diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:06:40 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:06:40 -0700 |
| commit | 859ad878f0557d65654e64fdb3349e7fb490aa42 (patch) | |
| tree | c62afa2ed0582e0a989bf7d837d8b1011693ae81 /48461-h | |
Diffstat (limited to '48461-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 48461-h/48461-h.htm | 11831 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 48461-h/images/cover-image.jpg | bin | 0 -> 76378 bytes |
2 files changed, 11831 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/48461-h/48461-h.htm b/48461-h/48461-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d72ef24 --- /dev/null +++ b/48461-h/48461-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11831 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Husks, by Marion Harland. + </title> + + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover-image.jpg" /> + + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1, h2 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +h1 +{ + text-align: center; + font-size: x-large; + font-weight: normal; + line-height: 1.6; +} + +.center +{ + text-align: center; +} + +.spaced +{ + line-height: 1.5; +} + +.space-above + +{ + margin-top: 3em; +} + +.small +{ + font-size: small; +} + +.big +{ + font-size: large; +} + +.ph2 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } +.ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } + +.border +{ + border: 1px solid; +} + +blockquote { + display: block; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-left: 40px; + margin-right: 40px; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} + +hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 47.5%;} + +.pagebreak {page-break-after: always;} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.covernote { + visibility: visible; + display: block; +} + + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 1em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i6 {display: block; margin-left: 3em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:smaller; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; } + + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 48461 ***</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/cover-image.jpg" id="coverpage" width="450" height="593" alt="Cover for Husks" /> +<div class="transnote covernote"> +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The cover image was restored by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.</p> +</div></div> + +<hr class="chap" style="page-break-after: always;" /> + + + + +<h1 style="margin-top: 2em;">HUSKS.<br /> + + + +BY MARION HARLAND.</h1> + + + +<p class="ph2" style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 1em;">CHAPTER I.</p> + + +<p>It was a decided uncompromising rainy +day. There were no showers, coquetted +with by veering winds or dubious mists, +that at times grew brighter, as if the sun +were burning away their lining; but a uniform +expanse of iron-gray clouds—kept in +close, grim column by a steady, although +not violent east wind—sent straight lines of +heavy rain upon the earth. The naked +trees, that, during the earlier hours of the +deluge had seemed to shiver for the immature +leaf-buds, so unfit to endure the rough +handling of the storm, now held out still, +patient arms, the rising sap curdled within +their hearts. The gutters were brimming +streams, and the sidewalks were glazed +with thin sheets of water.</p> + +<p>The block of buildings before which our +story pauses, was, as a glance would have +showed the initiated in the grades of Gotham +life, highly respectable, even in the +rain. On a clear day when the half-folded +blinds revealed the lace, silken and damask +draperies within, when young misses and +masters—galvanized show-blocks of purple +and fine linen, that would have passed +muster behind the plate-glass of Genin or +Madame Demorest—tripped after hoops or +promenaded the smooth pavement; when +pretty, jaunty one-horse carriages, and +more pretentious equipages, each with a +pair of prancing steeds, and two "outside +passengers" in broadcloth and tinsel hatbands, +received and discharged their loads +before the brown-stone fronts—had the +afore-mentioned spectator chanced to perambulate +this not spacious street, he would +have conceded to it some degree of the +fashion claimed for it by its inhabitants. +There were larger houses and wider pavements +to be had for the same price a few +blocks further on, in more than one direction, +but these were unanimously voted +"less eligible" and "deficient in style," in +spite of the fact that as good and better +materials were employed in their construction, +and they were in all respects equal in +external show and inside finish to those in +this model quarter. "But our block has a +certain air—well—I don't know what; but +it is just the thing, you know, and so convenient! +So near the avenue!" would be +the concluding argument.</p> + +<p>The nameless, indescribable charm of the +locality lay in the last clause. "Just step +around the corner and you are in the avenue," +said the favored dwellers in this vicinity, +as the climax in the description of +their abode, and "that way fashion lies" to +every right-minded New Yorker of the +feminine gender.</p> + +<p>But the aristocratic quiet of the neighborhood, +rendered oppressive and depressing +by the gloom of the day, was disturbed +by a discordant sound—a child's cry, +and what was especially martyrizing to refined +auriculars, the lament had the unmistakable +plebeian accent. The passionate +scream with which the pampered darling +of the nursery resents interference with his +rights and liberty of tyranny or the angry +remonstrance of his injured playmates, +would have been quite another species of +natural eloquence, as regards both quality +and force, from the weak, broken wail that +sobbed along the wet streets. Moreover, +what respectable child could be abroad on +foot in this weather? So, the disrespectable +juvenile pursued her melancholy way +unnoticed and unquestioned until she +reached the middle of the square. There +a face appeared at a window in the second +story of a house—which only differed from +those to its right, left and opposite in the +number upon the door—vanished and in +half a minute more a young lady appeared +in the sheltered vestibule.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, little girl?"</p> + +<p>The tone was not winning, yet the sobs +ceased, and the child looked up, as to a +friendly questioner. She was about eleven +years of age, if one had judged from her +size and form; but her features were +pinched into unnatural maturity. Her attire +was wretched, at its best estate; now, +soaked by the rain, the dingy hood drooped +over her eyes; the dark cotton shawl retained +not one of its original colors, and +the muddy dress flapped and dripped about +her ankles. Upon one foot she wore an old +cloth gaiter, probably picked up from an +ash heap; the remains of a more sorry +slipper were tied around the other.</p> + +<p>"I am so cold and wet, and my matches is +all sp'ilt," she answered in a dolorous tone, +lifting the corner of a scrap of oil-cloth, +which covered a basket, tucked for further +security under her shawl.</p> + +<p>"No wonder! What else could you expect, +if you would go out to sell them on a +day like this? Go down into the area, +there, and wait until I let you in."</p> + +<p>The precaution was a wise one. No servant +in that well-regulated household would +have admitted so questionable a figure as +that which crept after their young mistress +into the comfortable kitchen. The +cook paused in the act of dissecting a chicken; +the butler—on carriage days the footman—checked +his flirtation with the plump +and laughing chambermaid, to stare at the +wretched apparition. The scrutiny of the +first named functionary was speedily diverted +to the dirty trail left by the intruder +upon the carpet. A scowl puckered +her red face, and her wrathful glance included<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +both of the visitants as alike guilty +of this desecration of her premises. The +housemaid rolled up her eyes and clasped +her hands in dumb show of horror and +contempt to her gallant, who replied with +a shrug and a grin. But not a word of remonstrance +or inquiry was spoken. It was +rather a habit of this young lady's to have +her own way whenever she could, and that +she was bent upon doing this now was +clear.</p> + +<p>"Sit down," she said, bringing up a chair +to the fire.</p> + +<p>The storm beaten wanderer obeyed, and +eagerly held up her sodden feet to the red +grate.</p> + +<p>"Have you no better shoes than those?"</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am."</p> + +<p>"Humph! Nor dress, nor shawl?"</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am."</p> + +<p>"Are you hungry?"</p> + +<p>A ray shot from the swollen eyes. "Yes, +ma'am."</p> + +<p>The lady disappeared in the pantry and +presently returned with five or six slices +of bread and butter hastily cut and thickly +spread, with cheese and cold meat between +them.</p> + +<p>"Eat!" She thrust them into the match-girl's +fingers. "Wait here, while I go and +look for some clothes for you."</p> + +<p>As may be supposed, the insulted oracle +of kitchen mysteries improved the time of +the benefactress's absence by a very plain +expression of her sentiments towards beggars +in general, and this one in particular; +which harangue was received with applause +by her fellow-servants and perfect +equanimity by its object. She munched her +sandwiches with greedy satisfaction, +watching, the while, the little clouds of +steam that ascended from her heated toes. +She was, to all appearances, neither a +sensitive nor intelligent child, and had +known too much of animal want and suffering +to allow trifles to spoil her enjoyment +of whatever physical comfort fell to +her lot. Her mother at home could scold +quite as violently as the cook was now doing, +and she was more afraid of her anger, +because she beat while she berated her. +She was convinced that she stood in no +such peril here, for her protectress was one +in power.</p> + +<p>"Have you eaten enough?" said the clear, +abrupt voice behind her, as she held two +sandwiches in her fingers, without offering +to put them to her lips.</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am. May I take 'em home?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, if you like. Stand up and +take off your shawl."</p> + +<p>She put around the forlorn figure a thick +cloak, rusty and obsolete in fashion, but +which was a warm and ample covering for +the child, extending to the hem of her +dress. The damp elf-locks were hidden by +a knitted hood, and for the feet there were +stockings and shoes and a pair of India-rubbers +to protect these last from the water.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the Humane Society of One, +when the refitting was at an end, "where +do you live? Never mind—I don't care to +know that yet! Here is a small umbrella—a +good one—which belongs to me. I have +no other for myself when I go out in bad +weather. I mean to lend it to you, to-day, +upon the condition that you will bring it +back to-morrow, or the first clear day. +Will you do it?"</p> + +<p>The promise was readily given.</p> + +<p>"Here's an old thing, Miss Sarah," ventured +the butler, respectfully, producing a +bulky, ragged cotton umbrella from a corner +of the kitchen closet. "It's risky—trusting +such as that with your nice silk +one."</p> + +<p>"That will let in the rain, and it is entirely +too large for her to carry. You understand, +child? You are to bring this +safely back to me, the first time the sun +shines. Can you find your way to this +house again?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, ma'am, easy. Thank you, +ma'am!"</p> + +<p>She dropped an awkward curtsey as Miss +Sarah held open the door for her to pass, +and went out into the rain—warm, dry and +shielded against further damage from the +storm.</p> + +<p>Unheeding the significant looks of the +culinary cabinet, Sarah Hunt turned away +and ascended the stairs. She was a striking-looking +girl, although her features, +when in repose, could claim neither beauty +of form nor expression. Her complexion +was dark and pale, with a slight tinge of +olive, and her hair a deep brown, lips +whose compression was habitual, an aquiline +nose, and eyes that changed from +dreamy hazel to midnight blackness at the +call of mind or feeling, gave marked character +to her countenance. Her sententious +style of address to the child she had just +dismissed was natural, and usual to her in +ordinary conversation, as was also the +gravity, verging upon sombreness, which +had not once during the interview relaxed +into a smile.</p> + +<p>The family sitting-room, her destination +at present, and to which we will take the +liberty of preceding her, was furnished +elegantly and substantially, and there, +leaning back in lounging chairs, were Miss +Lucy Hunt, the eldest daughter of the +household, and her bosom friend, Miss Victoria +West. Each held and wielded a crochet +needle, and had upon her lap a basket +of many-hued balls of double or single +zephyr worsted, or Shetland or Saxony +wool, or whatever was the fashionable article +for such pretty trifling at that date. +Miss West had completed one-quarter of a +shawl for herself, white and scarlet, and +her friend had made precisely the same +progress in the arduous manufacture of +one whose centre was white and its border +blue.</p> + +<p>"Yours will be the prettiest," remarked +Lucy regretfully. "Blue never looks well +in worsteds. Why, I can't say, I'm sure. +It is too bad that I can wear so few other +colors. But I am such a fright in pink or +scarlet or any shade of red!"</p> + +<p>"As if you could be a fright in anything," +returned her companion, with seeming indignation.</p> + +<p>Lucy smiled, showing a set of faultless +teeth that, to a stranger's first glance, +would have appeared by far the most attractive +point of her physiognomy. If +closer examination discovered that her skin +was pearly in whiteness and transparency, +that her form was exquisite, with a sort of +voluptuous grace; her hands worthy, in +shape and hue, to become a sculptor's model; +still, in the cold, unflattering light of +this rainy afternoon her want of color, her +light gray eyes, her yellow hair, drawn +straight back from the broad, low brow, +precluded the idea that she could ever, +with all the accessories of artificial glare, +dress and animation, be more than a merely +pretty girl. Miss West knew better, and +Lucy realized the power of her own charms +with full and complete complacency. Secure +in this pleasant self-appreciation, she +could afford to be careless as to her every-day +looks and home people. She saw and +enjoyed the manifest surprise of those who, +having seen her once in morning deshabille, +beheld her afterwards in elaborate evening +toilet. Then the abundant hair waved in +golden ripples about the classic head, the +most artfully simple of tasteful ornaments—a +camellia, a rosebud, or a pearl hairpin, +its sole adornment; her eyes, large, full and +soft, were blue instead of gray, while the +heat of the assembly-room, the excitement +of the crowd, or the exultation of gratified +vanity supplied the rounded cheek with +rich bloom and dewy vermillion to the lips. +But nature's rarest gift to her was her +voice, a mellow contralto, whose skillful +modulations stole refreshingly to the senses +amid the sharp clash of strained and +higher tones, the castanet-like jingle which +most American belles ring unmercifully into +the ears of their auditors. Lucy Hunt +was not "a great talker," still less was she +profound or brilliant when she did speak; +yet she invariably conveyed the impression +to the mind of a new acquaintance of a +thoroughly cultivated woman, one whose +acquirements were far beyond her modest +exhibition of thought and sentiment. The +most commonplace phrase came smoothly +and roundly from her tongue, and he was +censorious indeed who was willing to lose +the pleasure afforded by its musical utterance +in weighing its meaning. At school +she had never been diligent, except in the +study of music, and her painstaking in this +respect was rewarded by the reputation, +justly earned, of being the finest vocalist +in her circle of associates. In society she +shone as a rising star of the first magnitude; +at home she was happy, cheerful and +indolently amiable. Why should she be +otherwise? From her babyhood she had +been petted and admired by her family, +and the world—her world—was as ready +with its meed of the adulation which was +her element.</p> + +<p>There were, besides the two sisters already +introduced to the reader, three other +children in the Hunt household—a couple of +sturdy lads, twelve and fourteen years of +age, and little Jeannie, a delicate child of +six, whom Lucy caressed with pet titles +and sugar-plums of flattery, and Sarah +served in secret and idolatrous fondness. +This family it was Mrs. Hunt's care and +pride to rear and maintain, not only in +comfort, but apparent luxury, upon the +salary which her husband received as +cashier of a prominent city bank, an income +sufficient to support them in modest +elegance, but which few besides Mrs. Hunt +could have stretched to cover the expense +of their ostensible style of living. But this +notable manager had learned economy in +excellent schools, primarily as a country +girl, whose holiday finery was purchased +with the proceeds of her own butter-making +and poultry-yard; then as the brisk, +lively wife of the young clerk, whose slender +salary had, up to the time of his marriage, +barely sufficed to pay for his own +board and clothes, and whose only vested +capital was his pen, his good character +and perfect knowledge of book-keeping. +But if his help-meet was a clever housewife, +she was likewise ambitious. With +the exception of the sum requisite for the +yearly payment of the premium upon Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +Hunt's life insurance policy, their annual +expenses devoured every cent of their receipts. +Indeed, it was currently believed +among outsiders that they had other resources +than the cashier's wages, and Mrs. +Hunt indirectly encouraged the report that +she held property in her own right. They +lived "as their neighbors did," as "everybody +in their position in society was bound +to do," and "everybody" else was too intent +upon his personal affairs, too busy +with his private train of plans and operations +to examine closely the cogs and levers +and boilers of the locomotive Hunt. If +it went ahead, and kept upon the track +assigned it, was always "up to time," and +avoided unpleasant collisions, it was nobody's +business how the steam was gotten +up.</p> + +<p>Every human plant of note has its parasite, +and Miss Lucy Hunt was not without +hers. There existed no reason in the +outward circumstances of the two girls +why Miss Hunt should not court Miss West +rather than Miss West toady Miss Hunt. +In a business—that is, a pecuniary—point +of view, the former appeared the more +likely state of the case, inasmuch as Victoria's +father was a stock-broker of reputed +wealth, and with a probable millionaireship +in prospective, if his future good +fortune equalled his past, while Mr. Hunt, +as has been stated, depended entirely upon +a certain and not an extravagant stipend. +But the girls became intimate at school, +"came out" the same winter at the same +party, where Lucy created a "sensation," +and Victoria would have been overlooked +but for the sentimental connection between +the debutantes. Since then, although the +confidante would have scouted the imputation +of interested motives with virtuous +indignation of wounded affection, she had +nevertheless "made a good thing of it," as +her respected father would have phrased it, +by playing hanger-on, second fiddle, and +trumpeter general to the belle.</p> + +<p>"As if you could be a fright in anything," +she had said, naturally and perhaps +sincerely.</p> + +<p>Lucy's smile was succeeded by a serious +look. "I am sadly tempted sometimes! +Those lovely peach-blossom hats that you +and Sarah wore this past winter were absolute +trials to my sense of right. And no +longer ago than Mrs. Crossman's party I +was guilty of the sin of coveting the complexion +that enabled Maria Johnston to +wear that sweet rose-colored silk, with the +lace skirt looped with rosebuds."</p> + +<p>"You envy Maria Johnston's complexion? +Why don't you go further and fall in love +with her small eyes and pug nose?" inquired +Victoria, severely ironical. "I have +heard that people were never contented +with their own gifts, but such a case of +blindness as this has never before come +under my observation."</p> + +<p>"No, no! I am not quite so humble with +regard to my personal appearance as you +would make out. Yet"—and the plaintive +voice might have been the murmur of a +grieving angel—"I think that there are +compensations in the lot of plain people +that we know nothing about. They escape +the censure and unkind remarks that uncharitable +and envious women heap upon +those who happen to be attractive. Now, +there is Sarah, who never cares a button +about her looks, so long as her hair is +smooth and her dress clean and whole. +She hates parties and is glad of any excuse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +to stay out of the parlor when gentlemen +call. Give her her books and that +'snuggery,' as she calls it, of a room upstairs, +and she is happier than if she were +in the gayest company in the world. Who +criticises her? Nobody is jealous of her +face or manners or conversation. And she +would not mind it if they were."</p> + +<p>"She has a more independent nature than +yours, my dear. I, for one, am rejoiced +that you two are unlike. I could not endure +to lose my darling friend, and somehow +I never could understand Sarah; never +could get near to her, you know."</p> + +<p>"I do not wonder at that. It is just so +with me, sisters though we are. However, +Sarah means well, if her manner is blunt +and sometimes cold."</p> + +<p>The entrance of the person under discussion +checked the conversation at this point, +and both young ladies began to count their +stitches aloud, to avoid the appearance of +the foolish embarrassment that ever overtakes +a brace of gossips at being thus interrupted.</p> + +<p>Sarah's work lay on her stand near the +window, where she had thrown it when the +crying child attracted her notice, and she +resumed it now. It was a dress for Jeannie. +It was a rare occurrence for the second +sister to fashion anything so pretty +and gay for her own wear.</p> + +<p>"Have you taken to fancy work at last?" +asked Victoria, seeing that the unmade +skirt was stamped with a rich, heavy pattern +for embroidery.</p> + +<p>"No!" Sarah did not affect her sister's +friend, and did not trouble herself to disguise +her feelings towards her.</p> + +<p>Lucy explained: "She is making it for +Jeannie. She does everything for that +child."</p> + +<p>"You are very sisterly and kind, I am +sure," Victoria continued, patronizingly. +"You must quite despise Lucy and myself +for thinking of and doing so much for ourselves, +while you are such a pattern of self-denial."</p> + +<p>A blaze shot up in Sarah's eye; then she +said, coldly: "I am not self-denying. Have +I ever found fault with you or Lucy for +doing as you like?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, my dear. But you take no interest +in what we enjoy. I dare say, now, +you would think it a dull business to work +day after day for three or four weeks together, +crocheting a shawl which may go +out of fashion before one has a chance to +sport it at a watering-place."</p> + +<p>"I certainly should!" The curl of the +thin upper lip would have answered for +her had she not spoken.</p> + +<p>"And you hate the very sight of shellwork +and cone-frames, and Grecian painting, +and all such vanities?"</p> + +<p>"If I must speak the truth, I do—most +heartily."</p> + +<p>Victoria was not easily turned from her +purpose.</p> + +<p>"Come, Sarah! Tell us what you would +have us, poor trifling, silly things, do to +kill the time."</p> + +<p>"If you must be a murderer, do it in your +own way. I have nothing to say in the +matter."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that time never hangs +upon your hands—that you are never ennuyee—blasee?"</p> + +<p>"Speak English, and I will answer you."</p> + +<p>"I want to know," said the persevering +tormentor, "if the hum-drum books upstairs, +your paint-box and your easel are +such good company that you are contented +and happy always when you are with them—if +you never get cross with yourself and +everybody else, and wonder what you were +put into the world for, and why the world +itself was made, and wish that you could +sleep until doomsday. Do you ever feel +like this?"</p> + +<p>Sarah lifted her eyes with a wondering, +incredulous stare at the flippant inquisitor.</p> + +<p>"I have felt thus, but I did not suppose +that you had."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have a 'blue' turn now and then, +but the disease is always more dangerous +with girls of your sort—the reading, thinking, +strong-minded kind. And the older +you grow, the worse you will get. I haven't +as much book knowledge as you have, +but I know more of the world we live in. +Take my advice and settle down to woman's +right sphere. Drive away the vapors +with beaux and fancy-work now. By-and-by +a husband and an establishment will +give you something else to think about."</p> + +<p>Sarah would have replied, but Lucy +broke in with a laugh, light and sweet.</p> + +<p>"You two are always at cross-questions! +Why can't you be satisfied to let one another +alone? Sarah and I never quarrel, +Vic.. We agree to disagree. She gives me +my way, and I don't meddle with her. If +she likes the blues (they say some people +enjoy them), where's the harm of her having +them? They never come near me. If +I get stupid, I go to bed and sleep it off. +Don't you think I have done ten rows +since breakfast? What a godsend a rainy +day is, when one has a fascinating piece of +work on hand!"</p> + +<p>Too proud to seem to abandon the field, +Sarah sat for half an hour longer, stitching +steadily away at the complicated tracery +upon the ground to be worked; then, +as the dimmer daylight caused the others +to draw near to the windows, she pushed +aside her table and put by her sewing.</p> + +<p>"Don't let us drive you away!" said Victoria's +mock-polite tones, and Lucy added, +kindly, "We do not mean to disturb +you, Sarah, dear."</p> + +<p>"You do not disturb me!" was the reply +to the latter. The other had neither glance +nor word.</p> + +<p>Up another flight she mounted to a room, +much smaller than that she had left and +far plainer in its appointments. The higher +one went in Mrs. Hunt's house the less +splendid everything became. In the state +spare chamber—a story below—nothing of +comfort and luxury was wanting, from the +carved rosewood bedstead, with the regal-looking +canopy overshadowing its pillows, +down to the Bohemian and cut-glass scent +bottles upon the marble of the dressing-cabinet. +Sarah's carpet was common ingrain, +neither pretty nor new; a cottage +bedstead of painted wood; bureau and +washstand of the same material; two +chairs and a small table were all the furniture +her mother adjudged needful. To +these the girl had added, from her pittance +of pocket-money, a set of hanging bookshelves, +a portable desk, an easel and two +or three good engravings that adorned the +walls.</p> + +<p>She locked the door after her, with a +kind of angry satisfaction in her face, and +going straight to the window leaned upon +the sash and looked down into the flooded +street. Her eyes were dry, but there was +a heaving in her throat, a tightening of the +muscles about the mouth that would have +made most women weep for very relief. +Sarah Hunt would have scorned the ease +purchased by such weakness. She did not +despise the sad loneliness that girt her +around, any more than the captive warrior +does his cell of iron or stone, but she held +that it would be a cowardly succumbing to +Fate to wound herself by dashing against +the grim walls, or bring out their sleeping +echoes by womanish wailings. So, presently, +her throat ached and throbbed no longer, +the rigid muscles compressed the lips +no more than was their wont, the hands +loosened their vise-like grasp of one another—the +brain was free to think.</p> + +<p>The rain fell still with a solemn stateliness +that befitted the coming twilight. It +was a silent storm for one so heavy. The +faint hum of the city, the tinkle of the +car-bell, three blocks off, arose to her window +above its plashing fall upon the pavement, +and the trickle of the drops from +sash to sill. A stream of light from the +lamp-post at the corner flashed athwart +the sidewalk, glittered upon the swollen +gutter, made gold and silver blocks of the +paving stones. As if they had waited for +this signal, other lights now shone out +from the windows across the way, and +from time to time a broad, transient gleam +from opening doors told of the return of +fathers, brothers, husbands from their +day's employment.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"In happy homes he sees the light."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>What was there in the line that should +make the watcher catch her breath in sudden +pain and lay her hand, with stifled +moan, over her heart, as she repeated it +aloud?</p> + +<p>Witness with me, ye maternal Hunts, +who read this page—you, the careful and +solicitous about many things—in nothing +more ambitious than for the advancement +and success in life of your offspring—add +your testimony to mine that this girl had +all that was desirable for one of her age +and in her circumstances. A house as +handsome as her neighbors, an education +unsurpassed by any of her late school-fellows, +a "position in society;" a reasonable +share of good looks, which only required +care and cultivation on her part to become +really distingue; indulgent parents and +peaceably inclined brothers and sisters—read +the list, and solve me, if you can, the +enigma of this perturbed spirit—this hungering +and thirsting after contraband or +unattainable pleasures.</p> + +<p>"Some girls will do so!" Mrs. Hunt assured +her husband when he "thought that +Sarah did not seem so happy as Lucy. He +hoped nothing ailed the child. Perhaps the +doctor had better drop in to see her. Could +she be fretting for anything, or had her +feelings been hurt?"</p> + +<p>"Bless your soul, Mr. H. There's nothing +the matter with her. She always was kind +o' queer!" (Mrs. Hunt did not use her +company grammar every day.) "And she's +jest eighteen year old. That's the whole +of it! She'll come 'round in good time, +'specially if Lucy should marry off pretty +soon. When Sarah is 'Miss Hunt,' she'll +be as crazy for beaux and company and as +ready to jump at a prime offer as any of +'em. I know girls' ways!"</p> + +<p>Nor am I prepared to say that Sarah, as +she quitted her look-out at the high window +at the sound of the dinner bell, could +have given a more satisfactory reason for +her discontent and want of spirits.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + +<p>Mrs. Hunt's china, like her grammar, was +of two sorts. When her duty to "society" +or the necessity of circumstances forced +her to be hospitable, she "did the thing" +well. At a notice of moderate length she +could get up a handsome, if not a bountiful, +entertainment, to which no man need +have been ashamed to seat his friends, +and when the occasion warranted the display +she grudged not the "other" china, +the other silver, nor the other table-linen.</p> + +<p>She did, however, set her face, like a +broad flint, against the irregularity of inviting +chance visitors to partake of the +family bread and salt. Intimate as Victoria +West was with Lucy, she met only a +civil show of regretful acquiescence in her +proposal to go home as the dinner hour +approached, and Robbie or Richard Hunt +was promptly offered to escort her to her +abode upon the next block. If she remained +to luncheon, as she would do occasionally, +Lucy, in her hearing, begged her +mother to excuse them from going down, +and to send up two cups of tea and a few +sandwiches to the sitting-room. This slight +repast was served by the butler upon a +neat little tray, in a tete-a-tete service—a +Christmas gift to Lucy "from her ever-loving +Victoria," and sentimentally dedicated +to the use of the pair of adopted sisters.</p> + +<p>Therefore, Sarah was not surprised to +find Victoria gone, despite the storm, when +she entered the dining-room. An immense +crumb-cloth covered the carpet; a row of +shrouded chairs, packed elbow to elbow, +stood against the further end of the apartment, +and a set of very ordinary ones were +around the table. The cloth was of whity-brown +material, and the dishes a motley +collection of halt and maimed—for all Mrs. +Hunt's vigilance could not make servants +miraculously careful. There was no propriety, +however, according to her system +of economy, in condemning a plate or cup +as past service because it had come off +second best, to the extent of a crack or +nick or an amputated handle, in an encounter +with some other member of the +crockery tribe. "While there is life there +is hope," was, in these cases, paraphrased +by her to the effect that while a utensil +would hold water it was too good to be +thrown away.</p> + +<p>It was not a sumptuous repast to which +Sarah sat down after she had placed Jeannie +in her high chair and tied the great +gingham bib around her neck. On the contrary, +it came near being a scant provision +for the healthy appetites of seven people. +Before Mr. Hunt, a mild, quiet little +man, was a dish of stew, which was, in its +peculiar line, a thing—not of beauty, but +wonder.</p> + +<p>Only a few days since, as I stood near +the stall of a poultry vender in market, a +lady inquired for chickens.</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am. Roasting size, ma'am?"</p> + +<p>"No. I want them for a fricassee."</p> + +<p>"Ah"—with a look of shrewd intelligence. +"Then, ma'am, I take it, you don't care to +have 'em overly tender. Most ladies prefers +the old ones for fricassee. They come +cheaper and very often bile tender."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," was the amused rejoinder. +"The difference in the price is no consideration +where the safety of our teeth is concerned."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hunt suffered not these scruples to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +hinder her negotiations with knowing poultry +merchants. A cent less per pound would +be three cents saved upon the chicken, and +three cents would buy enough turnips for +dinner. It is an ignorant housekeeper who +needs to be informed that stewed chicken +"goes further" than the same fowl made +into any other savory combination. Mrs. +Hunt's stews were concocted after a recipe +of her own invention. Imprimis, one +chicken, weight varying from two and a +half to three pounds; salt pork, a quarter +of a pound; gravy abundant; dumplings innumerable. +It was all "stew," and if Jeannie's +share was but a bare drumstick, +swimming in gravy and buried in boiled +dough, there was the chicken flavor +through the portion.</p> + +<p>For classic antecedent the reader is referred +to the fable of the rose-scented clay.</p> + +<p>To leave the principal dish, which justice +to Mrs. Hunt's genius would not permit me +to pass with briefer mention, there were, +besides, potatoes, served whole (mashed +ones required butter and cream), turnips +and bread, and Mrs. Hunt presided over a +shallow platter of pork and beans. What +was left of that dish would be warmed +over to piece out breakfast next morning. +The children behaved well, and the most +minute by-law of table etiquette was observed +with a strictness that imparted an +air of ceremonious restraint to the meal. +If Mrs. Hunt's young people were not in +time finished ladies and gentlemen, it was +not her fault, nor was it for the lack of +drilling.</p> + +<p>"Do as I tell you; not as I do," were her +orders in these matters. Since Lucy had +completed her education, the mother added, +"Look at your sister; she is never awkward." +This was true. Lucy was born the +fine lady. Refinement of manner and grace +of movement, an instinctive avoidance of +whatever looked common or underbred +were a part of her nature. Only the usage +of years had accustomed her to her mother's +somewhat "fussy" ways.</p> + +<p>Had she met her in company as Mrs. +Anybody else, she would have yielded her +the right of way with a feeling of amazement +and amiable pity that one who meant +so well should so often overdo the thing +she aimed to accomplish easily and gracefully. +Following out her excellent system +of training, the worthy dame demanded as +diligent and alert watching from her butler +as if she were having a dinner party. +The eggless rice pudding was brought on +with a state that was absolutely ludicrous; +but the family were used to the unsubstantial +show and took it as a matter of course.</p> + +<p>After the meal was over Mrs. Hunt withdrew +to the kitchen for a short conference +with the cook and a sharp glance through +the closets. It was impossible that the abstraction +of six slices of bread from the +baking of the preceding day, three thick +pieces of cheese and more than half of the +cold meat she had decided would, in the +form of hash, supply the other piece of the +breakfast at which the beans were to assist, +should escape her notice.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hunt was reading the evening paper +by the droplight in the sitting-room, Lucy +was busy with her shawl, and Sarah told a +simple tale in a low voice to Jeannie as she +leaned upon her lap, when the wife and +mother entered, with something like a +bluster. All present looked up, and each +one remarked the cloud upon her brow.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, mother?" said Mr. +Hunt, in a tone not free from alarm.</p> + +<p>"I am worried! That's the whole of it. I +am downright vexed with you, Sarah, and +surprised, too! What upon earth possessed +you, child, to take that beggar into my +kitchen to-day? After all I have told you +and tried to learn you about these shameful +impostors! I declare I was beat out +when I heard it. And to throw away provisions +and clothes upon such a brat!"</p> + +<p>Lucy opened her great eyes at her sister, +and Mr. Hunt looked perplexedly towards +his favorite, for at heart he was partial to +his second child.</p> + +<p>"I took the poor creature to the fire, +mother, because she was wet and cold; I +fed her because she was hungry; I gave +her some old, warm clothes of mine because +hers were thin and soaked with +rain."</p> + +<p>"Poor little girl!" murmured Jeannie +compassionately.</p> + +<p>Sarah's hand closed instantly over the +little fingers. The simple-hearted babe understood +and sympathized with her motive +and act better than did her wiser elders.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have no doubt she told a pitiful +story, and shed enough tears to wet her +through, if the rain had not done it already. +If you listen to what these +wretches say, and undertake to relieve +their wants, you will soon have not a dress +to your back nor a house over your head. +Why didn't you send her to some society +for the relief of the poor?"</p> + +<p>"I did not know where to find one, +ma'am."</p> + +<p>This plain truth, respectfully uttered, +confounded Mrs. Hunt for a second.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. James is one of the managers in a +benevolent association," she said, recovering +herself. "You had ought to have +given your beggar her address."</p> + +<p>"Even if I had known that fact, mother, +the girl would have been obliged to walk +half a mile in the storm to find this one +manager. What do you suppose Mrs. +James would have done for her that was +not in my power to perform?"</p> + +<p>"She would have asked the child whereabouts +she lived, and to-morrow she would +have gone to hunt her up. If she found +all as she had been told, which is not likely—these +creatures don't give a right direction +once in ten times—why, she would +have brought the case before the board at +their next meeting, and they would help +them, if neither of her parents was a +drinking character."</p> + +<p>"God help the poor!" ejaculated Sarah, +energetically. "God help the poor, if this +is man's style of relieving his starving +brother! Mother, do you think that hunger +pinches any the less when the famished +being is told that next week or next month +may bring him one good meal? Will the +promise of a bushel of coal or a blanket, +to be given ten days hence, warm the +limbs that are freezing to-night? Is present +help for present need, then always unsafe, +imprudent, insane?"</p> + +<p>"That all sounds very fine, my dear." +Mrs. Hunt grew cool as her daughter +waxed warm. "But when you have seen as +much of the world as I have you will understand +how necessary it is to be careful +about believing all that we hear. Another +thing you must not forget, and that is that +we are not able to give freely, no matter +how much disposed we may be to do so. +It's pretty hard for a generous person to +say 'No,' but it can't be helped. People in +our circumstances must learn this lesson." +Mrs. Hunt sighed at thought of the curb +put upon her benevolent desires by bitter +necessity. "And, after all, very few—you've +no idea how few—of these pretended +sufferers are really in want."</p> + +<p>This preluded a recital of sundry barefaced +impositions and successful swindles +practiced upon herself and acquaintances, +to which Mr. Hunt subjoined certain of +his personal experiences, all tending to establish +the principle that in a vast majority +of cases of seeming destitution the supplicant +was an accomplished rogue and the +giver of alms the victim of his own soft +heart and a villain's wiles. Jeannie drank +in every syllable, until her ideal beggar +quite equalled the ogre who would have +made a light supper off of Hop-o'-my-Thumb +and brothers.</p> + +<p>"You gave this match-girl no money, I +hope?" said Mrs. Hunt, at length.</p> + +<p>"I did not, madam. I had none to give +her." Impelled by her straightforward +sense of honesty that would not allow her +to receive commendation for prudence she +had not shown, she said, bravely: "But I +lent her my umbrella upon her promise to +return it to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Well!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hunt dropped her hands in her lap, +and stared in speechless dismay at her +daughter. Even her husband felt it his +duty to express his disapprobation.</p> + +<p>"That was very unwise, my daughter. +You will never see it again."</p> + +<p>"I think differently, father."</p> + +<p>"You are too easily imposed upon, Sarah. +There is not the least probability that your +property will be returned. Was it a good +umbrella?"</p> + +<p>"It was the one I always use."</p> + +<p>"Black silk, the best make, with a carved +ivory handle—cost six dollars a month +ago!" gasped Mrs. Hunt. "I never heard +of such a piece of shameful imprudence in +all my born days. And I shouldn't wonder +if you never once thought to ask her where +she lived, that you might send a police +officer after it, if the little thief didn't bring +it back to you?"</p> + +<p>"I did think of it." Sarah paused, then +forced out the confession she foresaw +would subject her to the charge of yet +more ridiculous folly. "I did think of it, +but concluded to throw the girl upon her +honor, not to suggest the theft to her by +insinuating a doubt of her integrity."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hunt was annoyed with and sorry +for the culprit, yet he could not help +smiling at this high-flown generosity of +confidence. "You are certainly the most +unsophisticated girl of your age I ever met +with, my daughter. I shall not mind the +loss of the umbrella if it prove to be the +means of giving you a lesson in human +nature. In this world, dear, it will not do +to wear your heart upon your sleeve. +Never believe a pretty story until you have +had the opportunity to ascertain for yourself +whether it is true or false." And with +these titbits of wordly wisdom, the cashier +picked up his paper.</p> + +<p>"Six dollars! I declare I don't know +what to say to you, Sarah!" persisted the +ruffled mother. "You cannot expect me +to buy you another umbrella this season. +You must give up your walks in damp +weather after this. I can't say that I'm +very sorry for that, though. I never did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +fancy your traipsing off two or three miles, +rain or shine, like a sewing girl."</p> + +<p>"Very well, madam!"</p> + +<p>But, steadied by pride as was her voice, +her heart sank at the possibility of resigning +the exercise upon which she +deemed that so much of her health, physical +and mental, depended. These long, +solitary walks were one of the un-American +habits that earned for Sarah Hunt +the reputation of eccentricity. They were +usually taken immediately after breakfast, +and few in the neighborhood who were +abroad or happened to look out at that +hour, were not familiar with the straight, +proud figure, habited in its walking dress +of gray and black, stout boots, and gray +hat with black plume. It was a uniform +selected by herself, and which her mother +permitted her to assume, because it +"looked genteel," and became the wearer. +Especially did she enjoy these tramps +when the threatening storm, in its early +stages, kept others of her class and sex +at home. The untamed spirit found a +fierce pleasure in wrestling with the wind; +the hail that ushered in the snow-storm, +as it beat in her face, called up lustre +to the eye and warm color to the cheek. +To a soul sickening of the glare and perfume +of the artificial life to which she +was confined, the roughest and wildest +aspects of nature were a welcome change.</p> + +<p>I remember laughing heartily, as I doubt +not you did also, dear reader, if you saw +it, at a cut which appeared several years +ago in the Punch department of "Harper's +Magazine." A "wee toddler," perhaps four +years old, with a most lack-a-daisical expression +upon her chubby visage, accosts +her grandmother after this fashion: "I +am tired of life, grandmamma! The world +is hollow, and my doll is stuffed with +sawdust, and if you please, ma'am, I +should like to go to a nunnery!"</p> + +<p>Yet, that there are natures upon which +the feeling of emptiness and longing herein +burlesqued seizes in mere babyhood is +sadly true. And what wonder? From their +cradles, hundreds of children, in our so-called +better classes, are fed upon husks. +A superficial education, in which all that is +not showy accomplishment is so dry and +uninviting that the student has little disposition +to seek further for the rich kernel, +the strong meat of knowledge, is the preparatory +course to a premature introduction +into the world, to many the only +phase of life they are permitted to see, a +scene where all is flash and froth, empty +bubbles of prizes, chased by men and +women with empty heads, and oh, how +often empty, aching hearts! Outside principles, +outside affections, outside smiles, +and most pitiable of all, outside piety! +Penury of heart and stomach at home; +abroad a parade of reckless extravagance +and ostentatious profession of fine feeling +and liberal sentiments!</p> + +<p>"Woe," cried the preacher, "to them +that make haste to be rich!" If he had +lived in our day, in what biting terms of +reprobation and contempt would he have +declaimed against the insane ambition of +those who forego the solid comforts of +judicious expenditure of a moderate income +would afford; spurn the holy quiet +of domestic joys—neglect soul with heart +culture—in their haste to seem rich, when +Providence has seen that wealth is not to +be desired for them! Out upon the disgusting, +indecent race and scramble! The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +worship of the golden calf is bad enough, +but when this bestial idolatry rises to such +a pitch of fanaticism, that in thousands +of households copies in pinchbeck and +plated-ware are set up and served, the +spectacle is too monstrous in its abomination! +This it is that crowds our counting-rooms +with bankrupts and our state-prisons +with defaulters; that is fast turning +our ball-rooms and other places of +fashionable rendezvous into vile caricatures +of foreign courts, foreign manners, +and foreign vices; while the people we +ape—our chosen models and exemplars—hold +their side in inextinguishable laughter +at the grave absurdity of our laborious +imitation. It is no cause for marvel that, +in just retribution, there should be sent +a panic-earthquake, every three years, to +shake men to their senses.</p> + +<p>Such was the atmosphere in which Sarah +Hunt had always lived. In the code subscribed +to by her mother, and the many +who lived and felt and panted and pushed +as she did for social distinction, nothing +was of real, absolute value except the +hard cash. Gold and silver were facts. +All things else were comparative in use +and worth. The garment which, last winter, +no lady felt dressed without, was an +obsolete horror this season. The pattern +of curtains and furniture that nearly +drove the fortunate purchaser wild with +delight, three years back, was now only +fit for the auction room. In vain might +the poor depleted husband plead for and +extol their beauties. The fiat of fashion +had gone forth, and his better half seasoned +his food with lamentations, and +moistened her pillow with tears until she +carried her point. We have intimated that +Sarah was a peculiar girl. Whence she +derived her vigorous intellect; her strong, +original turn of thought; her deep heart, +was a puzzle to those who knew her parents. +The mother was energetic, the +father sensible, but both were commonplace, +and followed, like industrious puppets, +in the wake of others. They were +pleased that Sarah brought home all the +prizes offered at school, and both considered +that she gained a right, by these +victories, to pursue her studies at home, +provided she did not obtrude her singular +views and tastes upon other people. Mrs. +Hunt sighed, frequently and loudly, in her +presence, that her genius had not been +for shell, or bead, or worsted work, instead +of for reading volumes, that did not +even decorate the show book-case in the +library.</p> + +<p>"If you must have so many books, why +don't you pick out them with the tasty +bindings?" she had asked her daughter +more than once. "And I wish you would +paint some bright, lively pictures, that +would look handsome on the walls, instead +of those queer men and women and cloudy +things you have got upstairs. I'd have +'em framed right away, and be real proud +to tell who done them."</p> + +<p>Sarah remained proof against such hints +and temptation, and, shrinking more and +more from the uncongenial whirl around +her, she turned her eager, restless spirit into +her secret, inner life, where, at times, it was +flattered into content by the idealities upon +which it was fed; at others, ramped and +raved, like any other chained wild thing. +The sweetest drop of pleasure she had +tasted for many a day was the thrill she +experienced when the forlorn object she +had rescued from the power of the storm +stood before her, decently and comfortably +clad. The rash confidence she had reposed +in so suspicious a stranger was the +outgoing of a heart too noble and true in +every impulse to pause, for a moment, to +speculate upon the chances of another's +good or bad faith. The great world of the +confessedly poor was an unknown field to +her—one she longed to explore. Her footsteps +loitered more often near the entrance +of some narrow, reeking street or +alley, down which she had promised her +mother not to go, than on the spacious +pave, where over-dressed women and foppish +men halted at, and hung around bewitching +shop windows. She wondered +how such throngs of breathing beings contrived +to exist in those fetid, cramped +quarters; how they lived, spoke, acted, +felt. The great tie of human brotherhood +became daily more tense, as she pondered +these things in her heart.</p> + +<p>On this particular day, as she sat, silent +and thoughtful, at her needle, the +chit-chat of her companions less heeded +than the continual dropping of the rain +without, the wail of the shivering wanderer +caused a painful vibration through +every nerve. The deed was done! the experiment +was tried. She was ashamed that +an event so trivial held her eyes waking, +far into the night. At least, she said to +herself, she would not be without a lesson +of some kind; would learn whether deceit +and falsehood prevailed in the lowest, as +well as the higher ranks of society. If, +as she still strove to believe would be the +case, the child returned the borrowed +property, she would make use of her, as +the means of entering upon a new sphere +of research and action. After so complete +a refutation of her theories respecting the +utter corruption of all people, who had +not enough to eat and to wear, her mother +could not withhold her consent to her +petition that she might become a lay-missionary—a +present relief committee to +a small portion of the suffering, toiling, +ill-paid masses. She would then have a +work to do—something to call out energy +and engage feeling in healthy exercise—and +soothed by the romantic vision, she +fell asleep with a smile upon her lips.