I am familiar with the city and the wilderness, the civilized man +and the savage. I have learned the sad lesson that peace is nowhere, and +friendship, for the most part, but a name. + +"Once during my wanderings I visited the home of my boyhood. Unseen and +unknown I trod a familiar ground and gazed on familiar, though time-worn +faces. I stood at the window of Mr. Graham's library; saw the contented, +happy countenance of Emily--happy in her blindness and her forgetfulness +of the past. A young girl sat near the fire endeavouring to read by its +flickering light. I knew not then what gave such a charm to her +thoughtful features, nor why my eyes dwelt upon them with a rare +pleasure; for there was no voice to proclaim to the father's heart that +he looked on the face of his child. I am not sure that the strong +impulse which prompted me then to enter, acknowledge my identity, and +beg Emily to speak to me a word of forgiveness, might not have prevailed +over the dread of her displeasure; but Mr. Graham at the moment +appeared, cold and implacable as ever; I gazed an instant, then fled +from the house. + +"Although in the various labours which I was compelled to undertake to +earn a decent maintenance, I had more than once met with such success as +to give me temporary independence, and to enable me to indulge in +expensive travelling, I had never amassed a fortune; indeed, I had not +cared to do so, since I had no use for money, except to employ it in the +gratification of my immediate wants. Accident, however, at last thrust +upon me a wealth which I could scarcely be said to have sought. + +"After a year spent in the wilderness of the west, amid adventures the +relation of which now would seem to you almost incredible, I gradually +continued my retreat across the country, and after encountering +innumerable hardships, which had no other object than the indulgence of +my vagrant habits, I found myself in that land which has recently been +termed the land of promise, but which has proved to many a greedy +emigrant a land of deceit. For me, however, who sought it not, it +showered gold. I was among the earliest discoverers of its +treasure-vaults--one of the most successful, though the least laborious, +of the seekers after gain. Nor was it merely, or indeed chiefly, at the +mines that fortune favoured me. With the first results of my labours I +purchased an immense tract of land, little dreaming at the time that +those desert acres were destined to become the streets and squares of a +great and prosperous city. So that without effort, almost without my own +knowledge, I achieved the greatness which springs from untold wealth. +But this was not all. The blessed accident which led me to this golden +land was the means of disclosing a pearl of price--a treasure in +comparison with which California and all its mines shrink, to my mind, +into insignificance. You know how the war-cry went forth to all lands, +and men of every name and nation brought their arms to the field of +fortune. Famine came next, with disease and death in its train; and many +a man, hurrying on to reap the golden harvest, fell by the wayside, +without once seeing the waving of the yellow grain. + +"Half scorning the greedy rabble, I could not refuse in this, my time of +prosperity, to minister to the wants of such as fell in the way; and now +for once my humanity found its own reward. A miserable, ragged, +half-starved, and apparently dying man crept to the door of my tent and +asked in a feeble voice for charity. I did not refuse to admit him into +my narrow domicile and to relieve his sufferings. He was the victim of +want rather than disease, and, his hunger appeased, the savage brutality +of his coarse nature soon manifested itself in the dogged indifference +with which he received a stranger's bounty and the gross ingratitude +with which he abused my hospitality. A few days served to restore him to +his strength; and then, anxious to dismiss my visitor, whose conduct had +already excited suspicions of his good faith, I gave him warning that he +must depart; at the same time placing in his hand a sufficient amount of +gold to insure his support until he could reach the mines which were his +professed destination. + +"He appeared dissatisfied, and begged permission to remain until the +next morning, as the night was near, and he had no shelter provided. To +this I made no objection, little imagining how base a serpent I was +harbouring. At midnight I was awakened from my light and +easily-disturbed sleep to find my lodger busily engaged in rifling my +property and preparing to take an unceremonious leave of my dwelling. +Nor did his villainy end here. Upon my seizing and charging him with the +theft, he snatched a weapon and attempted the life of his benefactor. +But I was prepared to ward off the stroke, and succeeded in a few +moments in subduing my desperate antagonist. He now crouched at my feet +in such abject submission as might be expected from so vile a knave. +Well might he tremble with fear; for the Lynch-law was then in full +force for criminals like him. I should probably have handed the traitor +over to his fate; but, ere I had time to do so, he held out to my +cupidity a bribe so tempting that I forgot the deservings of my knavish +guest in the eagerness with which I bartered his freedom as the price of +its possession. + +"He freely emptied his pockets at my bidding, and restored to me the +gold, for the loss of which I never should have repined. As the base +metal rolled at my feet, there glittered among the coins a jewel as +truly _mine_ as any of the rest, but which, as it met my sight, filled +me with greater surprise than if it had been a new-fallen star. + +"It was a ring of peculiar design and workmanship, which had once been +the property of my father, and after his death had been worn by my +mother until the time of her marriage with Mr. Graham, when it was +transferred to myself. I had ever prized it as a precious heirloom, and +it was one of the few valuables which I took with me when I fled from my +step-father's house. This ring, with a watch and some other trinkets, +had been left in the possession of Lucy when I parted with her at Rio, +and the sight of it once more seemed to me like a voice from the grave. +I eagerly sought to learn from my prisoner the source whence it had been +obtained, but he maintained an obstinate silence. It was now my turn to +plead; and at length the promise of instant permission to depart, +'unwhipped by justice,' at the conclusion of his tale, wrung from him a +secret fraught to me with vital interest. + +"This man was Stephen Grant, the son of my old friend Ben. He had heard +from his father's lips the story of your mother's misfortunes; and the +circumstance of a violent quarrel which arose between Ben and his vixen +wife at the young stranger's introduction to their household impressed +the tale upon his recollection. From his account it appeared that my +long-continued absence from Lucy, during the time of my illness, was +construed by her honest but distrustful counsellor and friend into cruel +desertion. The poor girl, to whom my early life was all a mystery which +she had never shared, and to whom much of my character and conduct was +inexplicable, began soon to feel convinced of the correctness of the old +sailor's suspicions and fears. She had already applied to my employer +for information concerning me; but he, who had heard of the pestilence +to which I was exposed, and fully believed me to be among the dead, +forbore to distress her by a communication of his belief, and replied to +her questionings with an obscurity which served to give new force to her +hitherto uncertain surmises. She positively refused, however, to leave +our home; and, clinging to the hope of my final return thither, remained +where I had left her until the terrible fever began its ravages. Her +small stock of money was by this time consumed; her strength both of +mind and body gave way; and Ben, becoming every day more confident that +the simple-hearted Lucy had been betrayed and forsaken, persuaded her at +last to sell her furniture, and with the sum thus raised flee the +infected country before it should be too late. She sailed for Boston in +the same vessel in which Ben shipped before the mast; and on reaching +that port her humble protector took her to the only home he had to +offer. + +"There your mother's sad fate found a mournful termination; and you, her +infant child, were left to the mercy of the cruel woman who, but for +consciousness of guilt and her fear of its betrayal, would doubtless +have thrust you at once from the miserable shelter her dwelling +afforded. This guilt consisted in a foul robbery committed by Nan and +her infamous son upon your innocent mother, now rendered, through her +feebleness, an easy prey to their rapacity. The fruits of this vile +theft, however, were not participated in by Nan, whose promising son so +far exceeded her in duplicity and craft that, having obtained possession +of the jewels for the alleged purpose of bartering them away, he +reserved such as he thought proper, and appropriated to his own use the +proceeds of the remainder. + +"The antique ring which I now hold in my possession, the priceless relic +of a mournful tragedy, would have shared the fate of the rest but for +its apparent worthlessness. To the luckless Stephen, however, it proved +at last a temporary salvation from the felon's doom which must finally +await that hardened sinner; and to me--ah! to _me_--it remains to be +proved whether the knowledge of the secrets to which it has been the key +will bless my future life or darken it with a heavier curse! +Notwithstanding the information thus gained, and the exciting idea to +which it gave rise, that my child might be still living and finally +restored to me, I could not yet feel any security that these daring +hopes were not destined to be crushed in their infancy, and that my +newly-found treasure might not again elude my eager search. To my +inquiries concerning you, Gertrude, Stephen, who had no longer any +motives for concealing the truth, declared his inability to acquaint me +with any particulars of a later period than the time of your residence +with Trueman Flint. He knew that the lamplighter had taken you to his +home, and was accidentally made aware, a few months later, of your +continuance in that place of refuge from the old man's being such a fool +as to call upon his mother and voluntarily make compensation for the +injury done to her windows in your outburst of childish revenge. + +"I could learn nothing more; but it was enough to inspire all my +energies to recover my child. I hastened to Boston, had no difficulty in +tracing your benefactor, and, though he had been long dead, found many a +truthful witness to his well-known virtues. Nor, when I asked for his +adopted child, did I find her forgotten in the quarter of the city where +she had passed her childhood. More than one grateful voice was ready to +respond to my questioning, and to proclaim the cause they had to +remember the girl who, having experienced the trials of poverty, made it +both her duty and her pleasure of prosperity to administer to the wants +of a neighbourhood whose sufferings she had aforetime both witnessed and +shared. But, alas! to complete the sum of sad vicissitudes with which my +unhappy destiny was already crowded, at the moment when I was assured +of my daughter's safety, and my ears were greeted with the sweet praises +that accompanied the mention of her name, there fell upon me like a +thunderbolt the startling words, 'She is now the adopted child of sweet +Emily Graham, the blind girl.' + +"Oh, strange coincidence! Oh, righteous retribution! which, at the very +moment when I was picturing to myself the consummation of my cherished +hopes, crushed me once more beneath the iron hand of a destiny that +would not be cheated of its victim! My child, my only child, bound by +the gratitude and love of years to one in whose face I scarcely dared to +look, lest my soul should be withered by the expression of condemnation +which the consciousness of my presence would inspire! + +"The seas and lands which had hitherto divided us seemed not, to my +tortured fancy, so insurmountable a barrier between myself and my +long-lost daughter as the dreadful reflection that the only earthly +being whose love I had hoped in time to win had been reared from her +infancy in a household where my name was a thing abhorred. + +"Stung to the quick by the harrowing thought that all my