For Woman's Love Part- 2 - Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth (robert munsch read aloud .TXT) 📗
- Author: Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth
Book online «For Woman's Love Part- 2 - Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth (robert munsch read aloud .TXT) 📗». Author Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth
The Evening Would Have Passed Very Gloomily; But She, Who Knew Nothing
Of The Domestic Tempest That Had Driven Cora From Home, Nor Even Of The
Impending Separation In The Morning, And Who Heartily Enjoyed The
Presence Of Her Two Favorite Relatives In The House, Kept The Party
Enlivened By Her Own Good Spirits And Gay Talk.
Once During The Evening Clarence And Cora Found Themselves Far Enough
Off From Their Friends For A Short Tete-A-Tete, In Which There Was A
Brief But Perfect Explanation Between Them.
Then Clarence Announced His Intention Of Escorting Her To Washington And
Seeing Her Safe Under The Protection Of The Nevilles.
Cora Strongly Opposed This Plan, On The Ground That His Escort Was
Unnecessary And Might Be Deeply Offensive To Mr. Rockharrt.
But Clarence Was Firm.
"You May Turn Your Back On Me, Cora. You May Refuse To Speak To Me
During The Whole Journey. But You Cannot Prevent Me From Going On The
Same Train With You, And So Becoming Your Guardian On The Journey," Said
Clarence.
Cora's Answer To This Was Prevented By The Approach Of Violet, Who Said:
"Clarence, It Is Half Past Eleven O'clock, And Cora Looks Tired To
Death. Your Room Is Ready Whenever You Would Like To Retire."
Acting Upon This Very Broad Hint, Mr. Clarence Laughed, Kissed His Niece
Good Night, Shook Hands With His Sister-In-Law, And Left The Room,
Preceded By Mr. Fabian, Who Offered To Show Him To His Chamber. Violet
Conducted Cora To The Room Prepared For Her, And, With A Warm Embrace,
Left Her To Repose For The Last Time In That House.
Part 2 Chapter 34 (It Is The Unexpected That Happens) Pg 153After Her Exciting And Fatiguing Day, Corona Slept Long And Heavily, And
When She Reached The Family Sitting Room She Found Her Two Uncles There
In Conversation.
"I Am Sorry I Kept You Waiting, Uncle Fabian," She Said, Hurriedly.
"You Have Not Done So, My Dear. The Bell Has Not Yet Rung."
"Then I'm Glad. Good Morning, Clarence," She Said, Turning To Her
Younger Uncle.
"Good Morning, Cora. How Did You Sleep?"
"Perfectly, Clarence Dear. I Hope You Will Set Out For North End
Immediately After Breakfast. I Shall Not Start For Washington Until
To-Night. I Shall Spend The Day Here, So That After Telling Violet Of My
Intended Journey I May Have Some Little Time To Reconcile Her To It."
"How Good You Are, Cora. I Do Appreciate This Consideration For Violet,"
Said Mr. Fabian Earnestly.
"It Is Only Her Due, Uncle. Well, Clarence, Since You Are Determined To
Escort Me To Washington, Whether Or Not, You May Meet Me At The Depot
For The 6:30 Express. I Feel That It Is Every Way Better That I Should
Go By The Night Train; Better For Violet, With Whom I Can Thus Spend A
Few More Hours, And Better For Clarence, Who Need Not By This
Arrangement Lose This Day's Work."
"Quite So," Assented Mr. Fabian. "And Now," He Added, As Light Footsteps
Were Heard Approaching The Room, "Here Comes Violet. Not A Word About
The Journey Until After Breakfast."
They All Went Into The Breakfast Room, Where A Fragrant, Appetizing
Morning Meal Was Spread.