</p> + +<p>The morning dawned between breaking +clouds, that soon left the sky clear and +bright. All through the day Sarah watched +for her visitor of the preceding day—watched +with nervousness she could not +wholly conceal, from morn to night, for +two, three days—for a week. Then she +looked no longer while at home; her question, +at entering the house, after a drive +or walk, ceased to be, "Has any thing +been left for me?" So palpable was her +disappointment that her father forbore to +make any allusion to her loss, and Lucy, +albeit she was somewhat obtuse to the +finer points of her sister's character, good-naturedly +interposed to change the subject +when her mother sought to improve +the incident to her daughter's edification +and future profit. Mr. Hunt was right in +supposing that the "unsophisticated girl" +had learned something. Whether she were +happier or better for the lesson thus acquired +was another thing.</p> + +<p>Once again Sarah had an opportunity for +speech with her delinquent protege. Two +months later she was passing through a +by-street in a mean neighborhood, very +far up town, in her morning ramble, when +her progress was arrested, for an instant, +by two boys, who ran out of an alley +across the walk. One overtook the other +just in front of the lady, and catching +him by his ragged collar, threw him down.</p> + +<p>"That's right! beat him well! I'll help!" +screeched a girl, rushing out of the court +whence they had come.</p> + +<p>Grinning with delight, she flung herself +upon the prostrate form and commenced +a vigorous assault, accompanied by language +alike foul and profane.</p> + +<p>Sarah recognized her instantly, and while +she paused in mingled amazement and +anger, the child looked up and saw her. +In a twinkling she relinquished her grip +of the boy's hair—jumped up and sped +back into the dirty alley, with the blind +haste of guilty fear.</p> + +<p>Yes! Mr. Hunt was a wise man, who +knew the world, and trebly sage in her +generation was his spouse. If their daughter +had never acknowledged this before, +she did now, in her disgust and dismay at +this utter overthrow of her dreams of +the virtuous simplicity to be found in lowly +homes, where riches and fashions were +things unknown.</p> + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + +<p>Summer had come to the country with +its bloom and its beauty, its harvests and +its holidays. In town, its fever heat drew +noisome smells from overcharged sewers, +and the black, oily paste to which the +shower that should have been refreshing +had changed the dust of crowded thoroughfares. +Cleaner pavements, in the +higher portions of the city, burned through +shoe-soles; glass radiated heat to polished +stone, and stone radiated, in its turn, to +brick, that waited until the evening to +throw off its surplus caloric in hot, suffocating +waves that made yet more oppressive +the close nights. The gay procession +of fashionable humming birds had +commenced their migrations, steamboats +and excursion craft multiplied at the +wharves, and the iron steed put forth all +his tremendous might to bear onward the +long train of self-exiled travelers.</p> + +<p>The Hunts, too, must leave town; Lucy +must, at all events, have a full season, +and a brilliant one, if possible, for it was +her second summer, and much might depend +upon it. Her mother would accompany +her, of course; and equally of course +her father could not; that is, he must return +after escorting them to Saratoga, and +spend the remainder of the warm months at +home. His business would not allow him +to take an extended vacation. The boys +were easily disposed of, being boarded +every summer at the farmhouse of an +early friend of Mr. Hunt, where they +were acceptable inmates, their clothes as +well cared for as they were at home, and +their morals more diligently cultivated. +The younger girls caused that excellent +manager, their mother, more perplexity. +This was not the first time she had repented +her indiscretion in allowing Sarah +to "come out" before her elder sister had +"gone off." But "Sarah was so tall and +so womanly in her appearance that it +looked queer, and would set people to talking +if I kept her back," she was accustomed +to excuse her impolitic move to +her friends. This summer she realized, as +she had not done before, the inconvenience +of having two full-fledged young ladies<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +upon the carpet at once. Lucy's elegant +and varied wardrobe, and the certain expenses +in prospect for her and her chaperon +at Spa, seaside, and en route, left a +balance in hand of the sum allotted for +the season's expenditure that was startling +in its meagerness. Mrs. Hunt was a +capital financier, a peerless economist, but +the exigency taxed her resources to the +utmost.</p> + +<p>One morning she arose with a lightened +heart and a smoother brow. "I've settled +it!" she exclaimed to her husband, shaking +him from his matutinal doze.</p> + +<p>The "Eureka!" of the Syracusan mathematician +was not more lofty in its exultation. +Forthwith she unfolded to him her +scheme. She was a native of New Jersey, +"the Jarseys" she had heard it called in +her father's house—had probably thus denominated +the gallant little state herself +in her girlhood. In and around the pretty, +quiet village of Shrewsbury there were still +resident scores of her relatives whose very +names she had sedulously forgotten. One +alone she could not, in conscience or in +nature, dismiss to such oblivion. This +was her elder and only sister, long married +to a respectable and worthy farmer, and +living within a mile of "the old place," +where both sisters had drawn the first +breath of life. Twice since Mrs. Hunt had +lived in the city had this kind friend been +summoned on account of the dangerous +illness of the former, and her presence +and nursing had restored peace, order, and +health to the household. The earlier of +these occasions was that of the second +child's birth, and in the softened mood of +her convalescence Mrs. Hunt had bestowed +upon the babe her sister's name—Sarah +Benson—a homely appellative she had ofttimes +regretted since. At distant and irregular +intervals, one, two, three years, +Mr. or Mrs. Benson visited their connections +in "York;" but the intercourse grew +more difficult and broken as time rolled +on and the distance widened between the +plain country folk and their rising relations. +Then, again, death had been busy +in the farmhouse; coffin after coffin, of +varying lengths, but all short, was lifted +over the threshold and laid away in the +village graveyard, until but one was left +to the parents of the seven little ones +that had been given to them, and to that +one nature had denied the gifts of speech +and hearing. Grief and the infirmities of +approaching old age disinclined the worthy +pair to stir from home, and their ambitious +sister was too busy in building up a +"set" of her own, and paving the way +for her daughters' distinction, to hide her +light for ever so short a period in so obscure +a corner as her former home.</p> + +<p>Aunt Sarah, however, could not forget +her nurseling. Every few months there +arrived some simple token of affectionate +remembrance to "the child" she had not +seen since she wore short frocks and pinafores. +The reception of a basket of fruit, +thus despatched, was the suggestive power +to Mrs. Hunt's present plan. She had +made up her mind, so she informed her +husband straightway, to write that very +day—yes! that very forenoon, to "Sister +Benson," and inquire whether she would +board Sarah and Jeannie for a couple of +months.</p> + +<p>"I don't s'pose she will let me pay board +for them, but she will be pleased to have +'em as long as they like to stay. It's never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +been exactly convenient for me to let any +of the children go there for so many years, +and it's so fur off. But dear me! sometimes +I feel real bad about seeing so little +of my only sister!"—a heavy sigh. "And +there'll be the expenses of two saved, out +and out, for they won't need a great variety +of clothes in that out-of-the-way +place."</p> + +<p>"But how will the girls, Sarah and Jeannie, +fancy being sent off so?" inquired Mr. +Hunt.</p> + +<p>"Oh, as to that, it is late in the day for +my children to dispute what I say shall +be done; and Sarah's jest that odd that +she'll like this notion twenty times better +than going to Newport or Saratoga. I +know her! As to Jeannie, she is satisfied +to be with her sister anywhere. She is getting +thin, too; she looks real peaked, and +there's nothing in creation so good for +ailing children as the salt-water bath. +They have first-rate still-water bathing not +a quarter of a mile from sister's. It's +jest the thing, I tell you! The wonder +is it never came into my head before."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hunt had his sigh now. "Somehow +or other he was always down in the mouth +when the family broke up for the summer," +his wife frequently complained, and +his lack of sympathy now excited her just +ire.</p> + +<p>"Upon my word, Mr. H.! anybody would +think that I was the poorest wife in the +world to you to see and hear you whenever +I talk to you of my plans and household +affairs. You look as if you was about +to be hanged, instead of feeling obliged +to me for turning, and twisting, and contriving, +and studying, day and night, how +to save your money, and spend what we +must lay out to the best advantage. I +can tell you what—there's few women +would make your income go as far as I +do."</p> + +<p>"I know that, my dear. The question +is"—Mr. Hunt paused, cleared his throat +and strained his nerves for a mighty effort, +an unprecedented exercise of moral +courage—"the question is, Betsy, whether +our income is stretched in the right direction!" +Mistaking the stare of petrified +incredulity he received for fixed attention, +the infatuated man went on: "This doubt +is always forced upon me when we separate +in July, some to go to one place, some +to another, a broken, wandering family +for months together. I am growing old, +and I love to have my children about me; +I begin to feel the want of a home. +There is Johnson, in the —— Bank, gets +five hundred less per annum than I do; +yet, after living quietly here a few years, +he bought himself a snug cottage up the +river, and has his family there in their +own house, everything handsome and +comfortable about them. I have been in +the harness for a long while; I expect to +die in it. I don't mind work—hard work! +but it seems to me sometimes that we +would all be better satisfied if we had +more to show, or to hold, for our money; +if there were less of this straining after +appearances, this constant study to make +both ends meet."</p> + +<p>"And it has come to this!" Mrs. Hunt +sank into a chair and began to cry. "This +is my thanks for slaving and toiling for +better than twenty years to get you and +your children a stand in the world! It +isn't for myself that I care. I can work +my fingers to the bone, and live upon a +crust! I can scrape and save five dollars +or so a month! I can bury myself in the +country! But your children! those dear, +sweet girls, that have had the best education +money can buy, and that to-day visit +such people as the Murrays, and Sandersons, +and Hoopers, and Baylors, and meet +the Castors and Crinnalls at parties—millionaires, +all of 'em, the cream of the +upper crust! I don't deny that I have +been ambitious for them, and I did hope that +you had something of the same spirit; +and now to think of your complaining, +and moping, and groaning over the money +you say I've been and wasted; oh! oh! oh!"</p> + +<p>"You misunderstand me, my dear; I +merely questioned whether we were acting +wisely in making so much display upon +so little substance. We are not millionaires, +whatever may be said of the girls' +visiting acquaintances, and I tremble +sometimes to think how all this false +show may end."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hunt's borrowed courage had not +evaporated entirely.</p> + +<p>"That's distrusting Providence, Mr. H.! +It's downright sinful, and what I shouldn't +have looked for from you. I can tell you +how it will end. If both of us live ten +years longer, you will see your daughters +riding in their own carriages, and leaders +of the tong, and your sons among the first +gentlemen of the city. If this does not +turn out true, you needn't ever trust my +word again. I've set my head upon getting +Lucy off my hands this summer, and well +off; and mark my words, Mr. H., it shall +be done."</p> + +<p>One part of her mother's prophecy was +fulfilled in Sarah's manner of receiving the +proposition so nearly affecting her comfort +during the summer. Lucy wondered at +the cheerful alacrity with which she consented +to be "hidden away in that horrid +bore of a farmhouse," and Jeannie cried as +her elder sister "supposed that they would +eat in Aunt Sarah's kitchen, along with the +servant men."</p> + +<p>"Lucy, be quiet!" interposed her mother. +"Your aunt is not a common poor person. +Mr. Benson is a man of independent +means, quite rich for the country. They +live very nicely, and I have no doubt but +that your sisters will be happy there."</p> + +<p>Sarah had drawn Jeannie to her, and +was telling her of the rides and walks +they would take together, the ducks and +chickens they would feed, and the merry +plunges in the salt water that were to be +daily luxuries. Ere the recital was concluded, +the child was impatient for the +hour of departure, and indignant when she +heard that Aunt Sarah must be heard +from before they could venture to present +themselves, bag and baggage, at her door. +There was nothing feigned in Sarah's satisfaction; +her preparations were made +with far more pleasure than if she were to +accompany Lucy. The seclusion that would +have been slow death to the latter was +full of charms for the book-loving sister. +Aunt Sarah would be kind; the novel +phases of human nature she would meet +would amuse and interest her; and, besides +these, there was Jeannie to love and pet, +and river, field, and grove for studies and +society. She panted for the country and +liberty from the tyrannous shackles of +city customs.</p> + +<p>Aunt Sarah wrote promptly and cordially, +rejecting the offered compensation, and +begging for her nieces' company as long +as they could content themselves in so retired +a place. Simple-minded as she was, +she knew enough to be sure that the +belles and beaux of the neighborhood +would be very unsuitable mates for her +expected visitors. If her own girls had +lived, she would have asked nothing higher +for them in this world than to have +them grow up respected, beloved, and +happy, among the acquaintances and +friends of their parents; but "Sister Betsy's +children had been raised so differently!" +she said to her husband. "I don't +know what we will do to amuse them."</p> + +<p>"They will find amusement—never fear," +was the farmer's response. "Let city folks +alone for seeing wonders where those that +have lived among them all their lives +never found anything uncommon. They +are welcome to the pony whenever they've +a mind to ride, and Jim or I will find time +to drive them around a'most every day; +and what with riding, and boating, and +bathing, I guess they can get rid of the +time."</p> + +<p>Before the day set for the coming of the +guests there appeared upon the stage an +unexpected and welcome ally to Aunt +Sarah's benevolent design of making her +nieces' sojourn agreeable. This personage +we will let the good woman herself describe.</p> + +<p>"You needn't trouble yourself to fix up +for tea, dear," she said to Sarah, the afternoon +of her arrival, as she prepared to +remove her traveling dress. "There's nobody +here besides husband, and me, and +Charley, except husband's nephew, Philip +Benson, from the South. He comes North +'most every summer, and never goes back +without paying us a visit. He's been here +three days now. But he is just as easy as +an old shoe, and sociable as can be, so +you won't mind him."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Benson has relatives at the South, +then?" said Sarah, seeing herself called +upon to say something.</p> + +<p>"One brother—James. He went to Georgy +when he wasn't more than sixteen +years old, and has lived there ever since. +He married a rich wife, I believe"—sinking +her voice—"and has made money fast, +I've heard. Philip never says a word +about their wealth, but his father owns a +great plantation, for husband asked him +how many acres they worked. Then the +children—there are four of them—have had +fine educations, and always spend money +freely. Philip is not the sort to boast of +anything that belongs to him or his. He +is a good-hearted boy. He was here the +August my last daughter—my Betsy—died, +and I shall never forget how kind and +tender he was then. I can't look at him +without thinking how my Alick would +have been just his age if he had lived. +One was born on the fourth and the other +the fifth of the same April."</p> + +<p>Keeping up a decent show of interest in +these family details, Sarah divested Jeannie +of her sacque and dress, and substituted +a cool blue gingham and a muslin +apron. Then, as the child was wild to run +out of doors, she suffered her to go, charging +her not to pass the boundary of the +yard fence. Aunt Sarah was dressed in +a second mourning delaine, with a very +plain cap, and while the heat obliged Sarah +to lay aside the thick and dusty garment +she had worn all day, she had too much +tact to offer a strong contrast in her own +attire to her unpretending surroundings.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +A neat sprigged lawn, modest and inexpensive, +was not out of place among the +old-fashioned furniture of her chamber, +nor in the "best room," to which they +presently descended.</p> + +<p>Aunt Sarah ushered her into the apartment +with some stiffness of ceremony. In +truth, she was not herself there often, or +long enough to feel quite at ease, her +property though it was. Alleging the necessity +of "seeing to the tea," she bade +her niece "make herself at home," threw +open a blind that she "might see the +river," and left her.</p> + +<p>First, Sarah looked around the room. It +was large and square, and had four windows, +two in front and two in the rear. +The floor was covered by a well-saved +carpet, of a pattern so antique that it +was in itself a curiosity; heavy tables of +a mahogany dark with age; upright chairs, +with slippery leathern seats; a ponderous +sofa, covered with haircloth; small mirrors, +with twisted frames, between the +windows; two black profiles, of life-size, +over the mantel, and in the fireplace a jar +of asparagus boughs, were appointments +that might have repelled the looker-on, but +for the scrupulous, shining cleanliness of +every article. It was a scene so strange +to Sarah that she could not but smile as +she withdrew her eyes and turned to the +landscape commanded by her window.</p> + +<p>The sight changed the gleam of good-humored +amusement to one of more heartfelt +pleasure. Beyond the grassy walks +and flower-borders of the garden behind +the house lay green meadows, sloping +down to the river, broad and smooth at +this point, so placid now that it mirrored +every rope and seam of the sails resting +quietly upon its surface, and the white +cottages along the banks, while the banks +themselves, with their tufts and crowns +of foliage, drooping willows and lofty elms, +found a faithful yet a beautified counterpart +in the stream. The reflected blush of +the crimson west upon its bosom was +shot with flickers of golden light, and +faded in the distance into the blue-gray +twilight. The air seemed to grow more +deliciously cool as the gazer thought of +the hot, pent-up city, and the beds of +thyme and lavender added their evening +incense.</p> + +<p>The hum of cheerful voices joined pleasantly +with the soothing influences of the +hour, and, changing her position slightly, +Sarah beheld the speakers. Upon a turfy +mound, at the foot of an apple tree, sat +Jeannie beside a gentleman, whose hands +she watched with pleased interest, as did +also a boy of fifteen or thereabouts, who +knelt on the grass before them. Sarah +divined at once that this was her aunt's +deaf and dumb son. The gentleman was +apparently interpreting to Jeannie all that +passed between himself and the lad, and +her gleeful laugh showed it to be a lively +dialogue. Could this be Mr. Benson's +nephew, the beardless youth Sarah had +pictured him to herself from Aunt Sarah's +description? He could not have been less +than six-and-twenty, had dark hair and +a close curling beard, an intelligent, handsome +face, and notwithstanding his loose +summer sack and lounging attitude, one +discerned plainly traces of uncommon grace +and strength in his form.</p> + +<p>"What is he, I wonder? A gallant, professional +beau, who will entangle me in +my speech, and be an inevitable appendage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +in the excursions? I flattered myself I +would be safe from all such drawbacks," +thought Sarah, in genuine vexation, as she +obeyed her aunt's summons to tea.</p> + +<p>Perhaps Mr. Benson read as much in +her countenance, for, beyond a few polite, +very unremarkable observations, addressed +to her when his hosts made it necessary +for him to do so, he paid her no visible +attention during the whole of the evening. +The next day he set off, the minute breakfast +was over, with his gun and game-bag, +and was gone until sunset.</p> + +<p>Sarah sat at her chamber window as he +came up to the back door; and, screened +by the vine trained over the sash, she +watched him as he tossed his game-bag to +Charley and shook hands with Jeannie, +who ran up to him with the familiarity of +an old acquaintance.</p> + +<p>"What luck?" questioned his uncle.</p> + +<p>"Nothing to boast of, sir; yet enough to +repay me for my tramp. I have been +down to the shore."</p> + +<p>"Philip Benson! Well, you beat everything! +I suppose you have walked as much +as ten miles in all!" exclaimed Aunt Sarah, +with a sort of reproachful admiration.</p> + +<p>"I dare say, madam, and am none the +worse for it to-night. I am getting used +to your sand, uncle; it used to tire me, I +confess."</p> + +<p>He disappeared into the kitchen, probably +to perform the ablutions needful after +his day's walk and work, for it was several +minutes before he returned. Charley +had carried the game-bag to the mound +under the tree, and was exhibiting its contents—mostly +snipe and red-winged black +birds—to his little cousin.</p> + +<p>"It is refreshing to see something in +the shape of man that is neither an effeminate +dandy nor a business machine," +soliloquized Sarah. "Ten miles on foot! I +would like to set that task for certain of +our Broadway exquisites!"</p> + +<p>"She isn't a bit like a city girl!" Aunt +Sarah was saying, as she followed Philip +into the outer air.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to hear that she is likely to +be a nice companion for you, madam. I +thought, from her appearance, that you +would suit each other," was the reply, certainly +respectful enough, but whose lurking +accent of dry indifference sent the +blood to Sarah's face.</p> + +<p>Hastily withdrawing from the open window, +and beyond the reach of the voices +that discussed her merits, she waited to +recover her equanimity before going downstairs. +In vain she chided herself for her +sudden heat. Mortified she was, and even +more ashamed of herself than angry with +the cool young man who had pronounced +her to be a fitting associate for her excellent +but unpolished aunt. While his +every look and intonation bespoke the +educated gentleman, a being as different in +mental as in physical muscle from the +fops who formed her sister's train, had +he weighed her against the refined woman +of his own class and clime, and adjudged +her this place? At heart she felt the injustice, +and, stimulated by the sting, arose +the resolve that he should learn and confess +his error. Not tamely or willingly +would she accept an ignoble station at the +hands of one whom she inwardly recognized +as capable of a true valuation of +what she esteemed worthy.</p> + +<p>She looked haughty, not humbled, when +she took her seat opposite her critic at +the tea-table. "A nice companion," she +was saying over to herself. The very +phrase, borrowed, as it was, from Aunt +Sarah's vocabulary, seemed to her seasoned +with contempt. She kept down fire and +scorn, however, when Mr. Benson accosted +her with the tritest of remarks upon the +probable heat of the day in town as contrasted +with the invigorating breeze, with +its faint, delicious sea flavor, that rustled +the grapevines and fluttered the white curtains +at the dining-room door and windows. +Her answer was not exactly gracious, +but it advanced the one tempting +step beyond a mere reply.</p> + +<p>Thus was the ice broken, and for the +rest of the meal, Aunt Sarah and "Uncle +Nathan"—as he requested his nieces to +style him—had respite from the duty of +active entertainment, so far as conversation +went. To Sarah's surprise, Mr. Benson +talked to her almost as he would have +done to another man. He spoke of notable +persons, places, and books—things of which +she had heard and read—without affectation +of reserve or a shade of pretension; +and to her rejoinders—brief and constrained +for awhile—then, as she forgot +herself in her subject, pertinent, earnest, +salient, he gave more than courteous heed. +It was the unaffected interest of an inquirer; +the entire attention of one who felt +that he received more than he gave.</p> + +<p>They parted for the night with a bow +and a smile that was with each a mute +acknowledgment of pleasure derived from +the companionship of the other; and if +neither looked forward to the meeting of +the morrow as a renewal of congenial +intercourse, both carried to their rest the +effects of an agreeable surprise in the +events of the evening.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> + + +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<p>A week had passed since the arrival of +the city nieces at the farmhouse. An +early tea, one of Aunt Sarah's generous +and appetizing repasts, was over; and +through the garden, out at the gate that +terminated the middle walk, and across +the strip of meadow-land, danced Charley +and Jeannie, followed at a more sedate +pace by Philip Benson and Sarah. Seven +days' rustication had wrought a marked +change in the town-bred girl. There was +a lighter bound in her step, and in her +cheek a clear, pink glow, while her eyes +looked softly, yet brightly, from out the +shadow of her gypsy hat, a look of half +surprise, half confidence in her companion's +face.</p> + +<p>"One week ago," he was saying, "how +firmly I made up my mind that you and +I could never be anything but strangers +to each other! How I disliked you for +coming down here to interfere with my liberty +and leisure!"</p> + +<p>"But even then you thought that I +would prove a 'nice companion for Aunt +Sarah'—perceived my suitableness to her +society," was the demure reply.</p> + +<p>"Who told you that I said so?"</p> + +<p>"Not Aunt Sarah herself, although she +considered it honest praise. I overheard +it accidentally from my window, and I can +assure you properly appreciated the compliment, +which, by the way, was more in +the tone than the words."</p> + +<p>"And you were thereby piqued to a different +style of behavior. Bravo! did ever +another seed so worthless bring forth so +rich a harvest? I am glad I said it! Here +is the boat."</p> + +<p>It was a pretty little affair—Charley's +property and care, and he was already in +his seat at the bow, oar in hand. Philip +helped Sarah in, placed Jeannie beside her, +and stationing himself upon the middle +bench took up a second pair of oars. A +noiseless dip of the four, and the craft +glided out into the stream, then up against +the tide, the water rippling into a foamy +wake on either side of the sharp bow. +A row was now the regular sequel to the +day's enjoyments, and to Jeannie, at least, +the climax of its pleasures.</p> + +<p>"Pull that way, please, Mr. Benson!" she +cried. "There! right through that beautiful +red water!"</p> + +<p>A skilful sweep brought them to the +spot designated, but the crimson deserted +the wave as they neared it, and left dull +gray in its stead.</p> + +<p>"It is too bad!" complained the child, +pointing back to the track of their boat, +quivering amidst the fickle radiance she +had thought to reach by this change of +course. "It is behind us and before us—everywhere +but where we are!"</p> + +<p>"Is there a moral in that?" questioned +Philip, smiling at Sarah.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so."</p> + +<p>A fortnight before, how assured would +have been her reply! How gloomy her +recognition of the analogy! Changed as +was her mood, a shade fell over her countenance. +Was it of apprehension, and did +Philip thus interpret it?</p> + +<p>"I could not love life and this fair +world as I do, if I conceded this to be +universally true," he said. "That there +comes, sometimes, a glory to the present, +besides which the hues of past and future +fade and are forgotten, I must and will +believe. Such, it seems to me, must be the +rapture of reciprocal and acknowledged +affection; the joy of reunion after long +separation from the beloved one; the bliss +of reconciliation after estrangement. Have +you ever thought how much happier we +would be if we were to live only in the +Now we have, and never strain our eyes +with searching for, the lights and shades +of what may be before us, or with 'mournful +looking' after what is gone?"</p> + +<p>"Yet is this possible?" asked Sarah, +earnestly. "Does not the very constitution +of our natures forbid it? To me that +would be a miserably tame, dead-level +existence over which Hope sheds no enchanting +illusions; like this river, as we +saw it three days ago, cold and sombre as +the rain-clouds that hung above it. Oh, +no! give me anything but the chill, neutral +tint of such a life as thousands are content +to lead—people who expect nothing, +fear nothing—I had almost said, feel nothing!"</p> + +<p>"That is because every principle of your +being is at war with common-places. Tell +me frankly, Miss Sarah, did you ever meet +another woman who had as much character +as yourself?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know that I understand the +full bearing of your question." She leaned +on the side of the boat, her hand playing +in the water, her lips working in an irresolute +timidity that was oddly at variance +with their habitual firmness.</p> + +<p>"I am aware," she began slowly and +gravely, "that I express myself too strongly +at times; that I am more abrupt in +language and action than most other girls.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +I have always been told so; but it is +natural to me. My character has many +rough and sharp edges that need softening +and rounding"—</p> + +<p>"In order to render you one of the pretty +automatons, the well-draped, thoroughly-oiled +pieces of human clockwork that decorates +men's homes—falsely so called—in +these days of gloss and humbug!" interrupted +Philip with energy. "I am sick to +death of the dollish 'sweet creatures' every +boarding-school turns out by the score. I +understand all the wires that work the +dear puppets—flatter myself that I can put +them through their paces (excuse the +slang!) in as short a time as any other +man of my age in the country. The delightful +divinities! A little music, and +a little less French; a skimming of the +arts and sciences; and it is a rare thing +to meet one who can tell an art from a +science ten days after she has graduated—a +stock of pet phrases—all hyperbolical, +consequently unmeaning—a glib utterance +of the same; a steady devotion to balls, +beau-catching, gossip, and fancy-work; +voila the modern fine lady—the stuff we +are expected to make wives of! Wives! +save the mark! I never think of the possibility +of being thus ensnared without an +involuntary repetition of a portion of the +Litany—'From all such, etc., etc.!'"</p> + +<p>He plied his oars with renewed activity +for a moment, then suspended them to continue, +in a softer tone: "And this is the +representative woman of your Utopia, Miss +Sarah?"</p> + +<p>"Did I intimate, much less assert, such +a heresy?" responded she, laughing. "But +there is a golden mean somewhere—a union +of gentleness and energy; of domestic and +literary taste; of independence and submission. +I have seen such in my day +dreams. She is my ideal."</p> + +<p>"Which you will one day embody. No +reproachful looks! This is the sincerity +of a friend. I have promised never to +flatter you again, and do not violate the +pledge in speaking thus. From my boyhood, +I have made human nature my +study, and it would be hard to convince +me that I err in this case."</p> + +<p>"You do! indeed you do!" exclaimed +Sarah, with a look of real pain. "I lack +the first characteristic of the portrait I +have drawn. I am not gentle! I never +was. I fear that I never will be!"</p> + +<p>"Let us hear a competent witness on +that head. Jeannie!" to the child, who +was busy spelling on her fingers to Charley; +his nods and smiles to her, from the +far end of the boat, being more intelligible +to her than were her attempts to signal +her meaning to him. "Jeannie!" repeated +Philip, as he caught her eye. "Come, and +whisper in my ear which of your sisters +you love the best. Maybe I won't tell +tales out of school to the one you care +least for."</p> + +<p>"I don't care who knows!" said the +saucy, but affectionate child. "Sis' Lucy is +the prettiest, and she never scolds me +either; but she doesn't make my clothes, +and tell me nice stories, and help me with +my lessons, and all that, you know. She +isn't my dear, best sister!" And, springing +up suddenly, she threw her arms around +Sarah's neck, with a kiss that answered +the question with emphasis.</p> + +<p>Sarah's lip trembled. The share of affection +she had hitherto dared to claim as +her own had barely sufficed to keep her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +heart from starving outright. She had +often dreamed of fulness of love as a stay +and comfort, as solace and nutriment in +a world whose wrong side was ever turned +to her. Now there dawned upon her the +sweetness and beauty of a new revelation, +the bliss of loving and being beloved. Over +life floated a warm, purple tinge, like the +sunset light upon the river. For the first +time within the reach of her memory her +heart rested!</p> + +<p>In the smile whose overflowing gave a +tender loveliness to her features, Philip +saw the effect he had wished and anticipated, +and, motioning to Charley to let +the boat drift with the current, he picked +up the guitar, that by Sarah's request was +always taken along in these excursions.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The dew is on the blossom,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And the young moon on the sea;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It is the twilight hour—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The hour for you and me;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The time when memory lingers<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Across life's dreary track,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When the past floats up before us,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And the lost comes stealing back."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It was a love song, inimitable in its +purity and tenderness, with just the touch +of sadness that insured its passage to the +heart. Sarah's smile was softer, but it +was a smile still, as the melody arose on the +quiet air. When the ballad was concluded, +she only said, "Another, please!"</p> + +<p>Philip sang more than well. Without extraordinary +power, his voice had a rich +and flexible quality of tone and a delicacy +of expression that never failed to fascinate. +To the rapt and listening girl it +seemed as if time could bring no more +delicious fate than thus to glide on ever +upon this empurpled, enchanted stream, +the summer heavens above her, and, thrilling +ear and soul, the witching lullaby that +rocked her spirit to dreams of the youth +she had never had, the love for which she +had longed with all the wild intensity, +the fervent yearning, her deep heart could +feel.</p> + +<p>Still they floated on with the receding +tide, its low washing against the sides of +their boat filling up the pauses of the +music. The burning red and gold of the +sky cooled into the mellower tints of +twilight, and the pale curve of the young +moon shone with increasing lustre. Jeannie +fell asleep, her head upon her sister's +lap; the dumb boy sat motionless as stone, +his dark eyes fixed on the moon; there +seemed some spell upon the little party. +Boat after boat passed them, almost noiselessly, +for far into the clear evening went +the tones of the singer's voice, and the +dullest hearer could not withhold the +tribute of admiring silence until beyond its +reach.</p> + +<p>And Sarah, happy in the strange, restful +languor that locked her senses to all except +the blessed present, dreamed on, the +music but a part of her ideal world, this +new and beautiful life. Into it stole presently +a theme of sadness, a strain of +grief, a heart-cry, that, ere she was aware, +wrung her own heart-strings with anguish.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">"The long, long weary day<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Is passed in tears away,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And still at evening I am weeping.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">When from my window's height<br /></span> +<span class="i4">I look out on the night,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">I am still weeping,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">My lone watch keeping.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">"When I, his truth to prove,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Would trifle with my love,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He'd say, 'For me thou wilt be weeping,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">When, at some future day,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">I shall be far away;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Thou wilt be weeping,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Thy lone watch keeping.'<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">"Alas! if land or sea<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Had parted him from me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I would not these sad tears be weeping;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">But hope he'd come once more,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And love me as before;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And say, 'Cease weeping,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Thy lone watch keeping.'<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">"But he is dead and gone,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Whose heart was mine alone,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And now for him I'm sadly weeping.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">His face I ne'er shall see,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And naught is left to me<br /></span> +<span class="i4">But bitter weeping,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">My lone watch keeping."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>If ever a pierced and utterly hopeless +soul poured forth its plaint in musical +measure, it was in the wondrously simple +and unspeakably plaintive air to which +these words are set. There breathes in it +a spirit wail so mournfully sincere that one +recognizes its sob in the very chords of +the accompaniment. The mere murmur of +the melody, were no words uttered, tells +the story of grieving desolation.</p> + +<p>Sarah did not move or speak, yet upon +her enchanted ground a cloud had fallen. +She saw the high casement and its tearful +gazer into the night, a night not of music, +and moonlight, and love, but chill, and +wet, and dreary. Rain dripped from eaves +and trees; stone steps and pavements +caught a ghastly gleam from street lamps; +save that sorrowful watcher, there was +no living creature abroad or awake. She +grew cold and sick with looking into those +despairing eyes; the gloom, the loneliness, +the woe of that vigil became her own, and +her heart sank swooning beneath the +burden.</p> + +<p>As he ceased the song, Philip looked up +for some comment or request. To his surprise, +she only clasped her hands in a +gesture that might have been either relief +from or abandonment to woe, and bowed +her head upon them. Puzzled, yet flattered +by her emotion, he refrained from interrupting +her; and, resuming his oars, +lent the impetus of their stroke to that +of the tide. Nothing was said until the +keel grated upon the shelly beach opposite +the farmhouse. Then, as Philip +stooped to lift the unconscious Jeannie, he +imagined that he discerned the gleam of +the sinking moon upon Sarah's dripping +eyelashes.</p> + +<p>The fancy pursued him after he had +gone up to his room. Seated at his window, +looking out upon the now starlit sky, +he smoked more than one cigar before +his musing fit was ended. It was not the +love-reverie of a smitten boy. He believed +that he had passed that stage of sentimentalism +ten years before. That Southerner +of the male gender who has not been +consumed by the fires and risen as good +as new from the ashes of half a dozen +never-dying passions before he is eighteen, +who has not offered the heart and hand, +which as often as otherwise constitute his +chiefest earthly possessions, to some elect +fair one by the time he is one-and-twenty, +is voted "slow" invulnerable. If these +susceptible sons of a fervid clime did not +take to love-making as naturally as does +a duckling to the pond by the time the +eggshell is fairly off its head, they would +certainly be initiated while in the callow +state by the rules and customs of society. +Courtship is at first a pastime, then an +art, then when the earnestness of a real +attachment takes hold of their impassioned +natures, it is the one all-absorbing, +eager pursuit of existence, until rewarded +by the acquisition of its object or thwarted +by the decided refusal of the hard-hearted +Dulcinea.</p> + +<p>This state of things, this code of Cupid, +every Southern girl understands, and +shapes her conduct accordingly. Sportively, +yet warily, she plays around the hook, +and he is a very fortunate angler who +does not in the moment of fancied success +discover that she has carried off the bait +as a trophy upon which to feed her vanity, +and left him to be the laughing-stock of +the curious spectators of this double game. +She is imperturbable to meaning equivoques, +receives pretty speeches and tender glances +at their current value, and not until the +suit becomes close and ardent, the attachment +palpable to every one else, and is +confessed in so many words, does she +allow herself to be persuaded that her +adorer is "in earnest," and really desires +to awaken a sympathetic emotion in her +bosom.</p> + +<p>Philip Benson was no wanton trifler with +woman's feelings. On the contrary, he had +gained the reputation in his circle of an +invincible, indifferent looker-on of the +pseudo and real combats, in Love's name, +that were continually transpiring around +him. Chivalrous in tone, gallant in action, +as he was, the girls feared while they +liked and admired him. They called him +critical, fastidious, cold; and mockingly +wondered why he persisted in going into +company that, judging the future by the +past, was so unlikely to furnish him with +the consort he must be seeking. In reality, +he was what he had avowed himself to +Sarah—a student of human nature; an +amateur in this species of social research—than +which no other so frequently results +in the complete deception of the inquirer. +Certainly no other is so apt to find its +culmination of devotion in a cold-blooded +dissection of motive, morals, and sentiment; +an unprincipled, reckless application +of trial and test to the hearts and lives +of its victims and final infidelity in all +human good, except what is concentrated +in the inspector's individual, personal self. +Grown dainty amid the abundant supply +of ordinary material, he comes at length +to disdain common "subjects." Still less +would he touch one already loathsome in +the popular estimation, through excess of +known and actual crime. But a character +fresh and noble from the Creator's hand; +a soul that dares to think and feel according +to its innate sense of right; an intellect +unhackneyed, not vitiated by worldly +policy or the dogmas of the schools; a +heart, tender and delicate—yet passionate +in love or abhorrence; what an opportunity +is here presented for the scalpel, the detective +acid, the crucible, the microscope! It +is not in fallible mortality to resist the +temptation, and even professors of this ennobling +pursuit, whose motto is, "The +proper study of mankind is Man," are, as +they allow with shame and confusion of +face, themselves mortal. Of all the dignified +humbugs of the solemn farce of life,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +deliver me from that creature self-styled +"a student and judge of character!"</p> + +<p>In Sarah Hunt, Philip discovered, to his +surprise, a rare "specimen;" a volume, each +leaf of which revealed new matter of interest. +The attentions he had considered +himself bound to pay her, in order to avoid +wounding their kind hosts, were soon rendered +from a widely different motive. It +did not occur to him that he was transcending +the limits of merely friendly courtesy, +as prescribed by the etiquette of the +region in which he was now a sojourner. +He was by no means deficient in appreciation +of his personal gifts; rated his powers +of pleasing quite as highly as did his +warmest admirers, although he had the +common sense and tact to conceal this; +but he would have repelled, as an aspersion +upon his honor, the charge that he was +endeavoring to win this young girl's affections, +his heart being as yet untouched.</p> + +<p>"Was it then altogether whole?" he +asked himself to-night, with a coolness +that should have been an immediate reply +to the suggestion.</p> + +<p>Side by side, he set two mental portraits, +and strove deliberately, impartially, to +discern any traces of resemblance between +the two. The future Mrs. Benson was a +personage that engrossed much of his +thoughts, and by long practice in the +portrayal of her lineaments, he had brought +his fancy sketch very nearly to perfection. +A tall, Juno-like figure, with raven +locks, and large, melting eyes, unfathomable +as clear; features of classic mould; +an elastic, yet stately form; a disposition +in which amiability tempered natural impetuosity, +and generous impulse gave direction +to gentle word and deed; a mind +profoundly imbued with the love of learning, +and in cultivation, if not strength, +equal to his own; discretion, penetration, +and docility combined in such proportions +as should render her her husband's safest +counsellor, yet willing follower; and controlling +and toning the harmonious whole, +a devotion to himself only second in degree, +not inferior in quality, to worship +of her Creator. This was the ideal for +whose embodiment our reasonable, modest +Cœlebs was patiently waiting. Answer, oh +ye expectant, incipient Griseldas! who, +from your beauteous ranks, will step into +the prepared niche, and make the goddess +a reality?</p> + +<p>And how appeared the rival picture in +comparison?</p> + +<p>"No, no!" he ejaculated, tossing the +remnant of his third cigar into the garden. +"I must seek further for the 'golden +mean.' Intellect and heart are here, undoubtedly. +I must have beauty and grace +as well. Yet," he continued, relentingly, +"there are times when she would be quite +handsome if she dressed better. It is a +pity her love for the beautiful does not +enter into her choice of wearing apparel!"</p> + +<p>In ten minutes more he was asleep, and +dreamed that he stood at the altar with +his long sought ideal, when, as the last +binding words were spoken, she changed +to Sarah Hunt, arrayed in a light blue +lawn of last year's fashion, that made her +look as sallow as a lemon, and, to his +taste, as little to be desired for "human +nature's daily food."</p> + +<p>Poor Sarah! The visionary robe was a +faithful reflection upon the dreamer's +mental retina of a certain organdie which +had formed a part of Lucy's wardrobe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +the previous summer, and having become +antiquated in six months' time, was altogether +inadmissible in the belle's outfit of +this season.</p> + +<p>"Yet it cost an awful sum when it was +new!" reasoned Mrs. Hunt, "and will make +you a very useful dress while you are with +your Aunt Sarah. It's too good to cut up +for Jeannie!"</p> + +<p>"But the color, mother?" objected the +unwilling recipient.</p> + +<p>"Pooh! who will notice that? Besides, if +you had a good complexion, you could wear +blue as well as anybody."</p> + +<p>Sarah's stock of thin dresses was not +plentiful, and, recalling this observation, +she coupled it with the fact that she was +growing rosy, and dared to equip herself +in the azure garment, with what effect she +did not dream and Mr. Philip Benson did!</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + +<p>On a pleasant, although rather cloudy +forenoon in July, our young pleasure-seekers +carried into execution a long-talked-of +expedition to the Deal Beach, distant +about ten miles from Shrewsbury.</p> + +<p>By Aunt Sarah's arrangement, Charley +and Jeannie occupied the back seat of the +light wagon, and Sarah was to sit by +Philip in front, that she "might see the +country." Having accomplished this apparently +artless manoeuvre, the good woman +handed up to them a portly basket of +luncheon, and two or three additional +shawls, in case of rain or change of +weather, and bade the gay party "good-bye" +with a satisfied glow in heart and +face. To her guileless apprehension there +was no question how affairs were progressing +between her niece and her nephew-in-law; +and in sundry conferences on the +subject between "husband" and herself, +it had been agreed that a matrimonial alliance +would be the best thing that could +happen to either of the supposed lovers. +In her simple, pious soul, the dear old +lady already blessed the Providence that +had accomplished the meeting and intercourse +under her roof, while she wondered +at "the strange things that come +about in this world."</p> + +<p>Philip had been aware of her innocent +attempts to facilitate his suit for several +days past, and Sarah's blush, as she hesitated +before accepting the proffered seat +by the driver, showed that this move was +so transparent as to convey the alarm to +her also. For a full half mile Philip did +not speak, except a word now and then +to the pair of stout grays, who were Uncle +Nathan's greatest earthly boast. He appeared +thoughtful, perhaps perturbed—so +Sarah's single stolen glance at him showed—and +in the eyes that looked straight onward +to the horizon, there was a hardness +she had never seen there before. She was +surprised, therefore, when he broke the +silence by an unimportant observation, uttered +in his usual friendly tone, and for +the remainder of the ride was gay and +kind, with a show of light-heartedness that +was not surpassed by the merry children +behind them.</p> + +<p>There was hardly enough variety in the +unpicturesque country bordering their +route to give the shadow of reasonableness +to Aunt Sarah's pretext in selecting her +namesake's seat, and, despite her escort's +considerate attentions, Sarah had an uncomfortable +ride; while her manner evinced +more of the haughty reserve of their introduction +than she had shown at any subsequent +stage of their acquaintance. The +grays traveled well, and a little after noon +they were detached from the carriage, and +tied in the grove of scrub-oaks skirting the +beach.</p> + +<p>While Philip was busied with them, the +others continued their course down to the +shore; the children, hand-in-hand, skipping +over the sand-hills, and stopping to pick +up stones; Sarah strolling slowly after +them. She had seen the ocean surf before, +but never aught like this, with its huge +swells of water, a mile in length, gathering +blackness and height on their landward +career; as they struck the invisible +barriers that commanded, "Thus far and +no farther!" breaking in white fury, with +the leap of a baffled fiend, and a roar like +thunder, against their resistless opponent, +then recoiling, sullenly, to gather new +force for another, and as useless an attack. +The beach was wide and uneven, of +sand, whose whiteness would have glared +intolerably had the day been sunny, drifted +into hillocks and undulating ridges, like +the waves of the sea. Here and there the +hardy heather found a foothold amid the +otherwise blank sterility, the green patches +adding to, rather than lessening the wild, +desolate aspect of the tract. Fragments of +timber were strewn in all directions, and +Sarah's quick eye perceived that it was +not formless, chance driftwood. There +were hewn beams and shapely spars, and +planks in which great iron bolts were still +fast. When Philip overtook her, she was +standing by an immense piece of solid +wood, lying far beyond the reach of the +highest summer tides. One end was buried +in the sand; the other, bleached by sun +and wind, and seamed with cracks, was +curved like the extremity of a bow. Her +late embarrassment or hauteur was forgotten +in the direct earnestness of her appealing +look.