prayers, +entreaties, and explanations could never undo her early impressions, and +that all my labours and all my love could never call forth other than a +cold and formal recognition of my claims, I half resolved to leave my +child in ignorance of her birth and never seek to look upon her face, +rather than subject her to the terrible necessity of choosing between +the friend whom she loved and the father from whose crimes she had +learned to shrink with horror and dread. After struggling long with +contending emotions, I resolved to make one effort to see and recognize +you, Gertrude, and at the same time guard myself from discovery. I +trusted to the change which time had wrought in my appearance to conceal +me effectually from all eyes but those which had known me intimately, +and therefore approached Mr. Graham's house without the slightest fear +of betrayal. I found it empty and apparently deserted. + +"I now directed my steps to the well-remembered counting-house, and here +learned from the clerk that the whole household, including yourself, had +been passing the winter in Paris, and were at present at a German +watering-place. Without further inquiry I took the steamer to +Liverpool, thence hastened to Baden-Baden--a trifling excursion in the +eyes of a traveller of my experience. Without risking myself in the +presence of my step-father, I took an early opportunity to obtain an +introduction to Mrs. Graham, and, thanks to her unreserved conversation, +learned that Emily and yourself were left in Boston, and were under the +care of Dr. Jeremy. + +"On my return voyage, immediately undertaken, I made the acquaintance of +Dr. Gryseworth and his daughter--an acquaintance which proved of great +value in facilitating my intercourse with yourself. Once more arrived in +Boston, Dr. Jeremy's house looked as if closed for the season. A man +making some repairs about the door-step informed me that the family were +absent from town. He was not aware of the direction they had taken, but +the servants were at home and might acquaint me with their route. Upon +this I boldly rung the door-bell. It was answered by Mrs. Ellis, who +nearly twenty years ago had cruelly sounded in my ears the death-knell +of all my hopes in life. I saw that my incognito was secure, as she met +my piercing glance without shrinking or taking flight, as I fully +expected she would do at sight of the ghost of my former self. + +"She replied to my queries as coolly as she had done during the day to +some dozen of the doctor's disappointed patients--telling me that he had +left that morning for New York, and would not be back for two or three +weeks. Nothing could have been more favourable to my wishes than the +chance thus afforded of overtaking your party and, as a travelling +companion, introducing myself gradually to your notice. + +"You know how this purpose was effected; how, now in the rear, and now +in advance, I nevertheless maintained a constant proximity to your +footsteps. To add to the comfort of yourself and Emily, to learn your +plans, forestall your wishes, secure to your use the best of rooms, and +bribe to your service the most devoted of attendants--I spared neither +pains, trouble, nor expense. For much of the freedom with which I +approached you and made myself an occasional member of your circle, I +was indebted to Emily's blindness; for I could not doubt that otherwise +time and its changes would fail to conceal from her my identity, and I +should meet with a premature recognition. Nor until the final act of +the drama, when death stared us all in the face, and concealment became +impossible, did I once trust my voice to her hearing. + +"How closely, during those few weeks, I watched and weighed your every +word and action, seeking even to read your thoughts in your face, none +can tell whose acuteness is not sharpened and vivified by motives so +all-engrossing as mine; and who can measure the anguish of the fond +father who day by day learned to worship his child with a more absorbing +idolatry, and yet dared not clasp her to his heart? + +"Especially when I saw you the victim of grief and trouble did I long to +assert a claim to your confidence; and more than once my self-control +would have given way but for the dread inspired by the gentle +Emily--gentle to all but me. I could not brook the thought that with my +confession I should cease to be the trusted friend and become the +abhorred parent. I preferred to maintain my distant and unacknowledged +guardianship of my child rather than that she should behold in me the +dreaded tyrant who might tear her from the home from which he himself +had been driven. + +"And so I kept silent; and sometimes present to your sight, but still +oftener hid from view, I hovered around your path until that dreadful +day, which you will long remember, when, everything forgotten but the +safety of yourself and Emily, my heart spoke out and betrayed my secret. +And now you know all--my follies, misfortunes, sufferings, and sins! + +"Can you love me, Gertrude? It is all I ask. I seek not to steal you +from your present home--to rob poor Emily of a child whom she values +perhaps as much as I. The only balm my wounded spirit seeks is the +simple, guileless confession that you will at least try to love your +father. + +"I have no hope in this world, and none, alas! beyond, but in yourself. +Could you feel my heart now beating against its prison bars, you would +realize, as I do, that unless soothed it will burst ere long. Will you +soothe it by your pity, my sweet, my darling child? Will you bless it by +your love? If so, come, clasp your arms around me, and whisper to me +words of peace. Within sight of your window, in the old summer-house at +the end of the garden, with straining ear, I wait listening for your +footsteps." + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +THE REUNION. + + +As Gertrude's eyes, after greedily devouring the manuscript, fell upon +its closing words she sprang to her feet, and the next instant she has +run down the staircase, run out of the hall door, and approached the +summer-house from the opposite entrance to that at which Mr. Amory, with +folded arms and a fixed countenance, is watching for her coming. + +So noiseless is her light step, that before he is conscious of her +presence, she has thrown herself upon his bosom and, her whole frame +trembling with the vehemence of long-suppressed agitation, burst into a +torrent of passionate tears, interrupted only by frequent sobs, so deep +and so exhausting that her father, with his arms folded around her, and +clasping her so closely to his heart that she feels its irregular +beating, endeavours to still the tempest of her grief, whispering +softly, as to an infant, "Hush! hush, my child! you frighten me!" + +And, gradually soothed by his gentle caresses, her excitement subsides, +and she is able to lift her face to his and smile upon him through her +tears. They stand thus for many minutes in a silence that speaks far +more than words. Wrapped in the folds of his heavy cloak to preserve her +from the evening air, and still encircled in his strong embrace, +Gertrude feels that their union of spirit is not less complete; while +the long-banished man, who for years has never felt the sweet influence +of a kindly smile, glows with a melting tenderness which hardening +solitude has not the power to subdue. At length Mr. Amory, lifting his +daughter's face and gazing into her glistening eyes, while he gently +strokes the disordered hair from her forehead, asks, in an accent of +touching appeal, "You will love me, then?" + +"Oh, I do! I do!" exclaimed Gertrude, sealing his lips with kisses. His +hitherto unmoved countenance relaxes at this fervent assurance. He bows +his head upon her shoulder, and the strong man weeps. Her +self-possession all restored, at seeing him thus overcome, Gertrude +places her hand in his, and startles him from his position by the firm +and decided tone with which she whispers, "Come!" + +"Whither?" exclaims he, looking up in surprise. + +"To Emily." + +With a half shudder and a mournful shake of the head, he retreats +instead of advancing in the direction in which she would lead him--"I +cannot." + +"But she waits for you; she, too, weeps and longs and prays for your +coming." + +"Emily!--you know not what you are saying!" + +"Indeed, my father; it is you who are deceived. Emily does not hate you; +she never did. She believed you dead long ago; but your voice, though +heard but once, has half robbed her of her reason so entirely does she +love you still. Come, and she will tell you, better than I can, what a +wretched mistake has made martyrs of you both." + +Emily, who had heard the voice of Willie Sullivan, as he bade Gertrude +farewell on the door-step, and rightly conjectured that it was he, +forbore making any inquiries for the absent girl at the tea-table, and +thinking it probable that she preferred to remain undisturbed, retired +to the sitting-room at the conclusion of the meal, where (as Mr. Graham +sought the library) she remained alone for more than an hour. + +The refined taste which always made Emily's dress an index to the soft +purity of her character was never more strikingly developed than when +she wore, as on the present occasion, a flowing robe of white cashmere, +fastened at the waist with a silken girdle, and with full drapery +sleeves, whose lining and border of snowy silk could only have been +rivalled by the delicate hand and wrist which had escaped from beneath +their folds, and somewhat nervously played with the crimson fringe of a +shawl, worn in the chilly dining-room, and thrown carelessly over the +arm of the sofa. Supporting herself upon her elbow, she sat with her +head bent forward, and apparently deep in thought. Once Mrs. Prime +opened the door, looked around the room in search of the housekeeper, +and, not finding her, retreated, saying to herself, "Law! dear sakes +alive! I wish she only had eyes now, to see how like a picter she +looks!" + +A low, quick bark from the house-dog attracted her attention, and steps +were heard crossing the piazza. Before they had gained the door, Emily +was standing upright, straining her ear to catch the sound of every +footfall; and, when Gertrude and Mr. Amory entered, she looked more like +a statue than a living figure, as with clasped hands, parted lips, and +one foot slightly advanced, she silently awaited their approach. One +glance at Emily's face, another at that of her agitated father, and +Gertrude was gone. She saw the completeness of their mutual recognition, +and with instinctive delicacy, forbore to mar by her presence the +sacredness of so holy an interview. As the door closed upon her +retreating figure, Emily parted her clasped hands, stretched them forth +into the dim vacancy, and murmured, "Philip!" + +He seized them between both of his, and with one step forward, fell upon +his knees. As he did so, the half-fainting Emily dropped upon the seat. +Mr. Amory bowed his head upon the hands which, still held tightly +between his own, now rested on her lap, and, hiding his face upon her +slender fingers, tremblingly uttered her name. + +"The grave has given up its dead!" exclaimed Emily. "My God, I thank +thee!" and she flung her arms around his neck, rested her head upon his +bosom, and whispered, in a voice half choked with emotion, +"Philip!--dear, dear Philip! am I dreaming, or have you come back +again?" + +She and Philip had loved each other in their childhood; before that +childhood was passed they had parted; and as children they met again. +During the lapse of many years she had lived among the cherished +memories of the past, she had been safe from worldly contagion, and had +retained all the guileless simplicity of girlhood--all the freshness of +her spring-time; and Philip, who had never willingly bound himself by +any ties save those imposed upon him by necessity, felt his boyhood come +rushing upon him, as, with Emily's soft hand resting on his head, she +blessed Heaven for his safe return. She could not see how time had +silvered his hair and sobered and shaded the face that she loved. + +And to him, as he beheld the face he had half dreaded to encounter +beaming with the holy light of sympathy and love, the blind girl's +countenance seemed encircled with a halo not of earth. And, therefore, +this union had in it less of earth than heaven. Not until, seated beside +each other, with their hands still fondly clasped, Philip had heard from +Emily's lips the history of her hopes, her fears, her prayers, and her +despair; and she, while listening to the sad incidents of his life, had +dropped upon the hand she held many a kiss and tear of sympathy, did +either fully realise the mercy so long delayed, so fully accorded now, +which promised even on earth to crown their days. + +Emily wept at the tale of Lucy's trials and her early death, and when +she learned that it was hers and Philip's child whom she had taken to +her heart, and fostered with the truest affection, she sent up her +silent praise that it had been allotted to her apparently bereaved and +darkened destiny to fulfil so blessed a mission. "If I could love her +more, dear Philip," said she, while the tears trickled down her cheeks, +"I would do so, for your sake, and that of her sweet, innocent, +suffering mother." + +"And you forgive me, then, Emily?" said Philip, as both having finished +their sad recitals of the past, they gave themselves up to the sweet +reflection of their present joy. + +"Forgive? Oh, Philip! what have I to forgive?" + +"The deed that locked you in prison darkness," he mournfully replied. + +"Philip!" exclaimed Emily, "could you for one moment believe that I +attributed that to you?