按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
night…time and the dying storm。
I waited till the last humming echo of the clock fainted into
dead stillness。 I listened once more attentively； and again
listened in vain。 Then I rose； and proposed to my brothers that
we should leave our guest to compose herself for the night。
When Owen and Morgan were ready to quit the room； I took her by
the hand； and drew her a little aside。
〃You leave us early； my dear；〃 I said； 〃but； before you go
to…morrow morning〃
I stopped to listen for the last time； before the words were
spoken which committed me to the desperate experiment of pleading
George's cause in defiance of his own request。 Nothing caught my
ear but the sweep of the weary weakened wind and the melancholy
surging of the shaken trees。
〃But； before you go to…morrow morning；〃 I resumed； 〃I want to
speak to you in private。 We shall breakfast at eight o'clock。 Is
it asking too much to beg you to come and see me alone in my
study at half past seven？〃
Just as her lips opened to answer me I saw a change pass over her
face。 I had kept her hand in mine while I was speaking； and I
must have pressed it unconsciously so hard as almost to hurt her。
She may even have uttered a few words of remonstrance； but they
never reached me： my whole hearing sense was seized； absorbed；
petrified。 At the very instant when I had ceased speaking； I； and
I alone； heard a faint sounda sound that was new to mefly
past the Glen Tower on the wings of the wind。
〃Open the window； for God's sake！〃 I cried。
My hand mechanically held hers tighter and tighter。 She struggled
to free it； looking hard at me with pale cheeks and frightened
eyes。 Owen hastened up and released her； and put his arms round
me。
〃Griffith； Griffith！〃 he whispered； 〃control yourself； for
George's sake。〃
Morgan hurried to the window and threw it wide open。
The wind and rain rushed in fiercely。 Welcome； welcome wind！ They
all heard it now。 〃Oh； Father in heaven； so merciful to fathers
on earthmy son； my son！〃
It came in； louder and louder with every gust of windthe
joyous； rapid gathering roll of wheels。 My eyes fastened on her
as if they could see to her heart； while she stood there with her
sweet face turned on me all pale and startled。 I tried to speak
to her； I tried to break away from Owen's arms； to throw my own
arms round her； to keep her on my bosom； till _he_ came to take
her from me。 But all my strength had gone in the long waiting and
the long suspense。 My head sank on Owen's breastbut I still
heard the wheels。 Morgan loosened my cravat； and sprinkled water
over my faceI still heard the wheels。 The poor terrified girl
ran into her room； and came back with her smelling…saltsI heard
the carriage stop at the house。 The room whirled round and round
with me； but I heard the eager hurry of footsteps in the hall；
and the opening of the door。 In another moment my son's voice
rose clear and cheerful from below； greeting the old servants who
loved him。 The dear； familiar tones just poured into my ear； and
then； the moment they filled it； hushed me suddenly to rest。
When I came to myself again my eyes opened upon George。 I was
lying on the sofa； still in the same room； the lights we had read
by in the evening were burning on the table； my son was kneeling
at my pillow； and we two were alone。
THE MORNING。
THE wind is fainter； but there is still no calm。 The rain is
ceasing； but there is still no sunshine。 The view from my window
shows me the mist heavy on the earth； and a dim gray veil drawn
darkly over the sky。 Less than twelve hours since； such a
prospect would have saddened me for the day。 I look out at it
this morning； through the bright medium of my own happiness； and
not the shadow of a shade falls across the steady inner sunshine
that is poring over my heart。
The pen lingers fondly in my hand； and yet it is little； very
little； that I have left to say。 The Purple Volume lies open by
my side； with the stories ranged together in it in the order in
which they were read。 My son has learned to prize them already as
the faithful friends who served him at his utmost need。 I have
only to wind off the little thread of narrative on which they are
all strung together before the volume is closed and our anxious
literary experiment fairly ended。
My son and I had a quiet hour together on that happy night
before we retired to rest。 The little love…plot invented in
George's interests now required one last stroke of diplomacy to
complete it before we all threw off our masks and assumed our
true characters for the future。 When my son and I parted for the
night； we had planned the necessary stratagem for taking our
lovely guest by surprise as soon as she was out of her bed in the
morning。
Shortly after seven o'clock I sent a message to Jessie by her
maid； informing her that a good night's rest had done wonders for
me； and that I expected to see her in my study at half past
seven； as we had arranged the evening before。 As soon as her
answer； promising to be punctual to the appointment； had reached
me； I took George into my studyleft him in my place to plead
his own causeand stole away； five minutes before the half hour；
to join my brothers in the breakfast…room。
Although the sense of my own happiness disposed me to take the
brightest view of my son's chances； I must nevertheless
acknowledge that some nervous anxieties still fluttered about my
heart while the slow minutes of suspense were counting themselves
out in the breakfast…room。 I had as little attention to spare for
Owen's quiet prognostications of success as for Morgan's pitiless
sarcasms on love； courtship； and matrimony。 A quarter of an hour
elapsedthen twenty minutes。 The hand moved on； and the clock
pointed to five minutes to eight； before I heard the study door
open； and before the sound of rapidly…advancing footsteps warned
me that George was coming into the room。
His beaming face told the good news before a word could be spoken
on either side。 The excess of his happiness literally and truly
deprived him of speech。 He stood eagerly looking at us all three；
with outstretched hands and glistening eyes。
〃Have I folded up my surplice forever；〃 asked Owen； 〃or am I to
wear it once again； George； in your service？〃
〃Answer this question first；〃 interposed Morgan； with a look of
grim anxiety。 〃Have you actually taken your young woman off my
hands； or have you not？〃
No direct answer followed either question。 George's feelings had
been too deeply stirred to allow him to return jest for jest at a
moment's notice。
〃Oh； father； how can I thank you！〃 he said。 〃And you！ and you！〃
he added； looking at Owen and Morgan gratefully。
〃You must thank Chance as well as thank us；〃 I replied； speaking
as lightly as my heart would let me； to encourage him。 〃The
advantage of numbers in our little love…plot was all on our side。
Remember； George； we were three to one。〃
While I was speaking the breakfast…room door opened noiselessly；
and showed us Jessie standing on the threshold； uncertain whether
to join us or to run back to her own room。 Her bright complexion
heightened to a deep glow； the tears just r