</p> + +<p>"Am I mistaken?" she said, in a low, +awed tone. "Is not this the keel of a +ship?"</p> + +<p>"It is. There have been many wrecked +on this coast."</p> + +<p>"Here!" She glanced from the fierce, bellowing +breakers to the melancholy testimonials +of their destructive might. "I +have never heard that this was esteemed +a dangerous point."</p> + +<p>"You can form an imperfect idea of +what this beach is in winter," remarked +Philip, signing to her to seat herself upon +the sand and throwing himself down beside +her. "I was here once, late in the +autumn, and saw a vessel go to pieces, +scarcely a stone's throw from where we +are now sitting. The sea was high, the +wind blowing a perfect gale, and this +schooner, having lost one of her most important +sails, was at the mercy of the elements. +She was cast upon the shore, and +her crew, watching their opportunity, +sprang overboard as the waves receded +and reached firm ground in safety. Then +came a monster billow, and lifting the vessel +farther upon the sand, left her careened +towards the land. It was pitiful to see the +poor thing! So like life were her shudders +and groans as the cruel surf beat against +her, that my heart fairly ached. The spray +at every dash rose nearly as high as her +mast-head, and a cataract of water swept +over her deck. Piece by piece she broke +up, and we could only stand and look on, +while the scattered portions were thrown +to our feet. I shall never forget the sight. +It taught me the truth of man's impotence +and nature's strength as I had never read +it before."</p> + +<p>"But there were no lives lost! You were +spared the spectacle of that most terrible +scene in the tragedy of shipwreck?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. But the light of many a life has +been quenched in that raging caldron. A +young man, a resident of Shrewsbury, with +whom I hunted last year, described to me +a catalogue of horrors which he had beheld +here, that has visited me in dreams often +since. An emigrant ship was cast away +on this coast in midwinter. High above the +roar of the wind and the booming surf was +heard the cry of the doomed wretches, perishing +within hail of the crowd of fellow-beings +who had collected at news of the +catastrophe. The cold was intense; mast +and sail and rope were coated with ice, +and the benumbed, freezing wretches were +exposed every instant to the torrents of +brine that swept over them like sleet. The +agony was horrible beyond description, but +it was soon over. Before the vessel parted, +the accent of mortal woe was hushed. Not +a man survived to tell the tale."</p> + +<p>For an hour they sat thus and talked. +The subject had, for Sarah, a fearful fascination, +and, led on by her absorbed attention, +Philip rehearsed to her wonders +and stories of the mysterious old ocean, +that to-day stretched before them, blanched +and angry, under the veil of summer cloud, +until to his auditor there were bitter wailings +blent with the surge's roar; arms, +strained and bare, were tossed above the +dark, serpent-like swell of water, in unavailing +supplication, and livid, dead faces +stared upon her from beneath the curling +crests of the breakers.</p> + +<p>That day on the Deal Beach! How quietly +happy was its seeming! How full of +event, emotion, fate—was its reality! Charley +and Jeannie wandered up and down the +coast, filling their baskets with shells and +pebbles; chasing the retiring waves as far +as they dared, and scampering back, with +shrieks of laughter, as the succeeding billow +rolled rapidly after them; building +sand-houses, and digging wells to be filled +by salt water; exulting greatly when a +rough coralline fragment or a jelly-fish of +unusual dimensions was thrown in their +way. They all lunched together, seated +upon the heather-clumps, around Aunt Sarah's +liberal hamper.</p> + +<p>"Sister," said Jeannie, when the edge of +her seaside appetite was somewhat blunted +by her repast, "I like living here better +than in New York—don't you?"</p> + +<p>"It is more pleasant in summer, my +dear."</p> + +<p>"But I mean that I am happier here. I +wish you would write to mother and ask +her to let us live here always."</p> + +<p>"But what would she do without her +baby?" asked Philip, emphasizing the last +word.</p> + +<p>The little lady bridled instantly.</p> + +<p>"Cousin Philip, I do wish you would never +call me a 'baby' again. I am seven +years and two weeks old. I could get +along very well without mother for awhile. +Of course, I would go over sometimes and +pay her a visit and get new dresses. +Shrewsbury is a nice place; I would like +to buy that pretty white house next to +Uncle Nathan's, and live there—sister and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +Charley and I—and you—if you would promise +not to tease me ever."</p> + +<p>"Thank you!" said Philip, with admirable +gravity, seeming not to notice Sarah's +heightened color at this proposal of co-partnership. +"You are very kind to include +me in your household arrangements, and +nothing would please me better, if I could +stay here. But you know, Jeannie, my +dear little cousin, that my home is far +away from this quarter of the world. I +have remained here too long already." +There was a touch of feeling or nervousness +in his voice. "I had a letter last +night, reminding me that I ought to have +left a week ago to join a party of friends, +whom I promised to meet in New York +and travel with them until the time for +our return to the South."</p> + +<p>He did not look at Sarah, but she felt +that the explanation was intended for her—that, +whether intentionally or not, he was +preparing her for a blow to heart and +hope.</p> + +<p>"I shall be obliged to leave Shrewsbury +and all my friends there to-morrow morning, +Jeannie."</p> + +<p>The child's exclamation of dismay, and +Charley's quick, mute remonstrance to his +cousin, as his playfellow communicated the +news to him, gave Sarah time to rally firmness +and words.</p> + +<p>"This is unexpected intelligence," she +said, calmly. "We shall miss you. Your +kindness has, directly and indirectly, been +the means of affording us much pleasure +during our visit to our good aunt. It will +seem dull when you are gone."</p> + +<p>There was a flash in Philip's eye that +looked like pleasure—a mixture of relief +and surprise, as he turned to her.</p> + +<p>"I am selfish enough to hope that you +will miss me for a time, at least. I shall +not then be so soon forgotten. We have +had some pleasant days and weeks together, +have we not?"</p> + +<p>"I have enjoyed them, assuredly."</p> + +<p>She was a little pale, Philip thought, but +that might be the effect of fatigue. Her +cheek was seldom blooming, unless when +flushed in animated speech, or by brisk exercise. +She spoke of his going with politeness, +that seemed scarce one remove from +carelessness; and, man-like, his pleasure +at the thought that their association in +the country house had not been followed +by the results Aunt Sarah wished and predicted, +gave way to a feeling of wounded +vanity and vexation, that his summer's +companion could relinquish him so easily. +While he repeated to himself his congratulations +that his friendly and gallant +attentions had not been misconstrued, had +not awakened any inconvenient because +futile "expectations," he wondered if it +were a possibility for a girl of so much +sense and feeling, such genuine appreciation +of his talents and tastes, to know him +well—even intimately—without experiencing +a warmer sentiment than mere approval +of an agreeable associate's mind and +manners, and Platonic liking for him on +these accounts.</p> + +<p>With the respectful familiarity of a privileged +acquaintance, he drew her hand +within his arm as they arose at the conclusion +of the collation.</p> + +<p>"We have yet two hours and more to +spend here, before we set out for home. +We can have one more walk and talk together."</p> + +<p>They took but one turn on the beach,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +and returning to their morning's seat beside +the half-buried keel tried to talk as +they had done then. It was hard work, +even to the man of the world, the heart-free +student of human nature. Gradually +the conversation languished and died away, +and for awhile both sat silent, looking out +upon the sea. Then Philip's gaze came +back to his companion—stealthily at first, +and, as she remained unconscious of his +scrutiny, it lingered long and searchingly +upon features, form and attire.</p> + +<p>There were white, tight lines about her +mouth, and a slight knitting of the brow, +that imparted a care-worn look to the +young face it pained him to see. Her hands +were clasped upon her knee, and the fingers +were bloodless where they interlaced +one another. Was she suffering? Was the +threatened parting the cause of her disquiet? +If this were so, what was his duty +as a man of honor—of common humanity? +And if he were forced to admit that he +held her happiness in his power, and to accept +the consequences that must ensue +from his idle gallantry and her mistaken +reading of the same, was the thought really +repulsive? Would it be a total sacrifice +of feeling to a sense of right? It was a +repetition, grave and careful, of the revery +of that July night two weeks ago.</p> + +<p>Sarah's hat—a broad-brimmed "flat" of +brown straw—had fallen back upon her +shoulders, and the sea breeze played in her +hair, raising the short and loose strands +and giving to the whole a rough, "frowzy" +look. Her plain linen collar and undersleeves +showed her complexion and hands +to the worst possible advantage. Upon her +cheeks, this same unfriendly wind had bestowed +a coat of tan and a few freckles, +that were all the more conspicuous from +her pallor, while her fingers were as brown +as a gypsy's. Her gray poplin dress had +lost most of its original gloss, and being +one of Mrs. Hunt's bargains—"a cheap +thing, but plenty good for that outlandish +Shrewsbury"—already betrayed its cotton +warp by creases that would not be +smoothed, and an aspect of general limpness—a +prophecy of speedy, irremediable +shabbiness. Cast loosely about her shoulders +was a light shawl, green, with black +sprigs—another bargain; and beyond the +skirt of her robe appeared the toe and instep +of a thick-soled gaiter, very suitable +for a tramp through damp sand, yet anything +but becoming to the foot it protected.</p> + +<p>With an impatient shake of the head, involuntary +and positive, Philip closed his +final observation. And cutting off a large +splinter from the weather-beaten timber +against which he leaned, set about trimming +it, wearing a serious, settled face, +that said his mind was fully made up.</p> + +<p>What had Sarah seen all this while?</p> + +<p>Heavens, over which the films of the +forenoon had thickened into dun cloud-curtains, +stretching above and enwrapping +the world; a wild, dreary expanse of troubled +waters, whose horizon line was lost +in the misty blending of sea and sky, ever +hurrying and heaving to moan out their +unrest upon the barren beach. In the distance +was a solitary sail; nearer to the +land, a large sea-bird flew heavily against +the wind. In such mateless, weary night +must her life be passed; that lone, frail +craft was not so hopelessly forlorn upon a +gloomy sea, beneath a sky that gloomed +yet more darkly—as was her heart, torn +suddenly from its moorings—anchor and +rudder and compass gone. Yet who could +syllable the mighty sorrow of the complaining +sea? And were there words in +human language that could tell the anguish +of the swelling flood beating within +her breast?</p> + +<p>"Going away! To-morrow!" For a little +space this was all the lament she kept repeating +over to herself. Pregnant with woe +she knew it to be, yet it was not until she +was allowed to meditate in silence upon +the meaning of the words that she realized +what had truly come upon her. She had +thrown away all her hope of earthly happiness—risked +it as madly, lost it as surely, +as if she had tossed it—a tangible pearl—into +the yawning ocean. Her instinct assured +her that, were it otherwise, the tidings +of Philip's intended departure, his +suddenly formed resolution to leave her, +would have been conveyed to her in a far +different manner. Her keen backward +glance penetrated Aunt Sarah's simple +wiles; his obvious annoyance thereat; his +determination to save himself from suspicion; +his honorable fear lest she, too, +should imagine him loving, where he was +only civil and kind. Yes, it was all over! +The best thing she could hope to do, the +brightest prospect life had now for her, +was that her secret should remain hers +alone, until the troubled heart moaned itself +into rest which knows no waking. She +was used to concealment. All her existence, +excepting the sweet delusive dream of +the past three weeks, had been a stern +preparation for this trial. But she was already +weary and faint—fit to lie down and +die, so intense had been the throe of this +one struggle.</p> + +<p>"How long is this to last? How long?"</p> + +<p>The exclamation actually broke, in an inarticulate +murmur, from her lips.</p> + +<p>"Did you speak?" inquired Philip.</p> + +<p>"I think not. I am not sure. I did not +intend to do so."</p> + +<p>"Grant me credit for my forebearance in +not obtruding my prosaic talk upon your +musings," he went on, playfully. "It was +a powerful temptation—for I remember, +constantly, that this is our last opportunity +for a genuine heart and head confabulation, +such as I shall often linger for after +I leave you—and sincerity! You have done +me good, Miss Sarah; taught me Faith, +Hope, Charity—a blessed sisterhood!"</p> + +<p>"May they ever attend you!"</p> + +<p>"Amen! and thank you! And what wish +shall I make in return for your beautiful +benediction?"</p> + +<p>"Whatever you like. My desires are not +many or extravagant."</p> + +<p>"You are wrong. You have a craving +heart and a craving mind. May both be +fed to the full, with food convenient for +them—in measures pressed down, shaken +together and running over."</p> + +<p>"Of what? Husks?" was Sarah's unspoken +and bitter reply. She could not thank +him, as he had done her. She only bowed, +and, bending forward, took up a handful of +the fine white sand that formed the shore. +Slowly sifting it through her fingers, she +waited for him to speak again.</p> + +<p>Was this careless equanimity real or +feigned? The judge of character, the harpist +upon heart-chords, made the next move—not +the candid, manly friend.</p> + +<p>"I am going to ask a favor of you—a +bold one."</p> + +<p>"Say on."</p> + +<p>"By the time I am ready to retrace my +steps southward you will be again settled +in New York. Will you think me presumptuous +if I call at your father's house +to continue an acquaintance which has +been, to me, at once agreeable and profitable?"</p> + +<p>The fingers were still, suddenly. A warm +glow, like sunrise, swept over cheek and +forehead. A smile, slight but sweet, quivered +upon her lips. Drowning in the depths, +she heard across the billow a hail that +spoke of hope, life, happiness.</p> + +<p>"We will all be glad to see you," she +said, with affected composure.</p> + +<p>"Not half so glad as I shall be to come. +Will you now, while you think of it, give +me your address?"</p> + +<p>He handed her a card and a pencil. She +wrote the required direction and received +in exchange for it the now smooth bit of +wood, which had afforded occupation to +Philip for half an hour past. It was tendered +in mock ceremony, and accepted +smilingly. Upon the gray tablet was inscribed +"Philip Benson, Deal Beach, July +27th, 1856." A playful or thoughtless impulse +caused him to extend his hand for it, +after she had read it, and to add a motto, +stale as innocent in his eyes: "Pensez a +moi!"</p> + +<p>"I shall preserve it as a souvenir of the +day and place," observed Sarah, slipping +it into her pocket.</p> + +<p>Twilight overtook them before they +reached home, and the night was too +cloudy and damp for a promenade, such as +they often had in the garden walks and +lane, or for the customary family gathering +in the long porch. Yet Aunt Sarah was +surprised that Philip was apparently content +to spend the evening in the sitting-room, +with herself and husband by to spoil +the tete-a-tete he must be longing for.</p> + +<p>Still more confounded was she, when, +after her clever strategy of coaxing Uncle +Nathan into the kitchen, that the coast +might be clear, she heard Philip's step +close behind them.</p> + +<p>"I must clean my gun to-night, aunt," he +said, taking it from the corner. "I shall +not have time to do it to-morrow."</p> + +<p>With the utmost nonchalance he began +the operation, whistling softly a lively air +over his work. Aunt Sarah gave her partner +a look of bewildered despair, which he +returned by a confirmatory nod, and a +smile, half comic, half regretful.</p> + +<p>After breakfast next morning the nephew-guest +said affectionate farewells to his +relatives and Jeannie; a grave, gentle adieu +to Sarah, accompanied by a momentary +pressure of the hand, that may have meant +much or little, and upon the snug homestead +settled a quiet that was dreariness +itself to one of its inmates.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + + +<p>Meanwhile, how had the time sped to the +nominal head of the Hunt household—the +solitary, toiling father and husband? The +servants were dismissed when "the family" +left town, although Mr. Hunt continued +to sleep at home. A peripatetic +maid-of-all-work—what the English denominate +a charwoman—was engaged to +come early every morning to clear up the +only room in the establishment that was +used before the cashier went out for his +breakfast, which he procured at a restaurant +pretty far down town. The same +quiet coffee-house furnished him with dinner<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +and an early tea, after which last refreshment +he was at liberty to pass the +evening in whatever manner he liked best. +There was nothing in the city worth seeing +at this season, even if he had not lost all +taste for shows and gayety. Those of his +acquaintances who were not absent with +their wives and daughters were living like +himself, furniture in overalls, carpets covered, +apartments closed, with the exception, +perhaps, of one bedroom, and had no +place in which to receive him if he had +been in the habit of visiting, which he was +not. He was very tired, moreover, by the +time night came on, and as the heat increased +and the days grew longer, his +strength waned more and more, and his +spirits with it. Meekly and uncomplainingly +he plodded through his routine of bank +duties, so steady and so faithful that his +fellow-workers and customers had come to +regard him as a reliable fixture, a piece +of machinery, whose winding up was self-performed +and whose accuracy was infallible.</p> + +<p>When, therefore, on a sultry August afternoon, +he turned to leave his desk at the +close of business hours, grew terribly pale +and dropped upon the floor in a fit of +death-like faintness, there was great consternation, +and as much wonder as if no +human clock-work had ever given out before, +under a like process of exhausting +demands.</p> + +<p>Clumsily, but with the best of intentions, +they brought him to his senses, and in half +an hour or so he was sufficiently recovered +to be taken home. There was a twitching +of the lips that might have passed for a +sarcastic smile, as he heard the proposal +to convey him to his house; but he only +gave his street and number, and lay silently +back in the carriage, supported by his +friends, two of whom insisted upon seeing +him safely to his own abode.</p> + +<p>"Is this the place? Why, it is all shut +up!" exclaimed one of these gentlemen as +the driver drew up before the dusty steps.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hunt's orders were that the entrance +to her mansion should present the +most desolate air possible during her absence. +It had "an aristocratical look in the +summer time, when everybody but nobodies +was rusticating."</p> + +<p>Again that singular contortion of the +mouth, and the master (?) of the forlorn-looking +habitation prepared to descend, +fumbling in his pocket for his pass-key.</p> + +<p>"I am obliged to you, gentlemen, for your +great kindness, and will—not—trouble—you—longer."</p> + +<p>In trying to raise his hand to his hat for +a bow, the ghastly hue again overspread +his face, and he staggered. Without further +parley his two aids laid hold of him, +one on each side, and supported him into +the house, up one, two flights of linen-draped +stairs, to a back bedroom.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hunt would have let her husband +faint on the sidewalk before she would +have received company in that chamber in +its present condition; for the handsomest +articles of furniture stood covered up in +another apartment, and their place was +supplied by a plain bureau, wash-stand and +bed belonging to the boys' room, a story +higher up. The wisdom of this precaution +was manifest in the signs of neglect and +slovenliness displayed on all sides. One +could have written his name in the dust +upon the glass; there was dirt in every corner +and under each chair and table; the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +wash-basin was partly full of dirty suds, +and the towels and counterpane shockingly +dingy.</p> + +<p>These things were not remarked by the +intruders until they had got their charge +to bed, resisted no longer by him, for he +began to comprehend his inability to help +himself.</p> + +<p>"There is no one besides ourselves on +the premises, not even a servant," one of +them said apart to his associate, after a +brief absence from the room. "If you will +stay with him until I come back I will go +for a doctor."</p> + +<p>The invalid caught the last word.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, Mr. Hammond, there is no need +for you to do anything more—no necessity +for calling in a physician. I am quite comfortable +now, and shall be well by morning."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hammond, who was a director in +the bank, and sincerely honored the honest +veteran now prostrated by his devoted +performance of duty, took the hot, tremulous +hand in his.</p> + +<p>"I cannot allow you to peril your valuable +health, my dear sir. Unless you positively +forbid it, I shall not only call your +physician, but drop in again myself this +evening, and satisfy my mind as to +whether you require my presence through +the night."</p> + +<p>He was as good as his word; but no +amount of persuasion could induce Mr. +Hunt to accept his offered watch. He +would be "uneasy, unhappy, if his young +friend sacrificed his own rest so uselessly," +and loath as he was to leave him to +solitude and suffering, Mr. Hammond had +to yield. At his morning visit, he found +the patient more tractable. After tedious +hours of fevered wakefulness, he had endeavored +to rise, only to sink back again +upon his pillow—dizzy, sick, and now thoroughly +alarmed at the state of his system. +He did not combat his friend's proposal +to obtain a competent nurse, and to look +in on him in person as often as practicable; +still, utterly refused to allow his wife to be +written to on the subject of his indisposition.</p> + +<p>"I shall be better in a day or two, probably +before she could reach me. I have +never had a spell of illness. It is not likely +that this will be anything of consequence. +I greatly prefer that she should not be +apprised of this attack."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hammond was resolute on his part—the +more determined, when the physician +had paid another visit, and pronounced the +malady a low fever, that would, doubtless, +confine the sick man to his bed for several +days, if not weeks.</p> + +<p>"It is not just to your wife and children, +Mr. Hunt, to keep them in ignorance of so +important a matter!" he urged. "They +will have cause to feel themselves aggrieved +by you, and ill-treated by me, if +we practice this deception upon them."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hunt lay quiet for some minutes.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are in the right," he said. +"Sarah would be wounded, I know. I will +send for her!" he concluded, with more +animation. "She will come as soon as she +receives the letter."</p> + +<p>"Of course she will!" rejoined Mr. Hammond, +confidently; "you are not able to +write. Suffer me to be your amanuensis." +He sat down at a stand, and took out his +pen. "Where is Mrs. Hunt at present?"</p> + +<p>"I am not sure. Either at Saratoga or +Newport."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hammond looked surprised. "But it +is necessary, sir, that we should know +with some degree of certainty, or the letter +may miscarry. Perhaps it would be +well to write to both places."</p> + +<p>"The letter! Both places!" repeated Mr. +Hunt, with perplexity. "I alluded to my +daughter Sarah, sir, my second child, who +is spending the summer with her aunt in +Shrewsbury, New Jersey. May I take the +liberty of asking you to write her a short +note, mentioning my sickness in as guarded +terms as you can use, and requesting +her to come up to the city for a few days? +She has my youngest child—a little girl—with +her. If she can be contented to remain +with her aunt, Sarah had better +leave her there. She would be an additional +burden to her sister if she were +here."</p> + +<p>Whatever Mr. Hammond thought of the +marked preference shown to the daughter +above the wife, he said nothing, but proceeded +to indite the desired epistle, adding, +in a postscript, on his own account, that +he would take pleasure in meeting Miss +Hunt at the wharf, on her arrival, and for +this purpose would be at the boat each +day, until she made her appearance in +New York.</p> + +<p>He went, accordingly, the next afternoon, +although very confident that she could not +have received his letter in season to take +that boat. Mr. Hunt had proved to him +and to himself the utter impossibility of her +coming, yet his eyes brightened with expectancy +as his friend entered, and faded +into sadness as he reported the ill-success +of his errand.</p> + +<p>"He is evidently extremely partial to +this one of his children," thought Mr. Hammond, +as he paced the wharf on the second +evening, watching, amid noisy hack-drivers +and expressmen, for the steamer. "I +have seen the girls at parties, but do not +remember their names. One of them is +very pretty. I wonder if she is 'Sarah!'"</p> + +<p>It was growing dusk as the boat touched +the pier. So dim was the light, that Mr. +Hammond was obliged to station himself +close beside the gangway, and inspect the +features of each lady passenger more narrowly +than politeness would, in other circumstances, +have warranted. They hurried +across, men and women, tall and +short, stout and slender, until there +tripped towards him the figure of a young +girl, attired in a gray dress and mantle, +and carrying a small traveling bag in her +hand. She would have passed him, had +he not stepped forward and spoken.</p> + +<p>"Miss Hunt, I believe!"</p> + +<p>In the uncertain twilight, he could see +that she grew very pale.</p> + +<p>"How is my father?"</p> + +<p>There was no preamble of civility or +diffidence; no reserve in addressing him, a +mere stranger; no trembling, preparatory +queries; but a point-blank question, in a +tone whose impatient anguish moved his +kind heart; a piercing look, that would +know the truth then and there!</p> + +<p>"He is better, to-day"—and he led her +out of the press of the onward stream. +"He has not been dangerously ill. We +hope and believe that he will not be."</p> + +<p>"Is that true?" Her fingers tightened +upon his arm.</p> + +<p>"It is! I would not, for the world, deceive +you in such a matter."</p> + +<p>"I believe you! Thank Heaven! I feared +the worst!" She covered her face with +her hands, and burst into tears.</p> + +<p>Hammond beckoned a hackman, close by, +and when the short-lived reaction of overwrought +feeling subsided so far as to allow +Sarah to notice surrounding objects, she +was seated in the carriage, screened from +curious or impertinent gazers, and her +escort was nowhere to be seen. Several +minutes elapsed before he again showed +himself at the window.</p> + +<p>"I must trouble you for your checks, +Miss Hunt, in order to get your baggage."</p> + +<p>Already ashamed of her emotion, she +obeyed his demand without speaking.</p> + +<p>"You have given me but one," he said, +turning it over in his hand.</p> + +<p>"That is all, sir."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! You are a model traveler! I +thought no young lady, in these days, ever +stirred from home without half a dozen +trunks." To himself he added, "A sensible +girl! An exception to most of her sex, +in one thing, at any rate!"</p> + +<p>Sarah sat well back into her corner, as +they drove up lighted Broadway, and was +almost rudely taciturn, while her companion +related the particulars of her father's +seizure and subsequent confinement +to his room. Yet, that she listened with +intense interest, the narrator knew by her +irregular breathing and immovable attitude. +As they neared their destination, +this fixedness of attention and posture was +exchanged for an eager restlessness. She +leaned forward to look out of the window, +and when they turned into the last street, +quick as was Mr. Hammond's motion to +unfasten the door of the vehicle, her hand +was first upon the lock. It was cold as ice, +and trembled so much as to be powerless. +Gently removing it, he undid the catch, +and assisted her to alight.</p> + +<p>The hired nurse answered their ring, and +while Sarah brushed past her, and flew up +the stairway, Mr. Hammond detained the +woman to make inquiries and issue directions.</p> + +<p>"It is all very dreary-like, sir," she complained. +"Everything is packed away and +locked up. There's no getting at a lump +of sugar without a hunt for the key, and +all he's seemed to care for this blessed +day, was that his daughter should be made +comfortable. He sent me out this afternoon +to buy biscuits, and sardines, and +peaches for her tea, and told me where I'd +find silver and china. It is not at all the +thing for him to be worrying at such +a rate. He'll be worse for it to-morrow, +and so I've told him, Mr. Hammond."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not, Mrs. Kerr. His daughter's +coming will cheer him and quiet him, too, +I doubt not. I will not go up now. Please +present my regards to Mr. Hunt, and say +that I will call to-morrow."</p> + +<p>He purposely deferred his visit until the +afternoon, supposing that Miss Hunt might +object to his early and unceremonious appearance +in the realms now under her +control; nor when he went did he ascend +at once to the sick-chamber, as was his +custom before the transfer of its superintendence. +Sending up his name by the +nurse, he awaited a formal invitation, +among the shrouded sofas and chairs of +the sitting-room.</p> + +<p>"You'll please to walk up, sir!" was the +message he received; and the woman subjoined, +confidentially, "Things is brighter +to-day, sir."</p> + +<p>They certainly were. With wonderfully<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +little noise and confusion, Sarah, assisted +by the nurse, had wrought an utter change +in the desolate apartment. With the exception +of the bureau, which had been +drawn out of sight into the adjoining +dressing-room, and the bedstead, the common, +defaced furniture had disappeared, +and its place was supplied by more comfortable +and elegant articles. The windows +were shaded, without giving an aspect +of gloom to the chamber; the bed-coverings +were clean and fresh; and the +sick man, supported by larger and plumper +pillows than those among which he had +tossed for many a weary night, greeted his +visitor with a cordial smile and outstretched +hand.</p> + +<p>"I thank you for your kind care of my +daughter last evening, sir. Sarah, my dear, +this is my friend, Mr. Hammond, to whose +goodness I am so much indebted."</p> + +<p>"The debt is mine no less," was the +frank reply, as she shook hands with her +new acquaintance. "We can never thank +you sufficiently, Mr. Hammond, for all +you have done for us, in taking care of +him."</p> + +<p>"A genuine woman! a dutiful, affectionate +daughter!" was now Hammond's comment, +as he disclaimed all right to her +gratitude. "None of your sentimental, affected +absurdities, with nothing in either +head or heart!"</p> + +<p>This impression was confirmed by daily +observation; for politeness first, then inclination, +induced him to continue his +"professional" calls, as Sarah styled them. +He seemed to divide with her the responsibility +of her position. Its duties were +onerous; but for this she did not care. She +was strong and active, and love made labor +light—even welcome to her. A competent +cook was inducted into office below stairs, +and household matters went forward with +system and despatch. The eye of the mistress, +pro tem., was over all; her hand +ever ready to lift her share of the load, +yet her attendance at her father's bedside +appeared unremitting. His disease, +without being violent, was distressing and +wearing, destroying sleep and appetite, +and preying constantly upon the nerves. +To soothe these, Sarah read and talked +cheerfully, and often, at his request, sang +old-time ballads and childish lullabys to +court diversion and slumber.</p> + +<p>Occasionally Lewis Hammond paused +without the door until the strain was concluded, +drinking in the notes with more +pleasure than he was wont to feel in listening +to the bravuras and startling, astonishing +cadenzas that were warbled in +his ears by the amateur cantatrices of the +"best circles;" then, when the sounds from +within ceased, he delayed his entrance +some moments longer, lest the songstress +should suspect his eavesdropping. He +ceased to speculate upon the reasons of +Mrs. Hunt's protracted absence at a time +when no true-hearted wife could, from +choice, remain away from her rightful +post. When, at the expiration of a fortnight +from the day of the attack, the +physician declared his patient feebly, but +surely convalescent, his young friend had +decided, to his entire satisfaction, that +things were best as they were. Mr. Hunt +had made a most judicious selection from +the female portion of his family, and what +need of more nurses when this one was so +efficient and willing? He caught himself +hoping that the fussy dame he had met in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +society would not abridge her summer's +recreation on account of an ailing husband. +He had designed going to Saratoga himself, +for ten days or two weeks; but he +was very well. It was difficult to get away +from business, and this affair of Mr. +Hunt's enlisted his sympathies so deeply, +that he could not resolve upon leaving +him. If he had never before enjoyed the +bliss that flows from a disinterested action, +he tasted it now.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hunt was not kept in total ignorance +of what was transpiring at home. +Sarah had written, cautiously and hopefully, +of her father's sickness and her recall; +repeating Mr. Hunt's wish that his +consort should not hurry back through +mistaken solicitude for his health and +comfort; and they were taken at their +word. A week elapsed before an answer +arrived—a lengthy missive, that had cost +the writer more pains and time than the +preparation for her annual "crush" generally +did. She was an indifferent penman, +and sadly out of practice; but there +was much to be said, and "Lucy, of course, +circumstanced as she was, could not spare +time to be her scribe."</p> + +<p>This significant phrase quickened Sarah's +inborn curiosity; but there was nothing +for the next three pages that fed or +quieted it. They were filled with minute +directions about housewifery—economical +details, that would have served as capital +illustrations of "Poor Richard's" maxims; +injunctions, warnings, and receipts sufficient +in quantity to last a young, frugally-disposed +housekeeper for the remainder of +her natural existence. It was a trial to +this exemplary wife and mother, she confessed, +to absent herself so long from her +home duties; but circumstances had compelled +her to stay at Saratoga. Of their +nature, Sarah had already been informed +in her sister's last letter.</p> + +<p>"Which I cannot have received, then"—Sarah +interrupted herself to say, as she +read to her father: "I have not heard from +Lucy in four weeks. I have thought hard +of her for not writing."</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"But," concluded Mrs. Hunt, "matters +looks well just now, and I know your +father will aggree, when he heers all about +our season's work, that our labor and +Money has been a good investment. Take +care of the keys yourself, Sarah. Be +pruedent, keep a sharp Lookout on the +cook, and don't negleck your poor father.</p> + +<p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">"Your Affectionate mother,</p> <p style="text-align: right;">"E. Hunt." </p> + +<p style="margin-top: 1em;">"P. S. Your kitchen Girl must have a +Great deel of spair Time. Set her to work +cleening the House, for you may expeckt +us home in two weeks, or maybe Less.</p> + +<p style="text-align: right; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">"E. H." </p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Lucy had slipped a note in the same envelope—a +thin, satiny sheet, hardly larger +than the little hand that had moved over +its perfumed page. Her chirography was +very running, very light, very ladylike, +and, we need not say, very italical.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"Mamma tells me, Sarah dear, that she +has given you a hint of how matters are +progressing between your humble servant +and our particular friend, of whom I wrote +in my last. The poor, dear woman flatters +herself that it is all her work; but somebody +else may have his own opinion, and I +certainly have mine. I have had to caution +her repeatedly, to prevent her from showing +her delight too plainly to my 'Goldfinch,' +as Vic. and I have dubbed him. +Don't be in a hurry with your congratulations, +ma chere. 'There's many a slip +'twixt the cup and the lip;' and although +the season is so near over, I may yet see +some one whom I like better than His +Highness. Vic. has a beau, too—a rich +widower, less fascinating than my devoted; +but a very agreeable man, without encumbrance, +and very much smitten. So +we pair off nicely in our rides and promenades, +and, entre nous, are quite the talk. +You are a good little thing to nurse papa +so sweetly—a great deal better than I am. +I told my knight of this proof of your +excellence the other day, and he said it +was only what might have been expected +from my sister! Don't you feel flattered? +Poor fellow! Love is blind, you know.</p> + +<p>"Love to papa. I am sorry he has been +so unwell. I do not imagine that I shall +have time to write again before we leave +this paradise. We will telegraph you when +to expect us. Perhaps I may have an +escort home—some one who would like to +have a private conference with my respected +father. Nous verrons!</p> + +<p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">"Lovingly,</p> <p style="text-align: right;">"Lucie." </p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Mr. Hunt twisted himself uneasily in his +arm-chair as his daughter, by his desire, +reluctantly read aloud the double letter. +A shade of dissatisfaction and shame +clouded his countenance when she finished, +and he sighed heavily.</p> + +<p>"I am glad they are still enjoying themselves," +said Sarah, forcing a smile. "Lucy +has secured a captive too, it appears—one +whom she is likely to bring home at her +chariot wheels."</p> + +<p>"In my day daughters were in the habit +of consulting their fathers before giving +decided encouragement to any admirers, +strangers especially," said Mr. Hunt, with +displeasure. "In these times there are no +parents! There is the 'old man' and 'the +Governor,' who makes the money his children +honor him by wasting, and the 'poor, +dear woman,' who plays propriety in the +belle's flirtations, and helps, or hinders, +in snaring some booby 'Goldfinch.' It is +a lying, cheating, hollow world! I have +been sick of it for twenty years!"</p> + +<p>"Father! my dear father," exclaimed +Sarah, kneeling beside him, and winding +her arms about his neck. "You misjudge +your children, and their love for you!"</p> + +<p>"I believe in you, child! I cannot understand +how you have contrived to grow up +so unlike your sister and your"—The +recollection of the respect his daughter +owed her mother, checked the word.</p> + +<p>"You do not deal fairly with Lucy's +character, father. She has one of the kindest +hearts and most amiable dispositions in +the world. I wish I had caused you as +little anxiety as she has. Remember her +obedience and my wilfulness; her gentleness +and my obstinacy, and blush at your +verdict, Sir Judge!"</p> + +<p>She seated herself upon his foot-cushion +and rested her chin upon his knee, looking +archly up in his face. She was surprised +and troubled at this degree of +acrimony in one whose habitual manner +was so placid, and his judgment so mild; +but, for his sake, she was resolute not +to show her feeling. He laid his hand +caressingly upon her shoulder, and sank +into a revery, profound, and seemingly not +pleasant.</p> + +<p>Sarah took advantage of his abstraction +to remove the wrapper of a newspaper +received by the same mail that had brought +her letters. The operation was carefully +performed, so as not to invite notice, and +the envelope laid away in her work-box. +She knew well who had traced the clear, +bold superscription, and what initials composed +the mysterious cipher in one corner +of the cover; nor was this the only token +of recollection she had from this source. +The article marked in the number of the +literary journal he had selected as the +medium of correspondence, was an exquisite +little poem from an author whose +works Philip had read to her in the vine-covered +porch at Shrewsbury. Slowly, +longingly she perused it; gathering sweetness +from every word, and fancying how +his intonations would bring out beauties +she could not of herself discover. Then +she took out the wrapper again, and studied +the postmark. On the former papers +he had sent the stamp was illegible, but +this was easily deciphered—"Albany."</p> + +<p>"So near! He is returning homewards!" +was the glad reflection that flooded her +face with joy.</p> + +<p>"Sarah!" said her father, abruptly. "Do +you ever think of marriage?"</p> + +<p>"Sir?" stammered the girl, confused beyond +measure.</p> + +<p>"I mean, have you imbibed your sister's +ideas on this subject? the notions of ninety-nine +hundredths of girls in your walk +of life. Do you intend to seek a husband, +boldly and unblushingly, in all public +places? to degrade yourself by practising +the arts they understand so well to catch +an 'eligible' partner, who may repay your +insincerity and mercenary views by insult +and infidelity—at best by indifference! +Child! you do not know the risk match-making +mothers and husband-hunting +daughters run; the terrible retribution that +may be—that often is in store for such! +I had rather see you and your sister dead, +than the victims of that most hateful of +heartless shows—a fashionable marriage! +Poor Lucy! poor Lucy!"</p> + +<p>"I hope you are distressing yourself without +reason, sir. Mother is not the person to +surrender her child to one whose character +and respectability are not indisputable. Nor +is Lucy sentimental. I do not fear her suffering +very acutely from any cause."</p> + +<p>"I grant that. You would be more to be +pitied as an unloved or unloving wife, +than she. I tremble for you sometimes, +when I think of this chance. My daughter, +when you marry, look beyond the outside +show. Seek for moral worth and a +true heart, instead of dollars and cents!"</p> + +<p>"I will! I promise!" said Sarah, her +amazement at his earnestness and choice +of topics combining to shake her voice +and constrain her smile. "But there is +time enough for that, father dear. When +the man of heart and worth sues for my +poor hand, I will refer him to you, and +abide entirely by your decision."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hammond is downstairs," said the +servant at the door. And Sarah, gathering +up her papers, escaped from the room +before he entered.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + + +<p>Mr. Hunt was able to resume his place in +the bank several days before his wife returned. +Uncle Nathan had brought Jeannie +home as soon as her father could leave +his room, and the boys had likewise been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +written for; so that the family reunion +was apparently near at hand.</p> + +<p>Weak as he was, Mr. Hunt met his +spouse and daughter at the depot, and the +noise of their entrance in the lower hall +first apprised Sarah of their arrival. To +the bound of pleasurable excitement her +heart gave at the certainty that they had +come, succeeded a sigh at the termination +of the free, yet busy life she had led of +late—the probability that she would be +compelled to resume her old habits of feeling +and action. Driving back the selfish +regret, she ran down to welcome the travellers.</p> + +<p>"How well you're looking, Sarah!" said +Mrs. Hunt, after kissing her. "I declare, +if you was to arrange your hair different, +and study dress a bit, you would come +near being right down handsome."</p> + +<p>"'Handsome is as handsome does!'" +quoted Mr. Hunt, stoutly. "According to +that rule, she is a beauty."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir!" said Sarah, bowing +low. And she tried to forget, in her sister's +affectionate greeting, the chill and +heart-sickness produced by her mother's +business-like manner and compliment.</p> + +<p>"Having disposed of one daughter, she +means to work the other into merchantable +shape!" was her cynical deduction +from the dubious praise bestowed upon +herself.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hunt pursued her way up the steps, +examining and remarking upon everything +she saw.</p> + +<p>"Them stair-rods ain't so clean as they +had ought to be, Sarah. I'm afraid your +girls are careless, or shirks. When did you +uncover the carpet?"</p> + +<p>"Some time ago, mother, while father +was sick. There were gentlemen calling +constantly, and the cover looked shabby, +I thought."</p> + +<p>"It couldn't be helped, I s'pose; but the +carpet is more worn than I expected to +see it. With the heavy expenses that will +be crowding on us this fall and winter, +we can't afford to get any new things for +the house."</p> + +<p>Lucy, who preceded her sister, glanced +back and laughed meaningly. And Sarah +was very glad that her father had not +overheard the observation, which confirmed +her belief that the beauty's hand was disposed +of without the form of consultation +with her natural and legal guardian.</p> + +<p>Dinner was announced by the time the +traveling habiliments and dust were removed. +Sarah had spared no pains to +provide a bountiful and tasteful repast, at +the risk of incurring her mother's reproof +for her extravagant proclivities. But the +dame was in high good-humor, and the +youthful purveyor received but a single +sentence of deprecation.</p> + +<p>"I hope you have not been living as high +as this all the time, Sarah!"</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am. Father's wants and mine +were very few. I foresaw that you would +need substantial refreshment after your +journey."</p> + +<p>"You was very thoughtful. We both +have good appetites, I guess. I know that +I have."</p> + +<p>"Mine will speak for itself," said Lucy.</p> + +<p>"You have no idea how that girl has +enjoyed everything since she has been +away," observed Mrs. Hunt to her husband. +"There was Vic. West, who took +it into her head that she ought to look die-away +and peaking, and refuse food, when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +her beau was by; but Lu., she just went +right along and behaved natural, and I'm +sure that somebody thought more of her +for it."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hunt's face darkened for a moment; +but he could not find fault with his eldest +child on her first evening at home.</p> + +<p>"So you have been quite a belle, Lucy," +he said, pleasantly.</p> + +<p>"Better than that, Mr. H.!" Mrs. Hunt +checked her triumphant announcement as +the butler re-entered the room. "I shouldn't +wonder," she resumed, rather mysteriously, +"if Lucy was disposed to settle down into +a steady, sedate matron after her holiday."</p> + +<p>"Don't deceive yourself with that hope!" +laughed Lucy.</p> + +<p>She was evidently pleased by these not +over-delicate allusions to her love-affairs, +and, like her mother, extremely complacent +over the result of her recent campaign. +Sarah felt that, were she in her +place, she would shrink from this open +jesting upon a sacred subject; still she +had not expected that her sister would +behave differently. Lucy's nature was gentle +without being fine; affectionate but +shallow. She would have had no difficulty +in attaching herself to any man whom her +friends recommended as "a good match," +provided he were pleasing in exterior, and +her most devoted servitor.</p> + +<p>The sisters had no opportunity of private +converse until they adjourned to the +parlor for the evening. Lucy was very +beautiful in a blue silk, whose low corsage +and short sleeves revealed her superb +shoulders and rounded arms. Her complexion +was a rich carmine, deepening or +softening with every motion—one would +have said, with every breath. Her blue +eyes fairly danced in a sort of subdued +glee, very charming and very becoming +but altogether unlike the tender, dewy +light of "Love's first young dream."</p> + +<p>"How lovely you have grown, sister!" +said Sarah, earnestly. "Oh, Lucy, I don't +believe you rightly value the gift of beauty—as +I would do if it were mine!"</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" The dimples, that made her +smile so bewitching, broke her blushes into +rosy waves as the conscious fair one +turned her face towards the mirror. "I +am pleased to hear that I am passable +to-night. We may have visitors. A friend +of ours has expressed a great desire to +see me in my home—'in the bosom of my +family.' Ahem!"</p> + +<p>She smoothed out an imaginary wrinkle +in her bodice, an excuse for tarrying longer +before the glass.</p> + +<p>"He came to town with you, then?" ventured +Sarah.</p> + +<p>Lucy nodded.</p> + +<p>"And promised to call this evening?"</p> + +<p>"Right again, my dear!"</p> + +<p>She was graver now, for she had conceived +the happy notion of appropriating to +her own use a cluster of white roses and +buds she discovered in the vase on the +marble slab under the mirror. If anything +could have enhanced the elegance of her +figure and toilet, it was the coiffure she immediately +set about arranging. The flowers +were a present to Sarah from Lewis Hammond; +but she thought little of him or of +them, as Lucy laid them first on one, then +on the other side of head, to try the +effect.</p> + +<p>"And you really care for him, sister?" +came forth in such a timid, anxious tone, +that Lucy burst into a fit of laughter.</p> + +<p>"You dear little modest piece of romantic +simplicity! One would suppose that you +were popping the question yourself, from +your behavior. Care for him? Why +shouldn't I? I need not say 'yes' unless I +do, need I?"</p> + +<p>"But you take it so coolly! A betrothal +is, to me, such a solemn thing."</p> + +<p>"And to most other girls, perhaps. +(There! if I only had a hair-pin. Don't +rob yourself! thank you! Isn't that an improvement?) +As I was saying, why should +I pretend to be pensive and doleful, when I +am as merry as a lark? or lovesick, when I +have never lost a meal or an hour's sleep +from the commencement of the courtship +until now? That is not my style, Sarah. +I am very practical in my views and feelings. +Not that I don't play talking sentiment +in our genuine lovescenes, and I +really like unbounded devotion on the other +side. It is decidedly pleasant to be adored. +I was surprised to find how I enjoyed it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, sister! sister!" Sarah leaned her +forehead on the mantel, repelled and well-nigh +disgusted by this heartless trifling—this +avowed counterfeit—so abhorrent to +her feelings. But Lucy was as much in +earnest as she could be on such a theme. +She went on, unheeding her sister's ejaculation.</p> + +<p>"You must understand, of course, that we +are not positively engaged. I gave him—Goldfinch—a +good scolding for violating the +rules of etiquette by addressing me while +I was away from home; but it was just like +him. He is as impulsive as he can live. To +punish him I refused to answer him until +after our return to New York, and his interview +with father. He would have written +to him on the spot, had I not forbidden +him. He behaved so beautifully, that I +consented to his taking charge of us to the +city, and I suppose the rest must follow in +good time. How melancholy your face is! +Are you very much afflicted at the thought +of losing me? Why, Sarah! my dear child, +are those tears in your eyes? If she isn't +crying in good earnest!"