--that I blamed you, for an instant?" + +"Not willingly, I am sure, dear Emily. But, oh, you have forgotten that +in your time of anguish, not only the obtruding thought but the lip that +gave utterance to it, proclaimed how you refused to forgive the cruel +hand that wrought you so much woe!" + +"You cruel, Philip! Never did I so abuse and wrong you. If my unfilial +heart sinfully railed against the cruel injustice of my father, it was +never guilty of such treachery towards you." + +"That fiendish woman lied, then, when she told me that you shuddered at +my very name?" + +"If I shuddered, Philip, it was because I recoiled at the thought of the +wrong you had sustained; and oh, believe me, if she gave you any other +assurance than of my continued love, it was because she laboured under a +sad error." + +"Good heavens!" ejaculated Philip; "how wickedly have I been deceived!" + +"Not wickedly," replied Emily. "Mrs. Ellis was in that instance the +victim of circumstances. She was a stranger among us, and believed you +other than you were; but, had you seen her a few weeks later, sobbing +over her share in the unhappy transaction which drove you to +desperation, and as we then supposed to death, you would have felt that +we had misjudged her, and that she carried a heart of flesh beneath a +stony disguise. The bitterness of her grief was united with remorse at +the recollection of her own harshness. Let us forget the sad events of +the past, and trust that the loving hand which has thus far shaped our +course has but afflicted us in mercy." + +"In mercy!" exclaimed Philip. "What mercy does my past experience give +evidence of, or your life of everlasting darkness? Can you believe it a +loving hand which made me the ill-fated instrument, and you the +life-long sufferer, from one of the dreariest misfortunes that can +afflict humanity?" + +"Speak not of my blindness as a misfortune," answered Emily; "I have +long ceased to think it such. It is only through the darkness of the +night that we discern the lights of heaven, and only when shut out from +earth that we enter the gates of Paradise. With eyes to see the +wonderful working of nature and nature's God, I nevertheless closed them +to the evidences of Almighty love that were around me on every side. +While enjoying the beautiful gifts that were showered on my pathway, I +forgot to praise the Giver; but, with an ungrateful heart, walked +sinfully on, little dreaming of the deceitful snares which entangle the +footsteps of youth. And therefore did he, who is ever over us for good, +arrest with fatherly hand the child who was wandering from the road that +leads to peace; and, though the discipline of his chastening rod was +sudden and severe, mercy tempered justice. From the tomb of my buried +joys sprang hopes that will bloom in immortality. From the clouds and +the darkness broke forth a glorious light. Then grieve not, dear Philip, +over the fate that is far from sad; but rejoice with me in the thought +of that blessed and not far distant awakening, when, with restored and +beautiful vision, I shall stand before God's throne, in full view of +that glorious Presence, from which, but for the guiding light which has +burst upon my spirit through the veil of earthly darkness, I might have +been eternally shut out." + +As Emily finished speaking, and Philip, gazing with awe upon the rapt +expression of her soul-illumined face, beheld the triumph of an immortal +mind, and pondered on the might, the majesty, and power of the influence +wrought by simple piety, the door of the room opened abruptly and Mr. +Graham entered. + +The sound of the well-known footstep disturbed the soaring thoughts of +both, and the flush of excitement which had mounted into Emily's cheeks +subsided into more than her wonted paleness as Philip, rising slowly +from her side, stood face to face with her father. + +Mr. Graham approached with the scrutinizing air of one called upon to +greet a visitor who, though an apparent stranger, may possibly have +claims to recognition, and glanced at his daughter as if hoping she +would relieve the awkwardness by an introduction. But the agitated Emily +maintained perfect silence, and every feature of Philip's countenance +remained immovable as Mr. Graham slowly came forward. + +He had advanced within one step of the spot where Philip stood waiting +to receive him, when, struck by the stern look and attitude of the +latter, he stopped short, gazed one moment into the eagle eyes of his +step-son, then staggered, grasped at the mantel-piece, and would have +fallen, but Philip, starting forward, helped him to his arm-chair. And +yet no word was spoken. At length Mr. Graham, who, having fallen into +the seat, sat still gazing into the face of Mr. Amory, ejaculated in a +tone of wondering excitement, "Philip Amory! Oh, my God!" + +"Yes, father," exclaimed Emily, suddenly rising and grasping her +father's arm; "it is Philip; he whom we have so long believed among the +dead, restored to us in health and safety!" + +Mr. Graham rose from his chair and, leaning heavily on Emily's shoulder, +again approached Mr. Amory, who, with folded arms, stood fixed as +marble. His step tottered with a feebleness never before observable in +the sturdy frame of the old man, and the hand which he extended to +Philip was marked by an unusual tremulousness. But Philip did not offer +to receive the proffered hand, or reply by word to the rejected +salutation. + +Mr. Graham turned towards Emily and, forgetting that this neglect was +shut from her sight, exclaimed half-bitterly, half-sadly, "I cannot +blame him! God knows I wronged the boy!" + +"Wronged him!" cried Philip, in a voice almost fearful. "Yes, wronged +him, indeed! Blighted his life, crushed his youth, half broke his heart, +and wholly blighted his reputation!" + +"No," exclaimed Mr. Graham, who had quailed beneath these accusations, +until he reached the final one; "not that, Philip!--not that! I never +harmed you there; I discovered my error before I had doomed you to +infamy in the eyes of one of your fellow-men." + +"You acknowledge, then, the error?" + +"I do, I do! I imputed to you the deed which proved to have been +accomplished through the agency of my most confidential clerk. I learned +the truth almost immediately; but too late, alas! to recall you. Then +came the news of your death, and I felt that the injury had been +irreparable. But it was not strange, Philip; you must allow that. Archer +had been in my employment more than twenty years. I believed him +trustworthy." + +"No! oh, no!" replied Philip. "It was nothing strange that, a crime +committed, you should have readily ascribed it to me. You thought me +capable only of evil." + +"I was unjust, Philip," answered Mr. Graham, with an attempt to rally +his dignity; "but I had some cause." + +"Perhaps so," responded Philip; "I am willing to grant that." + +"Let us shake hands upon it, then," said Mr. Graham, "and endeavour to +forget the past." + +Philip acceded to this request, though there was but little warmth in +the manner of his compliance. Mr. Graham looked relieved from a burden +which had been oppressing his conscience for years, and, subsiding into +his arm-chair, begged the particulars of Philip's experience during the +last twenty years. + +The outline of the story was soon told, Mr. Graham listening to it with +attention, and inquiring into its particulars with an interest which +proved that, during a lengthened period of regret and remorse, his +feelings had sensibly softened towards the step-son, with every memory +of whom there had come to his heart a pang of self-reproach. + +Mr. Amory was unable to afford any satisfactory explanation of the +report of his own death which had been confidently affirmed by Dr. +Jeremy's correspondent at Rio. Upon a comparison of dates, however, it +seemed probable that the doctor's agent had obtained this information +from Philip's employer, who had every reason to believe that the young +man had perished of the prevailing infection. + +To Philip himself it was almost an equal matter of wonder that his +friends should ever have obtained knowledge of his flight and +destination. But this was easily accounted for, since the vessel in +which he had embarked returned directly to Boston, and there were among +her crew and officers those who could reply to the inquiries which the +benevolent doctor had set on foot some months before, accompanied by the +offer of a liberal reward. + +Notwithstanding the many romantic incidents which were unfolding +themselves, none seemed to produce so great an impression upon Mr. +Graham's mind as the singular circumstance that the child who had been +reared under his roof, and endeared herself to him, in spite of some +clashing of interests and opinions, should prove to be Philip's +daughter. As he left the room at the conclusion of the tale, and sought +the solitude of his library, he muttered to himself, "Singular +coincidence! Very singular! Very!" + +Hardly had he departed before another door was timidly opened, and +Gertrude looked cautiously in. Her father went quickly towards her, and, +passing his arm around her waist, drew her towards Emily, and clasped +them both in a long and silent embrace. + +"Philip," exclaimed Emily, "can you doubt the mercy which has spared us +for such a meeting?" + +"Oh, Emily!" replied he, "I am deeply grateful. Teach me how and where +to bestow my tribute of praise." + +On the hour of sweet communion which succeeded we forbear to dwell--the +silent rapture of Emily, the passionately-expressed joy of Philip, or +the trusting, loving glances which Gertrude cast upon both. It was +nearly midnight when Mr. Amory rose to depart. Emily, who had not +thought of his leaving the spot which she hoped he would now consider +his home, entreated him to remain; and Gertrude, with her eyes, joined +in the eager petition. But he persisted in his resolution with firmness +and seriousness. + +"Philip," said Emily, laying her hand upon his arm, "you have not yet +forgiven my father." She had divined his thoughts. He shrank under her +reproachful tones, and made no answer. + +"But you _will_, dear Philip--you _will_," continued she, in a pleading +voice. + +He hesitated, then glanced at her once more, and replied, "I will, +dearest Emily, I will--in time." + +When he had gone, Gertrude lingered a moment at the door, to watch his +retreating figure, just visible in the light of the waning moon, then +returned to the parlour, and saying, "Oh, what a day this has been!" but +checked herself, at the sight of Emily, who, kneeling by the sofa with +clasped hands, and with her white garments sweeping the floor, looked +the very impersonation of purity and prayer. Throwing one arm around her +neck, Gertrude knelt on the floor beside her, and together they sent up +to the throne of God the incense of thanksgiving and praise! + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +THE RECOMPENSE. + + +When Uncle True died, Mr. Cooper buried his old friend in the ancient +graveyard which adjoined the church where he had long officiated as +sexton. But long before the time-worn building gave place to a modern +structure the hallowed remains of Uncle True had found a quieter +resting-place--even a beautiful piece of undulating woodland in the +neighbourhood of Mr. Graham's country residence, which had been +consecrated as a rural cemetery; and in the loveliest nook of this +beautiful spot the