Part 21 (2/2)
”Eunice was right to tell you. You are no longer a child, Fidelia; and doing G.o.d's will is best, whether we see it now or not;” and much more he said.
Fidelia sat silent and tearless through all, and when he ceased she said--
”You have told me your brother's opinion, now tell me yours.”
”It is the same as his, only I know better than he could know how great was the strain of the watching, and the anxiety, and the sight of terrible suffering which she bore for years; and I believe that the end may be nearer than he thinks.”
”Yes, Eunice says so. That is what I wished to know,” said Fidelia, rising. ”Now I must go.”
”You need not hurry; Jabez has not come.”
Fidelia sat down without a word. All this was not like her. The doctor would have liked to see her tears; but perhaps they might as well wait till she was at home. He had a word to say as to what was best for Eunice.
”Mrs Stone is a good nurse, and she loves your sister, and when you are away--”
”I am not going away,” said she.
”To the seminary? Does Eunice know?”
”I have not told her, but I think she must know that it is impossible.”
”She has greatly desired for you the privileges of the place. She will be disappointed.”
”I cannot go.”
”I think, if I were you, I would leave it to your sister to say. And, remember, she must not be excited or troubled.”
”I know.”
”And you must know that Mrs Stone is not just a nurse, but a friend whom your sister loves and trusts, and you must trust her too.”
”I know,” repeated Fidelia.
”If you were to ask my advice, I should say--Let there be no change in your plans; go as you intended to go, and--”
”But I am not going to ask your advice, nor the advice of any one. You must think me a poor creature, Dr Everett, if you can believe that I could leave my sister, now that I know!”
”My dear, you know better than that.”
”Eunice did not go away when--Oh, Dr Everett, I am so miserable! She is all I have--all I have!”
The tears came now in a flood.
”That is better,” said the doctor to himself. To Fidelia he said nothing for awhile, but let her tears have way. There was no time for more words, for Jabez had come.
Strange to say, there was not a word spoken between Fidelia and the lad till they reached home. Jabez had ”thought over” a good many things he meant to ask about, as to his recent reading, but he had caught a glimpse of her face by the light of the doctor's lamp, and the questions were kept for another time.
<script>