</p> + +<p>And Lucy's musical laugh rolled through +the rooms in her enjoyment of the joke. +What else could it be to her, elate with her +success in achieving the chief end of woman—the +capture of a rich and handsome, +in every respect an unexceptionable lover?</p> + +<p>"Hist!" she said, raising her finger. "He +has come! Your eyes are red! Run, and +make yourself presentable!"</p> + +<p>The door opening from the hall into the +front parlor, swung on its hinges as Sarah +gained the comparative obscurity of the +third and rear room. A strong impulse of +interest or curiosity there arrested her +flight to enable her to get a glimpse of her +destined brother-in-law. Lucy had not +mentioned his proper name, since her earliest +letter from Newport had eulogized a +certain George Finch, a Bostonian, +wealthy, and attentive to herself. Sarah's +backward glance fell upon the visitor as he +met his queenly bride-elect directly under +the blazing chandelier.</p> + +<p>It was Philip Benson!</p> + +<p>Chained to the spot by weakness or horror, +the looker-on stood motionless, while +the suitor raised the lily fingers he held to +his lips, and then led Lucy to a seat. His +voice broke the spell. As the familiar cadences +smote her ear, the sharp pain that +ran through every fiber of her frame awakened +Sarah from her stupor.</p> + +<p>How she gained her room she never +knew; but she had sense enough left to direct +her flight to this refuge—and, when +within, to lock the door. Then she threw +up her arms with a piteous, wailing cry, +and fell across the bed, dead for the time +to further woe.</p> + +<p>Alone and painfully she struggled back +to consciousness. Sitting upright, she +stared wonderingly around her, unable to +recollect what had stricken her down. The +chamber was imperfectly lighted by the +rays of the street lamp opposite, and with +the recognition of objects within its narrow +limits there crept back to her all that had +preceded her retreat thither. For the next +hour she sat still—her head bowed upon +her knees, amid the wrecks of her dream +world.</p> + +<p>Dreary and loveless as had been most of +her previous life, she had never endured +anything like this, unless one miserable +hour upon the Deal Beach, when Philip +broke the tidings of his intended departure, +were a slight foretaste of the agony, the +utter despair, that claimed her now for its +victim. Since then, she had been hopeful. +His promise of a visit, the tokens of remembrance +he had transmitted to her +every week, had kept alive memory and +expectation, and this was his coming! this +the occasion she had pictured so fondly, +painted with the brightest hues Love could +borrow from imagination! She had heard +again the voice that had haunted her +dreams, from their parting until now—heard +it in deeper, softer tones than it had +ever taken in speech with her; heart-music +which told that his seekings and +yearnings for the one and only beloved +were over. And was not her quest of years +ended likewise? Truly, there are two senses +in which every search, every combat may +be said to be closed; one when the victor +grasps his prize, or waves aloft his sword +in the moment of triumph; the other, +when, bleeding, maimed, or dying, the vanquished +sinks to the earth without power +to rise!</p> + +<p>A tap at her door startled Sarah. She did +not stir until it was repeated, and her +father called her name. A stream of light +from the hall fell upon her face as she admitted +him.</p> + +<p>"Daughter, what ails you?" was his exclamation.</p> + +<p>"I am not very well, father."</p> + +<p>"I should think not, indeed! Come in +here and lie down!" He led her to the bed, +and, lighting the gas in the chamber, came +back to her and felt her pulse.</p> + +<p>She knew what was the direction of his +fears; but to correct his misapprehension +was to subject herself to further questioning. +Passively she received the pressure of +his hand upon her head, the gentle stroking +of the disordered hair; but when he stooped +to kiss her, he felt that she trembled.</p> + +<p>"Dear child! I shall never forgive myself +if you have taken the fever from me!"</p> + +<p>"I do not fear that, father. My head +aches, and I am very tired. I have been so +busy all day, you know."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and for many other days. You are, +without doubt, overworked. I hope this +may prove to be all the matter with you. +A night's rest may quite cure you."</p> + +<p>"Yes sir," she answered, chokingly. +"You will excuse me to ——, downstairs?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly. Would you like to have your +mother come up to you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, sir! Please tell her there is no +need of it. I shall be better to-morrow."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Your sister"—and he looked more serious, +instead of smiling—"has a visitor. Her +friend is an acquaintance of yours, also, it +appears—the Mr. Benson whom you met at +your aunt's in July."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. I know it."</p> + +<p>"I understood you to say that Lucy had +never said positively who her lover was; +but this was not the name you told me of, +as the person whom you imagined him to +be."</p> + +<p>"I was misled for a time myself, sir," +replied the poor girl, pressing her temples +between her palms.</p> + +<p>"I see that I am tiring you. Forgive me! +but it is so natural to consult you in everything. +I must trouble you with some questions, +which it is important should be answered +to-night, before this gentleman and +myself have any conversation. Is Mr. Benson +a man whom you consider worthy of +trust? Your mother represents him to be +enormously wealthy—a reputation I had +concluded he possessed, from Lucy's pet +name for him. It is well that your sister +has a prospect of marrying advantageously +in this respect, for she would never be +happy in an humble sphere; but antiquated +people like myself regard other things as of +greater consequence in concluding a bargain +for a lifetime. Is your opinion of Mr. +Benson favorable as to disposition, principles, +and conduct?"</p> + +<p>Sarah's head rested on the foot-board of +her couch, in weariness or pain, as she rejoined: +"I saw and heard nothing of him, +during our intercourse in the country, that +was not creditable. His uncle and aunt are +very partial to him, and speak of his character +in high terms. Their testimony ought +to have weight with you, for they have +known him from his boyhood up."</p> + +<p>"It ought and does. I am relieved to hear +all this! very much pleased!" said Mr. +Hunt, enthusiastically. "I have all confidence +in Nathan Benson's judgment and +integrity. I hope his nephew is as sterling +a man. Thus far," he continued, playfully, +"I have learned but one thing to his discredit, +and that is, having seen this one of +my daughters, he could afterwards fall in +love with the other."</p> + +<p>"I am not beautiful and good like Lucy, +father."</p> + +<p>"Very dear and lovely in my eyes, my +child! Again forgive me for having worried +your poor head with my inquiries. I +was unwilling to decide a matter where +Lucy's happiness was involved, without +obtaining your evidence in the case. A +last good-night! and God bless you, my +dearest, best daughter!"</p> + +<p>Sarah held up her face for his kiss without +attempting to speak. This burning +ordeal, the harder to endure because unexpected, +was over. She was as weak as a +child with conflicting passions when she +arose and endeavored to undress. After +stooping several times to regain breath and +strength, she was at last ready to creep +into bed, there to lie until morning broke, +sleepless and suffering.</p> + +<p>Her sharpened senses could discern her +father's and mother's voices in the sitting-room, +in confidential talk—interrupted, by-and-by, +by Lucy's pure, mellow tones, apparently +conveying some message to the +former. Its import was easily surmised, +for his step was then heard in the hall and +on the stairs, until he reached the parlor +where Philip awaited him. Their conference +did not occupy more than twenty minutes,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +which time Lucy spent with her +mother—how gayly, Sarah could judge by +the laugh that, again and again, reached +her room. Mr. Hunt returned, spoke a few +sentences in his calm, grave way, and the +closing door was followed by a flutter of +silk and fall of gliding footsteps, as Lucy +went down to her now formally and fully +betrothed husband.</p> + +<p>"Husband!" Yes! it was even so! +Henceforth the lives of the pair were to be +as one in interest, in aims, in affection. +Ere long, they would have no separate outward +existence in the eyes of the world. +Was his chosen love, then, in a truer and +higher sense, his other self—the being +sought so long and carefully? The pretty +fiancee would have stretched her cerulean +orbs in amazed wonder at the ridiculous +doubt, and asked, in her matter-of-fact +way, how the thing could have happened, +if it had not been intended? Philip's indignant +affirmative would have gained fervor +from his exultant consciousness of possession—so +novel and sweet. But one above +stairs, taught sagacity by the depth of her +grief, looked further into the future than +did they, and read there a different reply.</p> + +<p>She heard the clang of the front door as +it shut after the young lover, and in the +still midnight, the echoes, faint and fainter, +of his retreating footsteps—the same free, +light tread she used to hearken for in porch +and hall of that riverside farm house; and +as the remembrance came over her she +turned her face to the wall, murmuring +passionately: "Oh! if I could never, never +see him again!"</p> + +<p>This feeling, whether born of cowardice +or desperation, was the ruling one, when +her mother looked in upon her before +breakfast, and expressed her concern at +finding her still in bed.</p> + +<p>"I am not well enough to get up, +mother," Sarah said sincerely, and Mrs. +Hunt, reading in the parched lips and +bloodshot eyes proof of the justice of the +fears her husband had expressed to her the +preceding evening, resolved that the doctor +should see her "before she was two hours +older."</p> + +<p>In vain Sarah entreated that this should +not be done, and prophesied her recovery +without his assistance. For once her +parents were a unit in sentiment and action, +and the physician was summoned to +his second patient.</p> + +<p>"All febrile symptoms were to some extent +contagious," he affirmed; "and while +Mr. Hunt's malady was not generally +classed with such, it was very possible that +his daughter had contracted an analogous +affection, in her constant attendance upon +him."</p> + +<p>This decision Sarah dared not overthrow, +much as she wished to do so, when she saw +how it afflicted her father.</p> + +<p>Undaunted by any fears of infection, +Lucy repaired to her sister's chamber when +she had despatched her breakfast.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it too provoking that you should be +sick just at this time?" she began, perching +herself, school-girl fashion on the foot +of the bed. "I really admired your staying +upstairs last night; but I did not dream +that you really were not well. I promise +you that I made capital of your absence. +I told Philip (how odd it sounds, doesn't +it?) that you ran away when he rang the +bell, because you had made a fright of +yourself by crying over the prospect of my +leaving you, and that I had no doubt that +you had grieved yourself into a headache. +He wanted to know forthwith if you +objected to my marrying him; but I said +'No'; that you were charmed with the +match, and preferred him to any other admirer +I had ever had; but that we—you and +I—were so devoted to one another, that it +was acute agony to us to think of parting. +About ten o'clock he asked to see +father, and they soon settled affairs. When +I went down again, he tried a little ring +on my finger that he always wears, and it +fitted nicely. So I knew what it meant +when he put it back upon his own hand, +and that with that for a measure he could +not go wrong in getting the engagement +ring. I do hope it will be a diamond. Vic. +West declares that she would not accept +anything else. I considered for a while +whether I couldn't give him a delicate hint +on the subject, but I did not see how I +could manage it. And don't you think, +while I was studying about this, he fancied +I was sober over 'the irrevocable step I +had taken,' and became miserable and eloquent +at the suspicion! I wish I could remember +all he said! It was more in your +line than mine! But he is a good, sensible +fellow, with all his romantic notions. He +has a handsome fortune, independent of his +father, left him by his grandfather, and we +are to live in Georgia part of the year only, +and travel every summer. Mother says his +account of his prospects and so forth to +father was very satisfactory, but she has +not got at all the particulars yet. Father +is so worried about your sickness that he +cannot spare a thought for anything or +anybody else. The light from that window +hurts your eyes—doesn't it? I will let down +the shade."</p> + +<p>But Sarah lay with her hand protecting +her eyes, when her sister resumed her position +and narration.</p> + +<p>"We are to be married in December. He +begged hard for an earlier day, but I was +sure that I could not be ready before then. +As it is, we shall have to hurry when it +comes to the dresses, for, in order to get +the latest fashions, we must wait until the +eleventh hour. Won't I 'astonish the natives' +down South? I couldn't state this to +Philip, you know; so I referred him to +mother, who is to say, when he asks her, +that her preference would be to keep me +just as long as she possibly can. Entre +nous, my dear, our good mamma has said +truer things than this bit of sentiment—but +n'importe! These embellishments are +necessary to such transactions."</p> + +<p>Miss West's friendship or curiosity could +not endure longer suspense, and the intelligence +that she was below checked the +monologue.</p> + +<p>"I will run up again whenever I can," +promised Lucy, by way of compensation +for her abrupt departure, "and keep up +your spirits by telling you all that I can +about our concerns. But Philip is to take +me to ride this afternoon. I forbade him to +come here before then, but I don't much +think he can stay away. Don't be vexed if +you don't see me again in some hours. +Vic. and I are about to settle our trousseaux. +If you believe me, we have never +been able yet to decide upon the wedding +dresses!"</p> + +<p>And she vanished, warbling delicious +roulades from a duet she had engaged to +sing that evening with her betrothed. She +showed herself upstairs again, when she +was ready for her ride, and the carriage at +the door—very fair, very bright, and very +happy. She was exquisitely dressed, and +called on her sister to admire her toilet +and envy her her escort.</p> + +<p>Sarah listened to the cheerful exchange +of cautions and promises between her +mother and Philip, at the door beneath her +open window, and to the rolling wheels +that bore them away.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hunt received none of her friends +that day, being busy "getting things to +rights"; and for a like reason she absented +herself from her child's sickroom, content +with sending up Jeannie, now and then, to +inquire how she was getting on. In the +abject loneliness that oppressed her, when +the first violence of passions had spent itself, +Sarah would have been relieved in +some measure by the society of this pet +sister, the sole object upon earth, besides +her father, that had ever repaid her love +with anything like equal attachment. But +the child shrank, like most others of her +age, from the quiet dark chamber of illness, +and longed to follow her mother +through the house, in her tour of observation +and renovation. Sarah detected her +restlessness and ill-concealed dislike of the +confinement imposed upon her by compliance +with her humble petition—</p> + +<p>"Please, Jeannie, stay a little while with +your poor sister!" And her sensitive spirit +turned upon itself, as a final stroke of torture, +the conviction that here, also, love +and care had been wasted.</p> + +<p>"Go, then!" she said, rather roughly, as +Jeannie wavered, "and you need not come +up again to-day. I know it is not pleasant +for you to be here. Tell mother I want +nothing but quiet."</p> + +<p>"I have had a splendid drive!" said Lucy, +rustling her many flounces into the door at +dusk.</p> + +<p>The figure upon the bed made no response +by motion or word.</p> + +<p>"I do believe she is asleep!" added the +intruder, lowering her voice. "I suppose +she is tired and needs rest." And she went +out on tiptoe.</p> + +<p>Sarah was awake a minute later, when +her father came in to see her. She smiled +at him, as he "hoped she was better," and +asked whether she might not get up on the +morrow. Mr. Hunt thought not. The doctor's +opinion was that perfect repose might +ward off the worse features of the disease. +She had better keep to her bed for a couple +of days yet, even should she feel well +enough to be about. He sent up her dinner +to her room with his own hands; and +when she learned this, she strove to do +some feeble justice to the viands, but without +success.</p> + +<p>Philip dined with the family that day by +special appointment; and, shortly after his +arrival, Lucy again presented herself in +that small third-story bedroom.</p> + +<p>"Choose! which hand will you take?" she +cried, hiding both behind her.</p> + +<p>Sarah would make no selection; and, +after a little more trifling, the elder sister +brought into sight two elegant bouquets, +and laid them beside the invalid.</p> + +<p>"This is Philip's present—'a fraternal remembrance,' +he told me to say. Here is +his card. Doesn't he write a lovely hand? +The other is from your admirer, Mr. Hammond. +What a sly puss you were to make +such a catch as he is, without dropping us +a hint! He is rather too sober for my notions; +but he is getting rich fast, they say. +He left those flowers at the door himself,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +and insisted upon seeing father for a moment, +to know exactly how you were. +Cannot you hurry up somewhat, and let us +have a double wedding? I showed the bouquet +to Philip, and told him of your conquest, +and he was as much pleased at your +prospects as I was. Did you ever see such +magnificent roses? your beau paid five dollars, +at the lowest computation, for these +flowers. I congratulate you upon these +signs of liberality."</p> + +<p>Sarah had heard only a portion of this +speech. Her eyes were fixed upon the card +her sister had put into her hand: "Will +Miss Sarah accept this trifling token of regard +from one who is her stanch friend, +and hopes, in time, to have a nearer claim +upon her esteem?"</p> + +<p>"Very neatly turned, is it not?" said +Lucy, satisfiedly. She had read it on her +way upstairs. "What shall I say to him +from you?"</p> + +<p>"Thank him, and explain that I am not +able to write a reply."</p> + +<p>This meagre return of compliments assumed +a tone both grateful and sisterly as +Lucy rehearsed it to the donor of the fragrant +offering. The barest phrase of civility +came gracefully and meaningly from her +tongue. Serene in mind and countenance, +she seated herself at the piano, and, as +Philip took his stand at her side, he wondered +if the world held another couple +more entirely adapted each to the peculiar +soul-needs of the other, more perfectly +happy in the knowledge of mutual affection. +Like the generality of theorists, your +student of human nature is prone to grievous +error when he reduces his flawless +system to practice.</p> + +<p>In one respect, the two certainly harmonized +well. Both loved music; both sang +finely, and their voices accorded without a +jarring note.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hunt read the evening papers in +Sarah's room; turning and folding them +with great circumspection, lest their rattling +might annoy her, and detract from +her enjoyment of the music. How could +he guess the infatuation that caused her to +listen greedily to sounds, under whose potent +spell feeling was writhing and brain +reeling? In every pause between the songs +there arose in her memory two lines of a +poem read long ago, when or where she +knew not:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Seek not to soothe that proud, forsaken heart<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With strains whose sweetness maddens as they fall!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The performers had just completed a +duet, in which each voice supported and +developed, while blending with the other, +when Lucy took up the prelude to a +simpler lay; repeating it twice over with +skilful variations, as if she were, meantime, +carrying on a colloquy with her companion, +that delayed the vocal part. This +was ended by Philip's raising alone the +burden of the plaintive German air Sarah +remembered so truly—"The long, long, +weary day."</p> + +<p>As his voice, full and strong, with its +indescribable and irresistible undercurrent +of pathos—flowing out here into passionate +melancholy—swelled and floated through +the quiet house, Sarah sat upright.</p> + +<p>"Father! father!" she whispered, huskily, +"I cannot bear that! Shut the doors!—all +of them, or I shall go mad!"</p> + +<p>She was obeyed; Mr. Hunt hurrying down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +to the parlor to silence the lovers, with the +representation that Sarah was too nervous +to endure the excitement of music. For +the remainder of the evening, a profound +stillness pervaded the upper part of the +mansion—a silence that, to Sarah, throbbed +with the melody she had tried to hush; and +look where she might, she gazed into that +rainy, ghastly night—the pale, comfortless +watcher, the shadowy type of her deeper, +more blighting sorrow.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + + +<p>For three days Philip Benson lingered +near his beautiful enslaver; on the fourth, +he carried a sad, yet trustful heart upon +his Southern journey. Sarah had not seen +him once since the evening of his coming. +Through Lucy, she received his adieux and +wishes for her speedy recovery. On the +next day but one she left her room, and +appeared again in the family circle—now +complete in all its parts.</p> + +<p>In that short season of bodily prostration, +the work of years had been wrought upon +her inner life. Outwardly there was little +alteration save that effected by physical +weakness; but in her views of existence +and character, of affections and motives, +the doubter had become the skeptic; the +dreamer the misanthrope. To the gentle +and more womanly aspirations that had for +a season supplanted the somewhat masculine +tendencies of her mind and tastes had +succeeded a stoicism, like the frozen calm +of a winter's day, uniform as relentless. +This was the surface that locked and concealed +the lower depths she had sworn +should be forever covered. Others could +and did live without hearts. She could +thrive as well upon the husks and Sodom +apples of this world's goods as did they; +holding as Life's chief good, complete and +final subjugation of all genuine emotion, +which, at the best, was but the rough ore—fit +for nothing until purged, refined, and +polished in its glitter. She found no other +creed that suited her present desperate +mood so well as the heartless code of the +thorough worldling—the devotee to show, +and fashion, and wealth.</p> + +<p>Such was her mother, whose domestic +virtues were extolled by all who knew her; +such, behind her mask of tender grace and +amiability, the sister who had won, by +these factitious attractions, the heart for +which Sarah would have perilled life, sacrificed +ease and inclination, bowed her +proud spirit to the estate of bond-servant +to his every caprice, become the willing +slave to his tyrannical behest. Yet +Philip Benson was a professed judge of +character; a man of sense, education, and +experience, and, knowing both girls as he +did, he had made his choice; set the stamp +of his approval upon the shining, rather +than the solid metal. The world, as its +young would-be disciple believed she had +at length learned, was made up of two +classes; those who floated, and those who +sank. To the latter she determined that +she would not belong.</p> + +<p>These and kindred thoughts were rife in +her mind, and stirring up many a spring +of gall within her bosom, one morning as +she lay back in an armchair in the sitting-room, +listening with secret scorn to the +prattle of the pair of betrothed maidens—Lucy +and her friend. Lucy's engagement +ring was a diamond, or, rather, a modest +cluster of these precious stones, whose extreme +beauty did not strike the casual eye +with the startling effect of Victoria's more +showy gage d'amour. This apparent difference +in the value of the two was the +source of many discussions and considerable +heart-burning, disguised, of course, +and threatened in time to produce a decided +coolness between the attached wearers +of the articles under debate.</p> + +<p>On this particular day, Victoria, after +some adroit skirmishing, brought out as a +"poser" the fact that, to lay the question +to rest without more ado, she had, since +their last interview, been to Tiffany's, and +had her ring valued. Lucy's face was all +aglow as her soul-sister named the price of +her treasure. She clapped her hands joyously.</p> + +<p>"Isn't that the joke of the season, +mother?"—as that personage entered. +"Don't you think that Vic. was as cunning +as we were? She carried her ring to +Tiffany's yesterday, too. Wouldn't it have +been too funny if we had met there? Mine +came from there, they said, and it cost a +cool fifty dollars more than yours did, +dear!"</p> + +<p>Victoria flashed hotly; but further controversy +being useless and dangerous to +her, she acquiesced with assumed carelessness +in Lucy's proposal that, since both +were suited, the rival brilliants should not +be again referred to as a disputed matter. +They accordingly turned to the safer and +endless conferences upon the trousseaux, +whose purchase must be commenced immediately.</p> + +<p>Their incomplete lists were produced, +compared, and lengthened—Mrs. Hunt suggesting +and amending; Sarah surveying +the busy group with the same intense disdain +she had experienced throughout the +conversation.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I forgot to tell you! Margaret Hauton +called on me yesterday!" exclaimed +Victoria. "Did she come here, too?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but we were out. What did she +say?" queried Lucy, breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"Why, the stupid creature never alluded +to my engagement; and when I mentioned +yours, pretended not to have heard +of it before. I took care she should not go +away as ignorant on the subject as she had +come, and—I know it was wicked in me, +but she deserved it—all the time I was +praising your Goldfinch, and telling how +handsome and liberal he was, I sat looking +at my new ring, slipping it up and +down my finger, as if I were not thinking +of it, but of the giver. She could not help +seeing it, and, to save her life, she could +not keep from changing countenance."</p> + +<p>"Good!" said Lucy. "Do tell me how she +is looking now?"</p> + +<p>"Common enough! She had on that everlasting +lilac silk, with the embroidered +flounces, although the style is as old as the +hills—and that black lace mantle, which, +happening to be real, she never leaves off +until near Christmas. But her hat! black +and corn-color. Think of it! corn-color +against her saffron skin. When I pretend +to lead society, I hope to dress decently. +But I had my revenge for her supercilious +airs. Mr. Bond—George—called in the +afternoon to take me to ride. I told you +of the handsome span of fast horses he has +been buying. Well! we concluded to try +the Bloomingdale road, and just as we +were sailing along, like the wind, whom +should we overtake but my Lady Hauton, +lounging her lazy way (she thinks it +aristocratic!) on the back seat of her +father's heavy, clumsy barouche—not a +soul in it but her mother and herself. +Didn't I bow graciously to her as we flew +by! and again, as we met them creeping +along, when we were coming back? I +wouldn't have missed the chance of mortifying +her for a thousand dollars."</p> + +<p>Lucy laughed, with no sign of disapprobation +at the coarse, vindictive spirit +displayed in this petty triumph of a small +soul.</p> + +<p>"How many evening dresses have you put +down on your paper, Vic.?"</p> + +<p>"Half a dozen only. I will get others as +I need them. The styles in these change +so often that I do not care to have too +many at a time."</p> + +<p>"There you will have the advantage of +me," said Lucy, ingenuously. "It will not +be so easy a matter to replenish my stock +of wearable dresses. I wish I had asked +Philip about the Savannah stores. I wonder +if he knows anything about them?"</p> + +<p>"He ought to—being such a connoisseur +in ladies' dress. I declare I have been +absolutely afraid of him since I heard him +say that he considered a lady's apparel a +criterion of her character."</p> + +<p>"He has exquisite taste!" said Lucy, +with pardonable pride in her lover. "It is +a positive pleasure to dress for him. He +sees and appreciates everything that I +could wish to have him notice. He has +often described to me what I wore, and +how I looked and acted the evening he fell +in love. How little we can guess what is +before us! I did not care to go to the hop +that night, for Mr. Finch was to wait on +me, and he was so stupid, you know, after +we discovered that it was a mistake about +his being rich. I think I see him now, with +his red face and short neck! Oh, dear! the +fun we had over that poor man! I told +you—didn't I, Sarah—that we named him +Bullfinch, because he looked so much like +one? When Phil came we called him Goldfinch, +and the two went by these names +among us girls. The Bullfinch heard of it, +and he was ridiculously angry! So I put on +a white tarlatan, that one with the double +jupe, you know, Vic., festooned with white +moss rosebuds, and I had nothing but a +tea-rose in my hair. I danced once with +the Bullfinch—one of those solemn quadrilles +that are only fit for grandmothers—and +vowed to myself that I would not +stand up again, except for a polka or the +lancers. While I was sitting down by the +window, saying 'Yes' and 'No,' when Bullfinch +spoke, Mr. Newman introduced 'Mr. +Benson' to 'Miss Hunt,' and the work was +done!"</p> + +<p>"No more waltzing, then!" was Victoria's +slyly malicious sequel.</p> + +<p>"I did not care so much for that as I +thought I should!" replied easy-tempered +Lucy. "You cannot find a man who has +not some drawback. Before I had a chance +for another round, mother there managed +to telegraph me that my fresh acquaintance +was worth catching. She had gotten +his whole story out of Mrs. Newman. He +let me know pretty soon, that he had +some queer scruples about fancy dances, +and I thought it best to humor him for +one evening, or until I should ascertain +whether he was really 'taken' or not. I +have never repented my self-denial, although +I grant that it cost me a struggle +to give up 'the german.'"</p> + +<p>"George lets me waltz to my heart's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +content," said Victoria. "He is the very +soul of indulgence. As to laces—I have not +a thing fit to wear. I must get everything +new. I am glad of it! I enjoy shopping +for them. If I have a passion, it is for +laces!"</p> + +<p>A sneer curled Sarah's lips, and Victoria +happening to glance that way, could not +mistake its application, whatever she might +surmise as to its origin.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you despise us as a couple of +lovesick girls, Sarah?" she said, with a +simper designed to be sentimental, whereas +it was spiteful instead.</p> + +<p>"I think love the least dangerous of +your complaints," was the rejoinder.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Just what I said."</p> + +<p>"She means that people do not die of love +in these days," exclaimed Lucy, whose +pleasure-loving nature always shuddered at +the idea of altercation in her presence; her +sensations, during the occasional sparrings +of her sister and her friend, bearing a +strong resemblance to those of an innocent +white rabbit, into whose burrow a couple +of belligerent hedgehogs have forced their +way.</p> + +<p>"You will understand us better one day, +when your turn comes," said Victoria, +with magnanimous condescension. "I shall +remind you then of your good opinion of +us."</p> + +<p>"You may."</p> + +<p>"I would give anything to have you engaged, +just to see how you would behave. +Would not you, Lucy?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; if she were likely to do as well as +we are doing. Philip says that you have +many fine qualities, Sarah. He quite admires +you."</p> + +<p>The complacent betrothed had none but +the most amiable intentions in making this +patronizing speech; therefore, the angry +blood that surged over her sister's face at +hearing it would have been to her but the +blush of gratified vanity, had not the +sparkle of her eye and the contemptuous +contortion of her mouth undeceived her.</p> + +<p>"Indeed he did say so!" she hastened to +repeat. "And he was in earnest! He said +something else which I don't mind telling, +now that he belongs to me fast and sure. +He said that he sat up until twelve o'clock +one night after you had been out boating +deliberating whether he should be smitten +with you or not. There!"</p> + +<p>The color retreated as quickly as it had +come. But for the consciousness of Victoria's +malicious scrutiny, Sarah could not +have summoned strength to utter a word.</p> + +<p>"An equivocal compliment, I must say!" +she retorted, sarcastically. "Your gallant +Georgian's confessions must have been +ample and minute indeed, if they comprised +such distant approaches to love +affairs as the one you honor me by mentioning. +I do not think that I have ever +heard of another case where a gentleman +considered it necessary to enumerate to his +fiancee, not merely the ladies he had loved, +but those whom he had not!" She arose +and left the room.</p> + +<p>Poor Lucy, rebuffed and overwhelmed, +caught her astonished breath with a sigh. +"Can anybody tell me what I have done +now to fret Sarah? She is so cross since +she was sick!"</p> + +<p>"And before, too!" mutely added Victoria's +shrug and lifted eyebrows.</p> + +<p>"We must bear with her, my dear!" said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +the prudent mother. "Her nerves are affected, +the doctor says."</p> + +<p>Victoria made random pencillings upon +the important list—her thoughts in fast +pursuit of a notion that had just struck +her. She was neither witty nor intelligent; +but she possessed some natural +shrewdness and a great deal more acquired +cunning. She detested Sarah Hunt, and the +prospect of obtaining an engine that should +humble her arrogant spirit was scarcely +less tempting than her own chance of effecting +an advantageous matrimonial settlement.</p> + +<p>While she was engaged in defining her +suspicion to herself, and concerting measures +for gathering information with regard +to it, Mrs. Hunt went out on some household +errand, and Lucy was obliged to descend +to the parlor to see callers.</p> + +<p>"Don't go until I come back, Vic.. It is +the Dunhams, and they never stay long," +she said, at quitting her associate.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I always make myself at home +here, you know, my dear!" was the reply.</p> + +<p>Jeannie was sitting on a cushion near the +chair Sarah had occupied, dressing her +doll.</p> + +<p>"It won't fit!" she cried, fretfully, +snatching off a velvet basque she had +been endeavoring to adjust to the lay-figure.</p> + +<p>"Bring it to me! I can fix it!" offered +Victoria, winningly. "It's too tight just +here, you see. I will rip open the seam +and alter it. Who makes your dolly's +clothes?"</p> + +<p>She was well aware that but one member +of the family ever had leisure to bestow +upon such follies; but it suited her plan for +Jeannie to introduce the name.</p> + +<p>"Sister Sarah."</p> + +<p>"This is a pretty basque. When did she +make it?"</p> + +<p>"Yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I thought perhaps she did it while +you were in the country, and that the doll +had fattened as much as you did there."</p> + +<p>Jeannie laughed heartily.</p> + +<p>"You had a nice time there, I suppose?" +pursued Victoria.</p> + +<p>"I guess we did!" Her eyes danced at +the recollection. "A splendid time! I +wish we lived at Aunt Sarah's! There +isn't room for me to move in this narrow +house."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Benson was there a day or two, +was he not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am—a great many days! He +took us all around the country in Uncle +Nathan's carriage. I love him very dearly."</p> + +<p>"Did you ever go sailing with him?"</p> + +<p>"Every evening, when it was clear, in a +pretty rowboat. He used to take his guitar +along, and sing for us. He sings beautifully! +Did you ever hear him?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! Did your sister always go boating +with you?"</p> + +<p>The spy, with all her hardihood, lowered +her voice, and felt her face warm as she +put this leading question.</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am, always. Mr. Benson +would not have gone without her, I +guess."</p> + +<p>"Why do you guess so?"</p> + +<p>The little girl smiled knowingly. "Because—you +won't tell, will you?"</p> + +<p>"Why no! Of course I will not."</p> + +<p>"Charley said it was a secret, and that I +mustn't say anything to sister or Mr. Benson +about it, for they would be angry."</p> + +<p>"Who is Charley?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you know? He is Aunt Sarah's +son. He is deaf and dumb; but he showed +me how to spell on my fingers. He is a +nice boy"—</p> + +<p>"Yes; but what was the secret?"</p> + +<p>"He said that Mr. Benson—Cousin Phil I +call him when I am talking to him—was +sister's beau; and he would take me off +with him when we went to drive or walk, +because, you know, they might not like to +have me hear what they were talking +about. They used to talk, and talk, and +talk! and sister had a great deal more to +say, and looked prettier than she does at +home. I will tell you something else, if you +won't ever let anybody know it. I never +told Aunt Sarah even, only Charley. Sister +cried ever so long the night after +Cousin Phil went away. She woke me up +sobbing; but I made believe that I was +asleep; and in the morning her pillow was +right wet. Charley said that all ladies +that he had read about in his books did so +when their beaux left them."</p> + +<p>"See here, my little lady!" said the dissembler, +with a startling change of tone. +"You are altogether mistaken—you and +Charley both! Mr. Benson is going to +marry your sister Lucy, and never was a +beau of Sarah's. Be very careful not to +talk about Charley's wicked story to your +father, or mother, or sisters, for they +would be very much displeased, and maybe +punish you for repeating such fibs. Little +girls ought never to hear or know anything +about courting or beaux—it's +naughty! I won't tell on you, if you will +promise never to do so again. I am +shocked at you! Now take your doll and +go!"</p> + +<p>The frightened child encountered Lucy at +the door. Miss West had calculated her +time to a minute. Her eyes swimming in +tears, her features convulsed with the +effort to keep back sob and outcry, Jeannie +started up to her attic playroom. Sarah's +door was ajar, and engaged as she was +with thoughts of her own troubles and insults, +she could not but remark the expression +of her darling's face, in the momentary +glimpse she had as it passed.</p> + +<p>"Jeannie! come back!" she called.</p> + +<p>The child hesitated, half way up the next +flight. Sarah repeated the summons, and +seeing that it was not obeyed, went up and +took the rebel by the hand.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with you?"</p> + +<p>A reddening and distortion of visage, and +no reply. Her sister led her back to her +chamber, shut the door, and put her arms +around her.</p> + +<p>"Tell me what ails you, dear!"</p> + +<p>Jeannie fell upon her comforter's neck—the +repressed torrent breaking through +all restraint. "Oh, sister, I can't help crying! +Miss Vic. West has been scolding me!"</p> + +<p>"Scolding you! She! I will go down and +speak to her this instant! How dared +she?"</p> + +<p>"No, no! please don't! She told me not to +say anything about it."</p> + +<p>"The contemptible coward!" said Sarah, +between her teeth. "How came you to +have anything to do with her?"</p> + +<p>"Mother and sister Lucy went downstairs, +and she said she would alter my +doll's basque and—and—and"—a fresh burst +of lamentation.</p> + +<p>"There, that will do, pet! I see that she +only made it worse!" soothed Sarah, believing +that, in the unfinished state of dolly's +wardrobe, she had discovered the root of +the trouble. "Never mind, dear! I will set +all that to rights directly. Now wipe your +eyes, and let me tell you something. This +afternoon father is to take me to ride, and +you shall go, too. As for Miss Victoria, +we will let her pass, and keep out of her +way, hereafter."</p> + +<p>Secretly, she was very angry—far more +so than she was willing to have the child +suspect. As the patient fingers repaired +the effects of the original bad fit, and Miss +West's meddling, Jeannie stood by, thankful +and interested, yet ashamed to look her +wronged sister in the eyes. Not that she +had the remotest conception of the mischief +that might grow out of her imprudent disclosures; +but she had broken faith with +Charley, been accused of tattling and indelicacy, +and warned too stringently +against repeating the offence to suffer her +to relieve her conscience by a full confession +to the being she most loved and +honored.</p> + +<p>At four o'clock Sarah and her charge +were ready, according to Mr. Hunt's appointment. +The carriage was likewise +punctual; but from it stepped, not the +parent of the expectant girls, but a +younger and taller man—in short, Mr. +Hunt's particular favorite—Lewis Hammond. +Jeannie, who had stationed herself +at an upper window to watch for her +father's appearance, was still exclaiming +over this disappointment, and wondering +why "Mr. Hammond must call just now to +keep sister at home," when the footman +brought up a note to Sarah.</p> + +<p>It was from Mr. Hunt, explaining the +cause of his unlooked-for detention at the +bank, and stating that Mr. Hammond, +whom he had met earlier in the day, and +acquainted with his design of giving his +daughter this ride, happened to drop in, +and seeing him engaged with business, had +asked leave to officiate as his substitute in +the proposed airing. He urged Sarah to +take Jeannie along, and not hesitate to accept +Mr. Hammond's polite attendance, +adding, in phrase brief, but sincere, how +lightly he should esteem his hour of extra +labor, if he knew that she was not a sufferer +by it.</p> + +<p>Sarah passed the note to her mother, and +drew her shawl about her shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Of course you'll go!" said Mrs. Hunt, +radiant with gratification. "It is perfectly +proper, and Mr. Hammond is very kind, +I'm sure."</p> + +<p>She was hurrying towards the door to +convey in person her thanks for his gallantry, +when Sarah spoke firmly and very +coolly:</p> + +<p>"I will say whatever is necessary to Mr. +Hammond, if you please, mother. I shall +go because father wishes it, and for no +other reason. Come, Jeannie!"</p> + +<p>"Won't she be in your way?" asked Mrs. +Hunt, awed, but not extinguished.</p> + +<p>"No, madam."</p> + +<p>Sarah suffered Mr. Hammond to place her +in the carriage, and himself opposite to +her; and keeping before her mind carefully +the fact that he was her father's friend, +perhaps the savior of his life, she unbent, +as much as she could, from her distant, +ungracious bearing, to sustain her part of +the conversation. She must have been +purblind not to see through her mother's +wishes, and manoeuvres for their accomplishment; +but to these views she was persuaded +that Mr. Hammond was no party. +She saw in him a sedate, rather reserved<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +gentleman of thirty-two or three, who had +passed the heyday of youthful loves and +joy; sensible and cultivated to an uncommon +degree for a man of business—for such +he emphatically was.</p> + +<p>A poor boy in the beginning, he had fortunately +attracted the regard of a thriving +New York merchant, and retained that +favor through the years that had elevated +him from the lowest clerkship to a partnership +in the now opulent firm. For probity +and punctuality no man in the city had a +higher reputation; but his virtues were of +that quiet nature which, while they inevitably +retain regard once won, are slow +to gain admiration. To matrimonial speculators, +as in financial circles, he was known +as a "safe chance," and many a prudent +mamma on his list of acquaintances would +have rejoiced had he selected her daughter +as mistress of his heart and fortune. +Whether he was aware of this or not could +not have been determined by his modest, +but dignified deportment. He did not +avoid company; went whither he was invited, +and, when there, comported himself +like a conscientious member of society, +talking, dancing, or listening, with as due +regard to law and order as he manifested +in his daily business life. Fast girls called +him "awfully matter-of-fact," and "terribly +sensible"; fast youths of the other +sex put him down among the "old fogies," +and wondered what he did with his money. +"Could it be possible that he saved it!" +He was intimate nowhere except in the +household of his whilom employer and +present partner, whose daughters were all +married and settled in houses of their own. +If he had ever cared to look twice at the +same lady, the watchful world had not yet +laid hold of this marvellous departure +from his fixed habits.</p> + +<p>His intercourse with Mr. Hunt's family +was, as we know, purely accidental in its +commencement, and in its earlier stages +might have been induced by humanity or +friendship for the sick father. In Sarah's +brain there had never arisen a suspicion +of any ulterior motives in the pointed attentions +directed of late to herself. Before +Lucy's return, the care of her invalid parent +and her day-dreams had engrossed +heart and thought to an extent that precluded +much inquiry into other themes. +Since that memorable night, inward torture +had abstracted her mind still more +from outward impressions.</p> + +<p>This afternoon she talked calmly and indifferently +to Mr. Hammond, without an +idea that he made any greater effort to +please her. To Jeannie she was tender beyond +her usual showing, in remembrance +of the wrong done the sensitive child in the +forenoon. Mr. Hammond emulated her in +kindness to the third member of their +party; and in the course of their ride, +raised himself unwittingly to the rank of +rivalship with "Cousin Philip," her model +gentleman.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hunt came out to assist his daughter +to alight, upon their return. There was a +heartiness in his acknowledgment of his +deputy's politeness, and invitation to enter +the house and pass the evening with them, +which Sarah had seldom heard him employ +towards any visitor. Mr. Hammond may +have remarked it likewise, for his declinature +was evidently against his inclination, +and coupled with a promise to call at an +early day. His visits were not altogether +so agreeable as formerly, for he was received<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +in the spacious parlors on a footing +with other callers, and in the presence of +several members of the family; still he +came repeatedly, with pretext and without, +until his sentiments and design were a +secret to no one except their object.</p> + +<p>Wrapped in the sad thoughts that isolated +her from the rest of the world, even while +she made a part of its show, Sarah omitted +to mark many things that should have been +significant signs of undercurrents, and +tokens of important issues to her and +those about her. Lucy had ceased to harp +perpetually upon her lover's perfections +and idolatrous flattery to herself, and while +the wedding arrangements went vigorously +forward, the disengaged sister was rarely +annoyed by references to her taste and demands +for her sympathy. There had never +existed much congeniality between the two, +and their common ground was now exceedingly +narrow. Lucy was gentle and pleasant, +peacefully egotistic as ever, and Sarah +understood her too well to expect active +affection or disinterestedness. The only +part of her behavior to herself to which +she took mental exception was a certain +pitying forbearance, a compassionate leniency +with respect to her faults and foibles, +that had grown upon her of late. Once +or twice the younger sister had become so +restive under this gratuitous charity as to +reply sharply to the whey-like speeches of +the mild elder, and, without any appearance +of wounded feeling, yet with not a +word of apology or reason for so doing, +Lucy had left the apartment, and never +hinted at the circumstances afterwards.</p> + +<p>Lucy was certainly the soul, the very +cream of amiability. It was unaccountable +to her admirers—and they included most of +her associates—that Lewis Hammond, with +his peculiar habits and tastes, should prefer +that severe-looking, strong-minded +Sarah. But, be it remembered, that he had +learned this love under far different influences; +in circumstances wholly unlike +those in which he now beheld its object. +His respect for unobtrusive intent and +feeling; his longing for a home which +should be the abode of sacred domestic virtues; +and the sweet peace that had fled +from the habitations frequented only by +the frivolous, heartless, and vain—these +found in the sick-room of the father, and +the affectionate fidelity of the daughter, +something so like the embodiment of his +fancy of earthly happiness, that he accepted +as a benignant fate the accident +which had admitted him to the arcana of +their private life. Sarah's temporary illness +had taught him the meaning of his +dreams, by seeming to peril the chances of +their fulfilment; and from that hour he +strove patiently and sedulously, as it was +his habit, to seek all great ends for the +acquisition of the heart whose depth he +perhaps, of all who knew her, best understood.</p> + +<p>The most impatient person of those directly +or indirectly concerned in the progress +of this wooing was Mrs. Hunt. Her +husband, with unwonted firmness, had forbidden +that anyone of the household should +speak a word in raillery or otherwise to +Sarah touching Mr. Hammond's intentions. +"However earnestly I may desire +his success," he said to his wife—"and +there is no man living whom I would +rather call 'son'—I would not influence her +by the weight of a single syllable. Hers is +the happiness or the misery of a life with +her husband—whomsoever she may choose, +and hers shall be the entire choice. If she +can love and marry Lewis Hammond, I +shall be gratified; if not, she shall never +guess at my disappointment."</p> + +<p>"La, Mr. H.! you are as foolish and sentimental +as the girl herself! For my part, +I ain't such a saint, and I do say, that if +Sarah Hunt allows such a catch as this to +slip through her fingers, she shall hear a +piece of my mind!"</p> + +<p>"I insist," said Mr. Hunt, with immovable +resolution, "that Sarah shall be allowed +to follow the guidance of her own +will in this matter. It is not often that I +interfere with your plans; but in this one +instance I must be obeyed!"</p> + +<p>With which astounding declaration of +equal rights, if not of sovereignty, he left +his consort to her reflections.</p> + +<p>Ignorant of the delicate watchfulness +maintained over her by this best of friends, +Sarah walked on her beclouded way—without +hope, without one anticipation of any +future dissimilar to her present, until +awakened with a shock by a formal declaration +of love from Lewis Hammond.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + + +<p>It was at the close of an evening party +which both the Hunts attended, and where +Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked +as anything so modest could be, that Sarah +felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as +he put her into the carriage. Surprised as +she was at the singularity of the occurrence, +and disposed to take offence at the +familiarity it implied, she had yet the +presence of mind to conceal the missive +from Lucy, and talk about other things, +until they were set down at home. In the +privacy of her chamber, she broke the seal +and read her first love letter.</p> + +<p>It was a characteristic composition. If +the strong hand had trembled above the +lines, the clear, clerkly penmanship did not +witness to the weakness. Nor was there +anything in the subject matter that did not +appear to Sarah as business-like and unimpassioned. +It was a frank and manly +avowal of attachment for her; a compliment +implied, rather than broadly stated, +to her virtues; the traits that had gained +his esteem, then his love—a deprecatory +sentence as to his ability to deserve the +treasure he dared to ask—and then the +question! in plain black and white, unequivocal +to bluntness, simple and direct to +curtness.