How Different This Was From The Breakfast At Rockhold On The
Preceding-Day, Darkened By The Sullen Wrath Of The Iron King And Eaten
In The Most Gloomy Silence! Here Were Affectionate Attentions And Jests
And Laughter. Violet Was In Such Gay Spirits That Her Vivacity Became
Part 2 Chapter 34 (It Is The Unexpected That Happens) Pg 154Contagious, And Fabian And Clarence Often Laughed Aloud, And Corona Was
Won To Smile At Her Sallies.
At Last Mr. Fabian Arose With A Sigh, Half Of Satisfied Appetite, Half
Of Reluctance To Leave The Scene, And Said:
"Well, I Suppose We Must Be Moving. Clarence, Will You Drive With Me To
North End?"
"Certainly. That Is All Arranged, You Know," Replied The Younger
Brother.
"Mr. Fabian Walked Out Into The Hall, Saying As He Left The Breakfast
Room:
"Corona, A Word With You, My Dear."
Corona Went To Him, And He Said:
"After You Have Had An Explanation With Violet, Persuade Her To
Accompany You To North End. You Had Better Come In Your Own Pony
Carriage, My Dear; It Is So Easy And The Horse So Safe. And Then, After
You Have Left Us, I Can Drive Her Home In The Same Vehicle. And, By The
Way, My Dear, What Shall You Do With That Little Turnout? Shall I Send
It To Hyde's Livery Stable For Sale? You Can Get Double What Was Given
For It. And Remit You The Price?"
"No, Uncle Fabian; It Is Not To Be Sold. And I Am Glad You Reminded Me
Of It. I Have Intended All Along To Give It To Our Minister's Wife. She
Has No Carriage Of Any Sort, And She Really Needs One, And She Will
Enjoy This Because She Can Drive The Pony Herself. So, After I Have
Gone, Will You Please Send It To Mrs. Melville, With My Love?"
"Certainly, My Dear; With The Greatest Pleasure. Cora, That Is Well
Thought Of. Now I Must Go Up To The Nursery And Bid Good-By To Baby, Or
Her Mother Would Never Forgive Me."
And High And Heavy Mr. Fabian Tripped Up The Stairs Like A Lamplighter.
Corona Lingered In The Hall, Talking With Mr. Clarence, Who Had Now Come
There To Put On His Overcoat. Presently Mr. Fabian Came Hurrying Down
Stairs Alone. He Had Left Violet In The Sanctuary.
"Come, Come, Clarence, Hurry Up! We Are Late! What If The Monarch Should
Reach The Works Before Us? I Shouldn't Like To Meet Him In His Roused
Wrath! Should You?
"Old Age Ne'er Cooled The Douglass Blood!"
Said Mr. Fabian, Hurriedly Pulling On His Overcoat, Seizing Hat And
Gloves, And With A Hasty--
"Good-By, Cora, Until To-Night," Hurried Out Of The Front Door.
He Need Not Have Been In Such Haste--The Iron King Was Not Destined To
Reach North End In Advance Of His Sons That Morning.
Mr. Clarence Kissed Corona Good-By, And Hurried After His Elder Brother,
And Then Stopped Short At What He Saw.
Mr. Fabian Was Standing Before The Carriage Door With One Foot On The
Step.
Beside Him Was A Horseman Who Had Just Ridden Up--The Horse In A Lather
Of Foam, The Man Breathless And Dazed--Telling Some News In Broken
Sentences; Mr. Fabian Listening Pallid And Aghast.
"Great Heaven! How Sudden! How Shocking!" He Exclaimed At Last, Turning
Back Toward The House, And Hurrying Up The Steps.
"What Is It? What Is The Matter? What Has Happened, Fabian?" Anxiously
Demanded Clarence.
"The Father Has Had A Stroke! No Time For Particulars Now! Take The
Fastest Horse In The Stable And Go Yourself To North End To Fetch The
Doctor. You Can Bring Him Sooner Than Any Servant. I Must Go Directly On
To Rockhold. Cora Must Delay Her Journey Again. Be Off, Clarence!" Said
Mr. Fabian.
And While The Elder Brother Returned To The House, The Younger Went To
Get His Horse.