ashes of the good old lamplighter found their final +repose. + +This lot of land, which had been purchased by Willie's liberality, +selected by Gertrude, and by her made fragrant with summer rose and +winter ivy, now enclosed also the forms of Mr. Cooper and Mrs. Sullivan; +and over these three graves Gertrude had planted many a flower and +watered it with her tears. Especially did she view it as a sacred duty +and privilege to mark the anniversary of the death of each by a tribute +of fresh garlands; and, with this pious purpose in view, she left Mr. +Graham's house one beautiful afternoon about a week after the events +narrated in the previous chapter. + +She carried on her arm a basket, containing her offering of flowers; +and, as she had a long walk before her, started at a rapid pace. Let us +follow her, and briefly pursue the train of thought which accompanied +her on her way. She had left her father with Emily. She would not ask +him to join her in her walk, though he had once expressed a desire to +visit the grave of Uncle True, for he and Emily were talking together so +contentedly, it would have been a pity to disturb them; and Gertrude's +reflections were engrossed by the thought of their tranquil happiness. +She thought of herself, too, as associated with them both; of the deep +and long-tried love of Emily, and of the fond outpourings of affection +daily and hourly lavished upon her by her newly-found parent, and felt +that she could scarcely repay their kindness by the devotion of a +lifetime. + +She tried to banish the remembrance of Willie's faithlessness and +desertion. But the painful recollection presented itself continually, +notwithstanding her utmost efforts to repress it; and at last, ceasing +the struggle, she gave herself up for the time to a deep and saddening +reverie. She had received two visits from Willie since the first; but +the second meeting had been in its character very similar, and on the +succeeding occasion the constraint had increased instead of diminishing. +Several times Willie had made an effort to speak and act with the +freedom of former days; but a sudden blush, or sign of confusion and +distress, on Gertrude's part, deterred him from any further attempt to +put to flight the reserve which subsisted in their intercourse. Again, +Gertrude, who had resolved, previous to his last visit, to meet him with +frankness, smiled upon him affectionately at his coming, and offered her +hand with such sisterly freedom, that he was emboldened to take and +retain in his grasp, and was on the point of unburdening his mind of +some weighty secret, when she turned abruptly away, took up some trivial +piece of work, and while she seemed absorbed in it, addressed to him an +unimportant question--a course of conduct which disconcerted him for the +remainder of his stay. + +As Gertrude pondered the distressing results of every visit, she half +hoped he would discontinue them, believing that their feelings would be +less wounded by a total separation than by interviews which must leave +on the mind of each a still greater sense of estrangement. + +Strange, she had not yet acquainted him with the event so interesting to +herself--the discovery of her dearly-loved father. Once she tried to +speak of it, but was so overcome at the idea of imparting to the +confidant of her childhood an experience of which she could scarcely yet +think without emotion, that she paused in the attempt, fearing that, +should she on any topic give way to her sensibilities, she should lose +all restraint over her feelings and lay open her whole heart to Willie. + +But one thing distressed her more than all others. In his first attempt +to throw off all disguise, Willie had more than intimated to her his own +unhappiness; and ere she could find an opportunity to change the subject +and repel a confidence for which she still felt herself unprepared, he +had spoken mournfully over his future prospects in life. + +The only construction which Gertrude could give to this confession was +that it had reference to his engagement with Isabel, and it gave rise to +the suspicion that, infatuated by her beauty, he had impulsively bound +himself to one who could never make him happy. The little scenes to +which she herself had been a witness corroborated this idea, as, on both +occasions of her seeing the lovers and overhearing their words, some +cause of vexation seemed to exist on Willie's part. "He loves her," +thought Gertrude, "and is also bound to her in honour; but he sees +already the want of harmony in their natures. Poor Willie! It is +impossible he should ever be happy with Isabel." + +And Gertrude's sympathising heart mourned not more deeply over her own +griefs than over the disappointment that Willie must be experiencing, if +he had ever hoped to find peace in a union with so overbearing, +ill-humoured, and unreasonable a girl. + +Wholly occupied with these and similar musings, she walked on with a +quickness she was scarcely herself aware of, and soon gained the shelter +of the heavy pines which bordered the entrance to the cemetery. Here she +paused to enjoy the refreshing breeze that played beneath the branches; +and, passing through the gateway, entered a carriage-road at the right, +and proceeded slowly up the ascent. The place, always quiet and +peaceful, seemed unusually still and secluded, and save the occasional +carol of a bird, there was no sound to disturb the perfect silence and +repose. As Gertrude gazed upon the familiar beauties of those sacred +grounds which had been her frequent resort during several years--as she +walked between beds of flowers, inhaled the fragrant and balmy air, and +felt the solemn appeal, the spiritual breathings, that haunted the holy +place--every motion that was not in harmony with the scene gradually +took its flight, and she experienced only that sensation of sweet and +half-joyful melancholy which was awakened by the thought of the happy +dead. + +After a while she left the broad road and turned into a little bypath, +and then again to a narrower foot-track, and gained the shady and +retired spot which had recommended itself to her choice. It was situated +on the slope of a little hill; a huge rock protected it on one side from +the observation of the passer-by, and a fine old oak overshadowed it +upon the other. The iron enclosure, of simple workmanship, was nearly +overgrown by the green ivy, which had been planted there by Gertrude's +hand, and the moss-grown rock was festooned by its tendrils. Upon a +jutting stone beside the grave of Uncle True Gertrude seated herself, +and after a few moments of contemplation sighed heavily, emptied her +flowers upon the grass, and commenced weaving a graceful chaplet, which, +when completed, she placed upon the grave at her feet. With the +remainder of the blossoms she strewed the other mounds; and then, +drawing forth a pair of gardening gloves and a little trowel, she +employed herself for nearly an hour among the flowers and vines with +which she had embowered the spot. Her work finished, she again placed +herself at the foot of the old rock, removed her gloves, pushed back +from her forehead the braids of her hair, and appeared to be resting +from her labours. + +It was seven years that day since Uncle True died, but Gertrude had not +forgotten the kind old man. As she gazed upon the grassy mound that +covered him, and scene after scene rose up before her in which that +earliest friend and herself had whiled away the happy hours, there came, +to embitter the cherished remembrance, the recollection of that third +and seldom absent one who completed the memory of their fireside joys; +and Gertrude, while yielding to the inward reflection, unconsciously +exclaimed aloud, "Oh, Uncle True! you and I are not parted yet; but +Willie is not of us!" + +"Oh, Gertrude," said a reproachful voice close at her side, "is Willie +to blame for that?" She started, turned, saw the object of her thoughts +with his mild sad eye fixed inquiringly upon her, and, without replying +to his question, buried her face in her hands. + +He threw himself upon the ground at her feet, and, as on the occasion of +their first childish interview, gently lifted her bowed head from the +hands upon which it had fallen, and compelled her to look him in the +face, saying at the same time in the most imploring accents, "Tell me, +Gerty, in pity tell me, why I am excluded from your sympathy?" But still +she made no answer, except by the tears that coursed down her cheeks. + +"You make me miserable," continued he. "What have I done that you have +so shut me out of your affection? Why do you look so coldly upon me--and +even shrink from my sight?" added he, as Gertrude, unable to endure his +searching look, turned her eyes in another direction and strove to free +her hands from his grasp. + +"I am not cold--I do not mean to be," said she, her voice half-choked +with emotion. + +"Oh, Gertrude," replied he, relinquishing her hands and turning away, "I +see you have ceased to love me. I trembled when I first beheld you, so +lovely, so beautiful, and so beloved by all, and feared lest some +fortunate rival had stolen your heart from its boyish keeper. But even +then I did not deem that you would refuse me, at least, a _brother's_ +claim to your affection." + +"I will not," exclaimed Gertrude eagerly. "Oh, Willie, you must not be +angry with me! Let me be your sister!" + +He smiled a most mournful smile, and said, "I was right, then; you +feared lest I should claim too much, and discouraged my presumption by +awarding me nothing. Be it so. Perhaps your prudence was for the best; +but, oh Gertrude, it has made me heartbroken." + +"Willie!" exclaimed Gertrude, with excitement, "do you know how +strangely you are speaking?" + +"Strangely?" responded Willie, in a half-offended tone. "Is it so +strange that I should love you? Have I not for years cherished the +remembrance of our past affection, and looked forward to our reunion as +my only hope of happiness? Has not this fond expectation inspired my +labours, and cheered my toils, and endeared to me my life, in spite of +its bereavements? And can you, in the very sight of these cold mounds, +beneath which lie buried all else that I held dear on earth, crush and +destroy without compassion this solitary but all-engrossing----" + +"Willie," interrupted Gertrude, her calmness suddenly restored, and +speaking in a kind but serious tone, "is it honourable for you to +address me thus? Have you forgotten----" + +"No, I have _not_ forgotten," exclaimed he vehemently. "I have not +forgotten that I have no right to distress or annoy you, and I will do +so no more. But oh, Gerty! my sister Gerty (since all hope of a nearer +tie is at an end), blame me not, and wonder not, if I fail at present to +perform a brother's part. I cannot stay in this neighbourhood. I cannot +be the patient witness of another's happiness. My services, my time, my +life, you may command, and in my far-distant home I will never cease to +pray that the husband you have chosen, whoever he be, may prove himself +worthy of my noble Gertrude, and love her one-half as well as I do!" + +"Willie!" said Gertrude, "what madness is this? I am bound by no such +tie as you describe; but what shall I think of your treachery to +Isabel?" + +"To Isabel!" cried Willie, starting up, as if seized with a new idea; +"and has that silly rumour reached _you_ too? and did you put faith in +the falsehood?" + +"Falsehood!" exclaimed Gertrude, lifting her hitherto drooping eyelids +and casting upon him, through their wet lashes, a look of earnest +scrutiny. + +Calmly returning a glance which he had neither avoided nor quailed +under, Willie responded unhesitatingly, and with a tone of astonishment +not unmingled with reproach, "Falsehood! Yes. With the knowledge you +have both of her and myself, could you doubt its being such for a +moment?" + +"Oh, Willie!" cried Gertrude, "could I doubt the evidence of my own eyes +and ears? Had I trusted to less faithful witnesses, I might have been +deceived. Do not attempt to conceal from me the truth, to which my own +observation can testify. Treat me with frankness, Willie! Indeed, +indeed, I deserve it at your hands!" + +"Frankness, Gertrude! it is you only who are mysterious. Could I lay my +whole soul bare to your gaze, you would be convinced of its truth, its +perfect truth, to its first affection. And as to Isabel Clinton, if it +is to her that you have reference, your eyes and your ears have both +played you false, if----" + +"Oh, Willie! Willie!" exclaimed Gertrude, interrupting