Part 8 (1/2)
”Where could hts be!” she exclaimed in hurried accents ”Is my mother here? Ah, yes! I behold her! I did not know you, indeed I did not! But bless hter”
Mrs Adair tenderly e accents blessed her
”My dearest, kindest ain! The trial will soon be over! My hope is fixed upon the pro a little--a very little while before you! How joyful is the thought, that we are not separating for ever!--this is htened as she spoke, ”that I have reverenced my God, and loved my mother But this pain;--O, it is violent!--Mother--”Here the voice ceased; not a sigh, not a whisper was heard
Mrs Adair, who had been supporting her daughter, now gently placed her head upon the pillow, and silently led Elizabeth out of the room
At the door of her own aparte of Elizabeth, who appeared aluish, instantly returned into the charief, which thein some measure experience, when they behold the lifeless re they had loved, she calmly proceeded to acco her for that narrow spot, which confines all that was hty, rich, noble, excellent--the despised of the world, the neglected of the world; that spot which is the boundary of ae for the distressed
CHAPTER XVI
When Mrs Adair had retired to her own chahter's decease, and was reflecting upon the awful event of the , her attention was drawn fro sound Aware that the teachers and servants were retired to rest, she could not account for the circu, and was persuaded that different persons were passing her room
Alarmed, but at the same time collected, she cautiously opened her own door; and perceiving a glihter's reht, slow steps, advanced to the spot There, with surprise, she beheld several of her pupils At the head of the bed stood Miss Arden, with eyes mournfully bent upon the face of the departed; Miss Damer stooped to kiss the corpse, and then burst into a violent flood of tears ”That s in heaven Where shall we again behold upon earth one so amiable or so lovely?”
”O, that I may be equally prepared, when my hour comes,” cried Miss Arden
”Hush!+ hush!+” cried Isabella Vincent, in a tone of terror, ”did you not hear some one breathe? O, do hide me” She now covered her face with her frock
Miss Grey took her passive hand, and tried to cohtened; now do look--it is so simple to be afraid; she appears only as if she were asleep There is not any thing terrible in death, only to wicked people; I aht”
”I dare not look! indeed I dare not! do take me to my own room”
”You htened at being alone You know I airl as well as yourself; but I should not be afraid to sleep here to-night Think how good she was! living or dead, she would never injure us”
”O, take ; why does not sohtened to death”
Miss Grey whispered to her companion that Mrs Adair was colad I a this, she uncovered her face, and crept quietly to Mrs Adair; as asking why they had assembled in the chamber at so improper an hour
”We should have been miserable, ht; and as we shall never behold her again, we thought, ma'am, you would pardon us I could not have slept; and the other ladies declared the same”
”But wherefore did you come, Isabella?”
”O, ma'am, because I dared not to be alone”
”But why are you afraid to look at hter?”
”O, I am not afraid noill look at Miss Jane,” said Isabella with assue; ”but do let me take hold of your hand, ma'am; then I know I shall be safe”