"Cora!" Called Mr. Fabian.
Corona Came Out Of The Parlor.
"You Cannot Go Away To-Day."
"Why?" Inquired The Young Lady.
"Don't Talk! Listen! Your Grandfather Is Ill--Very Ill. Old John Has
Just Come From Rockhold To Tell Me."
"Oh! I Am Very Sorry."
"No Time For Words! Go Put On Your Bonnet, And Come Along With Me; The
Carriage That Was To Have Taken Me To North End Must Take Us Both To
Rockhold. Hurry, Cora."
"But Violet?"
"I Will Go And Tell Violet That The Grandfather Is Not Feeling Very
Well, And Has Sent For You. I Can Do This While You Are Getting Ready To
Go. Then Come Into The Nursery And Bid Violet Good-By."
Corona Hurried Up To Her Room, And Quickly Put On Her Bonnet And
Part 2 Chapter 34 (It Is The Unexpected That Happens) Pg 155Fur-Lined Cloak, And Then Ran Into The Nursery, Where She Found Violet
Nursing Her Baby, Looking Serious But Composed, And Evidently
Unconscious Of Old Aaron Rockharrt's Danger. Mr. Fabian Was Standing At
The Back Of Her Chair, So That She Might Not Read The Truth In His Face.
"So You Are Going Home So Suddenly, Cora, Dear? I Am So Sorry The Father
Is Not Feeling Well That I Cannot Even Ask You To Stay Here A Moment
Longer. Give My Love To The Father, And Tell Him If He Does Not Get
Better In A Day Or Two I Shall Be Sure To Come And Nurse Him."
She Could Not Rise Without Disturbing Her Precious Baby, But She Raised
Her Head And Put Up Her Lips, That Cora Might Kiss Her Good-By. Then
Cora Followed Her Uncle Down Stairs, And In Five Minutes More They Were
Seated In The Carriage, Slowly Winding Their Way Down The Dangerous
Mountain Pass To The River Road That Led To Rockhold.
"Uncle Fabian," Said Corona, Gravely, "I Have Been Trying To Think What
Is Right For Me To Do. This Sorrowful News Took Me So Completely By
Surprise, And Your Directions Were So Prompt And Peremptory, That I Had
Not A Moment For Reflection; So That I Followed Your Lead Automatically.
But Now, Uncle Fabian, I Have Considered, And I Ask You As I Have Asked
Myself--Am I Right In Going Back To Rockhold, After My Grandfather Has
Sent Me Away, And Forbidden Me Ever To Return? Tell Me, Uncle Fabian."
"My Dear, What Do You Yourself Wish To Do?" He Inquired.
"To Return To Rockhold And Nurse My Grandfather, If He Will Allow Me To
Do So."
"Then By All Means Do So."
"But, Uncle Fabian--Against My Grandfather's Express Command?"
"Good Heaven, Girl!" Those 'Commands' Were Issued By A Well And Angry
Man. You Are Returning To Minister To An Ill And Perhaps A Dying One."
"Still, Uncle Fabian, Would It Not Seem To Be Taking Advantage Of My
Grandfather's Helpless State To Return Now, After He Had Forbidden Me To
Enter His House? I Think It Would. And The More I Reflect Upon The
Subject, The Surer I Feel That I Ought Not To Enter Rockhold Unbidden.
And--I Will Not."
"You Will Not! What! Can You Show Resentment To Your Stricken--It May Be
Dying--Grandfather?"
"Heaven Forbid! But I Must Not Disobey His Injunction, Now That He Is
Too Helpless To Prevent Me. No, Uncle Fabian, I Must Not Enter The
House. But Neither Will I Be Far From It. I Will Remain Within Call."
"Where?"
"At The Ferryman's Cottage. Will You, Uncle Fabian, As Soon As You Have
An Opportunity, Say That I Am Deeply Grieved For All That Has Estranged
Us. Will You Ask Him To Forgive
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