him; "have you so +soon forgotten your devotion to the belle of Saratoga, your +unwillingness to sanction her temporary absence from your sight, the +pain which the mere suggestion of the journey caused you, and the fond +impatience which threatened to render those few days an eternity?" + +"Stop! stop!" cried Willie, a new light breaking in upon him, "and tell +me where you learned all this?" + +"In the very spot where you spoke and acted. Mr. Graham's parlour did +not witness our first meeting. In the public promenade-ground, on the +shore of Saratoga lake, and on board the steamboat at Albany, did I both +see and recognize you--myself unknown. There, too, did your own words +serve to convince me of the truth of that which from other lips I had +refused to believe." + +"Listen to me, Gertrude," said he, in a fervent and almost solemn tone, +"and believe that in sight of my mother's grave, and in the presence of +that pure spirit (and he looked reverently upward) who taught me the +love of truth, I speak with such sincerity and candour as are fitting +for the ears of angels. I do not question the accuracy with which you +overheard my expostulations and entreaties on the subject of Miss +Clinton's proposed journey, or the impatience I expressed at parting for +her speedy return. I will not pause either to inquire where the object +of all my thoughts could have been at the time that, notwithstanding the +changes of years, she escaped my eager eyes. Let me first clear myself +of the imputation, and then there will be room for all further +explanations. + +"I did feel pain at Miss Clinton's sudden departure for New York, under +a pretext which ought not to have weighed with her for a moment. I did +employ every argument to dissuade her from her purpose; and when my +eloquence had failed to induce the abandonment of the scheme, I availed +myself of every suggestion and motive which possibly might influence her +to shorten her absence. Not because the society of the selfish girl was +essential, or even conducive, to my happiness--far from it--but because +her excellent father, who so worshipped and idolized his only child that +he would have thought no sacrifice too great to promote her enjoyment, +was at the very time, amid all the discomfort of a crowded +watering-place, hovering between life and death, and I was disgusted at +the heartlessness which voluntarily left the fondest of parents deprived +of all female tending, to the charge of a hired nurse and an unskillful +though willing youth like myself. That eternity might, in Miss Clinton's +absence, set a seal to the life of her father was a thought which in my +indignation I was on the point of uttering, but I checked myself, +unwilling to interfere too far in a matter which came not within my +rightful province, and perhaps excite unnecessary alarm in Isabel. If +selfishness mingled at all in my views, dear Gerty, and made me +over-impatient for the return of the daughter to her post of duty, it +was that I might be released from almost constant attendance upon my +invalid friend, and hasten to her from whom I hoped such warmth of +greeting as I was only eager to bestow. Can you wonder, then, that your +reception struck cold upon my throbbing heart?" + +"But you understand the cause of that coldness now," said Gertrude, +looking up at him through a rain of tears, which like a summer +sun-shower reflected itself in rainbow smiles upon her happy +countenance. "You know now why I dared not let my heart speak out." + +"And this was all, then?" cried Willie; "and you are free, and I may +love you still?" + +"Free from all bonds, dear Willie, but those which you yourself clasped +around me, and which have encircled me from my childhood." + +And now, with heart pressed to heart, they pour in each other's ear the +tale of mutual affection, planted in infancy, nourished in youth, +fostered and strengthened amid separation and absence, and perfected +through trial, to bless and sanctify every year of their after life. + +"But, Gerty," exclaimed Willie as, confidence restored, they sat side by +side conversing freely of the past, "how could you think for an instant +that Isabel Clinton would have power to displace you in my regard? I was +not guilty of so great an injustice towards you; for even when I +believed myself supplanted by another, I fancied that other hero of such +shining qualities as could scarcely be surpassed." + +"And who could surpass Isabel?" inquired Gerty. "Can you wonder that I +trembled for your allegiance when I thought of her beauty, her fashion, +her family, and her wealth, and remembered the forcible manner in which +all these were presented to your sight and knowledge?" + +"But what are all these, Gerty, to one who knows her as we do? Do not a +proud eye and a scornful lip destroy the effect of beauty? Can fashion +excuse rudeness, or noble birth cover natural deficiencies? And as to +money, what did I ever want of that, except to employ it for the +happiness of yourself--and them?" and he glanced at the graves of his +mother and grandfather. + +"Oh, Willie! you are so disinterested." + +"Not in this case. Had Isabel possessed the beauty of a Venus and the +wisdom of a Minerva, I could not have forgotten how little happiness +there could be with one who, while devoting herself to the pursuit of +pleasure, had become dead to natural affections and indifferent to the +holiest of duties. Could I see her flee from the bedside of her father +to engage in the frivolities and drink in the flatteries of an idle +crowd--or, when unwillingly summoned thither, shrink from the toils and +watchings imposed by his feebleness--and still imagine that such a woman +could bless and adorn a fireside? Could I fail to contrast her unfeeling +neglect, ill-concealed petulance, flagrant levity, and irreverence of +spirit, with the sweet and loving devotion, the saintly patience, and +the deep and fervent piety of my own Gertrude? I should have been false +to myself, as well as to you, dearest, if such traits of character as +Miss Clinton constantly evinced could have ever weakened my love and +admiration for yourself. And now, to see the little playmate whose image +I cherished so fondly matured into the lovely and graceful woman, her +sweet attractions crowned by so much beauty as to place her beyond +recognition, and still her heart as much my own as ever! Oh, Gerty, it +is too much happiness! Would that I could impart a share of it to those +who loved us both so well!" + +And who can say that they did not share it?--that the spirit of Uncle +True was not there to witness the completion of his many hopeful +prophecies? that the old grandfather was not there to see all his doubts +and fears giving place to joyful certainties? and that the soul of the +gentle mother whose rapt slumbers had even in life foreshadowed such a +meeting, and who, by the lessons she had given her child in his boyhood, +the warnings spoken to his later years, and the ministering guidance of +her disembodied spirit, had fitted him for the struggle with temptation, +sustained him through its trials, and restored him triumphant to the +sweet friend of his infancy--who shall say that even now she hovered not +over them with parted wings, realising the joy prefigured in that dreamy +vision which pictured to her sight the union between the son and the +daughter of her love, when the one, shielded by her fond care from every +danger and snatched, from the power of temptation, should be restored to +the arms of the other who, by a long and patient continuance in +well-doing, had earned so full a recompense, so all-sufficient a reward? + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +ANCHORS FOR WORLD-TRIED SOULS. + + +The sunset hour was near when Gertrude and Willie rose to depart. They +left the cemetery by a different gateway, and in the opposite direction +to that by which Gertrude had entered. Here Willie found the chaise in +which he had come, though the horse had contrived to loosen the bridle +by which he was fastened, had strayed to the side of the road, eaten as +much grass as he wished, and was now sniffing the air, looking up and +down the road, and, despairing of his master's return, seemed on the +point of taking his departure. He was reclaimed, however, without +difficulty, and, as if glad after his long rest to be again in motion, +brought them in half-an-hour to Mr. Graham's door. + +As soon as they came in sight of the house, Gertrude, familiar with the +customary ways of the family, perceived that something unusual was going +forward. Lamps were moving about in every direction; the front door +stood wide open; there was, what she had never seen before, the blaze +of a bright fire discernible through the windows of the best chamber; +and as they drew still nearer she observed that the piazza was half +covered with trunks. + +All these appearances, as she rightly conjectured, betokened the arrival +of Mrs. Graham, and possibly of other company. She might perhaps have +regretted the ill-timed coming of this bustling lady at the moment when +she was eager for a quiet opportunity to present Willie to Emily and her +father, and communicate to them her own happiness; but if such a thought +presented itself it vanished in a moment. Her joy was too complete to be +marred by so trifling a disappointment. "Let us drive up the avenue, +Willie," said she, "to the side-door, so that George may see us and take +your horse to the stable." + +"No," said Willie, as he stopped opposite the front gate; "I can't come +in now--there seems to be a house full of company, and besides I have an +appointment in town at eight o'clock, and promised to be punctual;"--he +glanced at his watch and added, "it is near that already. I did not +think of its being so late; but I shall see you to-morrow morning, may I +not?" She looked her assent, and, with a warm grasp of the hand as he +helped her from the chaise, and a mutual smile of confidence and love, +they separated. + +He drove rapidly towards Boston, and she, opening the gate, found +herself in the arms of Fanny Bruce, who had been impatiently waiting the +departure of Willie to seize her dear Miss Gertrude and, between tears +and kisses, pour out her congratulations and thanks for her happy escape +from that horrid steamboat--for this was the first time they had met +since the accident. + +"Has Mrs. Graham come, Fanny?" asked Gertrude, as they walked up to the +house together. + +"Yes, indeed; Mrs. Graham, and Kitty, and Isabel, and a little girl, and +a sick gentleman--Mr. Clinton, I believe; and another gentleman--but +_he's_ gone." + +"Who has gone?" + +"Oh, a tall, dignified-looking man, with black eyes, and a beautiful +face, and hair as white as if he were old--and he isn't old either." + +"And do you say he has gone?" + +"Yes; he didn't come with the rest. He was here when I came, and he +went away about an hour ago. I heard him tell Miss Emily that he had +agreed to meet a friend in Boston, but perhaps he'd come back this +evening. I hope he will, Miss Gertrude; you ought to see him." + +They had now reached the house, and through the open door Gertrude could +plainly distinguish the loud tones of Mrs. Graham's voice proceeding +from the parlour on the right. She was talking to her husband and Emily, +and was just saying as Gertrude entered, "Oh, it was the most awful +thing I ever heard of in my life! and to think, Emily, of your being on +board, and our Isabel! Poor child! she hasn't got her colour back yet +after the fright. And Gertrude Flint, too! By the way, they say Gertrude +behaved very well. Where is the child?" + +Turning round, she now saw Gertrude, who was just entering the room, +and, going towards her, she kissed her with considerable heartiness and +sincerity; for Mrs. Graham, though somewhat coarse and blunt, was not +without good feelings when the occasion was such as to awaken them. + +Gertrude's entrance having served to interrupt the stream of exclamatory +remarks in which the excitable lady had been indulging for ten minutes +or more, she now bethought herself of the necessity of removing her +bonnet and outside garments, a part of which, being loosed from their +fastenings, she had been dragging after her about the floor. + +"Well!" exclaimed she, "I suppose I had better follow the girls' example +and get some of the dust off from me! I'm half buried, I believe! But +there, that's better than coming on in the horrid steamboat last night, +as my brother Clinton was so crazy as to propose. Where's Bridget? I +want her to take up some of my things." + +"I will