</p> + +<p>"As he would ask the price of a bale of +goods!" burst forth Sarah, indignant, as +she threw the paper on the floor, and +buried her burning face in her hands.</p> + +<p>"That there comes sometimes a glory to +the Present, besides which the hues of +Past and Future fade and are forgotten, I +must and will believe. Such, it seems to +me, must be the rapture of acknowledged +and reciprocal affection!" This was an +echo memory repeated to her soul. She saw +again the gently gliding river, with its +waves of crimson and gold; breathed the +pure fragrance of the summer evening; +floated on, towards the sunset, with the +loved voice in her ear; the dawn of a +strange and beautiful life, shedding blissful +calm throughout her being.</p> + +<p>And from this review, dangerous as it +was for one fleeting instant sweet, she +returned to the proposal that had +amazed and angered her. Lewis' undemonstrative +exterior had misled her, as it did +most persons, in the estimate of his inner +nature. Kind, she was compelled to confess +that he was, in remembrance of his +goodness to her father; his demeanor was +always gentlemanly, and she had caught +here and there rumors of his generosity to +the needy that prevented a suspicion of +sordidness. No doubt he was very well in +his way, but he wanted to marry her! +With the intensity of her fiery spirit, her will +arose against the presumptuous request. +It was the natural recoil of the woman +who already loves, at the suggestion of a +union with another than the man of her +choice; the spontaneous outspeaking of a +heart whose allegiance vows have been +pledged and cannot be nullified. But she +would not see this. Upon the unfortunate +letter and its writer descended the storm +of passionate repugnance aroused by its +contents. With the reaction of excited +feeling came tears—a plentiful shower that +relaxed the overwrought nerves, until they +were ready to receive the benediction of +sleep.</p> + +<p>Lewis had not asked a written or verbal +reply.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"I will call to take you to drive to-morrow +afternoon," he wrote. "Should your decision +upon the question I have proposed be favorable, +your consent to accompany me in my ride will +be understood as a signal that you have +accepted my graver suit. If your conclusion is +adverse to my hopes, you can signify the same +to me in a letter, to be handed me when I ask +for you. This course will spare us both +embarrassment—perhaps pain. In any event, be +assured that you will ever have a firm friend +in, Yours truly,</p> + +<p> +"Lewis Hammond."<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>Sarah's lip curled as she reperused this +clause of the letter on the following morning.</p> + +<p>"It is a comfort to know that I have not +to answer for the sin of breaking my ardent +suitor's heart!" she said, as she drew +towards her the sheet upon which she was +to indite her refusal. It was brief and +courteous—freezing in its punctilious civility, +and prepared without a pang, or a +solitary misgiving that its reception would +not be philosophically calm. Her design +was to intrust it to the footman, to be delivered +when Mr. Hammond called; and as +the hour approached at which the expectant +was to present himself, she took +the note from the desk and started downstairs +with it.</p> + +<p>The sitting-room door was open, and, +aware that Victoria West was in there +with Lucy, Sarah trod very softly as she +neared it. Her own name arrested her as +she was going by. She stopped involuntarily.</p> + +<p>"I thought Sarah a girl of better regulated +mind," said Victoria, in a tone of +censorious pity. "Of course she suffers! +It is the inevitable consequence of an unrequited +attachment. Such miserable folly, +such unpardonable weakness brings its +punishment with it. But my sympathies +are all yours, my dearest. I only wish you +were not so sensitive. You are not to +blame for her blind mistake."</p> + +<p>"I cannot help it!" said Lucy, plaintively. +"It seems so sad that I should be made the +means of depriving her of happiness. I +wish I had never known that she was attached +to poor Philip. I can't tell you how<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +awkward I feel when any allusion is made +in her hearing to the dear fellow, or to +our marriage."</p> + +<p>"I meant it for the best, dear, in telling +you of my discovery," replied Victoria, +slightly hurt.</p> + +<p>"I know that, my dear creature! And it +is well that I should not be kept in the +dark as to the state of her affections. I +only hope that Philip never penetrated her +secret. I should die of mortification for her +if he were to find it out. It is a lamentable +affair—and I am sure that he is not in +fault. What did you say that you gave +for that set of handkerchiefs you showed +me yesterday?"</p> + +<p>"The cheapest things you ever saw! I +got them at Stewart's, and they averaged +six dollars apiece! As to Mr. Benson, I +trust, with you, that he is as unsuspecting +as he seems; but he has remarkable discernment, +you know. What I could not +help seeing, before I had any other proof +than her behavior, is not likely to have +escaped him."</p> + +<p>Half an hour later the twain were disturbed +in their confidences by the sound of +wheels stopping before the house, followed +by a ring at the door. Victoria, ever on +the alert, peeped, with feline caution and +curiosity, around the edge of the curtain.</p> + +<p>"What is going to happen? Look, Lucy! +Mr. Hammond in a handsome light carriage, +and driving a lovely pair of horses! +I never thought to see him go in such +style. How well he looks! Take care! he +will see you!"</p> + +<p>Both dodged as he glanced up at the +upper windows; but resumed their lookout +in time to see the light that was +kindled in his face when Sarah emerged +from the front door. He was at her side in +a second, to lead her down the steps, and +his manner in this movement, and in assisting +her into the carriage, the more +striking in one generally so self-contained +and deliberate, inspired the pair of initiated +observers with the same conviction. As +the spirited horses disappeared into the +avenue, the friends drew back from their +loophole, and stared each other in the eyes, +with the simultaneous exclamation—"They +are engaged!"</p> + +<p>They were engaged! Lewis felt it with a +glad bound of the heart—but a minute before +sickening in deadly suspense; felt, as +he seated himself by her side, that the sorrows +of a lonely and struggling youth, the +years of manhood's isolation and unsatisfied +longings, were swept from memory by +this hour of abundant, unalloyed happiness.</p> + +<p>And Sarah felt it! As her hand touched +his, at their meeting upon the steps, a +chill ran through her frame that told the +consummation of the sacrifice which was +to atone for past folly; to silence, and +brand as a lying rumor, the fearful tale +that bruited abroad the revelation of that +weakness. In her mad horror at the knowledge +of its discovery, she had rushed upon +this alternative. Better an estate of +honorable misery, than to live on, solitary, +disgraced, condemned and pitied by her +meanest foe! Now that the irreversible +step was taken, she experienced no sharp +regret, no wild impulse of retreat, but a +gradual sinking of spirit into hopeless +apathy.</p> + +<p>Her veil concealed her dull eyes and +stolid features, and to Lewis' happy mood +there was nothing surprising or discouraging<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +in her disposition to silence. With a +tact for which she had not given him +credit, and did not now value aright, he +refrained from any direct reference to +their altered relation until they were returning +homeward. Then changing his +tone of pleasant chat for one of deeper +meaning, he said:</p> + +<p>"I have dared to hope much—everything—from +your consent to become my companion +for this afternoon. Before I ventured +to address you directly, I had a long and +frank conversation with your father."</p> + +<p>"What did he say?" asked Sarah, turning +towards him for the first time.</p> + +<p>"He referred me to you for my answer, +which, he said, must be final and positive, +since he would never attempt to influence +your choice. In the event of an affirmative +reply from you, he promised that his +sanction should not be withheld."</p> + +<p>Sarah was silent. She comprehended +fully her father's warm interest in his +friend's suit, which the speaker was too +diffident to imply, and how this expression +of his wishes set the seal upon her fate.</p> + +<p>"We are poor and proud! Mr. Hammond +is rich and seeks to marry me!" was her +bitter thought. "It is a fine bargain in the +eyes of both my parents. It would be high +treason for me to dispute their will. Mr. +Hammond has conceived the notion that I +am a useful domestic character, a good +housekeeper and nurse, and he is willing +to bid liberally for my services. It is all +arranged between them! Mine is a passive +part, to copy Lucy's sweet, submissive +ways for a season, for fear of frightening +away the game, afterwards to attend to my +business, while he looks after his. I have +chosen my lot, and I will abide by it!"</p> + +<p>"Have I your permission to call this +evening and inform your father of my success—may +I say of our engagement?" asked +Lewis.</p> + +<p>"It is best, I suppose, to call things by +their right names," replied Sarah, in a cold +voice, that was to him only coy. He smiled, +and was about to speak, when she resumed: +"Since we are virtually engaged"—she +caught her breath as she brought out +the word—"I see no reason why we should +hesitate to announce it to those whose +right it is to know it."</p> + +<p>"Thank you! That was spoken like the +noble, unaffected woman you are! Will you +always be equally sincere with me—Sarah?" +His accent trembled with excess +of emotion in calling the name.</p> + +<p>Is it, then, an easy lot that you have +chosen, Sarah Hunt? You, whose pride +and glory it was to be truthful, who +spurned whatever assimilated in the least +degree to deception, what think you of a +life where a lie meets you on the threshold +and must be accepted and perpetuated if +you would preserve your name and position +in his eyes and those of the world. "It is +the way two-thirds of the married people +live!" you were saying to yourself, just +now. It may be so; but it is none the less +a career of duplicity, perjury—crime!</p> + +<p>"I will endeavor to please you!" she faltered, +her face in a flame of shame and +confusion.</p> + +<p>And this was the hue that met Lewis' +eye, as her veil was blown aside, in her +descent to the pavement, a blush he interpreted +to suit his own wishes. Mr. Hunt +appeared in the doorway as she alighted, +and read in Hammond's smile and joyous +salutation all that he most desired to learn. +When the door was closed upon the departing +suitor, the father drew his best-beloved +child to him, and kissed her, without +a word of uttered blessing.</p> + +<p>"It would break his heart were I to recede +now!" thought Sarah, as she bore hers—heavy, +hard—up to her room.</p> + +<p>That evening was the proudest era of +Mrs. Hunt's existence. Two daughters +well engaged—unexceptionably paired off! +What mother more blest than she? Where +could be found other children so dutiful? +other sons-in-law so acceptable? By +breakfast time, next day, she had arranged +everything—Sarah's trousseau, her house, +and the double wedding.</p> + +<p>Lucy expostulated here. "But, mother, +this is the first of November."</p> + +<p>"I know that, my dear; but the ceremony +will not come off until Christmas, +and much can be done in six weeks for +your sister—your work is so forward. +Then, again, 'tisn't as if Sarah couldn't get +everything she needs right here, if she +shouldn't have enough. It will be tremendously +expensive—awful, in fact; but +we must make sacrifices. We can live +economical after you're married and gone, +and save enough to meet the bills."</p> + +<p>"If you please, madam, I prefer a plain +outfit and no debts," said Sarah's most +abrupt tones.</p> + +<p>"If you please, my dear, I understand my +affairs, and mean to do as I think proper," +retorted the no less strong-willed mother.</p> + +<p>Sarah was not cowed. "And as to the +time you set, I cannot agree to it. I presume +that in this matter I have some +voice. I say six months instead of six +weeks!"</p> + +<p>"Very well, my love." Mrs. Hunt went on +polishing a tumbler with her napkin. She +always washed her silver and glass herself. +"You must settle that with your father +and Mr. Hammond. They are crazy for +this plan. They were talking to me about +it last night, and I told them that I would +engage to have everything ready in time; +but you must be consulted. I never saw +your father more set upon anything. He +said to me, private, that he did hope that +you wouldn't raise any squeamish objections, +and upset their arrangements."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hunt took up a handful of spoons as +composedly as if she had never stretched +her conscience in her life.</p> + +<p>Sarah's head drooped upon the table. She +was very, very miserable. In her morbid +state of mind she did not dream of questioning +the accuracy of her mother's assertion. +That a marriageable single +daughter was a burden to one parent, she +knew but too well; that to this able financier +the prospect of getting two out of the +way, with the eclat of a double ceremony +that should cost no more than Lucy's +nuptials would have done, was a stupendous +temptation, she also perceived. But +that the father whom she so loved; whose +sickbed she had tended so faithfully; whose +lonely hours it was her province and delight +to solace—that he should acquiesce—nay +more, rejoice in this indelicate haste to +get rid of her, was a cruel stab.</p> + +<p>"Very well," she said, raising an ashy +face. "Let it be as you say. The sooner +it is over, the better."</p> + +<p>This clause was unheeded by her mother +and sister. Had they heard it, they might +have understood it as little as they did the +composure with which she joined in the +work which was begun, without an hour's +delay. In this trying juncture, Mrs. Hunt +came out in all her strength. Her sewing +machine (she was one of the earliest purchasers +of these inestimable time, labor, +and money savers) went night and day; she +shopped largely and judiciously, giving orders +to tradespeople with the air of a princess; +"Jewed" her butcher; watched her +pantry, and served up poorer dinners than +ever. Jeannie's winter outfit was ingeniously +contrived from her sister's cast-off +wardrobe; Mr. Hunt's and the boys' shirts +and socks were patched and darned until +but a trifling quantity of the original material +remained; and this pearl of mothers +had her two-year-old cloak and last season's +hat "done over" for this year's wear.</p> + +<p>Foremost among the visitors to the Hunts, +after this latest engagement was made +public, was Mrs. Marlow, the wife of Mr. +Hammond's benefactor and partner. Sarah +was out when she called; so Mrs. Hunt +received her, and discovering very soon +that in spite of her husband's wealth and +her splendid establishment, she was not, +as Mrs. Hunt phrased it to her daughters, +"one mite proud, and thought the world +and all of Lewis"—the mother opened her +heart to her so freely, with regard to the +prospective weddings and her material +anxieties, that Mrs. Marlow was emboldened +to introduce a subject which had +taken hold of her thoughts so soon as she +heard from Mr. Hammond of his expected +marriage.</p> + +<p>She had a daughter, resident for the +winter in Paris, whose taste in female +attire was unquestionable, and her good-nature +as praiseworthy. If Miss Sarah +Hunt would prepare a memorandum of +such articles as she would like to have +selected in that emporium of fashion, she +would promise, for her daughter, that they +should be forwarded in time for "the occasion."</p> + +<p>"Some friends of mine, now abroad, have +kindly offered to bring me over any quantity +of fine dresses with their baggage," +said the complaisant old lady; "and, as I +do not need their services for myself, I +can smuggle in whatever your daughter +may order. You would be surprised at the +difference in prices here and there—to say +nothing of the superior excellence and +variety of the assortment from which one +can choose. My friends will return early +in December. Therefore, should you like +this arrangement, I ought to have the +list and write my letters to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Energetic, fussy, snobbish Mrs. Hunt! +She stood an inch taller in her shoes at +the imagination of this climax to the +glory of the dual ceremony. "Trousseau +ordered directly from Paris!" She seemed +already to hear the envious and admiring +buzz of her set; saw herself the most +blessed of women—her daughters the brides +of the season. She would order for Lucy, +also; for the longer the list the more importance +would the future Mrs. Hammond +acquire in the sight of her husband's +friends. They could not know that it was +not for her alone. Then, as Mrs. Marlow +intimated, it would be a saving. Here, +like a cold shower-bath, came the agonizing +query, "Where was the money to come +from?" It would never do to run in debt +to such people as the Marlows. If they +were hard-pressed shopkeepers, who needed +the money, it would be another thing. +No! the cash in hand, or its representative, +must accompany the memorandum.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + +<p>Sarah was secretly pleased at this obstacle, +for she despised the ostentation and +extravagance going on in their hungry +household. Strive as she did, with wicked +pertinacity, to conform herself to the +world's code, there was as yet too much +of the ancient and better leaven left to +permit more than an outward obedience to +the dictates of customs so irrational and +tyrannical.</p> + +<p>That very evening there arrived a letter +that settled the question, and inflated Mrs. +Hunt's collapsed spirits to an expansion +hitherto unequalled. It was from Aunt +Sarah to her namesake niece; a guileless, +fervent expression of good wishes and unabated +affection, and a request from "husband" +and herself that she would accept +the enclosure as a mark of that hopeful +regard.</p> + +<p>"Since our daughters died"—wrote this +true and gentle mother—"we have always +intended to give you just exactly what +we would have done one of them, as a +wedding present—as you were named for +me, and I had nursed you before your +mother ever did, and you seemed in some +way to belong to us. But since you paid +us a visit we have felt nearer to you than +ever, and seeing that the Lord has prospered +us in this world's goods, we have +made up our minds to give you a double +portion, dear, what both of our girls would +have had, if it had pleased our Father to +spare them to have homes of their own +upon earth. Living is high in New York, +but we have calculated that what we send +will buy your wedding clothes and furnish +your house."</p> + +<p>The enclosed gift, to Sarah's astonishment, +was a check upon a city bank for a +thousand dollars!</p> + +<p>"Was there ever such a child for luck?" +exclaimed Mrs. Hunt, clapping her hands. +"What a fortunate thing we sent you down +there when we did! That was one of my +plans, you remember, Mr. H. Really, Lucy, +our little Sarah understands how to play +her cards, after all. I never did you justice, +my dear daughter. I ain't ashamed +to confess it. This puts all straight, and +is real handsome in sister Benson—more +than I expected. Go to work right away +upon your list, girls! We'll have to set +up the best part of the night to get it +ready. Ah, well! this comes of putting +one's trust in Providence and going +ahead!"</p> + +<p>Sarah thought, with aching heart and +moistened eyes, of Aunt Sarah's mind-pictures +of the neat apparel and snug dwelling +she deemed proper for a young couple +just beginning housekeeping, and rebelled +at this waste, this frivolous expenditure +of her love-portion. Mr. Hunt sided with +her, so far as to urge the propriety of her +doing as she pleased with what was her +exclusive property; but, as in a majority +of former altercations, their arguments and +powers of endurance were no match for +the determination and mind of the real +head of the family. With a sigh of pain, +disgust, and despair, Mr. Hunt succumbed, +and, deserted by her ally, Sarah contended +but a short time longer ere she yielded +up the cause of the combat to the indomitable +victress.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + + +<p>The bridal day came; frosty and clear, +dazzlingly bright, by reason of the reflection<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +from the snow, which lay deep +and firm upon the ground.</p> + +<p>"What a delightful novelty this is, coming +to a wedding in a sleigh!" lisped one +of the triad of bridesmaids, who were to +do double duty for the sisters. "How very +gay it makes one to hear the bells outside! +Have they come, Vic.?"</p> + +<p>Victoria, whose marriage was but one +week off, was, true to instinct and habit, +on the lookout behind the friendly curtain.</p> + +<p>She nodded. "Yes—both of them, but not +together. What a magnificent sleigh that +is of the Marlows! They brought Mr. +Hammond. See the bridegrooms shake +hands on the sidewalk! That looks so +sweet and brotherly! They will be up here +almost directly, I suppose."</p> + +<p>The attendants immediately began to +shake out their robes and stroke their +white gloves. They were collected in the +sitting-room so often mentioned, and the +sisters were also present. In accordance +with the ridiculous custom of very parvenu +modern marriages, although the ceremony +was to take place precisely at twelve +o'clock, daylight was carefully excluded +from the parlors below, gas made its sickly +substitute, and the whole company was in +full evening costume.</p> + +<p>"Am I all right?" inquired Lucy, with a +cautious wave of her flowing veil. "Look +at me, Vic.!"</p> + +<p>"You are perfect, my dearest!" replied +the devoted parasite. "How I admire your +beautiful self-possession! And as for you, +Sarah, your calmness is wonderful! I fear +that I should be terribly agitated"—blushing, +and casting a meaning smile at Lucy.</p> + +<p>Sarah's statuesque repose was broken by a +ray of scorn from the eye, and a slight disdainful +smile. Whatever were the feelings +working beneath her marble mask, she +was not reduced to the depth of wretchedness +that would humble her to accept +the insolent pity couched under the pretended +praise. She vouchsafed no other +reply; but remained standing a little apart +from the rest; her gloved hands crossed +carelessly before her; her gaze bent downwards; +her whole posture that of one who +neither waited, nor hoped, nor feared.</p> + +<p>"Who would have thought that she could +be made such an elegant-looking woman?" +whispered one of the bridesmaids aside to +another.</p> + +<p>"She has actually a high-bred air! I +never imagined it was in her. So much +for a Parisian toilette!"</p> + +<p>"I am so much afraid that I shall lose +my color when we enter the room," said +Lucy, surveying her pink cheeks in the +mirror. "They say it is so trying to the +nerves, and I am odious when I am pale."</p> + +<p>"Never fear, my sweetest. It is more +likely that the unavoidable excitement will +improve your complexion. There they +are!" returned Victoria, hurriedly, and—unconsciously, +no doubt—the three attendants +and one of the principals in the +forthcoming transaction, "struck an attitude," +as the sound of footsteps approached +the door.</p> + +<p>Lucy had only time for a whisper—a last +injunction—to her faithful crony. "Remember +to see that my veil and dress +hang right when we get downstairs." And +the masculine portion of the procession +marched in in order.</p> + +<p>Sarah did not look up. She bent her head +as the formal exchange of salutations was +executed, and yielded her hand to the person +who took it in his warm pressure, and +then transferred it to his arm. It was one +of the freaks, thus denominated by her +acquaintances, in which she had been indulged, +that she desired to have her marriage +ceremony precede her sister's. She +assigned what Lucy at least considered a +sufficient reason for this caprice.</p> + +<p>"Nobody will care to look at me after +you stand aside, Lucy. Keep the best wine +until the last. My only chance of getting +an approving glance lies in going in before +you attract and fix the public gaze."</p> + +<p>She had her way. A limited number of +select friends were admitted to behold "the +ceremony;" yet the parlors were comfortably +filled, excepting in the magical semicircle +described by an invisible line, in the +center of which stood the clergyman in his +robes.</p> + +<p>Still dull and calm, Sarah went through +the brief role that fell to her share. "Behaved +charmingly," was the unanimous +verdict of the beholders, and surprised +other people, as well as the complimentary +bridesmaid, by her thoroughbred air and +Parisian toilette. Without the pause of a +second, so perfect was the drill of the performers, +the wedded pair stepped aside, +and made way for the second happy couple. +Lucy's solicitude on the score of her complexion +was needless. As the solemn words +were commenced, a rosy blush flickered +up to its appointed resting-place—another +and another—until, when Philip released +her to the congratulatory throng, she was +the most enchanting type of a radiant Hebe +that poet ever sang, or painter burned to +immortalize on canvas.</p> + +<p>Philip stood beside her and sustained his +portion of the hand-shaking and felicitations +until the press diminished, then +stepped hastily over to where Hammond +and his bride were undergoing a similar +martyrdom. Until this moment Sarah had +not looked at, or spoken to him—had never +met him face to face since their parting +in the summer at Aunt Sarah's. Now, not +aware who it was that approached her, she +raised her eyes with the serious dignity +with which she had received all other salutations, +and met his downward gaze—full +of warm and honest feeling.</p> + +<p>"Sister!" he said, and in brotherly fondness +he bent towards her, and left a kiss +upon her mouth.</p> + +<p>A hot glow, the lurid red of offended +modesty or self-convicted guilt, overspread +her face; the lips parted, quivered, +and closed tightly, after an ineffectual effort +to articulate; the room swam around +her, and Mr. Hammond caught her just in +time to save her from falling. It was Nature's +vengeful reaction for the long and +unnatural strain upon her energies. She +did not faint entirely away, although several +moments elapsed before she regained +perfect consciousness of her situation and +surrounding objects. She had been placed +in an easy-chair; her head rested against +her father's shoulder, and on the other +side stood Lewis, almost as pale as herself, +holding a glass of wine to her lips. +Around her were grouped her mother, +Lucy, and Philip. The guests had withdrawn +politely to the background, and +maintained a respectful silence.</p> + +<p>"What have I betrayed?" was her first +coherent reflection; and, with an instinctive +perception of the quarter where such +disclosures would do most harm, her eye +turned with a sort of appealing terror to +Lewis. His heart leaped at the movement, +revealing, as he fancied it did, dependence +upon his strength, recognition of his right +to be with and nearest to her.</p> + +<p>"You are better," he said, with a moved +tenderness he could not and cared not to +restrain.</p> + +<p>The words, the manner, were an inexpressible +relief to her fears, and trying to +return his smile, she would have arisen +but for her father's interposition.</p> + +<p>"Sit still," he advised. "Mrs. Hunt, +Lucy, Mr. Benson, will you entertain our +friends? She will be all right in a little +while, Mr. Hammond."</p> + +<p>"Tableaux vivants!" said Lucy's soft, +rich voice, as she advanced towards the +reassured guests. "This is a part of the +performance not set down in the programme. +Quite theatrical, was it not?"</p> + +<p>It is very possible that Philip Benson +would not have regarded this as an apropos +or refined witticism, had any one else been +the speaker; but as the round, liquid tones +rolled it forth, and her delicious laugh led +off the instant revival of mirth and badinage, +he marvelled at her consummate tact, +her happy play of fancy (!), and returned +devout thanks to the stars that had bestowed +upon him this prodigy of grace, +wit, and beauty. Sarah rallied speedily; +and, contrary to the advice of her father +and husband, maintained her post in the +drawing-room during all the reception, +which continued from half-past twelve to +half-past two.</p> + +<p>It was a gay and shifting scene—a sparkling, +murmuring tide, that ebbed and +flowed to and from the quartette who +formed the attractive power. Silks, laces, +velvets, furs, and diamonds; faces young, +old, and middle-aged; handsome, fair, and +homely; all decked in the same conventional +holiday smile; bodies tall and short, executing +every variety of bow and courtesy; +voices sweet, sharp, and guttural, uttering +the senseless formula of congratulation—these +were Sarah's impressions of the tedious +ceremonial. Restored to her rigid composure, +she too bowed and spoke the word +or sentence custom exacted—an emotionless +automaton in seeming, while Lucy's +matchless inflections lent interest and +beauty to the like nothings, as she rehearsed +them in her turn; and Philip Benson, +having no solicitude for his bride's +health or ability to endure the fatigue, was +collected enough to compare the two, and, +while exulting in his selection, to commiserate +the proprietor of the colder and +less gifted sister.</p> + +<p>At last the trial was over; the hospitable +mansion was closed; the parlors deserted; +the preparation for travelling hurried +through; and the daughters went forth +from their girlhood's home. Philip had +cordially invited Sarah and Lewis, by letter, +to accompany Lucy and himself to +Georgia; but Sarah would not hear of it, +and Lewis, while he left the decision to her, +was not sorry that she preferred to journey +instead with him alone. It was too cold +to go northward, and the Hammond's now +proposed to proceed with the others as far +as Baltimore, there to diverge upon a +Western and Southern tour, which was to +occupy three weeks, perhaps four.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + + +<p>During the month preceding his marriage, +Lewis Hammond had spent much time and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +many thoughts in providing and furnishing +a house for his wife. His coadjutor in +this labor of love was not, as one might +have expected, Mrs. Hunt, but his early +friend, Mrs. Marlow. His omission of his +future mother-in-law, in his committee of +consultation, he explained to her by representing +the number of duties already +pressing upon her, and his unwillingness to +add aught to their weight. But when both +girls were married and gone, and the work +of "getting to rights" was all over, this +indefatigable woman paid Mrs. Marlow a +visit, and offered her assistance in completing +the arrangements for the young +housekeepers.</p> + +<p>"There is nothing for us to do," said Mrs. +Marlow. "Lewis attended to the purchase +of everything before leaving; and the +orders are all in the hands of a competent +upholsterer whom he has employed, as is +also the key of the house. I offered to +have the house-cleaning done, but Lewis +refused to let me help him even in this. +He is very methodical, and rather strict +in some of his ideas. When the premises +are pronounced ready for the occupancy +of the future residents, you and I will +play inspectors, and find as much fault as +we can."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hunt went around by the house on +her way home. It was new and handsome, +a brown stone front, with stone balconies +and balustrades; but three stories high, +it was true, yet of ample width and pitch +of ceiling, and—as she discovered by skirting +the square—at least three rooms deep +all the way up. The location was unobjectionable; +not more than four blocks +from the paternal residence, and in a wider +street. On the whole, she had no fault +to find, provided Mr. Hammond had furnished +it in such style as she would have +recommended. She had her fears lest his +sober taste in other respects should extend +to these matters, and hinted something +of the kind to her husband.</p> + +<p>"I have confidence in Mr. Hammond to +believe that he will allow his wife every +indulgence compatible with his means," +was the reply.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hunt did not deem it obligatory upon +him to state that his son-in-law had conferred +with him upon numerous questions +pertaining to Sarah's likes and probable +wishes; that he had examined and approved +of the entire collection of furniture, +etc., selected for her use. Why should he, +how could he, without engendering in his +wife's bosom the suspicion that he had +accounted to him for Lewis' choice of the +father as an adviser? namely, that the +newly-made husband had gained a pretty +correct estimate of this managing lady's +character, her penny-wise and pound-foolish +policy, and intended to inaugurate altogether +a different one in his house.</p> + +<p>Regardless of Mrs. Marlow's polite insinuation +that their room was preferable to +their company until all things should be +in readiness for inspection, the ambitious +mother made sundry visits to the premises +while they were being fitted up, and delivered +herself of divers suggestions and +recommendations, which fell like sand on +a rock upon the presiding man of business.</p> + +<p>On the day appointed for the tourists' +return, Mrs. Marlow's carriage drew up at +Mr. Hunt's door, by appointment, to take +the mistress of the house upon the proposed +visit of criticism of her daughter's +establishment. Mrs. Marlow was in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +sunny mood, and indisposed to censure, as +was evinced by ejaculations of pleasure at +the general effect of each apartment as they +entered, and praise of its component parts. +Mrs. Hunt was not so undiscriminating. +The millionaire's wife must not imagine +that she was dazzled by any show of elegance, +or that she was overjoyed at the +prospect of her child's having so beautiful +and commodious a home.</p> + +<p>"The everlasting oak and green!" she uttered, +as they reached the dining-room. +"It is a pity Mr. Hammond did not select +walnut and crimson instead! Green is very +unbecoming to Sarah."</p> + +<p>"Then we must impress upon her the importance +of cultivating healthy roses in +her cheeks, and wearing bright warm +colors. This combination—green and oak—is +pretty and serviceable, I think. The +table is very neatly set, Mary," continued +Mrs. Marlow, kindly, to the tidy serving-maid. +"Keep an eye on the silver, my +good girl, until your mistress comes. Mrs. +Hunt, shall we peep into the china closets +before we go to the kitchen? I have taken +the liberty, at Lewis' request, of offering +to your daughter the service of a couple +of my protegees, excellent servants, who +lived for years with one of my own children—Mrs. +Morland, now in Paris. They are +honest, willing, and, I think, competent. +The man-servant, if Lewis sees fit to keep +one, he must procure himself."</p> + +<p>The china, glass, and pantries were in +capital order; the kitchen well stocked, +light, and clean, and dinner over the fire.</p> + +<p>"You will be punctual to the minute, +Katy, please!" was the warning here. +"Mr. Hammond is particular in the matter +of time."</p> + +<p>"And you will see that my daughter has +a cup of clear, strong coffee!" ordered Mrs. +Hunt, magisterially. "She is delicate, and +accustomed to the very best of cookery." +And, having demonstrated her importance +and superior housewifery to the round-eyed +cook, she swept out.</p> + +<p>To an unprejudiced eye, the whole establishment +was without a flaw; and, undisturbed +by the captious objections of her +companion in the survey, Mrs. Marlow saw +and judged for herself, and carried home +with her a most pleasing imagination of +Lewis' gratification, and Sarah's delighted +surprise with the scene that was to close +their way of cold and weariness.</p> + +<p>By Mr. Hammond's expressed desire to +his father-in-law, there was no one except +the domestics in the house when they arrived. +As the carriage stopped, the listening +maid opened the door, and a stream +of radiance shot into the misty night +across the wet pavement upon the two +figures that stepped from the conveyance.</p> + +<p>"In happy homes he sees the light." The +mental quotation brought back to Sarah +the vision of that lonely evening, ten +months before, when she had moaned it in +her dreary twilight musings at the window +of her little room. "Dreary then, +hopeless now!" and with this voiceless +sigh, she crossed the threshold of her destined +abode. With a kindly greeting to +the servants in the hall; Lewis hurried +his wife onward, past the parlor doors, +into a library sitting-room, back of the +show apartments, warm and bright, smiling +a very home welcome.</p> + +<p>Here he placed her in a deep cushioned +chair, and, pressing her hands in his, +kissed her, with a heartfelt—"May you +be very happy in our home, dear wife!"</p> + +<p>"Thank you!" she replied. "It is pleasant +here, and you are too kind."</p> + +<p>"That is impossible where you are concerned. +Sit here, while I see to the trunks. +When they are carried upstairs, you can +go to your room. Throw off your hat and +cloak."</p> + +<p>He was very thoughtful of her comfort—too +thoughtful, because his love made +him watchful of her every look, word, and +gesture. She was glad of the brief respite +from this vigilance, that allowed her to +bury her face in her hands and groan +aloud. She had no heart to look around +her cage. No doubt it was luxurious; the +bars softly and richly lined; the various +arrangements the best of their kind; still, +it was nothing but a cage—a prison, from +which death only could release her.</p> + +<p>The trim maid came for her wrappings, +and directly afterwards Lewis, to take her +upstairs.</p> + +<p>"Not a very elaborate toilet, dear," he +said, as he left her for his dressing-room. +"You will see no one this evening but our +father and mother, and they will remember +that you have been travelling all day."</p> + +<p>When she was ready, it lacked still a +quarter of an hour of dinner-time, and she +acceded to Lewis' proposal that they +should go over their dwelling. By his +order, there were lights in every room. +The graceful furniture, the well-contrasted +hues of the soft carpets, the curtains and +pictures showed to fine advantage. Every +thing was in place, from cellar to attic; +not a symptom of parsimony or cheapness +in the whole; and all betokened, besides +excellent judgment, such conformity to, or +unison with her taste, that Sarah, with +all her heaviness of heart, was pleased. +She was touched too with gratitude or +remorse; for, when they were back in the +cozy sitting-room, she laid her hand timidly +on that of her husband, and said, +falteringly:</p> + +<p>"I do not deserve that you should take +so much pains to gratify me, Mr. Hammond."</p> + +<p>Over Lewis' face there flushed one of the +rare smiles that made him positively handsome +while they lasted. He grasped the +shrinking fingers firmly, and drew his wife +close to his side.</p> + +<p>"Shall I tell you how to repay me for +all that I have done, or ever can do, to +promote your ease and enjoyment?"</p> + +<p>"If you please." But her heart sank, as +she foresaw some demands upon a love +that had never existed—a treasure that, +to him, was sealed and empty; yet whose +poverty she dared not avow.</p> + +<p>"Call me 'Lewis,' now that we are at +home, dear. I cannot realize that you are +indeed all mine—that our lives are one and +the same, while you continue that very +proper 'Mr. Hammond.'"</p> + +<p>"It comes more naturally to my tongue, +and don't you think it more respectful +than—than—the other?"</p> + +<p>"I ask no such form of respect from +you. I do not fear lest you should fail to +'honor and obey' me, you little paragon +of duty! Believe me, dearest, I fully understand +and reverence the modest reserve +that has not yet ceased to be shyness, in +the expression of your sentiments towards +me. You are not demonstrative by nature. +Neither am I. But since you are +my other self, and there is no living being +nearer to you than myself, ought we not +to overcome this propensity to, or custom +of, locking up our feelings in our own +breasts? Let me begin by a confession of +one uncomfortable complaint, under which +I have labored ever since our engagement. +Do you know, darling, that I absolutely +hunger—I cannot give any other name to +the longing—I hunger and thirst to hear +you say that you love me! Do you remember +that you have never told me in so +many words what you have given me other +good reasons for believing? I need but +one thing this evening to fill my cup with +purest content. It is to have you say—openly, +fearlessly, as my wife has a right +to do—'Lewis, I love you!'"</p> + +<p>"It need be a source of no unhappiness +to be married to a man whom one does +not love, provided he is kind and generous!" +say match-makers and worldly-wise +mothers. Perhaps not, after one's conscience +is seared in callosity by perjuries, +and her forehead grown bold as brass; but +the neophyte in the laudable work of +adaptation to such circumstances will trip +in her words and color awkwardly while +acquiring this enviable hardihood.</p> + +<p>Sarah's head fell, and her face was +stained with blushes. One wild impulse +was to throw herself at the feet of him +whom she had wronged so foully, and, +confessing her mad, wicked deception upon +his holiest feelings, pray him to send her +away—to cast her adrift, and rid himself +of a curse, while he freed her from the +gentle, yet intolerable bondage of his love.</p> + +<p>"Dinner is ready!" announced the servant. +Sarah's senses returned, and with +them self-control. With a strange smile, +she glanced up at him—a look he did not +understand, yet could not guess was born +of anguish—and said, with a hesitation +that seemed pretty and coquettish to him—"Lewis! +do you hear? May it please your +worship, I am very hungry!"</p> + +<p>"Tease! I will have my revenge yet! +See if I do not!"</p> + +<p>Laughing lightly, she eluded his outstretched +arm, and sprang past him into +the hall leading to the dining-room. She +assumed the seat at the table with a burlesque +of dignity, and throughout the meal +was more talkative and frolicsome than he +had ever seen her before. So captivated +was he by her lively discourse and bright +looks, that he was sorry to hear the ring, +proclaiming the coming of the expected +visitors. The dessert had not been removed, +and the girl was instructed to show +them immediately into the dining-room.</p> + +<p>A toast was drunk to the prosperity of +the lately established household, and the +gentlemen went off to the library.</p> + +<p>"Always see to putting away your silver, +Sarah!" counselled the mother. "And you +had ought to get a common set of dinner +and breakfast things. This china is too +nice for every-day use. Of course, Mr. +Hammond can afford to get more when +this is broken; but it's a first-rate rule, +child, as you'll find, to put your money +where it will show most. That's the secret +of my management. Mr. Hammond must +give you an allowance for housekeeping +and pin-money. Speak to him about it +right away. Men are more liberal while +the honeymoon lasts than they ever are +afterwards. Strike while the iron is hot. +You can't complain of your husband, so +far. He has set you up very handsome. +If I had been consulted about furnishing,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +I would have saved enough off of those +third-story chambers and the kitchen to +buy another pair of mirrors for your parlors. +The mantel has a bare look. I +noticed it directly I went in. To be sure, +the Parisian ornaments are pretty and tasty, +and expensive enough—dear knows! but +they don't make much of a display."</p> + +<p>"I do not like the fashion of lining walls +with mirrors," said Sarah, in her old, short +way; "and am satisfied with the house as +it is. Shall we join the gentlemen?"</p> + +<p>Nothing had ever showed her more plainly +the degradation of her false position +than the confident air her mother wore in +making her coarse observations, and instructing +her as to the method of managing +her generous, confiding husband. It +was the free-masonry of a mercenary wife, +whose spouse would have been better represented +to her mind by his money-bag +than his own proper person, towards another +of the same craft, who rated her +lawful banker by corresponding rules.</p> + +<p>"Will I then really grow to be like her +and her associates?" Sarah questioned inly. +"Will a fine house and its fixtures, will dress +and equipage and pin-money so increase in +importance as to fill this aching vacuum +in my heart? Will a position in life, and the +envy of my neighbors, make up to me +for the loss of the love of which I used to +dream, the happiness which the world owes +me yet? Is this the coin in which it would +redeem its promises?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Hunt's mild features wore their happiest +expression this evening. He arose at +the ladies' entrance, and beckoned his +daughter to a seat on the sofa beside him.</p> + +<p>"You are a little travel-worn!" he said. +"Your cheeks are not very ruddy."</p> + +<p>"Did you ever see them when they +were?" asked Sarah, playfully.</p> + +<p>"She was always just that pale when +she was a baby," said Mrs. Hunt, setting +herself in the arm-chair proffered by her +son-in-law. "Lucy stole all the roses from +her." Sarah may have thought that other +and more grievous thefts had succeeded +this doubtful one, but she neither looked +nor said this. "And that reminds me, Mr. +H.! Did you bring Lucy's letter for Sarah +to read?"</p> + +<p>"I did." Mr. Hunt produced it. "Keep +it, and read it at your leisure, Sarah."</p> + +<p>"They are supremely happy, I suppose?" +remarked Lewis, with the benevolent interest +incident to his fellowship of feeling +with them.</p> + +<p>"For all the world like two turtle-doves!" +Mrs. Hunt rejoined. "Their letters are a +curiosity. It is 'Phil.' and 'Lucy' from one +end to the other. I mean to save them to +show them five years from now. Hot love +is soon cool, and by-and-by they will settle +down as sensible as any of the rest of us. +You don't begin so, I see, Sarah, and I am +pleased at it. Between me and you, it's +two-thirds of it humbug! There is Victoria +West that was! She looks ready, in company, +to eat up that lean monkey of a +George Bond. I don't believe but she +shows him the other side of the picture +in private."</p> + +<p>Sarah heard her father's suppressed sigh, +and felt, without looking up, that her husband's +eyes sought hers wistfully. The +unobservant dame pursued her free and +easy discourse. Mr. Hammond was "one +of the family" now, and there was no +more occasion for choice grammar or fine +sentiments before him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not that I blame Victoria for taking +him. He was a good offer, and she wasn't +much admired by the gentlemen—rich as +Mr. West is. Mr. Bond is twenty-five years +older than she is, and wears false teeth +and a toupee; but I suppose she is willing +to overlook trifles. She watches out for +the main chance, and will help him take +care of his money, as well as spend it. +Vic. is a prudent girl."</p> + +<p>"Lucy—Mrs. Benson—was at home when +she wrote, was she not?" interrogated Mr. +Hammond.</p> + +<p>"Yes, at his father's. His mother keeps +house, and Lucy has nothing to do but +ride, visit, and entertain company. She +says the house is crowded the whole time, +and she has so many beaux that Philip +stands no chance of speaking a word to +her. She is perfectly happy."</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the various feelings of +the listeners, none of them could resist +this picture of a felicitous honeymoon, so +naively spoken. Lewis' laugh cleared the +vapors from his brow, and the pain at +Sarah's heart did not hinder her from +joining in.</p> + +<p>"And the ousted bridegroom, perforce, +seeks consolation in the society of his fair +friends?" said Lewis. "If this is the way +young married people show the love-sickness +you complained of just now, Mrs. +Hunt, I am content with our more staid +ways—eh, Sarah?"</p> + +<p>"Quiet ways suit me best," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"'Still water runs deep,'" quoted Mrs. +Hunt. "I used to worry over your stay-at-home +habits and eternal study of books, +Sarah; but I'm ready to say now that you +was sensible to behave as you did, as it +has turned out. I don't mean to flatter +Mr. Hammond, but I'd ten times rather +you had taken him than a dried-up widower +like George Bond."</p> + +<p>"Thank you!" bowed Lewis, desirous of +diverting attention from Sarah's growing +uneasiness beneath her mother's congratulations.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hunt held on her way. "I never +had a fear lest Lucy shouldn't marry well. +She was pretty and attractive, and knew +too much about the world to throw herself +away for the sake of love in a cottage. +But now the danger is over, I will allow +that I used to mistrust Sarah here sometimes. +You was just queer enough to fall +in love with some adventurer with a +foreign name, and never a cent in his +pocket—yes, and marry him, too, in spite +of all that could be said and done to +prevent it. I was forever in a 'feaze' +about you; fancying that you was born to +make an out-and-out love-match—the silliest +thing a girl can do, in my opinion."</p> + +<p>"You never dreamed of her 'taking up,' +as the phrase is, with a humdrum individual +like myself," said Lewis. "Nor, to be +candid, did I, for a long time, Mrs. Hunt. +Yet I cannot say that I regret her action, +disadvantageous to herself though it was. +I wrote to you of our visit to New Orleans, +did I not, sir?" he continued to Mr. Hunt, +inwardly a little disgusted by the frank +revelations his mamma-in-law was making +of her principles and plans.</p> + +<p>The subject so interesting to most wedded +people, so embarrassing to one of the +present party, was not again introduced +during the elder couple's stay. When Lewis +returned to the library, after seeing them +out, Sarah sat where he had left her, her +hand shading her eyes—deep in thought, or +overcome by weariness.</p> + +<p>"You had better go up to your room, +dear," said Lewis. "I wonder you are not +worn out completely."</p> + +<p>She arose to obey; walked as far as the +door, then came back to him.</p> + +<p>"It may appear strange to you that I +should speak openly to such a suspicion; +but I must beg you not to suppose for an +instant that in my acceptance of your +offer of marriage, I was actuated by +mercenary motives. You look surprised"—she +hurried on yet faster while her resolution +lasted—"but I could not rest without +doing myself this act of justice. Much +that mother said to-night might—must +have led you to this conclusion. I would +not have you think worse of me than I +deserve, and of this one act of baseness I +am innocent."</p> + +<p>"My precious little wife, how excited you +are! and over what a nonsensical imagination! +Suspect you—the noblest as well as +the dearest of women—of selling yourself, +body and soul, for money? Listen to my +speech now, dear Sarah!"</p> + +<p>He sat down and pulled her to his knee. +"I esteem you, as I love you, above all +the rest of your sex—above any other +created mortal. I know you to be a pure, +high-minded woman. When I part with +this persuasion, may I part also with +the life that doubt on this point would +render wretched! Judge, then, whether it +be possible for me to link this holy realization +of womanhood with the thought of +another character, which I will describe. +I hold that she who enters the hallowed +state of wedlock through motives of pecuniary +interest, or ambition, or convenience—indeed, +through any consideration +save that of love, single and entire, for +him to whom she pledges her vows, stands, +in the sight of her Maker and the angels, +on a level with the most abandoned outcast +that pollutes the earth she treads. I +shock you, I see; but on this subject I +feel strongly. I have seen much, too much, +of fashionable marriages formed for worldly +aggrandizement—for riches; sometimes +in pique at having lost a coveted lover. +With my peculiar sentiments, I feel that +I could endure no heavier curse than to +contract an alliance like any of these. I +repeat it, I believe in Woman as God made +her and intended she should live, if for +no other reason than because I recollect +my mother, boy as I was when she died; +and because I know and have you, my +true, blessed wife!"</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + + +<p>A year and five months had passed away +since the evening when Lewis Hammond +held his conscience-stricken wife upon his +knee, and told her—in fervid words that +singularly belied his calm and even demeanor +at other times—of his faith in and +love for her, and his abhorrence of the +sin she felt in her trembling soul that she +had committed. Yet she had not the superhuman +courage required to contradict a +trust like this. There was no alternative +but to keep up the weary, wicked mockery.