assist you," said Gertrude, taking up a little carpet-bag, +throwing a scarf, which had been stretching across the room, over her +arm, and then following Mrs. Graham closely, in order to support the +heavy travelling-shawl which was hanging half off that lady's shoulders. +At the first landing-place, however, she found herself suddenly +encircled in Kitty's warm embrace, and, laying down her burdens, gave +herself up for a few moments to the hugging and kissing that succeeded. + +At the head of the staircase she met Isabel, wrapped in a dressing gown, +with a large pitcher in her hand, and a most discontented expression of +countenance. She set the pitcher on the floor, however, and saluted +Gertrude with a good grace. "I'm glad to see you alive," said she, +"though I cannot look at you without shuddering; it reminds me so of +that dreadful day when we were in such frightful danger. How lucky we +were to be saved, when there were so many drowned! I've wondered ever +since, Gertrude, how you could be so calm; I'm sure I shouldn't have +known what to do if you hadn't been there to suggest. But, oh dear! +don't let us speak of it; it's a thing I cant' bear to think of!" and +with a shudder and shrug of the shoulders, Isabel dismissed the subject +and called somewhat pettishly to Kitty--"Kitty, I thought you went to +get our pitcher filled!" + +Kitty, who, in obedience to a loud call and demand from her aunt, had +hastily run to her room with the little travelling-bag which Gertrude +had dropped on the staircase, now came back quite out of breath, saying, +"I did ring the bell twice. Hasn't anybody come?" + +"No!" replied Belle! "and I should like to wash my face and curl my hair +before tea, if I could." + +"Let me take the pitcher," said Gertrude; "I am going downstairs, and +will send Jane up with the water." + +"Thank you," said Belle, rather feebly; while Kitty exclaimed, "No, no, +Gertrude; I'll go myself." + +But it was too late; Gertrude had gone. + +Gertrude found Mrs. Ellis full of troubles and perplexities. "Only +think," said the astonished housekeeper, "of their coming, five of them, +without the least warning in the world; and here I've nothing in the +house fit for tea; not a bit of rich cake, not a scrap of cold ham. And +of course they're hungry after their long journey, and will want +something nice." + +"Oh, if they are very hungry, Mrs. Ellis, they can eat dried beef and +fresh biscuit and plain cake; and if you will give me the keys I will +get out the preserves and the best silver, and see that the table is set +properly." + +Nothing was a trouble to Gertrude that night. Everything that she +touched went right. Jane caught her spirit and became astonishingly +active; and when the really bountiful table was spread, and Mrs. Ellis, +after glancing around and seeing that all was as it should be, looked +into the beaming eyes and observed the glowing cheek and sunny smile of +the happy girl, she exclaimed, in her ignorance, "Good gracious, +Gertrude, anybody would think you were over-joyed to see all these folks +back again!" + +It wanted but a few moments to tea-time, and Gertrude was selecting +fresh napkins from a drawer in the china-closet, when Kitty Ray peeped +in at the door and finally entered, leading by the hand a little girl +neatly dressed in black. Her face was at first full of smiles; but the +moment she attempted to speak she burst into tears, and throwing her +arms round Gertrude's neck, whispered in her ear, "Oh, Gertrude, I'm so +happy! I came to tell you!" + +"Happy?" replied Gertrude; "then you mustn't cry." + +Upon this Kitty laughed, and then cried again, and then laughed once +more, and in the interval explained to Gertrude that she was +engaged--had been engaged a week to the best man in the world--and that +the child she held by the hand was his orphan niece, and just like a +daughter to him. "And only think," continued she, "it's all owing to +you." + +"To me?" said the astonished Gertrude. + +"Yes; because I was so vain and silly, you know, and liked folks that +were not worth liking, and didn't care much for anybody's comfort but my +own; and, if you hadn't taught me to be something better than that, and +set me a good example, which I've tried to follow ever since, he never +would have thought of looking at me, much less loving me, and believing +I should be a fit mother for little Gracie here," and she looked down +affectionately at the child, who was clinging fondly to her. "He is a +minister, Gertrude, and very good. Only think of such a childish +creature as I am being a minister's wife!" The sympathy which Kitty came +to claim was not denied her, and Gertrude, with her own eyes brimming +with tears, assured her of her participation in her joy. + +In the meantime little Gracie, who still clung to Kitty with one hand, +had gently inserted the other within that of Gertrude, who, looking down +upon her for the first time, recognized the child whom she had rescued +from persecution in the drawing-room at Saratoga. + +Kitty was charmed with the coincidence, and Gertrude, as she remarked +the happy transformation which had already been effected in the +countenance and dress of the little girl, who had been so sadly in want +of female superintendence, felt an added conviction of the wisdom of the +young clergyman's choice. + +Mr. Graham's cheerful parlour had never looked so cheerful as on that +evening. The weather was mild, but a light fire, which had been kindled +on Mr. Clinton's account, did not render the room too warm. It had, +however, driven the young people into a remote corner, leaving the +neighbourhood of the fire-place to Mrs. Graham and Emily, who occupied +the sofa, and Mr. Clinton and Mr. Graham, whose arm-chairs were placed +on the opposite side. + +This arrangement enabled Mr. Graham to converse freely and +uninterruptedly with his guest upon some grave topic of interest, while +his talkative wife entertained herself and Emily by a recapitulation of +her travels and adventures. On a table, at the further extremity of the +room, was placed a huge portfolio of beautiful engravings, recently +purchased and brought home by Mr. Graham, and representing a series of +European views. Gertrude and Kitty were turning them carefully over; and +little Gracie, who was sitting in Kitty's lap, and Fanny, who was +leaning over Gertrude's shoulder, were listening eagerly to the young +ladies' explanations and comments. + +Occasionally Isabel, the only restless or unoccupied person present, +would lean over the table to glance at the likeness of some familiar +spot, and exclaim, "Kitty, there's the shop where I bought my blue +silk!" or, "Kitty, there's the waterfall that we visited in company with +the Russian officers." And now the door opened, and, without any +announcement, Mr. Amory and William Sullivan entered. + +Had either made his appearance singly, he would have been looked upon +with astonishment by the majority of the company; but coming together, +and with an apparently good understanding existing between them, there +was no countenance present which expressed any emotion but that of +surprise. + +Mr. and Mrs. Graham, however, were too much accustomed to society to +betray any further evidence of that sentiment than was contained in a +momentary glance, and, rising, received their visitors with due +politeness and propriety. The former nodded carelessly to Mr. Amory, +whom he had seen in the morning, presented him to Mr. Clinton (without, +however, mentioning the existing connection with himself), and was +preparing to go through the same ceremony to Mrs. Graham, but was saved +the trouble as she had not forgotten the acquaintance formed at +Baden-Baden. + +Willie's knowledge of the company also spared the necessity of +introduction to all but Emily; and that being accidentally omitted, he +gave an arch glance at Gertrude, and, taking an offered seat near +Isabel, entered into conversation with her, Mr. Amory being in like +manner engrossed by Mrs. Graham. + +"Miss Gertrude," whispered Fanny, as soon as the interrupted composure +of the party was once more restored, and glancing at Willie as she +spoke, "that's the gentleman you were out driving with this afternoon. I +know it is," continued she, as she observed Gertrude change colour and +endeavour to hush her, while she looked anxiously round as if the remark +had been overheard; "is it Willie, Gertrude? is it Mr. Sullivan?" + +Gertrude became more and more embarrassed, while the mischievous Fanny +continued to ply her with such questions; and Isabel, who had jealously +noticed that Willie's eyes wandered more than once to the table, turned +on her such a scrutinizing look as rendered her confusion distressing. + +Accident came to her relief, however. The housemaid, with the evening +paper, endeavoured to open the door, against which her chair was placed, +thus giving her an opportunity to rise, receive the paper, and at the +same time an unimportant message. While she was thus engaged, Mr. +Clinton left his chair with the feeble step of an invalid, crossed the +room, addressed a question in a low voice to Willie, and receiving an +affirmatory reply, took Isabel by the hand, and approaching Mr. Amory, +exclaimed, with deep emotion, "Sir, Mr. Sullivan tells me you are the +person who saved the life of my daughter; and here she is to thank you." + +Mr. Amory rose and flung his arm over the shoulder and around the waist +of Gertrude, who was passing on her way to hand the newspaper to Mr. +Graham, and who, not having heard the remark of Mr. Clinton, received +the caress with a sweet smile and an upturned face. "Here," said he, +"Mr. Clinton, is the person who saved the life of your daughter. It is +true that I swam with her to the shore; but it was under the mistaken +impression that I was bearing to a place of safety my own darling child, +whom I little suspected then of having voluntarily relinquished to +another her only apparent chance of rescue." + +"Just like you, Gertrude! Just like you!" shouted Kitty and Fanny in a +breath, each struggling to obtain a foremost place in the little circle +that had gathered round her. + +"My own noble Gertrude!" whispered Emily, as, leaning on Mr. Amory's +arm, she pressed Gertrude's hand to her lips. + +"Oh, Gertrude!" exclaimed Isabel, with tears in her eyes, "I didn't +know. I never thought----" + +"Your child?" cried Mrs. Graham's loud voice, interrupting Isabel's +unfinished exclamation. + +"Yes, my child, thank God!" said Mr. Amory, reverently; "restored at +last to her unworthy father, and--you have no secrets here, my +darling?"--Gertrude shook her head, and glanced at Willie, who now stood +at her side "and gladly bestowed by him upon her faithful and far more +deserving lover." And he placed her hand in Willie's. + +There was a moment's pause. All were impressed with the solemnity of the +action. Then Mr. Graham came forward, shook each of the young couple +heartily by the hand, and, passing his sleeve hastily across his eyes, +sought his customary refuge in the library. + +"Gertrude," said Fanny, pulling Gertrude's dress to attract her +attention, and speaking in a loud whisper, "are you engaged?