</p> + +<p>"But in all these months she must have +learned to care for him!" cries Mrs. Common +Sense. "There is nothing disagreeable +about the man. He is not brilliant; +yet he has intelligence and feeling, and +is certainly attached to his wife. I have +no doubt but that he indulges her in every +reasonable request, and comports himself +in all respects like an exemplary husband."</p> + +<p>Granted, to each and every head of your +description, my dear madam! But, for all +that, his obdurate wife had not come to +love him. I blush to say it; but while we +are stripping hearts let us not be squeamish! +There had been seasons, lasting +sometimes for weeks, when her existence +was a continual warfare between repugnance +to him and her sense of duty; when +she dreaded to hear his step in the hall, +and shrank inwardly from his caress; +watched and fought, until strength and +mind were well-nigh gone. Mark me! I +do not deny that this was as irrational as +it was reprehensible; but I have never held +up my poor Sarah as a model of reason or +propriety. From the beginning, I have +made her case a warning. The fates forbid +that I should commend it to any as an +example for imitation! A passionate, +proud, reticent girl; a trusting, loving, deceived +woman; a hopeless, desperate bride—whose +heart lay like a pulseless stone in +her breast at the most ardent love-words +of her husband, and throbbed with wild, +uncontrollable emotion at the fraternal +tone and kiss of her lost and only love—I +have no plea for her, save the words of +Infinite compassion and Divine knowledge +of human nature and human woe: "Let +him that is without sin among you cast +the first stone at her!"</p> + +<p>The highly respectable firm of which Mr. +Hammond was the junior member, was +adding, if not field to field, thousand to +thousand, of the wherewithal for the purchase +of fields, or, what was better still, +city lots. Mrs. Lewis Hammond had set +up her carriage about a year after her +marriage; said equipage being a gift from +her generous husband on the occasion of +the first airing of the little "Baby Belle," +as she was always called in the family. +Not until subsequent events had endowed +it with deeper and saddest interest did +Sarah read Aldrich's beautiful poem bearing +the above title. Lewis' mother's name +was Isabella. Her grandchild received the +same, which became "Belle" on the mother's +tongue, and then, because it was natural +to say "Baby" too, the pretty alliteration +was adopted.</p> + +<p>To a man of Lewis' domestic tastes the +advent of this child was a source of the +liveliest pleasure, and the tiny inmate of +his household was another and a powerful +tie, binding him to a home already dear. +But to the mother's lonely life, so bare +of real comfort or joy—haunted by memory +and darkened by remorse—the precious gift +came like a ray of Heaven's purest light, +a strain of angel music, saying to care, +"Sleep!" to hope, "Awake, the morning +cometh!" Beneath the sunshine of so much +love, the infant throve finely, and without +being a greater prodigy than the nine hundred +and ninety-nine miracles of beauty +and sprightliness who, with it, composed +the thousand "blessed babies" of the day, +was still a pretty, engaging creature, whose +gurgling laugh and communicative "coo" +beguiled the mother's solitude and made +cheerful the lately silent house.</p> + +<p>It was late in the June afternoon, and +arrayed in clean white frock, broad sash, +and shoulder-knots of pink ribbon, the +small lady sat on her mother's lap at the +front window, awaiting the appearance of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +the husband and father. Sarah had altered +much since her marriage; "improved wonderfully," +said her acquaintances. There +was still in her mien a touch of haughtiness; +in her countenance the look that +spoke profound thought and introspection. +Still, when in repose, her brow had a cast +of seriousness that bordered on melancholy; +but over her features had passed a +change like that wrought by the sculptor's +last stroke to the statue. The mould was +the same—the chiselling more clear and +fine. Especially after the birth of her +child was this refining process most apparent +in its effects. There was a softness +in her smile, a gentle sweetness in her +voice, as she now talked to the babe, +directing its attention to the window, lest +the father's approach should be unnoticed, +and he disappointed in his shout of welcome.</p> + +<p>"How affected! gotten up for show!" +sneered the childless Mrs. Bond, as she +rolled by in her carriage, on her way to +her handsome, cheerless home and its cross +master.</p> + +<p>"She has chosen her position well, at all +events," rejoined her companion, a neighbor +and gossip, who had taken Lucy's +place in Victoria's confidence.</p> + +<p>"Ridiculous!" She spat out the ejaculation +from the overflowing of her spleen. +"I could laugh at her airs, if they did +not make me mad! One would think, to +see her as she sits there, that she had +decked herself and the child to please a +man that she doted upon—like the good +wives we read of in novels."</p> + +<p>"And why shouldn't she be fond of him? +He is a good-hearted fellow, and lets her +do pretty much as she pleases, I imagine, +besides waiting on her like any lover. I +often meet them riding out together. That +is more than your husband or mine ever +does, my dear."</p> + +<p>"They go quite as often as we desire +their company, I fancy. Mine does, I +know. Perhaps if we had the reason for +parading our conjugal devotion that Mrs. +Hammond has, we might wheedle our lawful +lords into taking a seat alongside of +us once in a while. There's nothing like +keeping up appearances, particularly if +the reality is lacking. If Lewis Hammond +knew some of the pretty stories I could +tell him about Sarah's love-scrapes, he +would not look so sublimely contented with +his three-story paradise. The elegant +clothes he piles upon that squaw of his are +preposterous, and she carries them off as +if she had dressed well all her days. I tell +you, she never looked decent until she +put on her wedding-dress. You have heard +of the fainting-scene that took place that +morning, I suppose? Old Mother Hunt +said it was 'sensibility,' and 'nervous agitation;' +the company laid it to the heat of +the room; and I laughed in my sleeve, and +said nothing. If that woman aggravates +me much more, I will remind her of some +passages in her experience she does not +dream that I know."</p> + +<p>"Do tell me what you mean? I am dying +of curiosity! Did she flirt very hard before +she was married?"</p> + +<p>"She never had the chance. Lewis Hammond +was her only offer."</p> + +<p>"What was the matter, then?"</p> + +<p>"I can't tell you now. It is too long a +story. The next time she frets me, as she +does whenever she crosses my path, maybe +you will hear the romance. Shall I set<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +you down at your door, or will you enliven +me by spending the evening with me? I +do not expect other company, and George +falls asleep over his newspaper as soon as +he has despatched his dinner. Come in, +and I will show you the loveliest sofa-pillow +you ever beheld; a new pattern I +have just finished."</p> + +<p>"Thank you! I would accept the invitation +with pleasure, but I have not been +home since breakfast, and James makes +such a fuss if he does not find me in the +nursery, tending that whimpering baby, +when he comes up at night, that it is as +much as my life is worth to stay out after +six o'clock. Anything for peace, you know; +and since we wives are slaves, it is best +to keep on the blind side of our masters."</p> + +<p>The day had been warm down town, and +as Lewis Hammond stepped from the stage +at the corner nearest his house, he felt +jaded and dispirited—a physical depression, +augmented by a slight headache. A business +question which he had talked over +with Mr. Marlow, before leaving the store, +contributed its weight of thoughtfulness, +and he was not conscious how near he +was to his dwelling until, aroused by a +sharp tap upon the window-pane, he +glanced up at the animated tableau framed +by the sash—the smiling mother, and the +babe leaping and laughing, and stretching +its hands towards him.</p> + +<p>"This is the sweetest refreshment a man +can ask after his day of toil," he said, +when, having kissed his wife and child, he +took the latter in his arms. He was not +addicted to complimentary speeches, and +while his esteem and attachment for his +chosen partner were even stronger than +they had been in the heart of the month-old +bridegroom, he was less apt to express +them to her now than then. In one respect, +and only one, his wedded life had +brought him disappointment. Unreserved +confidence and demonstrative affection on +his side failed to draw forth similar exhibitions +of feeling from Sarah. Kind, +thoughtful, dutiful, scrupulously faithful +to him and his interests in word, look, +and deed, she ever was. Yet he saw that +she was a changed being from the fond, +impulsive daughter, whose ministry in her +father's sick-room had won for her a husband's +love. Her reception of his affectionate +advances was passive—a reception +merely, without apparent return. Never, +and he had ceased now to ask it, had she +once said to him the phrase he had craved +to hear—"I love you!" Yet he would as +soon have questioned the reality of his existence +as that she did love him. He held +inviolate his trust in the motive that had +induced her to become his wife, and in +this calm confidence he was fain to rest, +in the absence of protestations that would +have gladdened his soul, while they could +hardly have strengthened his faith in her +affection.</p> + +<p>Few wives, however loving, have been +more truly cherished than was Sarah, and +of this she was partially aware. If she +had remained ignorant of Lewis' sentiments +and wishes with regard to herself, +until the grieved and unrequited love had +subsided into the dull aching that does not, +like a green wound, create, by its very +smart, a species of excitement that helps +one bear the pain; had he glided gradually +into the joyless routine of her life's duties, +and abided his time of speaking until he +had made himself necessary to her comfort +and peace, he might have won a willing +bride. But what omniscient spirit was +there to instruct and caution him? He met +and loved her, supposing her to be as free +as himself; like an honest, upright man, +he told that love, and, without a misgiving +placed his honor and his happiness +in her hands.</p> + +<p>Sarah could not have told why she revolved +all this in her unquiet mind as he +sat near her, playing with their child; yet +she did think of their strange sad history, +and from the review arose a feeling of +pity, sincere, almost tender for him, so +worthy and so deceived. She remembered +with abasement of spirit how often she +had been ready to hate him as the instrument +of her bondage; how wrathful +words had arisen to her lips at the moment +of his greatest kindness; how patiently +he had borne her coldness; how +unflagging was his care of and for her. +Over the dark, turbulent gulf of the unforgotten +past that sundered their hearts, +she longed, as she had never done before, +to call to him, and confessing her sin +against Heaven and against him, to implore +pardon for the sake of the spotless +babe that smiled into the father's face +with its mother's eyes. Would he be +merciful? Slowly and emphatically memory +repeated in her ear his denunciation of +the unloving wife, and courage died before +the menaced curse.</p> + +<p>"Fudge! Fiddlesticks! what frippery nonsense!" +cry out, in a vehement storm of +indignation, a bevy of the Common Sense +connection. "Are we not staid and respectable +matrons all? Do we not rear our +daughters virtuously, and teach our sons +to honor father as well as mother? Yet +who of us troubles herself with raking in +the cold ashes of her 'long ago' for the +bones of some dead and gone love—a girlish +folly of which she would be ashamed now? +What cares Mr. Common Sense, among his +day-books and ledgers, in his study or in +his office, how many times his now correct +helpmeet pledged eternal fidelity to other +lovers before she put her last crop of wild +oats into the ground, and settled for life +with him? What if some of us, may be +all, if driven hard, should admit that when +we stood up before the minister we underwent +certain qualms—call them pangs, +if you like—at the thought of Tom This, +or Harry That, or Dick The Other, who, +if circumstances had permitted, we would +have preferred should occupy the place of +'The man whom we actually held by the +hand!' While men can choose their mates, +and women can only take such as propose +to them, these things will happen. After +all, who is hurt? You aver that none of +you are, mesdames, and we would not +call your word in question. Ladies so +conscientious must, of necessity, be veracious, +even in love affairs."</p> + +<p>"I am a thoughtless animal!" said Lewis +at the dinner-table. "There is a letter +from Lucy! Open it—don't mind me! I +will crack your nuts for you while you +read it."</p> + +<p>There was a troubled look in Sarah's +eye when she laid it down. "Lucy says +they are certainly coming North this year—that +we may look for them in a week +from the date of this. This is rather +sooner than mother expected them. Her +housecleaning is late this season, in consequence +of her rheumatic spell in May."</p> + +<p>"Let them come straight here! What +should prevent them? There is an abundance +of room for them—baby, nurse, and +all. It will be a grand arrangement!" said +Lewis, heartily.</p> + +<p>Sarah was backward in replying. "Father +and mother may object. I would not +wound them by interference with their +guests."</p> + +<p>"I will answer that mother will thank +us to take care of them until her scrubbing +and scalding are done. And Lucy would +not be willing to risk her baby's health in +a damp house."</p> + +<p>"I will go and see mother to-morrow +about it," concluded Sarah. She still appeared +dubious as to the expediency of the +proposed step, a thoughtfulness that did +not wear away during the whole evening.</p> + +<p>The Bensons had not visited New York +the preceding year. They were detained at +the South by a combination of causes, the +principal of which was the long and fatal +illness of Philip's mother. Lucy had written +repeatedly of her intense desire to see +her home once more, declaiming against +the providences that had thwarted their +projects, like an impatient, unreasonable +child.</p> + +<p>"Philip says it is not convenient for him +to go just yet," said her letter to her sister, +"and that our part of the country is +as healthy as Saratoga itself; but I have +vowed that I will not wait one day beyond +the time I have set. It sets me wild +to think of being in Broadway again—of +visiting and shopping, and seeing you all. +We have been so dull here since Mrs. Benson's +death, and Philip is as solemn as a +judge. One of his married sisters will stay +with the old gentleman while we are away. +O Sarah, I am sick of housekeeping and +baby-nursing! It will do well enough for +me when I need spectacles and a wig; +but now, while I am young enough to +enjoy life, it is insufferable!"</p> + +<p>"Not very domestic, is she?" observed +Lewis, folding up the letter, which Sarah +had handed him. "Ah! it is not every +man who has such a gem of a wife as I +have! It appears to me that the married +women of these days are not satisfied unless +they have a string of beaux as long +as that of a popular single belle. How is +it, little one? Do you ever catch yourself +wishing that your husband were not +such an old-fashioned piece of constancy, +and would give some other fellow a chance +to say a pretty thing, when you are in +company?"</p> + +<p>"I do not complain," said Sarah, demurely.</p> + +<p>"Not in words, perhaps; your patience is +wonderful in everything. But how do you +feel when you see your old neighbor, Mrs. +Bond, waltzing every set with the gayest +gallant in the ball-room, while your jailor +does not like to have you 'polk' at all, and +favors your dancing only with men whom +he knows to be respectable?"</p> + +<p>"I feel that Mr. Hammond is a sensible +man, and careful of his wife's reputation, +even in trifles, while Mr. Bond"—</p> + +<p>"Go on! finish your sentence!"</p> + +<p>"And his lady are a well-matched pair!"</p> + +<p>Much as she disliked Victoria, and knowing +that she was hated still by her, Sarah +deemed it a necessary and common act +of courtesy to her sister's friend to call +and apprise her of Lucy's probable visit.</p> + +<p>"It is not convenient for mother to receive +them for a week yet, on account of +certain household arrangements," she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +stated, in making known the object of her +visit to her ancient enemy. "So you will +find Lucy at our house, where her friends +will be received as if they were my own."</p> + +<p>"You are very polite, I am sure!" replied +Mrs. Bond, smothering her displeasure at +Sarah's studied civility, and noting, with +her quick, reptile perceptions, that she was +to be tolerated as she fancied Sarah would +imply, merely as Lucy's early associate. +"And the Bensons are to be with you! I +shall call immediately upon their arrival. +Poor, dear Lucy! I long to see her. She +has had a vast deal of trouble since her +marriage—has she not?"</p> + +<p>"Except the death of her mother-in-law, +she has had nothing to trouble her that I +have heard of," answered Sarah, rising to +go.</p> + +<p>"My dear creature! what do you call +the wear and tear of managing a husband, +and a pack of unruly servants, and looking +after a baby? And she was such a belle! +I wonder if she is much broken!"</p> + +<p>"Come and see!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hammond was at the parlor door.</p> + +<p>"I will—most assuredly! How do you +like their being quartered upon you? What +does that pattern husband of yours say to +this?"</p> + +<p>"Madam!" said Sarah, surprised and offended +by the rude query.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I don't mean that it would not be +very delightful to you to have your sister +with you; but there was a foolish rumor, +about the time of your marriage, that you +and Mr. Benson had some kind of a love-passage +down in the country; and I +thought that Mr. Hammond, with his particularly +nice notions, might retain an unpleasant +recollection of the story, which +would prevent him from being on brotherly +terms with his old rival. Men are terribly +unreasonable mortals, and perfect Turks +in jealousy! We cannot be too careful not +to provoke their suspicions."</p> + +<p>Not for the universe would Sarah have +betrayed any feeling at this insolence, save +a righteous and dignified resentment at its +base insinuations; but the ungovernable +blood streamed in crimson violence to her +temples, and her voice shook when she +would have held it firm.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hammond is not one to be influenced +by malicious gossip, Mrs. Bond, if, +indeed, the report you have taken the liberty +of repeating was ever circulated except +by its author. I cannot thank you for +your warning, as I recognize no occasion +for jealousy in my conduct or character. +I am accountable for my actions to my +conscience and my husband, and I release +you from what you have assumed to be +your duty of watching and criticising my +personal affairs. Good-morning."</p> + +<p>"I struck a sore spot! no doubt of that!" +soliloquized Mrs. Bond, recalling Sarah's +start of pain and blush at the indelicate +allusion to Philip Benson. "That woman +stirs up all the bile in my system if I talk +two minutes with her. If there were half +the material to work upon in that vain, +weak Lucy, that there is in this sister, I +would have my revenge. As for Lewis +Hammond, he is a love-sick fool!"</p> + +<p>Sarah's cheeks had not lost their flush, +nor had her heart ceased its angry throbbings, +when she reached home. In the +solitude of her chamber, she summoned +strength and resolution to ask herself the +question, so long avoided, shunned, as she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +had imagined, in prudence, as she now +began to fear, in dread of a truthful reply.</p> + +<p>When she married Lewis Hammond, she +loved another. Fearful as was this sin, it +would be yet more terrible were she now to +discover a lurking fondness, an unconquered +weakness for that other, in the +heart of the trusted wife, the mother who, +from that guilty bosom, nourished the +little being that was, as yet, the embodiment +of unsullied purity. It was a trying +and a perilous task, to unfold deliberately, +to pry searchingly into the record of that +one short month that had held all the +bloom and fragrance of her life's spring +season; to linger over souvenirs and compare +sensations—a painful and revolting +process; but, alas! the revulsion was not +at memories of that olden time; and as +this appalling conviction dawned upon her, +her heart died within her.</p> + +<p>The nurse was arranging Baby Belle for +the possible reception of her unknown aunt +and uncle, that afternoon, when Mrs. +Hammond came into the nursery, her face +as pale and set as marble, and silently +lifted the child from the girl's lap to her +own. For one instant her cheek was laid +against the velvet of the babe's; the ringlets +of fair hair mingled with her dark +locks, before she set about completing its +unfinished toilette. With a nicety and +care that would have seemed overstrained, +had other than mother's hands been busied +in the work, the stockings and slippers +were fitted on the plump feet; the sunny +curls rolled around the fingers of the +tiring woman, and brushed back from the +brow; the worked cambric robe lowered +cautiously over the head, lest the effect +of the coiffure should be marred; the +sleeves looped up with bands of coral and +gold, a necklace, belonging to the same +set, clasped around the baby's white throat, +and she was ready for survey.</p> + +<p>"Now, Baby Belle and mamma will go +down to meet papa!"</p> + +<p>And with the little one still clinging to +her neck, she met, in the lower hall, her +husband ushering in Lucy and Philip Benson.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + + +<p>Breakfast was kept back an hour next +morning to await Lucy's tardy appearance. +"She was sadly wearied with her journey," +apologized Philip, and Sarah begged that +she would keep her room and have her +meals sent up to her—an hospitable offer, +which Mr. Benson negatived.</p> + +<p>Lucy did look tired and unrefreshed, and, +to speak more plainly, very cross. Her +hair, in its dryest state of pale yellow, was +combed straight back above her temples; +her skin was sallow; her wrapper carelessly +put on, and its dead white unrelieved +by even a bow of ribbon at the throat. +Involuntarily Lewis glanced from the uninviting +picture to his household deity, in +her neat breakfast-dress of gray silk faced +with pink, her glossy hair and tranquil +features, and said to himself, in secret +triumph, "Which is now the beauty? None +of your trumpery ornamental articles for +me!"</p> + +<p>Philip's eyes were as keen as his host's, +and the probability is that he instituted +a similar comparison, however well his +pride succeeded in concealing the act and +its result. Cutting short his wife's querulous +plaints of the discomforts of travel, +and the horrors of nervous sleeplessness, +he opened a conversation with Mr. Hammond +in the subdued, perfectly-managed +tones Sarah remembered so well, selecting +such topics as would interest a business +man and a citizen of a commercial metropolis. +Lucy pouted, and applied herself +for consolation to her breakfast.</p> + +<p>With a strange mingling of emotions, +Sarah listened to the dialogue between the +gentlemen. She was anxious that Lewis +should acquit himself creditably. Brilliant, +like Philip, he could never be; but in sterling +sense, not many men were his superiors. +She had never had cause to be +ashamed of him; for one so unpretending +and judicious was not liable to make himself +ridiculous. Whence, then, the solicitude +with which she hung upon his every +word? her disappointment when he did not +equal the ideal reply she had fashioned, as +she heard the words that called it forth? +Several times she joined in the conversation, +invariably to corroborate Lewis' assertions, +or to supply something he had +omitted to state. Philip Benson was a +student of human nature. Was his mind +sufficiently abstracted from his domestic +annoyances to divine the motive that Sarah +herself only perceived afterwards in solitary +self-examination? Not love of, or admiration +for the intrinsic excellence of the +man whose name she bore; not fear lest +his modesty should lessen his merits in +the eyes of others; but a selfish dread that +his acute interlocutor, discerning in him +nothing likely to attract or win the affection +of a woman such as he knew her to +be, might guess her true reason for marrying +Mr. Hammond. The timorous progeny +of one guilty secret can only be numbered +by the minutes during which it is borne +in the bosom. Like the fabled Lacedæmonian +boy, Sarah carried the gnawing +horror with a fortitude that looked like +cheerfulness. Habit cannot lighten the +weight of a clinging curse; but strength +and hardness come in time, if the burdened +one is not early crushed by his load.</p> + +<p>The sisters spent most of the day in +Lucy's room; the latter stretched upon the +lounge, as she declared, "completely used +up." Mrs. Hunt came around early in the +forenoon, and into her sympathizing ears +the spoiled child poured the story of her +woes and wrongs; Sarah sitting by with +a swelling, rebellious heart. With indecorous +contempt for one of the most binding +laws of married state—inviolable +secrecy as to the faults of the other party +to the momentous compact—mother and +daughter compared notes upon their husbands, +and criticised the class generally as +the most wrong-headed, perverse, and dictatorial +of all the necessary evils of society.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Benson, the elder, and her pleasure-loving +daughter-in-law had differed seriously +several months before the death of +the former. Philip, while espousing his +wife's cause to the rest of his family, had, +in private, taken her to task for what he +considered objectionable in her conduct; +her heads of offence being mainly extravagant +love of gay company, and the gallant +attentions of gentleman visitors; neglect of +dress and all efforts to please, when there +was no company by; and a decided indisposition +to share in the household duties, +which his mother's increasing feebleness +made onerous to her.</p> + +<p>"Ah, mother!" sighed the interesting +complainant, raising herself to shake up +her pillow, then sinking again upon it. +"If girls only realized what is before them +when they marry, few would be brave +enough to change their condition. When I +picture to myself what I was at home—a +petted darling—never allowed to inconvenience +myself when it could possibly be +avoided; courted in society; free as air +and light-hearted as a child; and then +think of all that I have endured from the +unkindness of strangers, and the—well—the +want of sympathy in him for whom I +had given up my dear old home and friends—I +ask myself why I did not remain single!"</p> + +<p>The prudent matchmaker shook her head. +"Marriage is a lottery, they say, my dear; +but I am very sure that single life is a +blank. You had no fortune, and in the +event of your father's death would have +been almost destitute. I am sorry your +father did not insist upon Mr. Benson's +giving you your own establishment at +once. I hope, now the old lady is out of +the way, you will have things more according +to your notions."</p> + +<p>"Don't you believe that! As if there were +not two sisters-in-law, living but four +miles off, and driving over every other day +to 'see how pa is.' That means, to see +whether Lucy is letting things go to +wreck and ruin. I understand their spiteful +ways! Philip shuts his ears when I +talk about them; but I am determined that +I will not bear much more meddling!"</p> + +<p>Decidedly, Lucy Benson married was a +woeful declension from the seraphic spinster +depicted in our earlier chapters; but, +as in time past, so in time present and to +come, the sparkling sugar, whose integrity +and sweetness appeared indestructible, +while it was kept dry and cool, if dampened, +undergoes an acetous fermentation, +and the delicate sweet-meat, exposed to +the air at a high temperature, becomes +speedily a frothing mass, evolving pungent +gases. The pretty doll who anticipates, in +the connubial state, one long fete-day of +adoration received, and benign condescension +dispensed, is as certain to awake from +this dream as from any other, and upon +the temper in which she sustains the disenchantment, +depends a vast proportion +of her future welfare and peace.</p> + +<p>Lucy's behavior to her babe was a mixture +of childish fondling and neglect. Fortunately, +the little "Hunt's" special attendant +was an elderly woman, long established +as "Maumer" in the Benson family, +and her devotion to her charge prevented +any present evil effects from his mother's +incompetence or carelessness. Philip's +pride in, and love for his boy were extreme. +When he came in that evening, +Sarah chanced to be in the nursery adjoining +her chamber, watching and inciting +the two babies to a game of romps. +She held one on each knee, the nurses +standing by in amused gratification.</p> + +<p>"That is surely my little man's voice!" +said Philip, as he and Lewis came up the +stairs.</p> + +<p>"Let me see!"—and Mr. Hammond peeped +into the playroom. "Walk in!" he continued, +throwing the door wide open. +"Isn't there a pair of them?"</p> + +<p>"And a nurse worthy of the twain!" +returned Philip. He stooped to the invitation +of the lifted arms, fluttering, as if +the owner would fly to his embrace. "What<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +do you say of him, aunty? Is he not a +passable boy?"</p> + +<p>"More than passable! he is a noble-looking +fellow. He resembles you, I think," +said Sarah, quietly.</p> + +<p>"Do you hear that, Hammond? Your +wife pronounces me 'more than passable—a +noble-looking fellow!' So much for an +adroit hint. Is she given to flattery?"</p> + +<p>"Not she!" returned Lewis, laughing. +"She never said as much as that for my +looks in all her life. I have one consolation, +however; the less she says the more +she means!" He went into the dressing-room, +and Philip, still holding the child, +seated himself by Sarah.</p> + +<p>"How odd, yet how familiar it seems, to +be with you once more, my good sister! +What a succession of mischances has made +us virtual strangers for many months past! +I had almost despaired of ever holding +friendly converse with you again. I wonder +if your recollections of our visit to +Aunt Sarah are as vivid as mine. Do you +remember that last sad, yet dear day on +the Deal Beach?"</p> + +<p>Baby Belle was standing in her mother's +lap, her soft, warm arms about her neck; +and around the frail, sinking human heart +invisible arms, as warm and close, were +upholding and strengthening it in the +moment of mortal weakness.</p> + +<p>"Very distinctly. Many changes have +come to us both since then."</p> + +<p>"To me very many! I have grown older +in heart than in years." Then, evidently +fearing that she might otherwise interpret +his meaning, he subjoined: "We have had +a heavy bereavement in our household, +you know. Your changes have all been +happy ones. The enthusiastic, restless girl +has ripened into the more sedate, yet more +blessed wife and mother."</p> + +<p>Press your sweet mouth to the convulsed +lips, Baby Belle! Veil with your silky curls +the tell-tale features, whose agitation +would bewilder, if not betray! Philip was +stroking the head of his boy, and did not +see the uneasiness of his companion.</p> + +<p>"Have you heard of Uncle Nathan's +death?" she asked, clearing her throat.</p> + +<p>He looked surprised at the inquiry. "Yes! +Aunt Sarah wrote immediately to my +father."</p> + +<p>"Ah! I had forgotten that they were +brothers. My memory is treacherous. Excuse +me! I am wanted in the dining-room!"</p> + +<p>Lewis met her just outside the door, +and stopped her to bestow the evening kiss +he had not cared to offer in Philip's presence.</p> + +<p>"Why, you are as rosy as a peony!" he +said, jestingly. "Has Benson been paying +you compliments, in return for yours to +him? I must look after you two, if you +carry on at this rate."</p> + +<p>With a look he had reason subsequently +to recall, but which only pleased him at +the time, she raised his hand to her lips—a +look of humility, gratitude, and appeal, +such as one might cast upon a slighted +benefactor—and vanished.</p> + +<p>A merry family party gather around the +Hammond's generous table, that afternoon. +All the Hunts were there—from the father +down to Jeannie, who was fast shooting +up into a tall girl, somewhat pert in manner, +but lovable despite this, at times, unpleasant +foible.</p> + +<p>"Sister Lucy," she said, after an interval +of silence, "Ellen West said, at school, to-day<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +that you were a great belle when you +were a young lady; were you?"</p> + +<p>"You must not ask me, Jeannie!" The +old smile of conscious beauty stole into +Lucy's cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Was she, sister?" Jeannie referred the +case to Sarah.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear, she was very beautiful," +replied the latter, simply.</p> + +<p>"She isn't now—not so very handsome, I +mean—no handsomer than you are, sister!"</p> + +<p>"Jeannie! you forget yourself!" interposed +Mrs. Hunt.</p> + +<p>"Why, mamma, I did not intend to be +rude! Only I thought that belles were always +the prettiest ladies that could be +found anywhere."</p> + +<p>"By no means!" corrected Lewis, willing +to help his wife's pet out of a scrape. +"There are many descriptions of belles, +Jeannie: handsome, rich, fast, and intellectual."</p> + +<p>"And as papa was not rich, I suppose +you were either fast or intellectual, sister +Lucy!" persisted the child.</p> + +<p>"I thought her pretty fast when I tried to +catch her," said Philip.—"Mrs. Hunt, Mrs. +Hammond, Mrs. Benson, have you ladies +decided in the course of to-day's congress +what watering-place is to be made the +fashion by our clique next month?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hunt replied that they inclined to +Newport; principally on account of Lucy +and the children, who would all be benefited +by the bathing.</p> + +<p>Lucy was sure that she should tire of +Saratoga or the Catskills in a week, +whereas she adored the ocean.</p> + +<p>"What says Madame Discretion?" said +Lewis, merrily, to his wife.</p> + +<p>"Except that it would break up the family +party, I had rather stay at home as +long as it is prudent to keep the baby +in town; then, if you could go with us, +spend a month at some mountain farmhouse +or seaside cottage," she answered.</p> + +<p>"Hear! hear!" commanded Philip. "Behold +a modern wedded dame who prefers +seclusion with her liege lord to gayety +without him! The age of miracles is returning!"</p> + +<p>"Is the case, then, so anomalous?" retorted +Sarah, the red spot in her cheek +alone testifying to her embarrassment. +"Are your Southern matrons all public +characters?"</p> + +<p>"I can answer that!" said Lucy. "They +are slaves! housekeeping machines—nothing +better!"</p> + +<p>"How many more weak places are there +in this crust of family chit-chat, I should +like to be informed!" thought the annoyed +and uninitiated Hammond. "Here goes for +the spot where there is no danger of anybody's +breaking in!" He spoke aloud. "A +tempting proposal was made to me this +morning. It is considered advisable for one +of our firm to go abroad for a couple of +months, perhaps longer, to divide his time +among the principal manufacturing districts +of England, Scotland, and France. +Expenses paid by the firm, and the term +of absence indefinitely prolonged, if the +traveler wishes it. Mr. Marlow is tired +of crossing the ocean, and presses me to +accept the mission."</p> + +<p>"What did you tell him?"</p> + +<p>It was Sarah who spoke in a startled +voice that drew general notice to her +alarmed face. Her concern was a delicious +tribute to her husband's self-love, if he +possessed such a quality. At least he +loved her well enough to be pleased at her +manifest reluctance to have him leave her.</p> + +<p>"I told him that I must ask my wife," +said he in a meek tone, belied by the +humorous twinkle in his eye, and loving +half-smile about his mouth. "See what it +is to be one under authority, Benson! A +man dare not conclude an ordinary business +transaction without the approval of +the powers that be."</p> + +<p>When Sarah accompanied her sister to +her chamber that night, the passee belle +put a direct question.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, Sarah, are you as much in +love with Mr. Hammond as you seem to +be, or is it all put on for the benefit of +outsiders?"</p> + +<p>"I am not apt to do anything for the +sake of mere show; nor do I care for the +opinion of 'outsiders,' as you call them," +rejoined Sarah, amazed at the cool audacity +of the inquiry, and disposed to resent +Lucy's confident expectation that she +would avow the cheat, if such there were, +in her deportment.</p> + +<p>"You used to be shockingly independent, +I know. What a ridiculously honest little +puss you were! How you despised all our +pretty arts and necessary affectations! +How you hated our economical mother's +second-best furniture and dinners! I don't +believe Victoria West has ever forgiven +you for the way in which you used to +take to pieces what you styled our 'surface +talk and surface life!' I thought, however, +that you had discovered by this time, that +one cannot live in the world without deceiving +herself or other people; I prefer +making fools to being one. Heigh-ho! this +life is a very unsatisfactory business at the +best. What a heavenly collar that is of +yours! One thing I do wish, and that is—that +my husband were half as fond of +me, or as good to me, as Lewis is to you!"</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + + +<p>Lewis Hammond had thrown the whole +weight of his influence in the family conclave +into the Newport scale; and to this +popular resort Sarah went, in July, in +company with the Bensons, her mother +and Jeannie, who was made one of the +party at Lewis' request and expense. The +generous fellow acted in conformity with +conscience and judgment in this temporary +exile of his treasures; and, consistent in +his purpose of rendering it a pleasure excursion +to his wife, he made very light +of his prospects of lonely widowerhood, +representing, instead, the benefit she and +the babe would draw from the sea-breezes, +and his enhanced enjoyment of his weekly +visits, because they were so far apart. He +went with them to the shore, at their general +flitting, and spent two days; saw for +himself that those whose comfort was +nearest his heart were properly accommodated; +privately feed chambermaid and waiter, +with hints of future emolument to accrue +to them from special regard to the +wants of Mrs. Hammond and her infant, +and returned to town with the unenviable +consciousness of having left at least three-fourths +of himself behind him.</p> + +<p>A brisk rush of business beguiled him of +the aching, hollow void for a few hours +after he got back. Not even Baby Belle's +accents could be heard amid that roar +and whir. But at luncheon-time, while +waiting for his order to be filled at a +restaurant, the dreary, solitary void overtook +him—a fit of unmistakable home-sickness, +that yet caused him to recoil at the +idea of entering the deserted house uptown, +when evening should oblige him to +seek a lodging. How were Sarah and baby +getting along without him? He was afraid +that Lucy was not, in all respects, as congenial +a companion as he could have +wished his wife to have, and that Mrs. +Hunt's undisguised worldliness, her foolish +love of fashion and display, would +often annoy and mortify her sensible and +right-judging daughter. Benson was capital +company, though—a gentleman every +inch of him! and very friendly to Sarah. +But for her reserved manners he would +act the part of a real brother to her; in +any case, he would be kind, and see that +she wanted for nothing.</p> + +<p>Then—shot into his head by some unseen +and unaccountable machinery—there darted +across his mind a fragment of a conversation +he had overheard, at entering his +parlor, the day before the Bensons left. +Philip and Lucy were standing before a +miniature painting of Sarah and her child, +completed and brought home a short time +previous. Although seemingly intent upon +the picture, their conversation must have +strayed far from the starting-point, for +the first sentence that reached the unintentional +listener was a tart, scornful +speech from Lucy, that could by no stretch +of the imagination be made to apply to +her sister.</p> + +<p>"If you admire her so much, why did +you not marry her when you had the opportunity? +She was willing enough!"</p> + +<p>"Take care you do not make me regret +that I did not do so!" was Philip's stern +rejoinder as he turned from her.</p> + +<p>The change of position showed him that +Lewis was present, and for a second his +inimitable self-possession wavered. Recovering +himself, he reverted to the picture, +and called upon his host to decide some +disputed point in its artistic execution +which he and Lucy were discussing.</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow! he has learned that all +is not gold that glitters!" mused Lewis to +the newspaper he was pretending to read. +"Lucy had a high reputation for amiability +before she was Mrs. Benson. There is no +touchstone like the wedding ring to bring +out one's true qualities."</p> + +<p>He sat with his back to the entrance of +the saloon, and the table directly behind +him was now taken possession of by three +or four new arrivals—all gentlemen, and +apparently on familiar terms with one another. +They called for a bountiful lunch, +including wine, and plunged into a lively, +rather noisy talk. Lewis closed his ears, +and applied himself in earnest to his paper. +He started presently at a word he +could have declared was his name. Restraining +the impulse to look around and +see who of the group was known to him, +he yet could not help trying to determine +this point by their voices. One, a thin +falsetto, he fancied belonged to George +Bond, who was no more of a favorite with +him than was his better half with Sarah. +Lewis regarded him as a conceited rattlepate, +whose sole talent lay in the art of +making money—whose glory was his purse. +"Why should he be talking about me here? +Nonsense; I was mistaken!" and another +page of the newspaper was turned.</p> + +<p>"When I leave my wife at Newport, or +anywhere else, in the particular and brotherly +care of one of her former flames,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +publish me as a crazy fool!" said the wiry +voice again, almost in the reader's ear.</p> + +<p>"He doesn't know old stories as well as +you do, perhaps," remarked some one.</p> + +<p>"I should think not! When my wife +pulls the wool over my eyes in that style, +horsewhip me around town, and I won't +cry 'Quarter!' Sister's husband or not, +I'll be hanged if I would have him in my +house for two weeks, and he is such a +good-looking dog, too!"</p> + +<p>He stopped, as if his neighbor had jogged +him, as Lewis looked over his shoulder +in the direction of the gossip. A dead and +awkward silence ensued, ended at last +by the pertinent observation that the +"waiter was a long time bringing their +lunch."</p> + +<p>In a maze of angry doubt and incredulity +as to the evidence of his senses and suspicions, +Lewis finished his meal, and +stalked out past the subdued and now voracious +quartette, favoring them with a +searching look as he went by, which they +sustained with great meekness. All the +afternoon a heavy load lay upon his heart, +an indefinable dread he dared not analyze; +a foreboding he would not face, yet could +not dismiss.</p> + +<p>"You are blue, Lewis," said Mr. Marlow, +kindly, as they started uptown together. +"This is the worst of having a wife and +children; you miss them so terribly when +they are away. But you will get used to +it. Make up your mind at the eleventh +hour to cross the water, and stay abroad +three months. You will be surprised to +find how easy your mind will become after +a couple of weeks."</p> + +<p>"I am satisfied, sir, without making personal +trial of the matter, that men become +inured to misery, which seemed in the beginning +to be insupportable."</p> + +<p>Mr. Marlow laughed, and they separated.</p> + +<p>Lewis sighed as he looked up at the +blinds of his house, shut fast and grim, and +still more deeply as he admitted himself +to the front hall, that echoed dismally the +sound of the closing door. His next movement +was to walk into the parlor, throw +open a shutter, and let in the evening light +upon the portraits of the dear absent ones. +There he stood, scanning their faces—eyes +and soul full of love and longing—until the +mellow glow passed away and left them in +darkness.</p> + +<p>The comfortless evening repast was over, +and he betook himself to the library, Sarah's +favorite room, as it was also his. Her +low easy-chair stood in its usual place opposite +his at the center-table, but her workbasket +was missing; likewise the book with +its silver marker, that he was wont to see +lying side by side with some volume he had +selected for his own reading. But one lay +there now, and there was an odd choking +in his throat as he read the title on the +back. He had expressed a wish for it in +Sarah's hearing some days before, and her +delicate forethought had left it here as a +solace and keepsake, one that should, while +reminding him of her, yet charm away sad +feelings in her absence. Even in the exterior +of the gift, she had been regardful +of his taste. The binding was solid and +rich; no gaudy coloring or tawdry gilt; the +thick smooth paper and clear type were a +luxury to touch and sight. Lewis was no +sentimentalist in the ordinary acceptation +of the term, yet he kissed the name his +wife had traced upon the fly-leaf ere he sat +down to employ the evening as she by her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +gift tacitly requested him to do. But it +was a useless attempt. The book was not +in fault, and he should have read it intently +if only because she had bestowed it; +still the hand that held it sank lower and +lower, until it rested upon his knee, and +the reader was the thinker instead.</p> + +<p>The most prosaic of human beings have +their seasons of reverie—pleasing or mournful, +which are, unknown often to themselves, +the poetry of their lives. Such was +the drama Lewis Hammond was now rehearsing +in his retrospective dreams.</p> + +<p>The wan and weary mother, whom he remembered +as always clothed in widow's +weeds, and toiling in painful drudgery to +maintain herself and her only boy; who +had smiled and wept, rendered thanksgivings +and uttered prayers for strength, alternately, +as she heard Mr. Marlow's proposal +to protect and help the lad through +the world that had borne so hardly upon +her; who had strained him to her bosom, +and shed fast, hot tears of speechless anguish +at their parting—a farewell that +was never to be forgotten in any meeting +on this side of eternity; this was the vision, +hers the palladium of love, that had nerved +him for the close wrestle with fortune, +guarded him amid the burning ploughshares +of temptation, carried him unscathed +past the hundred mouths of hell, +that gape upon the innocent and unwary +in all large cities. Cold and unsusceptible +as he was deemed in society, he kept unpolluted +in his breast a fresh living stream +of genuine romantic feeling, such as we are +apt to think went out of fashion—aye, and +out of being—with the belted knights of +yore; wealth he had vowed never to squander, +never reveal, until he should pour it, +without one thought of self-reserve, upon +his wife! He never hinted this to a living +creature before the moment came for revealing +it to the object of his choice. He +was a "predestined old bachelor!" and "infidel +to love and the sex," said and believed +the gay and frivolous, and he let them talk. +His ideal woman, his mother's representative +and successor—the beauty and crown +of his existence—was too sacred for the +gaze and comment of indifferent worldlings. +For her he labored and studied and lived; +confident in a fatalistic belief that, at the +right moment, the dream would become a +reality—the phantasm leave her cloudy +height for his arms.</p> + +<p>Love so beautiful and intense as this, like +snow in its purity, like fire in its fervor, +cannot be won to full and eloquent utterance +but by answering love—a sentiment +identical in kind, if not equal in degree; +and Sarah Hammond's estimate of her husband's +affection was, in consequence of this +want in herself, cruelly unjust in its coldness +and poverty. His patience with her +transient fits of gloom or waywardness in +the early months of their married life; his +noble forgetfulness of her faults, and grateful +acknowledgment of her most trifling effort +to please him; his unceasing care; his +lavish bounty—all these she attributed too +much to natural amiability and conscientious +views of duty; too little to his warm +regard for her personally. In this persuasion +she had copied his conduct in externals +so far as she could; and applauding observers +adjudged the mock gem to be a +fair and equitable equivalent for the rare +pearl she had received.</p> + +<p>Lest this digression, into which I have +been inadvertently betrayed, should mislead +any with the idea that I have some design +of dignifying into a hero this respectable, +but very commonplace personage, return +we to him as he hears eleven o'clock rung +out by the monitor on the mantel, and says +to himself, "Baby Belle has been asleep +these three hours, and mamma, caring +nothing for beaux and ball-room, is preparing +to follow her."</p> + +<p>Beaux and ball-room! Pshaw! why should +the nonsensical talk of that jackanapes, +George Bond, come to his mind just then? +The whole tenor of the remarks that succeeded +the name that he imagined was his +disproved that imagination. But who had +left his wife at Newport in the care of a +"good-looking" brother-in-law? who had +been domesticated in the family of the deluded +husband for a fortnight?</p> + +<p>Pshaw again! What concern had he +with that scandalous, doubtless slanderous +tattle?</p> + +<p>"Why did you not marry her when you +had the opportunity? She was willing +enough!"</p> + +<p>Could Lucy have spoken thus of her sister? +Sarah was barely acquainted with +Philip Benson when Lucy wedded him, +having met him but once prior to the wedding +day at the house of her aunt in the +country, from which place his own letter, +penned by her father's sick-bed, recalled +her. How far from his thoughts then was +the rapid train of consequences that followed +upon this preliminary act of their +intercourse!</p> + +<p>Did that scoundrel Bond say "Hammond"? +It was not a common name, and +came quite distinctly to his ears in the high, +unpleasant key he so disliked. A flush of +honest shame arose to his forehead at this +uncontrollable straying of his ideas to a +topic so disagreeable, and so often rejected +by his mind.</p> + +<p>"As if—even had I been the person insulted +by his pity—I would believe one syllable +he said of a woman as far above him +in virtue and intellect, in everything good +and lovable, as the heavens are above the +earth! I would despise myself as much as +I do him if I could lend my ear for an instant +to so degrading a whisper! I wish +I had faced him and demanded the whole +tale; yet no! that would have been rash +and absurd. Better as it is! By to-morrow +I shall laugh at my ridiculous fancies!"</p> + +<p>"Scratch! scratch! scratch!" The house +was so still in the approaching midnight +that the slight noise caused him a shock +and quiver in the excited state of his +nerves. The interruption was something +between a scrape and a rap, three times repeated, +and proceeding, apparently, from +the bookcase at his right. What could it +be? He had never seen or heard of a +mouse on the premises, nor did the sound +much resemble the nibbling of that animal. +Ashamed of the momentary thrill he +had experienced, he remained still and collected, +awaiting its repetition.</p> + +<p>"Scratch! scratch! rap!" It was in the +bookcase—in the lower part where were +drawers shut in by solid doors. These he +had never explored, but knew that his wife +kept pamphlets and papers in them. He +opened the outer doors cautiously, and listened +again, until assured by the scratching +that his search was in the right direction. +There were three drawers—two deep, +the third and upper shallow. This he drew +out and examined. It contained writing-paper +and envelopes, all in good order. +Nor was there any sign of the intruder +amongst the loose music and periodicals in +the second. The lower one was locked—no +doubt accidentally, for he had never +seen Sarah lock up anything except jewels +and money. Their servants were honest, +and she had no cause to fear investigation +on his part.</p> + +<p>Feeling, rather than arguing thus, he +removed the drawer above, leaving exposed +the locked one, and thrust his hand down +into it. It encountered the polished surface +of a small box or case, which he was +in the act of drawing through the aperture +left by the second drawer, when +something dark and swift ran over his +hand and up his sleeve. With a violent +start, he dashed the casket to the floor, +and another energetic fling of his arm +dislodged the mouse. His first care was to +pursue and kill it; his next to examine +into the damage it had indirectly produced. +The box—ebony, lined with sandal-wood—had +fallen with such force as to loosen +the spring, and lay on its side wide open; +its treasures strewed over the carpet. +They were neither numerous, nor in themselves +valuable. A bouquet of dried flowers, +enveloped in silver paper, lay nearest +Lewis' hand, as he knelt to pick up the +scattered articles. The paper was tied +about the stalks of the flowers with black +ribbon, and to this was attached a card: +"Will Miss Sarah accept this trifling token +of regard from one who is her stanch +friend, and hopes, in time, to have a +nearer claim upon her esteem?"</p> + +<p>The hand was familiar to the reader as +Philip Benson's. Why should Sarah preserve +this, while the many floral tokens of +his love which she had received were flung +away when withered like worthless weeds? +The pang of jealousy was new—sharp as +the death-wrench to the heart-strings, +cruel as the grave! The card was without +date, or he would have read, with a +different apprehension of its meaning, the +harmless clause—"And hopes in time to +have a nearer claim upon her esteem." +There was a time, then, when, as Lucy +had taunted her husband, he might have +married her sister! when Sarah loved him, +and had reason to think herself beloved +in return! What was this sable badge but +the insignia of a bereaved heart, that +mourned still in secret the faithlessness +of her early love, or the adverse fate that +had sundered him from her, and given him +to another?</p> + +<p>Crushing the frail, dead stems in his +hand, he threw them back into the box, +and took up a bit of dark gray wood, +rough on one side—smoothed on the other +into a rude tablet. "Philip Benson, Deal +Beach, July 27th, 1856. Pensez a moi!" +But ten days before he met her at the +wharf in New York to take her to her +sick father! but three months before she +plighted her troth to him, promised to +wed him, while in spirit she was still +weeping tears of blood over the inconstant! +for he did not forget that Philip's engagement +to Lucy preceded his own to +Sarah by eight or nine weeks. There were +other relics in the box; a half-worn glove, +retaining the shape of the manly hand it +had inclosed—which, he learned afterwards, +Philip had left in his chamber at the +farm-house when he departed to seek gayer +scenes; a white shell, upon whose rosy +lining were scratched with the point of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +knife the ominous initials, "P. B." and +beneath them "S. B. H.," a faded rosebud, +and several printed slips, cut from +the columns of newspapers. He unfolded +but two of these.</p> + +<p>One was an extract from Tennyson's +"Maud"—the invitation to the garden. +Breathlessly, by reason of the terrible +stricture tightening around his heart, Lewis +ran his eyes over the charming whimsical +morceau. They rested upon and reviewed +the last verse:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"She is coming—my own, my sweet!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Were it ever so airy a tread,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My heart would hear her and beat;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Were it earth in an earthy bed,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"My dust would hear her and beat;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Had I laid for a century dead,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Would start and tremble under her feet,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And blossom in purple and red."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>He did not discriminate now between +printed and written verses. These were +love stanzas sent by another man to his +wife, received and cherished by her, hidden +away with a care that, in itself, bordered +on criminality, for was not its object the +deception of the injured husband? The +most passionate autograph love-letter +could hardly have stabbed him more +keenly.</p> + +<p>The other was Mrs. Browning's exquisite +"Portrait."</p> + +<p>And here the reader can have an explanation +the tortured man could not obtain. +With the acumen for which Cupid's +votaries are proverbial, Philip Benson, then +at the "summer heat" degree of his flame +for the Saratoga belle, had recognized in +this poem the most correct and beautiful +description of his lady-love. Curiosity to +see if the resemblance were apparent to +other eyes, and a desire for sympathy +tempted him to forward it to Sarah. She +must perceive the likeness to her divine +sister, and surmise the sentiment that had +induced him to send it. A little alteration +in the opening stanza was requisite to +make it a "perfect fit." Thus it was when +the change was made:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I will paint her as I see her:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">---- times have the lilies blown<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Since she looked upon the sun."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The poetess, guiltless of any intention to +cater for the wants of grown-up lovers, +had written "Ten" in the space made +blank by Philip's gallantry and real ignorance +of his charmer's age. For the rest, +the "lily-clear face," the "forehead fair +and saintly," the "trail of golden hair," +the blue eyes, "like meek prayers before +a shrine," the voice that</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">"Murmurs lowly<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As a silver stream may run,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which yet feels you feel the sun,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>were, we may safely assert, quite as much +like poor Sarah, when he sent the poem, +as they were now like the portrait he +would—if put upon his oath—sketch of his +unidealized Lucy.</p> + +<p>It was not unnatural then, in Lewis +Hammond, to overlook in his present state, +these glaring discrepancies in the picture +as applied by him. With a blanched and +rigid countenance he put all the things +back in the box, shut it, and restored it +to its place. Then he knelt on the floor +and hid his face in his wife's chair; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +there struggled out into the still air of the +desecrated hometemple, made sacred by +his love and her abiding, deep sobs from +the strong man's stricken heart—a grief +as much more fearful than that of widowhood, +as the desertion and dishonor of the +loved one are worse than death.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + + +<p>It was the "grand hop" night at the +headquarters of Newport fashion. Sarah, +characteristically indifferent to gaieties +"made to order," had determined not to +appear below. The air of her room was +fresh and pure, and a book, yet unread, +lay under the lamp upon her table. Her +sister and mother had withdrawn to dress, +when Jeannie's curly head peeped in at +Mrs. Hammond's door. Her features wore +a most woe-begone expression.</p> + +<p>"What has gone wrong, Jeannie?" inquired +Sarah.</p> + +<p>"Why, mamma says that I will be in her +way if I go into the ball-room; and it +will be so stupid to stay out the whole +evening, while all the other girls can see +the dancing and dresses, and hear the +music. And sister Lucy says that children +are 'bores' in company."</p> + +<p>"A sad state of affairs, certainly! Perhaps +I may persuade mother to let you +go."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but if she does, she will sit close +against the wall with a lot of other fat +old ladies, and they will talk over my +head, and squeeze me almost to death, +besides rumpling my dress; and I so want +to wear my tucked pink grenadine, sister!"</p> + +<p>"And you would like to have me to +go down with you; is that it?"</p> + +<p>Jeannie's eyes beamed delightedly. "Oh, +if you only would!"</p> + +<p>Sarah looked down into the eager face +and saw, in anticipation, her own little +Belle imploring some boon, as important +to her, as easy to be granted by another +as this, and consented with a kiss.</p> + +<p>"Run away and bring your finery here! +Mother is too busy to attend to you. Mary +can dress you."</p> + +<p>The order was obeyed with lightning +speed; and Sarah, still holding in the excited +child the foreshadowing of her darling's +girlhood, superintended the toilet, +while she made herself ready.</p> + +<p>"What shall I wear, Jeannie?" she asked +carelessly, holding open the door of her +wardrobe.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that lovely fawn-colored silk, please! +the one with the black lace flounces! It +is the prettiest color I ever saw; and I +heard Mrs. Greyling tell another lady the +night you wore it, when brother Lewis +was here, you know, that it was one of +the richest dresses in the room, modest +as it looked, and that the flounce must +have cost a penny!"</p> + +<p>"Probably more!"</p> + +<p>Sarah proceeded to array herself in the +fortunate robe that had won the praises +of the fashionably distinguished Mrs. +Greyling. Her abundant dark hair was +lighted by two coral sprigs, which formed +the heads of her hair-pins, and, handkerchief +and gloves in hand, she was taking +a last survey of Jeannie's more brilliant +costume, when there came a knock at the +door.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Benson!" said Mary, unclosing it.</p> + +<p>"May I come in?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The tidy Mary had removed all trace of the +recent tiring operations from the apartment, +which was a compound of parlor +and dressing-room, a necessary adjunct +to the small chamber and smaller nursery, +leading out of it, at the side and rear.</p> + +<p>"You may!" replied Sarah. "Here is an +aspirant for ball-room honors, who awaits +your approval."</p> + +<p>"Mademoiselle, que vous etes charmante! +I am penetrated with profound admiration!" +exclaimed the teasing brother-in-law, +raising his hands in true melodramatic +style.</p> + +<p>Jeannie laughed and blushed until her +cheeks matched the grenadine.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Hunt told me that you had +changed your mind, and intended to grace +the festive scene with your presence," +continued Philip, addressing Sarah. "She +and Lucy are there, and the dancing has +begun. I came to escort you and our fair +debutante here—that is, unless some one +else has offered his services and been accepted."</p> + +<p>"That is not likely, since Mr. Hammond +left us in your care. Do not your fourfold +duties oppress you?"</p> + +<p>"Not in the least. If all my charges were +as chary of their calls upon me as you +are, my time would hang heavily upon +my hands. No one would imagine, from +your reluctance to be waited upon, that +you had been spoiled at home. If Mr. +Hammond were here now, he would tell +you to draw that shawl"—</p> + +<p>"It is an opera cloak!" interrupted Jeannie.</p> + +<p>"A ball-cloak to-night, then, is it not? +I was saying that, although the night is +not cool for sea air, you had better wrap +that mantle about your chest and throat +as we go out."</p> + +<p>Just outside the door a waiter passed +them with a note in his hand. He stopped, +on seeing Philip.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Benson! I was on my way to +your rooms with this, sir."</p> + +<p>Philip stepped back within the parlor +to read it by the light. It was a line from +a friend who had just arrived at another +hotel notifying him of this fact. It required +no reply, and, leaving it upon the +table, he rejoined his companions.</p> + +<p>"See mamma! Isn't it just as I said?" +whispered Jeannie, as she established herself +beside her sister in a comfortable corner +that commanded a view of the spacious +hall and its gay, restless sea of +figures.</p> + +<p>Sarah smiled at discovering her mother +sandwiched between two portly dowagers; +one in purple, the other in lavender silk; +all three bobbing and waving in their +earnest confabulations, in a style that +presented a ludicrously marked resemblance +to the gesticulations of a group of +Muscovy ducks, on the margin of a mud-puddle, +held by them in their capacity of +a joint-stock company.</p> + +<p>"I see that Lucy has taken the floor," +observed Philip. "She will not thank me +for any devoirs I could render her for +the next three hours. If they get up anything +so humble as quadrilles, may I ask +the pleasure of your company for the set?"</p> + +<p>"If you wish it—and my dress is not +too grave in hue"—</p> + +<p>"And too decorous in its make, you were +about to add, I presume;" he finished the +sentence bluntly. "It forms a refreshing +contrast to the prevailing style around +us."</p> + +<p>Lucy here flitted into sight, and her very +bare arms and shoulders pointed her husband's +strictures. A stool, brought into +the room for the use of some child or +invalid looker-on of the festivities, now +stood empty under Sarah's chair, and +Philip, espying it, seized upon and drew it +forth. When seated, his mouth was nearly +on a level with Sarah's ear.</p> + +<p>"This is pleasant!" he said. "We are +quite as much isolated from the rest of +mankind as if we were sitting among the +heathery hillocks on Deal Beach. You do +not love the visions of those tranquil sunny +days as I do. You never allude to them +voluntarily. Yet you have had less to +convert your dreams into every-day actualities, +tedious and prosaic, than I have. +I stand in direful need of one of the old +lectures, inculcating more charity, and less +study of complex motives and biassed tendencies +in the machine we call Man. Begin! +I am at your mercy."</p> + +<p>"I have forgotten how to deliver them. +I am out of practice."</p> + +<p>"That is not surprising. Your husband +is behind the age he lives in—and so are +you. You two would make Barnum's fortune, +could he ever persuade the public of +your idiosyncrasies."</p> + +<p>"What are you talking about?"</p> + +<p>"Look around and through this room, +and you will understand one part of my +meaning. Do you remark the preponderance +of married over single belles? and +that the most tenderly deferential cavaliers +are husbands, and not dancing with their +wives? I could point out to you three +men, leaders of the ton in this extremely +reputable, eminently moral assembly, who, +it is whispered among the knowing ones, +are married, and, having left their domestic +associations for a season of recreation, +boldly attach themselves to certain +stylish young ladies here, and challenge +observation, defy public censure, by their +marked and increasing devotion. I meet +them strolling along the beach in the +morning; riding together in the afternoon; +and when not engaged in this evening +exhibition of toilet and muscle, you will +find them pacing the moon or star-lit +piazza, or, perchance, again sentimentalizing +on the shore until the witching hour +draws near."</p> + +<p>"You surprise me!"</p> + +<p>"You have no right to be surprised. You +have the same thing continually before +you in your city. Every fashionable hotel +or boarding-house can supply you with +such flirtations by the dozen. A married +woman who declines the polite services of +all gentlemen, except her husband and +near relatives, is a prude, with false +scruples of propriety and delicacy. Let +her legal partner complain—he is cried out +upon as a despot, and you can trust the +sweet angel of an abused wife to elude +his vigilance—violence, she terms it—for +the future, without altering her conduct in +aught else. Do you see that pretty woman +in blue—the one with the madonna-like +face? Her tyrant is here but once a week—from +Saturday until Monday—then hies +back to the business he loves as well as +she does her pleasure. Monday, Tuesday, +Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and the +forenoon of Saturday, any mustachioed +puppy may walk, talk, drive, and flirt with +her—bask in the rays of those liquid orbs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +When the rightful lord appears, she is +demure as a nun, patient as a saint, dutiful +as Griselda, to him and him alone. +Do you begin to understand why I congratulated +you upon having a husband +of the olden stamp? Why, I do from my +heart felicitate my friend Hammond upon +having gained, as a helpmeet, one of that +nearly obsolete species—Woman!"</p> + +<p>Sarah's embarrassment was painful and +but indifferently concealed. She felt that +it was barely excusable, in consideration +of his fraternal relation to her, for Philip +to speak so plainly of this social blemish; +and altogether unpardonable, while he did +not, or could not, prevent his wife's participation +in the questionable gaieties he +assailed so unsparingly. Reply she could +not, without implicating Lucy in her reprobation, +and he must perceive her difficulty. +This was the trouble that lay uppermost. +At her heart's core, the uneasy +feeling she ever experienced in conversation +with him; the stirring of the entombed +love, of whose actual death she +had horrible misgivings; the incongruous +blending of past emotion with present +duty, were now aggravated by the enforced +acceptance of unmerited praise. Her +woman's instinct, her experience as a wife, +told her that the cause of the sinful +recklessness, the contempt of the true +spirit of the marriage tie, was not the +fruit merely of the vanity and thirst for +adulation, to which it was properly attributed. +With the recollection of her +own life, the education she had received at +home, the hateful, yet even to her independent +spirit, resistless decrees of society, +there swelled up within her bosom something +akin to Philip's bitter cynicism. Under +this spur, she spoke.</p> + +<p>"And from these signs of the times, you +would argue an inherent degeneracy of +womanhood—a radical change in its composition, +such as some anatomists tell us +has taken place in the structure of our +bodies—our blood—our very teeth. A dentist, +who filled a tooth for me the other +day, imparted divers scientific items of +information to me that may illustrate your +position. 'Enamel, madam, is not what +enamel was in the days of our ancestors!' +he affirmed pathetically; 'the color, the +very ingredients of the bone, the calcareous +base of the teeth, differ sadly from +the indestructible molars of fifty years +ago.' At this passage of his jeremiade, he +chanced to touch the nerve in the unhappy +'molar' he was excavating, and I am persuaded +that I suffered as really as my +grandmother would have done, had she +sat in my place."</p> + +<p>She paused, and beat time with her fingers +on Jeannie's shoulder to the wild, +varying waltz that swept the giddy crowd +around the room in fast and flying circles.</p> + +<p>"Your analogy asserts, then, that at +heart women are alike in all ages?"</p> + +<p>"Why not, as well as men?"</p> + +<p>"Then why does not action remain the +same, if that be true?"</p> + +<p>"Because custom—fashion, if you prefer +this name—an unaccountable, irresponsible +power—owing its birth oftenest to accident +or caprice, says, 'Do this!' and it is done! +be it to perpetrate a cravat-bow, a marriage, +or a murder!"</p> + +<p>Another pause—in which music and +dancers seemed sweeping on to sweet intoxication—so +joyous in their abandon were +the gushing strains; so swift the whirl of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +the living ring. The fingers played lightly +and rapidly on Jeannie's plump shoulder—then +rested on a half-beat.</p> + +<p>"Yes!" She was looking towards the +crowd, but her eye was fixed, and her +accents slow and grave. "Hearts live and +hearts love, while time endures. The heart +selects its mate in life's springtime, with +judgment as untaught as that of the silly +bird that asks no companion but the one +the God of Nature has bestowed upon it. +But you see not, my good brother"—she +faced him, a smile wreathing her lip—a +strange glitter in her eye—"see you not +to what woeful disorders these untrained +desires, this unsophisticated following out +of unregulated affections would give rise? +It would sap the foundations of caste; +level all wholesome distinctions of society; +consign the accomplished daughters of +palatial halls—hoary with a semi-decade +of years—to one-story cottages and a maid-of-all +work; doom nice young men to +the drudgery of business for the remainder +of their wretched lives, to maintain +wives whose dowries would not keep their +lily-handed lords in French kids for a +year; cover managing mammas with ignominy, +and hasten ambitious papas to +their costly vaults in—as Dickens has it—'some +genteel place of interment.' Come +what may of blasted hopes and wrecked +hearts, the decencies of life must be observed. +Every heart has its nerve—genuine, +sensitive, sometimes vulgarly tenacious +of life—but there are corrosives that +will eat it out; fine, deadly wires, that +can probe and torture and extract it. And +when the troublesome thing is finally gotten +rid of, there is an end to all obstacles +to judicious courtships and eligible alliances!" +She laughed scornfully, and Philip +recoiled, without knowing why he did so, +as he heard her.</p> + +<p>"That is all very well, when the nature +of the contract is understood on both +sides," he said, gloomily. "I doubt, however, +whether the beautiful economy of +your system will be appreciated by those +whose living hearts are bound to the +bloodless plaster-casts you describe."</p> + +<p>"These accidents will occur in spite of +caution on the part of the best managers +of suitable marriages. By far the larger +proportion of the shocks inflicted upon +polite circles arise from this very cause. +Pygmalion grows weary of wooing his +statue, and wants sympathy in his disappointment +and loneliness."</p> + +<p>The dance was ended. The fantastic +variations of the waltz were exchanged +for a noble march—pealing through the +heated rooms like a rush of the healthful +sea-breeze. The spark died in Sarah's +eye. Her voice took its habitual pitch.</p> + +<p>"I have permitted myself to become excited, +and, I am afraid, have said many +things that I had no right to think—much +less to utter. If my freedom has displeased +you, I am sorry."</p> + +<p>"The error—if error there were—was +mine," rejoined Philip. "I led the conversation +into the channel; you, after awhile, +followed. I believe there is no danger of +our misunderstanding each other."</p> + +<p>"Darby and Joan! good children in the +corner!" cried Lucy, flushed with exercise +and radiant with good humor, as she +promenaded past them leaning on the +arm of a young West Pointer, a native +Southerner and an acquaintance of +Philip's. If his wife must flirt and frolic, +he was watchful that she did not compromise +him by association with doubtful +characters. On several occasions, the advances +of gay gentlemen, whose toilets +were more nearly irreproachable than their +reputations, had been checked by his cool +and significant resumption of the husband's +post beside the belle, and, if need +existed, by the prompt withdrawal of the +unwilling lady from the scene. The cadet +laughed, and, convinced that she had said +a witty thing, Lucy swam by.</p> + +<p>"The common sense of our tropes, rodomontades, +and allegories is this!" said +Philip, biting his lip, and speaking in a +hard tone. "The only safe ground in marriage +is mutual, permanent affection. You +meant to convey the idea that if each of +these dressy matrons, humming around +our ears, had a sincere, abiding love for +her husband—and each of these gallant +benedicts the right kind of regard for his +wedded Beatrice, the vocation of us corner +censors would be gone?"</p> + +<p>"Well said, Mr. Interpreter!" she responded, +in affected jest.</p> + +<p>"This point settled, will you take my +arm for a turn through the room before +the next set is formed? They are talking +of quadrilles. I shall claim your promise +if a set is made up, unless you are not +courageous enough to brave the public +sneer by dancing with your brother. Come, +Jeannie, and walk with us."</p> + +<p>Two sets of quadrilles were arranged at +different ends of the saloon. Philip led +Sarah through one, with Lucy—who considered +it a capital joke—and her partner +vis-a-vis to them, Jeannie, meanwhile, remaining +by her mother.</p> + +<p>The summer nights were short; and, +when the dance was over, Sarah intimated +to her younger sister the propriety of retiring. +Mrs. Hunt's head ached, and she +esteemed the sacrifice comparatively light, +therefore, that she, too, had to leave the +revels and accompany the child to her +chamber. Sarah's apartments were on the +same floor, several doors further on. Having +said "Good-night" to the others, she +and Philip walked slowly along the piazza, +light as day in the moonbeams, until they +reached the outer room, the parlor.</p> + +<p>"I hope you will experience no ill effects +from your dissipation," said Philip, in +playful irony. "In a lady of your staid +habits, this disposition to gaiety is alarming. +Absolutely eleven o'clock! What will +Hammond say when he hears the story? +Good-night! Don't let your conscience +keep you awake!"</p> + +<p>Sarah opened the door softly, that she +might not startle the baby-sleeper in the +inner room. The lamp was shining brightly, +and by it sat—her husband!</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + + +<p>Lewis had entered his wife's room within +fifteen minutes after she left it. He +looked so ill and weary that the girl, +Mary, gave a stifled scream of fright and +surprise.</p> + +<p>"Are you sick, sir?" she asked hastily, +as he threw off his hat, and wiped his pale +forehead. "Shall I tell Mrs. Hammond that +you are here? She went down to the ball-room +awhile ago."</p> + +<p>"What did you say? No!" replied he, +shortly.</p> + +<p>His frown, rather than his tone, silenced +her. He had picked up the envelope +Philip had dropped on the table, and his +face darkened still more. Too proud to +question a servant of her mistress' actions +and associates, he believed that he had +gathered from this mute witness all that +was needful to know. As a privileged +habitue of the cosy boudoir he had been +at such pain to procure and make fit for +his wife's occupancy, another had sat here +and read his evening mail, while awaiting +her leisure; careless of appearances, since +the deceived one would not be there to +notice them, had tossed this note down +with as much freedom as he would have +done in his own apartment.</p> + +<p>Through the open windows poured the +distant strains of the band; and, seized by +a sudden thought, he caught up his hat +and strode out, along piazzas and through +halls, to the entrance door of the ball +saloon. As Sarah's ill-fortune ordained it, +the piercing glance that ran over and beyond +the crowd of spectators and dancers +detected her at the instant of Philip's +taking his lowly seat at her side. Jeannie's +pink attire was concealed by the drapery +of a lady, whose place in the set then +forming was directly in front of her. +Lewis saw but the two, virtually tete-a-tete; +and, as he obtained fleeting glimpses +of them through the shifting throng, +marked Philip's energetic, yet confidential +discourse, and the intentness with which +she listened, until, warmed or excited by +his theme, Sarah lifted her downcast eyes +and spoke, with what feeling and effect her +auditor's varying expression showed.</p> + +<p>The gazer stood there like a statue, unheeding +the surprised and questioning +looks cast by passers-by upon his traveling-dress, +streaked with dust—his sad and +settled visage, so unbefitting the scene +within—while Philip made the tour of the +room, with Sarah upon his arm, until +they took their stations for the dance; he, +courteous and attentive—she, smiling and +happy, more beautiful in her husband's +eyes than her blonde sister opposite; and +he could stay no longer. If Mary had +thought him sick and cross at his former +entrance, she considered him savage now, +for one who was ordinarily a kind and +gentle master.</p> + +<p>"You can go to your room!" he ordered, +not advised. "I will sit up for Mrs. Hammond!"</p> + +<p>"I have slept in the nursery, sir, while +you were away."</p> + +<p>"That cannot be to-night. I will find +you some other place."</p> + +<p>He had no intention that the anticipated +conversation with his wife should be overheard.</p> + +<p>"I can stay with a friend of mine, sir, +only a few doors off."</p> + +<p>"Very well!"</p> + +<p>Quickly and quietly the nurse arranged +the night-lamp and the child's food, that +her mistress might have no trouble during +her absence, and went out.</p> + +<p>Baby Belle slumbered on, happily wandering +through the guileless mazes of baby +dreamland; one little arm, bared from +the sleeve of her gown, thrown above her +head—the hand of the other cradling her +cheek. The father ventured to press a +light kiss upon the red lips. In his desolation, +he craved this trifling solace. The +child's face was contorted by an expression +of discomfort, and, still dreaming, +she murmured, in her inarticulate language, +some pettish expression of disgust.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My very child shrinks from me! It is +in the blood!" said the unhappy man, +drawing back from the crib.</p> + +<p>If his resolution had waned at sight of +the sleeper, it was fixed again when he +returned to his chair in the outer room. +He raised his head from his folded arms +when he heard Philip and Sarah approaching, +but did not otherwise alter his position. +The low tone of their parting words—one +soon learned by the sojourners in +hotels and watering-places, where thin +partitions and ventilators abound—was, to +him, the cautiously repressed voice of affectionate +good-nights. But one clause was +distinct—"What will Hammond say, when +he hears the story?" They jested thus of +him, then. One of them, at least, should +learn ere long what he would say.</p> + +<p>"Lewis, you here!"</p> + +<p>Sarah changed color with amazement and +vague alarm—emotion that paralyzed her +momentarily. Then, as she discerned the +tokens of disorder in his dress and countenance, +she hurried forward.</p> + +<p>"What has brought you so unexpectedly? +Are you sick? Has anything happened?"</p> + +<p>He did not rise; and, resting her hand +on his shoulder, she stooped for a kiss. +But his stern gaze never moved from hers—anxious +and inquiring—and his lips were +like stone.</p> + +<p>"Lewis, speak to me! If you have dreadful +news to tell me, for pity's sake, do +not keep me in suspense!"</p> + +<p>"I have nothing to say that will be new +to you," he said, without relaxing his +hard, cold manner, "and not a great deal +that ought to have been kept back from +me when I wished to marry you, believing +that you had a heart to give me with your +hand."</p> + +<p>As if struck in the face, Sarah sank +back into a chair, speechless and trembling.</p> + +<p>"Yes! had you been sincere with me +then, grieved and disappointed as I would +have felt, I would have respected you the +more, and loved you none the less for +the disclosure. But when, after a year +and a half of married life, I learn that +the woman I have loved and trusted with +my whole soul—from whom I have never +concealed a thought that it could interest +her to know—has all the while been playing +a false part—vowing at the altar to love +me and me alone, when she secretly idolized +another; bearing my name, living beneath +my roof, sleeping in my bosom—yet +thinking of, and caring for him, treasuring +his keepsakes as the most precious of her +possessions—is it strange that, when the +tongue of a vulgar gossip proclaims my +shame in my hearing, and other evidence +proves what I thought was his vile slander +to be true as gospel—is it strange, I say, +that I am incensed at the deception practised +upon me—at the infamous outrage of +my dearest hopes—my most holy feelings?"</p> + +<p>She threw herself at his feet, clasped his +knees, and implored him, chokingly, to +"forgive" her. "Oh! if you knew what I +have suffered!"</p> + +<p>"What you have suffered!" He folded +his arms and looked sorrowfully down at +her crouching figure. "Yes! you were not +by nature coarse and unfeeling! The violence +you have committed upon your +heart and every principle of delicacy and +truth must have cost you pain. Then you +loved him!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Once! a long while ago!" said Sarah, +hiding her face in her hands.</p> + +<p>"Take care!" There was no softness +now in his tone. "Remember that I have +seen you together day by day, and that +glances and actions, unnoticed at the time +in my stupid blindness, recur to me now +with terrible meaning. For once, speak +the true voice of feeling, and own what +I know already, that all the love you +ever had to give belongs still to your +sister's husband!"</p> + +<p>"I will speak the truth!" Sarah arose +and stood before him—face livid and eyes +burning. "I did love this man! I married +you, partly to please my parents, +partly because I found out that by some +means my secret had fallen into unscrupulous +hands, and I was mad with dread +of its exposure! It seemed to me that no +worse shame could come upon me than +to have it trumpeted abroad that I had +bestowed my love unsought, and was ready +to die because it was slighted. I have +learned since that it is far, far worse to +live a lie—to despise myself! Oh! that I +had died then!" She battled with the +emotion that threatened to overwhelm her +and went on. "Once bound to you, it has +been my hourly endeavor to feel and act +as became the faithful wife of a kind, +noble man. If, sometimes, I have erred +in thought—if my feelings have failed me +in the moment of trial—yet, in word and +deed, in look and gesture, I have been +true to you. No one have I deceived more +thoroughly than Philip Benson. He never +suspected my unfortunate partiality for +himself; he believes me still, what I would +give worlds to become in truth, your loyal, +loving wife! It is well that you know +the truth at last. I do not ask you how +you have obtained the outlines of a disgraceful +story, that I have tried a thousand +times to tell you, but was prevented +by the fear of losing your favour forever. +This is my poor defence—not against your +charges, but in palliation of the sin of +which they justly accuse me. I can say +nothing more. Do with me as you will!"</p> + +<p>"It is but just to myself that you should +hear the circumstances which accidentally +revealed this matter to me."</p> + +<p>He narrated the scene at the restaurant, +and the discovery of the evening. He +evinced neither relenting nor sympathy in +the recital. Her confession had extinguished +the last ray of hope, cherished, +though unacknowledged by himself, that +she might extenuate her error or give a +more favorable construction to the evidence +against her. It was not singular +that, in the reaction of disappointment, he +was ready to believe that he had not +heard all; to imagine that he could perceive +throughout her statement a disposition +to screen Philip, that was, in itself, +a proof of disingenuousness, if not deliberate +falsehood. She denied that he had ever +been aware of her attachment or had +reciprocated it. What meant then those +words—"hopes in time to have a nearer +claim?" What those impassioned verses? +What the linking of their initials within +the shell? the motto on the wooden tablet? +While these subtle queries were insinuated +into his soul by some mocking spirit, he +concluded the history of the discovery of +the casket.</p> + +<p>"I have never opened it since the night +before I was married," said Sarah, with no +haste of self-justification. "I put it into +the drawer the day after we went to our +house. It has not been unlocked from +that day to this."</p> + +<p>"Why keep it at all, unless as a memento +of one still dear to you?"</p> + +<p>"I felt as if I had buried it. I said to +myself: 'If the time ever comes when I +can disinter these relics and show them to +my husband, without a pang or fear, as +mementoes of a dead and almost forgotten +folly, he shall destroy them, and I shall +have gained a victory that will insure my +lifelong happiness.'"</p> + +<p>"And that time has never arrived."</p> + +<p>She would have spoken, but her tongue +proved traitorous. She crimsoned and was +silent.</p> + +<p>Lewis smiled drearily. "You see that +I know you better than you do yourself. +It is well, as you have said, that I know +all at last. I pity you! If I could, I would +release you from your bondage. As it is, +I will do all that I can for this end."</p> + +<p>"Never!" cried Sarah, shuddering. "Have +you forgotten our child?"</p> + +<p>"I have not!" His voice shook for a +second. "She is all that unites us now. +For the sake of her future—her good name—an +open separation ought to be avoided, +if possible—if it be inevitable, your conduct +must not be the ostensible cause. To +quiet malicious tongues, you must remain +here awhile longer under your mother's +care. To accomplish the same end, I must +appear once more in public, and on apparently +friendly terms with—your brother-in-law. +When your mother returns to the +city, you had best go, too, and to your +own house. Your brother Robert is now +sixteen years old—steady and manly +enough to act as your protector. Invite +him to stay with you, and also Jeannie, if +you find it lonely."</p> + +<p>"What are you saying? Where will you +be that you speak of my choosing another +protector?"</p> + +<p>"A very important one I have proved +myself to be!" he returned, with the same +sad smile. "I have not been able to shield +you from invidious reports; still less to +save you from yourself. I sail for Europe +day after to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Lewis, you will not! If you ever loved +me, do not desert me and our child now! +I will submit to any punishment but this!" +She clung anew to his knees as she poured +out her prayer.</p> + +<p>Not a month ago she had turned pale +with fright at the suggestion of this +voyage. It was sheer acting then! why +not now?</p> + +<p>"Objections are useless!" he said. "My +arrangements are made. I have passed +my word."</p> + +<p>"But you will not leave me in anger! +Say that you will forgive me! that you +will return soon, and this miserable night +be forgotten!"</p> + +<p>"Shall I tell you when I will return?" +He raised her head, and looked straight +into her eyes. "When you write to me, +and tell me that you have destroyed the +love-tokens in that box; when you bid +me come back for your sake—not for our +child's! Until then, I shall believe that +my presence would be irksome to you. It +is necessary for our house to have a resident +partner in England. It is my expectation +to fill that place for some time +to come; it shall be for you to say how +long."</p> + +<p>Bowed as Sarah's spirit was beneath +the burst of the long-dreaded storm and +her accusing conscience, her womanly +pride revolted at this speech. She had +humbled herself in the dust at the feet of +a man whom she did not love; had borne +meekly his reproaches; submitted dumbly +to the degrading suspicions that far transcended +her actual sin; but as the idea of +her suing servilely for the love she had +never yet valued; of him, indifferent and +independent, awaiting afar off for her petition—hers, +whom he had abandoned to the +scornful sneers of the keen-witted hyenas +of society; to the cross-examination of +her distrustful relatives; the stings of +remorse; left in one word to herself!—as +this picture grew up clearly before her +mind, the tide of feeling turned.</p> + +<p>"You reject my prayers and despise my +tears!" she said proudly. "You refuse to +accept of my humiliation. Yet you do not +doubt me, as you would have me believe +that you do! Else you would not dare to +trust me—the keeper of your honor and +your child's fair name—out of your sight! +I throw back the charge in your teeth, +and tell you that your conduct gives it the +lie! I have asked you—shame on me that +I did!—to continue to me the shelter of +your name and presence; to shield me, a +helpless woman, more unhappy than guilty, +from the ban of the world; and you deny +me everything but a contemptible shadow +of respectability, which the veriest fool +can penetrate. I would not have you suppose +that your generous confidence in my +integrity"—she brought out the words with +scathing contempt—"will deter me from +sinking to the level you are pleased to +assign me. If the native dignity of my +womanhood, the principles I inherit from +my father, my love for my innocent babe +do not hold me back from ruin, be assured +that the hope of winning your approval +will not. To you I make no pledges of +reformation; I offer but one promise. If +you choose to remain abroad until I, in +spirit, kiss your feet, and pray you to receive +a love such as most men are glad +to win by assiduity of attention, and every +pleasing art—which you would force into +being by wilful and revengeful absence—you +will never see your native land again +until the grass grows upon my grave!"</p> + +<p>She paused for breath, and continued +more slowly. "While your child lives, and +I remain her guardian, I will use your +means for her maintenance—will reside in +your house. If she dies, or you take her +from me, I will not owe you my support +for a single day more!"</p> + +<p>Lewis grew pallid to his lips; but he, +too, was proud, and his stubborn will was +called into bold exercise.</p> + +<p>"Very well! It is in your choice to accede +to my propositions, or not. A share +in all that I have is yours; not only during +the child's life, but as long as you live. +Before I leave America, I shall deposit +for you in your father's bank a sum which, +I hope, you will find sufficient to maintain +you in comfort. Your father will be +my executor in this matter. I shall not +confide to him the peculiar circumstances +of my departure, leaving you at liberty +to act in this respect, as in everything +else, according to the dictates of your +will and pleasure. At the end of a certain +term of years specified by law, you can, +if you wish, procure a divorce; on the +ground of my wilful and continued desertion +of you; in which case, the provision<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +for your support will remain unchanged. +As to the child—the mother's is +the strongest claim. I shall never take +her from you. Do not let me keep you +up longer. It is late!"</p> + +<p>With a silent inclination of the head, she +withdrew, and he cast himself upon the +sofa, there to lie during the few hours of +the night that were yet unspent.</p> + +<p>He had arisen, and was standing at the +window when Sarah entered in the morning. +But for the dark shadows under the +eyes, and the tight-drawn look about the +mouth, she appeared as usual; and her +"Good-morning," if cold, was yet polite.</p> + +<p>"I imagine," she said, as the gong clashed +out its second call, "that you wish me +to accompany you to breakfast, and to +preserve my ordinary manner towards +you when others are by. Am I right?"</p> + +<p>"You are. This is all I ask. The effort +will not be a tedious one. I leave here +at noon."</p> + +<p>Arm in arm they directed their steps +towards the great dining-hall—to the view +of the spectator as comfortable and happy +a pair as any that pursued that route on +that summer morning. Together they sat +down at table, and Mr. Hammond ordered +"his lady's" breakfast with his own. Mrs. +Hunt bustled in shortly after they were +seated, full of wonderment at having heard +from Sarah's maid of her master's unexpected +arrival; while Jeannie gave his +hand a squeeze as hearty as was the welcome +in her smiling face. The Bensons +were always late. So much the better. +There were more people present to observe +the cordial meeting between the brothers-in-law, +made the more conspicuous by +Philip's surprise. The genuineness of his +good spirits, his easy, unembarrassed manner, +was the best veil that could have +been devised for Sarah's constraint and +Lewis' counterfeit composure.</p> + +<p>It did not escape Philip's eye that Sarah +ate nothing, and spoke only to avoid the +appearance of singularity; and he believed +that he had discovered the origin of her +trouble when Lewis communicated his purpose +of foreign travel. When the burst of +surprise subsided, the latter tried successfully +to represent his plan as a business +necessity. Lucy, who never saw an inch +beyond her nose—morally and mentally +speaking—except when her intuitions were +quickened by self-love, was the questioner +most to be dreaded.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you go with him?" she inquired +of her sister. "He should not stir +one step without me, if I were in your +place. Only think! you might spend six +months in Paris!"</p> + +<p>"How would Baby Belle relish a sea +voyage!" returned Sarah.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! How supremely silly! One +would suppose that she was the only member +of the family whose comfort was to +be consulted. Rather than expose her to +the possibility of inconvenience, you will +deprive yourself of profit and pleasure, and +be separated from your husband for nobody +knows how long. This shows how +much these model married people really +care for one another. When put to the +test they are no better than we poor +sinners, whom everybody calls flirts. Phil, +are those muffins warm? This one of mine +has grown cold while I was talking."</p> + +<p>"How are the horses, Benson?" inquired +Lewis. "Have they been exercised regularly?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, and are in capital order. You +could have left us no more acceptable reminder +of yourself than those same fine +bays."</p> + +<p>"If you have no other engagement, suppose +we have them up before the light +carriage after breakfast, and take a short +drive."</p> + +<p>"Agreed, with all my heart! unless Mrs. +Hammond quarrels with me for robbing +her of a portion of your last morning with +her."</p> + +<p>"She will forgive you!" Lewis rejoined, +to spare her the effort of reply.</p> + +<p>From her window Sarah saw them whirl +off along the beach in sight of the hundreds +of spectators on the sands and +about the hotels, and recognized the ingenuity +of this scheme for proclaiming +the amicable feeling between the two.</p> + +<p>"But one more scene, and the hateful +mockery is over!" thought the wife, as she +heard her husband's step outside the door +on his return.</p> + +<p>She snatched a paper from the table, and +seemed absorbed in its contents, not looking +up at his entrance. Lewis made several +turns through the room, sighed heavily, +and once paused, as if about to address +her, but changed his mind.</p> + +<p>Then sounded from without the fresh, +gurgling laugh of a child, and the nurse +came in with the baby—rosy and bright—from +her morning walk on the shore. She +almost sprang from Mary's hold at sight +of her father, and dismissing the woman +with a word, he took his darling into his +arms and sat down behind his wife. Inflexibly +sullen, Sarah tried not to listen, +as she would not see them; but she heard +every sound: the child's soft coo of satisfaction +as she nestled in the father's +bosom; the many kisses he imprinted upon +her pure face and mouth with what agony +Sarah well knew—the irregular respiration, +sometimes repressed, until its breaking +forth was like sobs; and the proud, miserable +heart confessed reluctantly that, +in one respect, his share of their divided +lot was heavier than hers. She was not +to witness his final resignation of his idol. +Under color of summoning Mary, he carried +the infant from the room, and came +back without her.</p> + +<p>"It is time for me to go now, Sarah!"</p> + +<p>His voice was calm, and its firmness +destroyed what slender encouragement she +might have drawn from the scene with +his child, to hope for some modification of +his resolution.</p> + +<p>"Will you write to me, at regular intervals, +to give me news of Belle?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, if such is your wish."</p> + +<p>"And yourself? you will be careful of +your health, will you not? And if I can +ever serve you in any way, you will let +me know?"</p> + +<p>"It is not likely that you can; thank +you."</p> + +<p>There was a silence of some moments. +Sarah stood playing with the tassel of her +morning robe, pale and composed.</p> + +<p>"Sarah!" Lewis took her hand. "We +have both been hasty, both violent! Unfeeling +as you think me, and as I may +have seemed in this affair, believe me that +it almost kills me to part from you so +coldly. It is not like me to retract a determination, +but if you will say now what +you did last night—'Do not go!' I will stay, +and be as good a husband to you as I +can. Shall we not forgive, and try to forget?"</p> + +<p>The demon of resentful pride was not so +easily exorcised. At a breath of repentance—a +suggestion of compromise, the fell +legion rallied an impregnable phalanx. She +was frozen, relentless; her eyes, black and +haughty, met his with an answer her +tongue could not have framed in words.</p> + +<p>"I have nothing to say!"</p> + +<p>"'Nothing!' The ocean must then separate +us for years—it may be forever!"</p> + +<p>"It was your choice. I will not reverse +it."</p> + +<p>"Not if you knew that if you let me go +I would never return?"</p> + +<p>"Not if I knew that you would never return!"</p> + +<p>Without another word, without a farewell +look, or the hand-grasp mere strangers +exchange, he left her there—the stony +monument of her ill-directed life and affections; +the victim of a worldly mother +and a backbiting tongue!</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + + +<p>"How gay Mrs. Hammond has grown +lately!" said Mrs. Greyling, the fashionable +critic of the —— House drawing-room. +"Do you see that she is actually waltzing +to-night? She moves well, too! That pearl-colored +moire antique is handsome, and +must have cost every cent of nine dollars +a yard. She is partial to heavy silks, it +seems. It gives an air of sameness to +her dress; otherwise she shows very tolerable +taste."</p> + +<p>"I have heard it said that she was a +regular dowdy before she was married," +observed Mrs. Parton, who was also on +the "committee of censure"—a self-appointed +organization, which found ample +employment in this crowded nest of pleasure-seekers. +"Her husband is perpetually +making her presents, and she dresses to +please him."</p> + +<p>"Humph! I distrust these pattern +couples! 'My husband doesn't approve of +my doing this—won't hear of my acting +so!' are phrases easily learned, and sound +so fine that one soon falls into the habit +of using them. What a flirt Mrs. Benson +is! That is the fifth young man she has +danced with this evening. I pity her husband +and baby!"</p> + +<p>"He does not look inconsolable! I tell +you what my notion is: he may love his +wife—of course he does—but he admires +her sister more. See how he watches her! +Mrs. Tomes told me that she was standing +near him the first time Mrs. Hammond +waltzed, and that he seemed real worried. +When the set was through, she came to +look for a seat, and he got one for her. +As she took it, he said something to her +which Mrs. Tomes could not hear, but she +laughed out in his face as saucy as could +be, and said: 'Oh, I am learning when I +am in Rome to do as Romans do! Doesn't +my elder sister set the example?'"</p> + +<p>"He could say nothing then," said Mrs. +Greyling. "Those girls played their cards +well. The Hunts have very little, if anything, +besides the father's salary, and the +family was very obscure."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Greyling's paternal progenitor was +an opulent soap-boiler, who was not +ashamed, during her childhood, to drive +an unsavory cart from one kitchen door +to another. But he counted his thousands +now by the hundred, and his children +ranked, as a consequence, among the "upper +ten."</p> + +<p>She continued her charitable remarks: +"Somehow the old lady contrived to keep +up the appearance of wealth, and married +both daughters off before their second +season. Mr. Benson is reputed to be rich; +but for that matter these Southern planters +are all said to be rolling in money. +Mr. Hammond is certainly making money. +Mr. Greyling says he is a splendid business +man."</p> + +<p>"He sailed for Europe a week ago, you +know."</p> + +<p>"Yes; and since then madame has been +the belle of the ball. The old story—'When +the cat is away, the mice will +play.'"</p> + +<p>"Sarah," said Philip, an hour later, "will +you walk on the balcony with me? You +are heated, and the air is balmy as Georgian +breezes. It will do you good."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to scold me?" she asked, +archly, before she would take his arm.</p> + +<p>"No. I have no right to do it if I had +the disposition."</p> + +<p>There was no moon; but the sky was +strewed thickly with stars, and the white +foam of the surf caught and held tremulously +the sparkles from the bright watchers +above. Philip did not appear disposed +to converse, and Sarah waited for him to +begin. Meanwhile, they strolled on and on, +until the murmur of the ocean was louder +than the music of the saloon band. The +sea moaned to the stars, as it had done +to the sunless July heavens on that day +so memorable in the history of one of the +pair—the day of shipwreck stories and a +real shipwreck—none the less disastrous, +that the treasures and their loss were +hidden from all but the bereaved one.