--are you +engaged to him?" + +"Yes," whispered Gertrude, anxious, if possible, to gratify Fanny's +curiosity and silence her questioning. + +"Oh, I'm so glad! I'm so glad!" shouted Fanny, dancing round the room +and flinging up her arms. + +"And I'm glad, too!" said Gracie, catching the tone of congratulation, +and putting her mouth up to Gertrude for a kiss. + +"And _I_ am glad," said Mr. Clinton, placing his hands upon those of +Willie and Gertrude, which were still clasped together, "that the noble +and self-sacrificing girl, whom I have no words to thank, and no power +to repay, has reaped a worthy reward in the love of one of the few men +with whom a fond father may venture wholly to trust the happiness of his +child." + +Exhausted by so much excitement, Mr. Clinton now complained of sudden +faintness, and was assisted to his room by Willie, who, after waiting to +see him fully restored, returned to receive the blessing of Emily upon +his new hopes, and hear with wonder and delight the circumstances which +attended the discovery of Gertrude's parentage. + +For although it was an appointment to meet Mr. Amory which had summoned +him back to Boston, and he had in the course of their interview +acquainted him with the happy termination of a lover's doubts, he had +not, until the disclosure took place in Mr. Graham's parlour, received +in return the slightest hint of the great surprise which awaited him. He +had felt a little astonishment at his friend's express desire to join +him at once in a visit to Mr. Graham's; but on being informed that he +had made the acquaintance of Mrs. Graham in Germany, he concluded that a +desire to renew his intercourse with the family, and possibly a slight +curiosity to see the lady of his own choice, were the only motives that +had influenced him. + +And now, amid retrospections of the past, thanksgiving for the present, +and hopes and aspirations for the future, the evening passed rapidly +away. + + * * * * * + +"Come here, Gerty!" said Willie, "come to the window, and see what a +beautiful night it is." + +It was indeed a glorious night. Snow lay on the ground. The air was +intensely cold without, as might be judged from the quick movements of +the pedestrians and the brilliant icicles with which everything that had +an edge was fringed. The stars were glittering too as they never +glitter, except on the most intense of winter nights. The moon was just +peeping above an old brown building--the same old corner building which +had been visible from the door-step where Willie and Gerty were wont to +sit in their childhood, and from behind which they had often watched the +coming of the same round moon. + +Leaning on Willie's shoulder, Gertrude stood gazing until the full +circle was visible in a space of clear and cloudless ether. Neither of +them spoke, but their hearts throbbed with the same emotion as they +thought of the days that were past. + +Just then the gasman came quickly up the street, lit, as by an electric +touch, the bright burners that in close ranks lined either side-walk, +and in a moment more was out of sight. + +Gertrude sighed. "It was no such easy task for poor old Uncle True," +said she; "there have been great improvements since his time." + +"There have, indeed!" said Willie, glancing round the well-lit, warm, +and pleasantly-furnished rooms of his own and Gertrude's home, and +resting his eyes at last upon the beloved one by his side, whose beaming +face but reflected back his own happiness--"such improvements, Gerty, as +we only dreamt of once! I wish the dear old man could be here and share +them!" + +A tear started to Gertrude's eye; but, pressing Willie's arm, she +pointed reverently upward to a beautiful, bright star just breaking +forth from a silvery film which had hitherto half overshadowed it; the +star through which Gertrude had ever fancied she could discern the smile +of the kind old man. + +"Dear Uncle True!" said she; "his lamp still burns brightly in heaven, +Willie; and its light is not yet gone out on earth!" + + * * * * * + +In a beautiful town about thirty miles from Boston, and on the shore of +those hill-embosomed ponds which would be immortalized by the poet in a +country less rich than ours with such sheets of blue transparent water, +there stood a mansion-house of solid though ancient architecture. It had +been the property of Philip Amory's paternal grandparents, and the early +home and sole inheritance of his father, who so cherished the spot that +it was only with great reluctance, and when driven to the act by the +spur of poverty, that he was induced to part with the much-valued +estate. + +To reclaim the venerable homestead, repair and judiciously modernize the +house, and fertilize and adorn the grounds, was a favourite scheme with +Philip. His ample means now rendered it practicable; he lost no time in +putting it into execution, and the spring after he returned from his +wanderings saw the work in a fair way to be speedily completed. + +In the meantime Gertrude's marriage had taken place; the Grahams had +removed to their house in town (which, out of compliment to Isabel, who +was passing the winter with her aunt, was more than ever crowded with +gay company), and the bustling mistress was already projecting changes +in her husband's country-seat. + +And Emily, who had parted with her greatest treasure, and found herself +in an atmosphere which was little in harmony with her spirit, murmured +not; but, contented with her lot, neither dreamed of nor asked for +outward change until Philip came to her one day and, taking her by the +hand, said gently-- + +"This is no home for you, Emily. You are as much alone as I in my +solitary farm-house. We loved each other in childhood, our hearts became +one youth, and have continued so until now. Why should we be longer +parted? Your father will not now oppose our wishes; and will you, +dearest, refuse to bless and gladden the lonely life of your grey-haired +lover?" + +But Emily shook her head, while she answered, with her smile of +ineffable sweetness-- + +"Oh no, Philip! do not speak of it! Think of my frail health and my +helplessness." + +"Your health, dear Emily, is improving. The roses are already coming +back to your cheeks; and for your helplessness, what task can be so +sweet to me as teaching you, through my devotion, to forget it! Oh, do +not send me away disappointed, Emily! A cruel fate divided us for years; +do not by your own act prolong that separation! Believe me, a union with +my early love is my brightest, my only hope of happiness!" + +And she did not withdraw the hand which he held, but yielded the other +also to his fervent clasp. + +"My only thought had been, dear Philip," said she, "that ere this I +should have been called to my Father's home; and even now I feel many a +warning that I cannot be very long for earth; but while I stay, be it +longer or shorter, it shall be as you wish. No word of mine shall part +hearts so truly one, your home shall be mine." + +And when the grass turned green, and the flowers sent up their +fragrance, and the birds sang in the branches, and the spring gales blew +soft and made a gentle ripple on the water, Emily came to live on the +hillside with Philip; and Mrs. Ellis came too to superintend all things, +and especially the dairy, which became henceforth her pride. She had +long since tearfully implored, and easily obtained, the forgiveness of +the much-wronged Philip; and proved, by the humility of her voluntary +confession, that she was not without a woman's heart. + +Mrs. Prime pleaded hard for the cook's situation at the farm, but Emily +kindly expostulated with her, saying-- + +"We cannot all leave my father, Mrs. Prime. Who would see to his hot +toast, and the fire in the library?" and the good old woman saw the +matter in the right light and submitted. + +And is the long-wandering, much-suffering, and deeply-sorrowing exile +happy now? He is; but his peace springs not from his beautiful home, his +wide possessions, an honourable repute among his fellow-men, or even the +love of the gentle Emily. + +All these are blessings that he well knows how to prize; but his +world-tried soul has found a deeper anchor yet--a surer refuge from the +tempest and the storm; for, through the power of a living faith, he has +laid hold on eternal life. The blind girl's prayers are answered; her +last, best work is done; she has cast a ray from her blessed spirit into +his darkened soul; and should her call to depart soon come, she will +leave behind one to follow in her footsteps, fulfil her charities, and +do good on earth until such time when he shall be summoned to join her +again in heaven. + +As they go forth in the summer evening to breathe the balmy air, listen +to the winged songster of the grove, and drink in the refreshing +influences of a summer sunset, all things speak of a holy peace to the +new-born heart of him who has so long been a man of sorrow. + +As the sun sinks among gorgeous clouds, as the western light grows dim, +and the moon and the stars come forth in their solemn beauty, they utter +a lesson to his awakened soul; and the voice of nature around, and the +still, small voice within whisper in gentlest, holiest accents-- + +"The sun shall be no more thy light by day, neither for brightness shall +the moon give light unto thee; but the Lord shall be unto thee an +everlasting light, and thy God thy glory." + +"Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; +for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy +mourning shall be ended." + +THE END. + + + + +BURT'S HOME LIBRARY + + +Comprising three hundred and sixty-five titles of standard works, +embracing fiction, essays, poetry, history, travel, etc., selected from +the world's best literature, written by authors of world-wide +reputation. Printed from large type on good paper, and bound in handsome +uniform cloth binding. + +Abbe Constantin. By Ludovic Halevy. + +Abbot, The. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Adam Bede. By George Eliot. + +AEsop's Fables. + +Alhambra, The. By Washington Irving. + +Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. By Lewis Carroll. + +Alice Lorraine. By R. D. Blackmore. + +All Sorts and Conditions of Men. By Besant and Rice. + +Amiel's Journal. Translated by Mrs. Humphrey Ward. + +Andersen's Fairy Tales. + +Anne of Geierstein. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Antiquary, The. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Arabian Nights Entertainments. + +Ardath. By Marie Corelli. + +Armadale. By Wilkie Collins. + +Armorel of Lyonesse. By Walter Besant. + +Around the World in the Yacht Sunbeam. By Mrs. Brassey. + +Arundel Motto. By Mary Cecil Hay. + +At the Back of the North Wind. By George Macdonald. + +Attic Philosopher. By Emile Souvestre. + +Auld Licht Idylls. By James M. Barrie. + +Aunt Diana. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Aurelian. By William Ware. + +Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. + +Averil. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Bacon's Essays. By Francis Bacon. + +Barbara Heathcote's Trial. by Rosa N. Carey. + +Barnaby Rudge. By Charles Dickens. + +Barrack-Room Ballads. By Rudyard Kipling. + +Betrothed, The. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Black Beauty. By Anna Sewell. + +Black Dwarf, The. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Bleak House. By Charles Dickens. + +Bondman, The. By Hall Caine. + +Bride of Lammermoor. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Bride of the Nile, The. By George Ebers. + +Browning's Poems. (Selections.) By Robert Browning. + +Bryant's Poems. (Early.) By William Cullen Bryant. + +Burgomaster's Wife, The. By George Ebers. + +Burns' Poems. By Robert Burns. + +By Order of the King. By Victor Hugo. + +California and Oregon Trail. By Francis Parkman, Jr. + +Cast Up by the Sea. By Sir Samuel Baker. + +Caxtons, The. By Bulwer-Lytton. + +Chandos. By "Ouida." + +Charles Auchester. By E. Berger. + +Character. By Samuel Smiles. + +Charles O'Malley. By Charles Lever. + +Children of the Abbey. By Regina Maria Roche. + +Children of Gibeon. By Walter Besant. + +Child's History of England. By Charles Dickens. + +Christmas Stories. By Charles Dickens. + +Clara Vaughan. By R. D. Blackmore. + +Cloister and the Hearth. By Charles Reade. + +Complete Angler. By Walton and Cotton. + +Confessions of an Opium Eater. By Thomas De Quincey. + +Consuelo. By George Sand. + +Corinne. By Madame De Stael. + +Countess Gisela, The. By E. Marlitt. + +Countess of Rudolstadt. By George Sand. + +Count Robert of Paris. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Cousin Pons. By Honore De Balzac. + +Cradock Nowell. By R. D. Blackmore. + +Cranford. By Mrs. Gaskell. + +Cripps the Carrier. By R. D. Blackmore. + +Crown of Wild Olive, The. By John Ruskin. + +Daniel Deronda. By George Eliot. + +Data of Ethics. By Herbert Spencer. + +Daughter of an Empress, The. By Louisa Muhlbach. + +Daughter of Heth, A. By William Black. + +David Copperfield. By Charles Dickens. + +Days of Bruce. By Grace Aguilar. + +Deemster, The. By Hall Caine. + +Deerslayer, The. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Descent of Man. By Charles Darwin. + +Dick Sand; or, A Captain at Fifteen. By Jules Verne. + +Discourses of Epictetus. Translated by George Long. + +Divine Comedy, The. (Dante.) Translated by Rev. H. F. Carey. + +Dombey & Son. By Charles Dickens. + +Donal Grant. By George Macdonald. + +Donovan. By Edna Lyall. + +Dove in the Eagle's Nest. By Charlotte M. Yonge. + +Dream Life. By Ik Marvel. + +Duty. By Samuel Smiles. + +Early Days of Christianity. By F. W. Farrar. + +East Lynne. By Mrs. Henry Wood. + +Education. By Herbert Spencer. + +Egoist, The. By George Meredith. + +Egyptian Princess, An. By George Ebers. + +Eight Hundred Leagues on the Amazon. By Jules Verne. + +Emerson's Essays. (Complete.) By Ralph Waldo Emerson. + +Emperor, The. By George Ebers. + +Essays of Elia. By Charles Lamb. + +Esther. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Executor, The. By Mrs. Alexander. + +Fair Maid of Perth. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Fairy Land of Science. By Arabella B. Buckley. + +Far from the Madding Crowd. By Thomas Hardy. + +Faust. (Goethe.) Translated by Anna Swanwick. + +Felix Holt. By George Eliot. + +Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World. By E. S. Creasy. + +File No. 113. By Emile Gaboriau. + +Firm of Girdlestone. By A. Conan Doyle. + +First Principles. By Herbert Spencer. + +First Violin. By Jessie Fothergill. + +For Faith and Freedom. By Walter Besant. + +Fortunes of Nigel. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Fragments of Science. By John Tyndall. + +Frederick the Great and His Court. By Louisa Muhlbach. + +French Revolution. By Thos. Carlyle. + +From the Earth to the Moon. By Jules Verne. + +Goethe and Schiller. By Louisa Muhlbach. + +Gold Bug, The, and Other Tales, By Edgar A. Poe. + +Gold Elsie. By E. Marlitt. + +Good Luck. By E. Werner. + +Grandfather's Chair. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. + +Great Expectations. By Chas. Dickens. + +Great Taboo, The. By Grant Allen. + +Great Treason, A. By Mary Hoppus. + +Greek Heroes. Fairy Tales for My Children. By Charles Kingsley. + +Green Mountain Boys, The. By D. P. Thompson. + +Grimm's Household Tales. By The Brothers Grimm. + +Grimm's Popular Tales. By the Brothers Grimm. + +Gulliver's Travels By Dean Swift. + +Guy Mannering. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover. + +Hardy Norseman. A. By Edna Lyall. + +Harold. By Bulwer-Lytton. + +Harry Lorrequer. By Charles Lever. + +Heart of Midlothian. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Heir of Redclyffe. By Charlotte M. Yonge. + +Henry Esmond. By Wm. M. Thackeray. + +Her Dearest Foe. By Mrs. Alexander. + +Heriot's Choice. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Heroes and Hero Worship. By Thomas Carlyle. + +History of a Crime. By Victor Hugo. + +History of Civilization in Europe. By Guizot. + +Holy Roman Empire. By James Bryce. + +Homo Sum. By George Ebers. + +House of the Seven Gables. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. + +Hunchback of Notre Dame. By Victor Hugo. + +Hypatia. By Charles Kingsley. + +Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow. By Jerome K. Jerome. + +Iliad, The. Pope's Translation. + +Initials, The. By the Baroness Tautphoeus. + +In the Counselor's House. By E. Marlitt. + +In the Golden Days. By Edna Lyall. + +In the Schillingscourt. By E. Marlitt. + +It Is Never Too Late to Mend. By Charles Reade. + +Ivanhoe. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Jack's Courtship. By W. Clark Russell. + +Jack Hinton. By Charles Lever. + +Jane Eyre. By Charlotte Bronte. + +John Halifax, Gentleman. By Miss Mulock. + +Joshua. By George Ebers. + +Kenilworth. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Kidnapped. By R. L. Stevenson. + +Kit and Kitty. By R. D. Blackmore. + +Kith and Kin. By Jessie Fothergill. + +Knickerbocker's History of New York. By Washington Irving. + +Knight Errant. By Edna Lyall. + +Koran, The. Translated by George Sale. + +Lamplighter, The. By Maria S. Cummins. + +Lady with the Rubies. By E. Marlitt. + +Last Days of Pompeii. By Bulwer-Lytton. + +Last of the Barons. By Bulwer-Lytton. + +Last of the Mohicans. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Lena Rivers. By Mary J. Holmes. + +Life of Christ. By Frederic W. Farrar. + +Light of Asia, The. By Sir Edwin Arnold. + +Light That Failed, The. By Rudyard Kipling. + +Little Dorrit. By Charles Dickens. + +Longfellow's Poems. (Early.) + +Lorna Doone. By R. D. Blackmore. + +Louise de la Valliere. By Alexandre Dumas. + +Love Me Little, Love Me Long, By Charles Reade. + +Lover or Friend? By Rosa N. Carey. + +Lucile. By Owen Meredith. + +Maid of Sker. By R. D. Blackmore. + +Makers of Florence. By Mrs. Oliphant. + +Makers of Venice. By Mrs. Oliphant. + +Man and Wife. By Wilkie Collins. + +Man in the Iron Mask. By Alexandre Dumas. + +Marquis of Lossie. By George Macdonald. + +Martin Chuzzlewit. By Charles Dickens. + +Mary Anerley. By R. D. Blackmore. + +Mary St. John. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Master of Ballantrae, The. By R. L. Stevenson. + +Masterman Ready. By Captain Marryat. + +Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Translated by George Long. + +Merle's Crusade. By Rosa N. Carey + +Micah Clarke. By A. Conan Doyle. + +Michael Strogoff. By Jules Verne. + +Middlemarch. By George Eliot. + +Midshipman Easy. By Captain Marryat. + +Mill on the Floss. By George Eliot. + +Milton's Poems. By John Milton. + +Mine Own People. By Rudyard Kipling. + +Molly Bawn. By "The Duchess." + +Monastery, The. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Moonstone, The. By Wilkie Collins. + +Mosses from an Old Manse. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. + +Mysterious Island, The. By Jules Verne. + +Natural Law in the Spiritual World. By Henry Drummond. + +Nellie's Memories. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Newcomes, The. By William M. Thackeray. + +Nicholas Nickleby. By Charles Dickens. + +Ninety-Three. By Victor Hugo. + +No Name. By Wilkie Collins. + +Not Like Other Girls. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Odyssey, The. Pope's Translation. + +Old Curiosity Shop. By Charles Dickens. + +Old Mam'selle's Secret. By E. Marlitt. + +Old Mortality. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Old Myddleton's Money. By Mary Cecil Hay. + +Oliver Twist. By Charles Dickens. + +Only a Word. By George Ebers. + +Only the Governess. By Rosa N. Carey. + +On the Heights. By Berthold Auerbach. + +Origin of Species. By Charles Darwin. + +Other Worlds Than Ours. By Richard Proctor. + +Our Bessie By Rosa N. Carey. + +Our Mutual Friend. By Charles Dickens. + +Pair of Blue Eyes, A. By Thos. Hardy. + +Past and Present. By Thomas Carlyle. + +Pathfinder, The. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Pendennis. By William M. Thackeray. + +Pere Goriot. By Honore de Balzac. + +Peveril of the Peak. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Phantom Rickshaw, The. By Rudyard Kipling. + +Phra, the Phoenician. By Edwin L. Arnold. + +Picciola. By X. B. Saintine. + +Pickwick Papers. By Charles Dickens. + +Pilgrim's Progress. By John Bunyan. + +Pilot, The. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Pioneers, The. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Pirate, The. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Plain Tales from the Hills. By Rudyard Kipling. + +Prairie, The. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Pride and Prejudice. By Jane Austen. + +Prime Minister, The. By Anthony Trollope. + +Prince of the House of David. By Rev. J. H. Ingraham. + +Princess of the Moor. By E. Marlitt. + +Princess of Thule, A. By William Black. + +Professor, The. By Charlotte Bronte. + +Prue and I. By George William Curtis. + +Queen Hortense. By Louisa Muhlbach. + +Queenie's Whim. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Quentin Durward. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Redgauntlet. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Red Rover. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Reign of Law. By Duke of Argyle. + +Reveries of a Bachelor. By Ik Marvel. + +Rhoda Fleming. By George Meredith. + +Rienzi. By Bulwer-Lytton. + +Robert Ord's Atonement. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Robinson Crusoe. By Daniel Defoe. + +Rob Roy. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Romance of Two Worlds. By Marie Corelli. + +Romola. By George Eliot. + +Rory O'More. By Samuel Lover. + +Saint Michael. By E. Werner. + +Schonberg-Cotta Family. By Mrs. Andrew Charles. + +Sartor Resartus. By Thomas Carlyle. + +Scarlet Letter, The. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. + +Schopenhauer's Essays. Translated by T. B. Saunders. + +Scottish Chiefs. By Jane Porter. + +Scott's Poems. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Search for Basil Lyndhurst. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Second Wife, The. By E. Marlitt. + +Seekers After God. By F. W. Farrar. + +Self-Help. By Samuel Smiles. + +Sense and Sensibility. By Jane Austen. + +Sesame and Lilies. By John Ruskin. + +Seven Lamps of Architecture. By John Ruskin. + +Shadow of a Crime. By Hall Caine. + +Shadow of the Sword. By Robert Buchanan. + +Shirley. By Charlotte Bronte. + +Silas Marner. By George Eliot. + +Silence of Dean Maitland. By Maxwell Grey. + +Sin of Joost Avelingh. By Maaren Maartens. + +Sir Gibbie. By George Macdonald. + +Sketch Book, The. By Washington Irving. + +Social Departure, A. By Sarah Jeannette Duncan. + +Soldiers, Three, etc. By Rudyard Kipling. + +Son of Hagar, A. By Hall Caine. + +Springhaven. By R. D. Blackmore. + +Spy, The. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Story of an African Farm. By Olive Schreiner. + +Story of John G. Paton. Told for Young Folks. By Rev. James Paton. + +Strathmore. By "Ouida." + +St. Ronan's Well. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Study in Scarlet, A. By A. Conan Doyle. + +Surgeon's Daughter, The. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Swiss Family Robinson. By Jean Rudolph Wyss. + +Tale of Two Cities. By Charles Dickens. + +Tales from Shakespeare. By Charles and Mary Lamb. + +Talisman, The. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Tanglewood Tales. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. + +Tempest and Sunshine. By Mary J. Holmes. + +Tempest Tossed. By Theodore Tilton. + +Ten Nights in a Barroom. By T. S. Arthur. + +Tennyson's Poems. By Alfred Tennyson. + +Ten Years Later. By Alexandre Dumas. + +Terrible Temptation, A. By Charles Reade. + +Thaddeus of Warsaw. By Jane Porter. + +Thelma. By Marie Corelli. + +Thirty Years' War. By Frederick Schiller. + +Thousand Miles Up the Nile. By Amelia B. Edwards. + +Three Guardsmen. By Alexandre Dumas. + +Three Men in a Boat. By Jerome K. Jerome. + +Thrift. By Samuel Smiles. + +Toilers of the Sea. By Victor Hugo. + +Tom Brown at Oxford. By Thomas Hughes. + +Tom Brown's School Days. By Thomas Hughes. + +Tom Burke of "Ours." By Charles Lever. + +Tom Cringle's Log. By Michael Scott. + +Tour of the World in Eighty Days, A. By Jules Verne + +Treasure Island. By Robert Louis Stevenson. + +Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. By Jules Verne. + +Twenty Years After. By Alexandre Dumas. + +Twice Told Tales. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. + +Two Admirals. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Two Years Before the Mast. By R. H. Dana, Jr. + +Uarda. By George Ebers. + +Uncle Max. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Uncle Tom's Cabin. By Harriet Beecher Stowe. + +Undine and Other Tales. By De La Motte Fouque. + +Unity of Nature. By Duke of Argyle. + +Vanity Fair. By Wm. M. Thackeray. + +Vendetta. By Marie Corelli. + +Vicar of Wakefield. By Oliver Goldsmith. + +Vicomte de Bragelonne. By Alexander Dumas. + +Vilette. By Charlotte Bronte. + +Virginians, The. By Wm. M. Thackeray. + +Water Babies, The. By Charles Kingsley. + +Water Witch, The. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Waverley. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Wee Wifie. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Westward Ho! By Charles Kingsley. + +We Two. By Edna Lyall. + +What's Mine's Mine. By George MacDonald. + +When a Man's Single. By J. M. Barrie. + +White Company, The. By A. Conan Doyle. + +Whittier's Poems. (Early). + +Wide, Wide World. By Susan Warner. + +Widow Lerouge, The. By Emile Gaboriau. + +Window in Thrums. By J. M. Barrie. + +Wing and Wing. By James Fenimore Cooper. + +Woman in White, The. By Wilkie Collins. + +Won by Waiting. By Edna Lyall. + +Wonder Book, A, For Boys and Girls. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. + +Woodstock. By Sir Walter Scott. + +Wooed and Married. By Rosa N. Carey. + +Wooing O't. By Mrs. Alexander. + +World Went Very Well Then, The. By Walter Besant. + +Wormwood. By Marie Corelli. + +Wreck of the Grosvenor, The By W. Clark Russell. + +Zenobia. By William Ware. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lamplighter, by Maria S. Cummins + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LAMPLIGHTER *** + +***** This file should be named 31869.txt or 31869.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/8/6/31869/ + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier, Mary Meehan and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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