</p> + +<p>To many it is appointed to lead two +lives; to think and feel as well as to act +a double part; to separate, as inexorably +as human will can decree, past hopes and +joys—past sorrows, and, if practicable, +past memories from the thoughts and emotions +of the to-day in which they exist. +Thousands keep up the barrier until death +ends the need of watchfulness and labor; +the coffin-lid covers the faithful mask that +has smiled so patiently and so long above +an aching heart. Yet dammed up passion +is a dangerous thing. If hearts were so +constituted that they could be drained +like pestilential marshes, the flood conducted +off in harmless and straight channels, +then, indeed, might hypocrisy rejoice, +and sleek decorum sit down at ease. As it +is, genteel propriety and refined reticence +are perpetually endangered by the unforeseen +swell of some intermittent spring, or +the thawing of some ice-bound stream, +that is liable to overleap or tear away the +dike—ingulfing in an instant the elaborate +structures years of toil have cheaply purchased.</p> + +<p>Such was the moment when, withdrawing +her hand from Philip's arm, Sarah +struck suddenly—fiercely—upon her breast, +and cried: "Oh! why cannot I die and end +this misery!"</p> + +<p>"Sarah!"</p> + +<p>"I say I can bear it no longer! Others +do not suffer thus! If they do, they die, +or lose their reason. I will not endure it, +I tell you!"</p> + +<p>"Sister!"</p> + +<p>"Do not call me by that name, Philip +Benson! You know better!"</p> + +<p>She leaned forward on the balcony railing,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +her eyes fixed on the sea. Her deep, hurried +breathing was like the pant of some worried +animal, gathering strength, and, with +it, courage for renewed conflict. To her +last words the mysterious plaint of the +sea lent meaning. Philip, too, remembered +that barren shore, the tumbling breakers, +the solitary sea-bird's labored flight landward. +Was this his work? It was but a +flicker of truth—dashed out the next second +by a blow of indignant will.</p> + +<p>"You may forbid me to address you by +this title, Sarah; but you cannot hinder +me from sympathizing with you in your sorrow, +and trying to befriend you. If my +companionship is unwelcome, allow me to +conduct you to your room. I cannot leave +you alone here, where there is continual +passing."</p> + +<p>"You are right. Regard for appearances +is the one thing needful," she said, mockingly. +"I must be a dull scholar if I have +not learned that I am sane again now—fit to +associate with other sane people. If you +please, we will go to the ball-room instead +of upstairs. I am not a candidate +for solitary confinement yet!"</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Hammond, I heard a gentleman +inquiring anxiously for you just now!" +called out a lady, in passing. "He said +that you promised to dance with him."</p> + +<p>"I did. Thank you for reminding me. +A little faster, my good brother!"</p> + +<p>She hurried him into the saloon, where +they were met immediately by her would-be +partner. Philip, bewildered and uneasy, +watched her through the evolutions of the +dance. She talked rapidly and animatedly, +keeping her cavalier in a broad smile, and +confirming her lately won reputation of +a wit. Her eyes shone; her color was +high; she was "really handsome"—as the +"censure committee" had occasion to remember +at a later day, when it was +spoken of in a very different tone from +that employed by a member of the distinguished +sisterhood in addressing Mrs. +Hunt on this night.</p> + +<p>"You are a fortunate mother, my dear +madam, to have two such brilliant daughters. +They eclipse the girls entirely."</p> + +<p>"I have nothing to complain of in my +children, ma'am. I done—I did my best +by them, and they have repaid me a thousandfold."</p> + +<p>"Now, I am ready!" said Sarah, to her +brother-in-law. "I release you, Mr. Burley!" +waving her hand to her late attendant +as a princess might to a courtier.</p> + +<p>Vexed and disturbed by her unsettled +manner and queer freaks, Philip gave +her his arm, and conducted her through +the throng.</p> + +<p>"Lewis has had fair winds, and must +now be nearing the end of his voyage," +he remarked, as they sauntered along the +piazza.</p> + +<p>"Ah! he is on the sea to-night! How +strange! I had not thought of that!"</p> + +<p>"I see nothing wonderful in the idea, as +he has not had time to cross the Atlantic +since he left these shores," returned Philip, +dryly. "The oddest thing I can think of at +present is yourself, Sarah!"</p> + +<p>"I am aware of that, Philip. Do not +speak harshly to me! You may be sorry +for it some day."</p> + +<p>They were at her door. Her softened +manner moved him, and as she offered her +hand, he took it with fraternal warmth.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me, if I was rough! I have +not understood you this evening."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is not likely that you ever will. Time +was—but it is folly to allude to that now! +Think of me as kindly as you can—will +you? You have wounded me sometimes, +but never knowingly. I cannot say that +of many others with whom I have had +dealings. Good-night."</p> + +<p>The little parlor was still. Mrs. Hammond +never kept her maid up to assist in +her disrobing, if she intended remaining +out until a late hour. Nurse and child +were quiet in the adjacent nursery. Closing +the door of communication, Sarah +stripped her hair and arms of their ornaments; +took off her diamond pin, then her +rings, and laid them away in her jewelry +case; divested herself of her rich dress, +and drew from her wardrobe a plain, dark +wrapper, which she put on. Next she +sat down at her writing-desk, selected a +sheet of paper, and wrote a single line—when +a thought struck her, and she +stopped. A momentary irresolution ended +in her tearing off a strip containing what +she had penned, and holding it in the +flame of the lamp until it was consumed. +"Best not! best not!" she muttered. +"Doubt may bring comfort to the one or +two who will need it. Let them doubt! +Save appearances if you can, my poor +mother would say." A smile of unutterable +scorn glimmered over her face. She pushed +away the desk and walked to the window.</p> + +<p>From the distant ball-room the throbbing +waves of music still rolled past on the +summer air, and blent with them was +the solemn undertone of the surf. Did men +call its mighty voice a monotone? To her +it was eloquent of many and awful things—not +frightful. What was there of terror +in thoughts of rest, endless sleep, rocked +for ages by the rising and falling tide, +hushed into dreamless repose by the music +of the billows? No more of a vain and +wearisome life; no more baffled aspirations +and crushed affections; no more disheartening +attempts to find and reach the right—to +follow in the steep, rugged path of +duty, and shun the easy, alluring way to +which heart and memory were ever pointing; +no more of stern rebuke and sneering +taunt; no more galled pride and outraged +womanhood; no more lying gayety, smiles, +and repartee, when the spirit was writhing +in impotent agony, longing to shriek out +its intensity of woe! Only sleep, rest, +peace!</p> + +<p>"Sleep! rest peace!" She gasped the +words feverishly, as they seemed to come +to her on the breeze. Might she not +seek these now! now! Not yet! The +grounds, the beach were still populous +with groups of strollers. She would be +seen—perhaps recognized—probably frustrated +in her purpose. Leaning her head +against the casement, she sat there an +hour—not debating, still less wavering in +her resolve, only waiting until flight would +be safe—and thinking! thinking! thinking! +until her brain whirled.</p> + +<p>A thwarted, warped, disjointed existence +had hers been from its beginning. Denied +food suitable for the mental and spiritual +need; denied sympathy, air, and expression +of suffering; under the slow torture of this +starvation, every avenue to goodness and +liberty hedged up, and, for the future, +temptation, repudiation, loneliness, perhaps +a sullied name—who could dispute +her right to try release by one brief pang +she alone could feel? Who would miss her? +Not the world that flattered her wealth +and wit, her laces, silks, and diamonds; +not the mother and sister who worshipped +the gilded Juggernaut "Society;" not he +who was that night sleeping soundly on +the same sea that would embosom her in +her sweeter, deeper slumber. Shocked he +might be at an event so unexpected and +uncommon. His next sensation would be +a relief at his deliverance from a burden, +at his freedom to come and go as he liked—no +longer banished by her obstinacy and +his own. He had loved her as most other +men do their wives—a bond too weak to +bear a heavy blow at their self-love. She +had sinned beyond forgiveness in his eyes.</p> + +<p>Of Philip she thought with a mingling +of tenderness and resentment. His unthinking +gallantry had been the root of +her sorest trouble; but it was unthinking, +not wilful wrong. Nor was she the only +sufferer. His heart was well-nigh as hungry +as hers. Within the past week she +had seen this more clearly than ever before, +and he had felt it! Lucy's narrow +mind, her insipidity, her inordinate vanity, +her selfish idolatry of pleasures that +wearied him; her disrelish for intellectual +and domestic enjoyments, displayed in its +most objectionable form, in her indifference +to his company, and her neglect of her +child—these were working out their legitimate +result in his alienation from her, and +attraction towards the once slighted sister, +whose large heart and mental gifts +he now valued at their true worth. To +repel him, as much as to drown her cares, +Sarah had plunged into the vortex she had +heretofore avoided. She had heard that +there was temporary solace in this species +of dissipation. The cup was, for her, +sparkless and bitter, from surface to dregs.</p> + +<p>She was saving him with herself by this +final step! He would realize this truth, +in the throe that would shake his soul +when he found she was gone; perhaps, +even in that anguished hour, would +bless her for having showed to him, while +she drove him back from, the abyss they +were together approaching. It was no +idle vaunt she had made to Lewis, that +the principles inherited from her father +would save her from overt sin. Thus, +thus would she flee the temptation, when +the heart had left the will to battle unaided.</p> + +<p>Her father! the gray old man who was +toiling through this summer's heat, in his +deserted home, as he had through so many +summers gone! he who had never given +her an impatient or angry word—whose +pride and joy she still was! The stroke +would be severe upon him. Yet he would +not refuse comfort. There were still left +to him his boys—fine, manly fellows; Jeannie +and his baby grandchild—his lost +daughter's gift. Tears rushed into the hot, +wild eyes with this last image, but she +would not let them flow.</p> + +<p>"Is it not better that I should leave her +now, when the parting will give her no +pain, when one little week will blot out my +memory entirely from her mind, than to +wait until she can recollect and miss me?"</p> + +<p>The music had ceased. The revellers had +dropped away faster than they had collected, +when once the movement was made +to retire. The murmur of the deep was +the only sound abroad; the stars were +the only sentinels. Sarah arose, threw a +shawl over her head, and cautiously unlocked +the door. A strong rush of air +blew it from her hold, and as she caught +it, to draw it after her, she trod upon +some object lying on the floor. Mechanically +she stooped to pick it up. It was an +infant's shoe, a dainty little gaiter, that +peeped, during the day, from beneath +Baby Belle's white skirt. To Sarah's +touch it seemed that the lining still retained +the warmth of the child's foot.</p> + +<p>Never, oh, never, was the patter of those +baby feet to make glad music for the +mother's ear! Others must guide and sustain +her trial steps; others smooth her +daily path; others direct the inexperience +of the girl in the perilous passes where +that mother had fallen and perished!</p> + +<p>"Oh, may I not bless her before I leave +her forever?" she cried to stern Resolution. +And Conscience rejoined, with meaning +severity: "Is it you who would breathe +a blessing above her purity?"</p> + +<p>"Suffer me, then, to take the farewell +look I dared not grant myself before!"</p> + +<p>And while Resolution faltered at the +impassioned appeal, she opened the nursery +door and stole to the side of the crib. +The night-lamp shed a feeble halo over the +table whereon it stood. The rest of the +room was in darkness. Mary's light bedstead +was close to the crib. Was hers +that hard, short breathing, that sent a +start and chill through the hearer? A +touch to the lamp threw a blaze of light +over nurse and child. A sharp cry rang +through the chamber.</p> + +<p>"Mary, Mary! get up!"</p> + +<p>The girl sprang to the floor before she +comprehended the meaning of the alarm. +Mrs. Hammond had sunk into a chair +beside the crib, from which she had +snatched her infant. Baby Belle's head +was strained back; her hands clenched; +her limbs stiffened in a death-like spasm. +The eyes were rolled out of sight under +the lids; and the four little teeth—her +"most precious pearls," the fond mother +had called them—were hard-locked within +the purple lips.</p> + +<p>Terrified as she was, Mary had the presence +of mind to run for assistance. Mrs. +Hunt and a physician were soon on the +spot, and every appliance of the healing +art that promised relief to the sufferer +was used, but with partial effect. Sarah +saw nothing but the child; heard nothing +but the doctor's calm orders.</p> + +<p>"You do not try to help her!" she said, +impatiently, as a convulsion, more fearful +than any that had preceded it, seized the +delicate frame.</p> + +<p>"I could not do more, were it my own +child, madam!"</p> + +<p>He was an elderly man, whose charity +for fashionable mothers was very scant, +and, having seen Mrs. Hammond in the +ball-room the evening before, he was not +prepared for the solicitude she manifested.</p> + +<p>"You had better let the nurse take her!" +he said, more gently, as Sarah, with difficulty, +held down the struggling hands +that might do hurt to the head and face.</p> + +<p>"No! I will have no one touch her but +myself!"</p> + +<p>The morning broke, the day heightened +into noon, and the paroxysms only +abated in violence as the babe's strength +declined. Steadfast to her word, the +mother had not once resigned her. She +had herself immersed her in the warm +baths, applied the poultices, and administered +the medicines prescribed. Mrs. +Hunt was compassionate and active; Mary +sorrowful, and prompt with whatever service<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +she could perform; Lucy frightened +and idle.</p> + +<p>Philip, who had often been in the outer +room to make inquiries and offer aid, if +any were required of him, was told, just +before sunset, that he could go into the +chamber. Mrs. Hunt invited him, and the +information she added gave to his countenance +a look of heartfelt sadness as he +followed her. Sarah sat in the middle of +the room, so altered that he could scarcely +credit the fact of her identity with the +being he had parted from the previous +night. Her eyes were sunken, her features +sharpened, and her complexion had the +dead, grayish hue of an old woman's. In +her arms lay the babe, and, as she +crouched over it, her mien of defiant protection +suggested to him the idea of a +savage animal guarding her young. He +could not say whether or not she was +aware of his presence, until he knelt by +the dying child and called it by name.</p> + +<p>"Baby Belle, do you know Uncle Philip?"</p> + +<p>The dark eyes, soft still through the +gathering film, moved slightly, and Sarah +said—</p> + +<p>"Speak to her again!"</p> + +<p>"Will Baby Belle come to uncle?"</p> + +<p>This time there was no sign of consciousness. +The wee hands clasped in the +mother's grew colder and colder, and the +breath fluttered slowly through the parted +lips. The end was near, and Philip's pitying +accent expressed his sense of this.</p> + +<p>"Give her to me, dear Sarah! It is not +right for you to keep her longer."</p> + +<p>"She is mine!"</p> + +<p>The glare that came to her eye with the +three words revealed a desperation that +would have done battle with the King of +Terrors, had he appeared in visible shape +to claim his victim.</p> + +<p>More faintly, slowly, trembled the life +over the sweet mouth, and the hands, like +waxen shapes, lay pulseless in the mother's +clasp; while through the silent room +flowed the dirge of the sea. Shaken by +the freshening breeze of evening, the +shutters of the western window swung +ajar, letting in a golden ray upon mother +and child, and along that path of light +the untarnished soul of Baby Belle was +borne by its waiting angel—home!</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + + +<p>Aunt Sarah sat in the wide porch at the +back of her house, knitting in hand. It +was a still, but not oppressive August +afternoon. There was not a ruffle on the +bright surface of the river, and the long +meadow grass was as smoothly spread out +in the yellow sunshine. From the poultry-yard +on the left arose a pleasant murmur, +and now and then a stray hen tiptoed +around the end of the house, singing +idly as she rambled. Charley lay on the +green mound—his old reading-room—with +a book before him, and to him Aunt +Sarah's motherly eyes turned most frequently. +Those kindly orbs were dimmer +than they were two summers ago, and the +gentle face was a thought more pensive. +A glance into the sitting-room window, +from where she sat, would have showed +one Uncle Nathan's empty arm-chair in the +chimney corner, and above it were suspended +his cane and broad-brimmed hat, +just as he had put them off when he took +his departure for a country where neither +shelter nor staff is needed. Aunt Sarah's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +cap had a widow's border now; and in +her faithful heart there was a sadder void +than the death of her children had created—loving +parent though she was—and yet +more plentiful springs of sympathy for +others bereaved and suffering.</p> + +<p>Her rocking-chair was set near the entrance +of the hall that bisected the dwelling; +and the front and back doors being +open, she had a fair view of the public +road, whenever she chose to look up the +lane. The Shrewsbury stage met the boat +at four o'clock, or soon after; and hearing +a rumbling along the highway, which she +knew presaged its transit through this +end of the village, the old lady leaned +forward to catch a glimpse of the trunks +upon the roof; this being all she could distinguish +with certainty above the fence.</p> + +<p>"Why, it is stopping here!" she ejaculated, +getting up to obtain a better look. +"Who upon earth can it be?"</p> + +<p>The coach rolled on, and the passenger +for the farm-house came through the gate +and down the lane. She was dressed in +black, wore a crape veil, and carried a +small hand-trunk. With a hospitable instinct, +Aunt Sarah advanced to the front +porch to meet her, still entirely in the dark +as to who it could be.</p> + +<p>"She has a different look from any of +the neighbors; and there's nobody in York +that would be likely to come to see me, +except Betsy's people, and it can't be +either of her girls!"</p> + +<p>At this stage of her cogitations, the +visitant reached the step on which the +hostess stood, and put away the long veil +from a face so worn and seamed with +grief, so hollow-eyed and old, that the +good aunt screamed outright in her distressed +astonishment—</p> + +<p>"Sarah, dear child! can this be you?"</p> + +<p>"What I am now, Aunt Sarah. May I +come in and stay with you a little while?"</p> + +<p>"Stay with me, poor darling! As long as +you like, and welcome! Come right in; +you don't look fit to stand!"</p> + +<p>She was not; for, now that the necessity +for exertion was removed, she was faint +and trembling. Aunt Sarah helped her upstairs +to the room she had occupied at her +former visit, undressed her, and put her +to bed. Sarah submitted like a child, too +much exhausted to resist being made an +invalid of, or to offer any explanation of +her singular apparition. She had not slept +an hour at a time for many nights; yet +when she had drunk a cup of tea, and +tried to eat a bit of toast her aunt prepared +and brought up to her, she fell into +a profound slumber, which lasted until +long after sunrise on the following morning. +Unclosing her eyes then, they rested +upon the dear face, shaded by the widow's +cap, that watched at her bedside. A shadowy +phantom of a smile flitted over her +features at the recognition.</p> + +<p>"It was not a dream, then?" she said +languidly. "But I have dreamed of you +often, of late—every night in which I have +had any sleep. Aunt Sarah, I must tell +you why I came to you!"</p> + +<p>"Not now, dear," Aunt Sarah hastened to +say, seeing the wild stare and the cloud +return to her countenance. "Wait until +you are stronger. I will bring up your +breakfast, and when you have eaten it, +you may try to dress, if you like. There +will be time enough for your story, by-and-by. +Charley is in a great fidget to see +you."</p> + +<p>Sarah submitted to the delay; but it was +plain that she was not satisfied with it, +and that her mind would be easier when +once the tale was told. Aunt Sarah hindered +her no longer a time than sufficed +for her to take the much needed refreshment, +to bathe and dress, and to see and +exchange a few sentences with Charley, +who supported her down to the sitting-room. +There, resting among the pillows +of the lounge, Aunt Sarah beside her, with +the ubiquitous knitting-work in hand, lest +too close observation should confuse her +niece, the stricken one unfolded the whole +of her sad history.</p> + +<p>No more affecting proof could have been +given of her prostrated mind and will than +this unreserved recital. The secret she had +sold conscience and liberty to preserve, +she communicated now without a blush. +Here—where she had formed the intimacy +that had shadowed so darkly her after +days—she detailed every step of the wrong +course to which this weakness was a +key; went over all—the stormy parting +with her husband; her conviction of the +mutual peril she and Philip were tempting +in their daily communion; her resolve of +self-destruction—as circumstantially as if +she were relating the biography of another.</p> + +<p>Aunt Sarah, horrified and pitiful by +turns, struggled with indifferent success to +maintain equal composure, and against +growing doubts of the narrator's sanity. +It was a striking and instructive contrast: +the world-weary woman returning for consolation +and advice to the simple-minded +matron, to whom the artificial existence +she now heard depicted—its gilded vices +and giddy round of vanities; its trials and +temptations—were a wonderful, a monstrous +tale, as foreign to her sphere of principles +and feelings as if they had transpired in +another world. But when Sarah came to +speak of her child, her manner changed, +her voice was hoarse and uneven, and +over the careworn visage there went such +alterations of fierceness and heart-breaking +sorrow that the listening mother, upon +whose soul the shadow of her own children's +graves still lay long and dark, could +hear no more in silence.</p> + +<p>"My poor girl!" she cried, falling on her +knees, and throwing her arms around the +reclining figure. "Dear child! Our Father +in heaven pity and comfort you! There +is no help in man for such trouble as +yours!"</p> + +<p>Sarah had not shed a tear in the course +of her story. She said afterwards that +she had not wept since they took her dead +baby from her clasp; but at this burst of +unfeigned sympathy, this gush of pure +love and compassion, the burning rock was +cleft, and a blessed flood streamed from +it. For some minutes they wept together +without restraint, and when the more quiet +grief of the elder mourner was repressed, +the other still clung, sobbing to her bosom.</p> + +<p>Aunt Sarah held and soothed her as she +would have done a sorrowful child; stroking +away the hair from her forehead, +drying and kissing the tear-stained cheeks, +with many an epithet of fond reassurance.</p> + +<p>"Let me finish! There is very little +more!" resumed Sarah, keeping her aunt's +hand fast in both of hers. "We went back +to the city, and the next day we laid her in +Greenwood. We stayed at father's—I +would not return to the house that used +to be mine. Father was very kind, and +mother meant to be; but she tormented +me with suggestions and consultations +about my black clothes. Lucy was pining +to get back to Newport. She said it was +hot and dull in New York. Philip wanted +to comfort me, but I shunned him, and I +think he was hurt by my conduct; but +it was best, was it not, Aunt Sarah?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, dear!"</p> + +<p>"I had often imagined myself lonely before; +but I never dreamed of such a horror +of desolation as filled my soul during the +two days that I remained there, after all +was over. Twenty times each night I +would start from a feverish doze, thinking +that I heard my baby cry or moan as she +did in the intervals of those awful convulsions; +and then would come in upon +me, as if I had never felt it until then, +the truth that I could never see her again, +and that my wicked, wicked intention of +deserting her had brought this judgment +upon me. I could not stay there, Aunt +Sarah! I heard other voices besides my +child's in the air, and saw strange, grinning +faces in the darkness. But the worst +was to see that, to every one but me, the +world was the same that it had ever been. +Father looked grave when I was in his +sight; but the children could laugh and +talk as if nothing had happened, and I +have seen mother and Lucy chattering +merrily in the room with the dressmaker +over my new dresses, while they were +criticizing the crape trimmings. And I +had buried my last earthly hope in my +baby's grave! Then I remembered you, +and how you had talked to me of your lost +children, and how you had assured me of +a home in your heart and house whenever +I chose to claim it, and I believed in you, +Aunt Sarah! There are not many whom +I do trust; but I was sure you never said +what you did not mean. I would not tell +them that I was coming for I feared they +would prevent me. I slipped out of the +house when none of them were at home, +and went to the nearest hack-stand, where +I got into a carriage and drove down to +the boat."</p> + +<p>"My dear, did you leave no letter to let +them know where you had gone?"</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am. I was afraid they would +come or send for me, and I cannot go +back."</p> + +<p>"But your father—your mother! Did you +not think how distressed they would be +when they missed you? And your reputation? +What will be said when it's known +that you have left your father's house, +and no one knows where you are? You are +very weak and tired, dear; but you must +sit up, right away, and write a note home. +Tell them that I will take care of you +as long as you like to stay with me, but +don't lose a minute! You may be in time +for the afternoon boat."</p> + +<p>Sarah obeyed; and the careful old lady +hurried Charley off to the boat, with directions +to place the billet in the hands of +the captain, who was a personal friend, +and could be relied upon to post it directly +he reached the city.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hunt replied without delay. Sarah's +absence had given rise to the most harrowing +conjectures, made plausible by her +extreme melancholy and fitful behavior +since her infant's death. The police had +been privately notified of her disappearance, +and cautiously worded advertisements +inserted in the papers. He regretted +to add that Mr. Marlow, who, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +Mr. Hammond's nearest friend, was informed +of the distressing occurrence, had +thought proper to communicate the intelligence +to Mr. H. before Sarah's note arrived, +and the steamer bearing the letter +had sailed. Mr. Hunt expressed himself +as entirely willing that his daughter should +remain in her present retreat until her +health of mind and body was re-established, +but did not conceal his disapprobation +of the manner of her leaving home.</p> + +<p>Aunt Sarah looked concerned as she read +this epistle, which her niece had passed +over to her.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry for your husband, my dear. +This affliction, coming so close upon the +other, will be a dreadful blow. It is a +pity they did not wait awhile, until they +knew something of your whereabouts, before +writing to him.</p> + +<p>"I am more sorry that the news must +be contradicted," was the reply. "As we +are now situated, the certainty of my +death would be a relief to him. This was +my reflection that night"—She left the +sentence unfinished.</p> + +<p>"My dear!" Aunt Sarah removed her +spectacles, and surveyed her niece with +her kind, serious eyes. "Have you made +up your mind to live separate from your +husband for the rest of your life?"</p> + +<p>"What else should I do, aunt? He will +never come back unless I promise to love +him, and that cannot be."</p> + +<p>"That doesn't alter the fact of your +duty, as I look at it. You ought to make +him an offer to do right, at any rate. It +would have been easier and pleasanter to +live with him, if you had felt for him as a +woman should for the man she marries; +but you are married to him, and in the +sight of the Lord you ought to cleave to +him, and him only. That is a solemn covenant, +dear—'for richer, for poorer; for +better, for worse!' 'Those whom God hath +joined together, let not man put asunder!' +It doesn't excuse people, who take these +vows upon them when the right spirit is +wanting, that they never thought how +awful the engagement was. Their obligations +are just the same, whether they love +or not."</p> + +<p>"The responsibility does not rest with +me. I performed my duty while we were +together. The separation was his act, and +he must abide the consequences. I have +erred greatly, Aunt Sarah; but ever since +the night of our rupture, my conscience +has been easy with respect to Mr. Hammond. +I confessed that I had misled him, +and begged his pardon. Could I do more?"</p> + +<p>"Put the case to yourself, child! Do not +be angry if I speak out my mind, and +use against you some things you have told +me. When you saw that Philip was growing +to like you better and better, and that +you felt nearer to him every day, why did +you determine to die sooner than to have +things go on so?"</p> + +<p>"Because it would have been a crime +for us to love each other—infamous treachery +to my sister, to his wife, for us to +name the word between us."</p> + +<p>"And how would Lucy have felt, if you +had come to an understanding and spoken +out the true feeling of your hearts?"</p> + +<p>"Hers is a careless, indolent nature, but +this insult would have aroused her. She +would never have forgiven him or me, +had she suspected a warmer sentiment +on either side than that of friendship."</p> + +<p>"But an honorable, affectionate man like<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +your husband, who thought his wife the +most precious thing in the world, was to +forget his disappointment, overlook your +lack of love and truth towards him, only +because you allowed that he had found +out your real feelings at last, and all the +excuse you could give was that you could +not help them! You were the one in fault +all the way through, from the day you +engaged to marry him, up to the minute +when you would not say the word he +begged from you to keep him at home. +It is right that all the advance should +come from you."</p> + +<p>High-spirited as Sarah was, she was not +angered by this plain-speaking. "Faithful +are the wounds of a friend;" and she felt +that she had but this one. Aunt Sarah +studied her thoughtful countenance before +she renewed the argument.</p> + +<p>"I am an old-fashioned woman, dear—born +and bred in the country, where, thank +God! I have spent all my life. But I've +been thinking about your story of the way +people act and feel up there in York, and +maybe in all other great, fine, money-making +cities, and my notion is just this. +I look back of their pushing and straining +after riches, and show, and worldly vanities; +every man for himself, and the one +that climbs highest, forgetting as soon as +he gets there that he was ever any lower, +and ready to kick over anybody that tries +to get alongside of him; and I see that +they have lost sight of the second great +commandment—'Thou shalt love thy neighbor +as thyself.' Then I look back of this +too, and I see where the greatest sin is, +and—dear, bear with me! I see where +you have gone furthest astray. Here's a +passage I was reading this morning that +tells the whole story." She raised the +Bible from the table, and laid it upon +Sarah's lap, pointing as she did so to +these words enclosed in brackets:</p> + +<p>"Because thou hast forgotten the God +of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful +of the rock of thy strength, therefore +shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt +set it with strange slips. In the day thou +shalt make thy plant to grow, and in the +morning shalt thou make thy seed to +flourish; but the harvest shall be a heap +in the day of grief and desperate sorrow!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hunt would have regarded as an insult +any expressed doubt of her religious +principles and practice. She had a desirable +pew in the fashionable church which +was nearest her residence, and, stormy +Sabbaths excepted, it was generally full +at morning service. When her children +were presentable as to looks, very young +babies being seldom pretty, they were offered +in fine lawn and Valenciennes at +the font for the rite of baptism; and not +a confirmation had passed since her daughters +were grown, that she did not fancy +how interesting they would look, kneeling +before the surpliced bishop, heads gracefully +bowed, and the regards of the whole +congregation fixed upon them. Sarah +never could be brought to the performance +of the commonest act of public worship, +unless it was to rise with the rest, when +a standing posture was prescribed by the +prayer-book; and she shocked her mother +by declaring that she only did this because +she was tired of sitting! Lucy's +serene grace of devoutness was beautiful, +if not edifying to behold. Those who occupied +adjacent pews involuntarily suppressed +their responses as her mellow +tones repeated, with melancholy sweetness—"Have +mercy upon us, miserable sinners!" +And as the melting cadences entranced +their ears, the lovely penitent was +speculating upon the probable cost of Miss +Hauton's Parisian hat, or coveting Mrs. +Beau Monde's sable cloak.</p> + +<p>If Sarah had even heard of regeneration, +it was as a technical phrase of the church +articles and christening service. Of its +practical meaning, its inward application, +its absolute necessity to the safety of the +soul, she had as vague a conception as a +Parsee or New Zealand cannibal would +have formed. She had read the Bible in +connection with rhetorical lectures, and +admired it as a noble specimen of Oriental +literature. What other associations could +she have with it? A handsome copy of the +Holy Scriptures, surmounted by a book +of common prayer, lay on a stand in Mrs. +Hunt's third and rear parlor, and was +dusted when a like attention was paid to +the other ornaments of tables and etageres. +An Oxford edition, russet antique, formed +one of the wedding-gifts of each of the +sisters, and in due time was laid in pious +pomp on its purple pillow in the library +corner. It was hardly strange, then, that +the quotation, so apposite to the case in +point, should fail to impress her very +strongly. Aunt Sarah had gone out, deeming +solitary reflection the best means of +enforcing the lesson she had tried to inculcate, +and, after re-reading the two +verses, without further appropriation of +their meaning, Sarah turned leaf after leaf +of the volume, catching here and there a +sentence of the large print, so grateful to +the failing sight of her who was its daily +student.</p> + +<p>"David said unto his servants—'Is the +child dead?' And they said, 'He is dead!'"</p> + +<p>The smitten chord in the mother's heart +sent out a ring of pain, and her listless +hand paused upon the open page. It is a +simple story—the royal parent's unavailing +wrestle with the Chastener, the dread end +of his suspense, and the affliction, made +manifest in the calm resignation, the sanctified +trust of the mourner. But when +received as Sarah read it, with the vision +of a similar death-scene intermixing itself +with its unadorned details, the fresh blood +still welling from the wound made by the +tearing away of a portion of one's own +life, every line is fraught with truth and +pathos.</p> + +<p>"Can I bring him back again? I shall +go to him, but he shall not return to me!"</p> + +<p>"Go to her! Oh, if I could! My baby! +my baby!"</p> + +<p>To the low, sad cry succeeded a season of +yearning and of tears. It was an echo of +the wail of the heathen mother who, centuries +ago, having seen her babes slain before +her eyes, cried aloud, in unselfish +agony, as the sword, reeking with their +blood, was plunged into her own bosom—"Oh, +my children! where are ye?"</p> + +<p>Sleep on, in thy lowly bed upon the hillside, +sweet Baby Belle! Like the pale +buds that are fading with thee in thy narrow +resting-place, thy mission on earth is +accomplished. Joy, young freed spirit, if, +stealing through the melodies of heaven, +there comes to thee the whisper of that +mother's call! Fair lamb! the love that +folded thee in the Shepherd's arms designed +likewise, in recalling thee, to lure +the wandering parent home!</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + + +<blockquote> + +<p>"My Dear Lewis: Before you receive this letter, +you will have had the explanation of my disappearance +from New York. A merciful Providence +directed me, in my partial derangement, to this +peaceful retreat. Here I have found rest for body +and soul—peace such as the world could never +give the heart, even were it not bowed down by +a sorrow like mine. Not that I forget past errors; +nor that the review does not humble me in the +dust. I confess, with shame and bitterness of +spirit, my wasted years, my unsanctified affections, +my evil passions. But for the assurance of the +Father's pardon, the Saviour's loving pity, the +black catalogue would strike me dead with horror +and anguish. It is a fearful thing to be made to +see one's self as she is; to scan in terrified solicitude +the record of a life, and find there nothing +better than pride, misanthropy, falsehood, hatred +of men—rebellion against God. It is a sweet experience +to taste, however tremblingly, the consolations +of the Friend who invites the weary and +heavy-laden to draw near and learn of Him. In +His strength—not in that feebleness I once called +power—have I resolved to lead a new life. Of the +causes which have contributed to produce this +change, we will speak more at length when we +meet.</p> + +<p>"'When we meet!' Lewis, will you, can you +forget your manifold wrongs and come back to me? +I do not plead, now, 'for the sake of our child.' +Her sinless soul henceforth can know no pain or +woe. God saw that I was not worthy of her, and +He took her. In the earlier weeks of my selfish +mourning, I had no thought of your bereavement. +Latterly, I have longed to comfort you, for I +know that your heart is riven by this stroke. She +was your joy, as she was my angel of peace. Her +loss is our common sorrow. Shall it not draw us +together? Yet, as I have said, our estrangement +cannot now affect her. Thoughtless of evil, she +passed away. Had she lived, the Omniscient only +knows what grief and mortification might have +darkened her pathway. Nor do I desire a reconciliation +as a shield from the world's sneer or ban. +I hold its applause and its censure alike cheaply. +In prosperity, its favors were painted, tasteless +fruit; in adversity, it would have fed my starving +heart with husks. But for my sake—by the +thought of my late and sore repentance; by the +remorse that must gnaw my spirit, when I remember +your noble trust in me, your unswerving fidelity, +your generous love and my base requital of it +all; by the sorrow that never leaves me by day or +by night—forgive me, and return to the home we +have both forsaken! I will serve you very faithfully, +my husband! I have gained other and higher +views of the marriage relation within a short time +past. However presumptuously I may have assumed +its responsibilities, however unworthily I +performed its duties in former days, I would enter +upon our re-engagement with a solemn sense of +what I owe to you and to Him who united us. +You must have despised me at our parting, and +since. Perhaps you have come to think of me with +dislike as well as contempt. I will bear this—grievous +though the burden will be—as a part of +my righteous punishment. I will never murmur—never, +even in thought, accuse you of unjust harshness, +if you will grant me the opportunity to make +what amends I can for all you have lost and suffered +through my fault."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Sarah was still far from strong; and wearied as +much by the intensity of her feelings as by the +manual effort of writing, she laid the pen down, +and leaned back in the cushioned chair. Her table +stood in the parlor beneath the window overlooking +the river. The room was prim and clean, as of +yore, with its straight lines of chairs; its shining +specks of mirrors; the grim black profiles above +the mantel, and the green boughs in the fireplace. +The outer scene was in its general features, that +which the girl had surveyed, with pleased surprise, +the July evening of her arrival here two years ago.</p> + +<p>Only two years! The sufferings and life-lessons +of twenty had been crowded into that brief space. +The meadows were growing sere, as if scorching +winds had swept over them, and the stream reflected<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +truthfully, yet, one could have fancied, +sadly, the changing foliage fringing its borders. +But the sky, with its tender blue and its fleecy +clouds, ever shifting, yet ever retaining their likeness +to one another—the river's smooth, steady +flow, were the same; fit emblems both of them of +counsels which are mercy and truth through all +their workings; of love that abideth forever!</p> + +<p>The train of thought was replete with refreshing +to the spirit that was striving, in prayer and watchfulness, +to adhere to the right, to accept, with +meek submission, all that her cup yet held of +pungent or nauseous lees. There was no affectation +in the humble tone of her letter. She would +not begin it until she had mastered the stubborn +remnant of her native pride. It should be nothing +to her that her husband had wilfully separated +himself from her, and refused her overtures of +reconcilement. If this was unkindness it was all +she could reproach him with in the course of time +they had spent together. He had been a true +friend, an honorable protector, and dimly still, but +more justly than ever before, she perceived that +into his love for her there had entered none of the +merely prudential considerations, the cool calculations, +wherewith she used to account for his choice +of herself as a helpmeet. Where, in the world's +heartless circles, could she point out another wife +as much indulged, as much honored in public and +in private, as she once was by him? Mournfully, +if not lovingly, she dwelt upon the countless evidences +of his cordial fulfillment, in letter and in +spirit, of his part of their mutual engagement, with +something of the sinking heart the alchemist may +have felt when, after he had, by a mechanical and +habitual fling of his arm, tossed the eagerly-sought +philosopher's stone into the sea as a worthless +pebble, he discovered that the divining steel he +held had been changed to gold by its touch.</p> + +<p>To whom of us has not an experience similar to +this come? It may be that the eyes which once +besought affection with dumb and disregarded eloquence +are closed and rayless for all future time; +the lips that told, with modest frankness, how dear +we were to hearts we cared not then to win, are +now but silent dust. Or, perchance, grieved by +indifference, repelled by unkindness, those hearts +have sought and found in other loves solace for the +pain we, in our blindness inflicted. It matters little +whether they be dead to all the world, or only +to us. In either case, the longing and despair of +our lonely lives are rendered the more unendurable +from the flash of tardy truth that shows us, side +by side with our actual poverty of heart riches, the +tranquil beauty of the pictured "might have been."</p> + +<p>Aunt Sarah had gone on a visit to a neighbor; +the hired girl was in the distant wash-house; and +Charley considered it his duty to linger within +easy reach of his cousin, should she need him for +any purpose. To guard her from all chance of intrusion, +he stationed himself on the front porch +steps, with his book on his knee. For an hour he +read on uninterruptedly; then, glancing up as he +turned a leaf, he saw a gentleman coming down +the gravel walk. He looked thin and anxious, and +his restless eye wandered from door to windows, as +in expectation of seeing some one beside the boy. +With a ready apprehension of his infirmity, only to +be accounted for by some prior knowledge of the +person he saluted, he took from his pocket a card, +which he presented before he shook hands with the +silent host. Charley's intelligent face was one +beam of pleasure as he read, and his warm grasp +showed his sympathy in the happiness he fancied +was in store for his cousin. Inviting the guest by +a gesture to follow him, he went softly to the parlor-door, +tapped lightly—too lightly, indeed, to attract +the notice of the musing occupant of the +room, then drew back the bolt, admitted the +stranger, and delicately withdrew.</p> + +<p>Sarah heard the door open and Charley's retreating +footsteps, and, supposing that he had peeped +in to see that she was comfortable and wanted for +nothing, she did not look around. The intruder +stood still one step within the room, as if unable +to advance or speak. The languid attitude of the +figure before him, so unlike the self-poise and +quiet energy of her former deportment, her black +dress, even the wasted hands dropped so wearily<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +upon her lap, told of the storm that had passed +over her, the utter revolution in her life and +nature. A struggling sigh he could not repress +broke from the gazer's breast, and Sarah turned +hastily towards him. She did not swoon, as he +feared she would. A thrill, like an electric shock, +shook her from head to foot; a wild inquiry looked +from her eyes; a question or the reality of the +appearance, succeeding so closely to—did it grow +out of her revery?</p> + +<p>Lewis put this imagination to flight.</p> + +<p>"Sarah!" he said, pressing in his the hands she +extended mutely. "They told me you were lost, +and I hurried home to find you. I could not wait +for your permission to come to you, when I learned +in New York that I had a living wife! The loss +of the child was heavy enough; but this"—He +could say no more.</p> + +<p>"I am thankful! I am glad that you are here!" +A faint, beautiful smile shone over her wan features. +"And our baby, Lewis! We must remember +that she is an angel now!"</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + + +<p>To no one except Aunt Sarah were the facts of +the estrangement and reconciliation of her relatives +ever revealed, and within her faithful bosom the +secret was hidden as securely as in a tomb.</p> + +<p>Great was the chagrin of gossips, male and +female, when it was known that Mrs. Hammond's +strange flight from her father's house, which had +leaked out nobody knew how, and been variously +construed into an elopement, a freak of derangement, +and a deliberate intention of suicide, according +to the degrees of charity possessed by the +theorists, was a very innocent and unromantic +journey to the country home of her favorite aunt +and godmother, a lady of ample fortune and +benevolent heart, who would, in all probability, +make her namesake her heiress. Under her care, +and for the benefit of the seclusion so congenial +to one in her affliction, and the salt air so necessary +for the restoration of her impaired health, +Mrs. Hammond had remained until her husband's +return from abroad.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hunt had told Mrs. A., who had told Mrs. +B., who repeated it to Mrs. C., how he had not +stopped in New York an hour after he stepped +ashore from the "Adriatic." He hurried to the +bank, and ascertained from Mr. Hunt that his wife +was with her aunt, and that a boat which would +land him near Shrewsbury was to leave in fifteen +minutes. So he drove down post-haste, and jumped +on board of her after the plank had been drawn +and the wheels began to move. There never was +a more devoted husband or a more attached pair, +Mrs. Hunt affirmed.</p> + +<p>"More than she could say for that flirting Mrs. +Benson and her other half," agreed A., B. and C., +unanimously.</p> + +<p>"Her conduct at Newport was scandalous, and +would have been outrageous if he had not watched +her like a lynx!" said Mrs. Beau Monde, who had +never been able to secure one-half as many admirers +as had Lucy, and hated her as honestly as +if they were a couple of Biddies pulling caps for +Patrick or Murphy.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why he should have felt jealous, I +am sure. He wasn't dying of love for her! That +could be seen with half an eye. They say he loved +Mrs. Hammond before he addressed her sister, and +married this one out of spite," rejoined Mrs. +Townes, who had made beaux yeux at the distingue +Southerner for three whole evenings, and won only +the most indifferent glances in requital.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Hammond behaved very prudently!" pronounced +Mrs. Greyling, "and dressed very well. I +suppose Mr. Hammond brought her some elegant +things from abroad. Pity she is in mourning, and +must dress plainly at present! If I were in her +place—as it was only a baby—I would not wear +black more than six months, unless it was very +becoming."</p> + +<p>"She has become very religious, you know," +said Mrs. Parton.</p> + +<p>"Indeed! People are apt to, I think, when +there has been death in the family," concluded +Mrs. Greyling, pensively. "I remember, when my +poor sister died, I used to look forward to church +and Sunday with real pleasure. I could not go +anywhere on week-days, you know, although there +were piles of tickets lying in my card-receiver, and +we had just taken a box at the opera that very +winter! I declare, I should have lost the run of +the fashions entirely, and forgotten people's faces, +if I had not gone to church. I dare say, too, +that she finds some comfort in religion—poor +woman! if what the preachers and good books tell +us be true."</p> + +<p>Had Sarah found comfort?</p> + +<p>Look we, for reply, to the chastened lustre of +the eye, where once burned restless fires, like the +sunward gaze of the imprisoned eagle; to the holy +serenity struggling through and finally dispelling +the clouds of memory and regret that, at times, +would roll in between her soul and the bright, sustaining +hope upon which Faith would have its regards +forever fixed; to her daily life, sanctified by +prayer, beneficent in good works, and by its unostentatious +loveliness winning others, first to admire, +then to imitate; to the wifely submission and +loving kindness of her bearing to her husband, her +grateful estimate of the affection he lavished upon +her, the deep, true tenderness growing up in her +heart for this fond and noble companion; look we, +lastly, to the snowy marble guarding that tiny +mound in Greenwood, where the mother once believed +that hope and joy were buried to know no +awakening.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"BABY BELLE,"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">infant daughter of<br /></span> +<span class="i0">LEWIS AND SARAH HAMMOND.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">She went home<br /></span> +<span class="i0">July 16, 1858, aged 8 months.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Is it well with thee? Is it well with thy husband?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is it well with the child?"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And she answered, "It is well!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">[THE END.]</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> + + + +<div class="transnote"> + +<p class="ph2">TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:</p> + +<p> Obvious printer errors have been corrected. Otherwise, +the author's original spelling, punctuation and hyphenation +have been left intact.</p> +</div> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 48461 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/48461-h/images/cover-image.jpg b/48461-h/images/cover-image.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..569f7db --- /dev/null +++ b/48461-h/images/cover-image.jpg |
