Part 29 (1/2)

'Yes! my dear mother,' replied Ferdinand, musingly. Then in a quicker tone, 'Does she know of my illness? Did you write to them?'

'She knows of it.'

'She will be coming, then. I dread her coming. I can bear to see no one.

You, dear Glas...o...b..ry, you; it is a consolation to see you, because you have seen,' and here his voice faltered, 'you have seen--her.'

'My Ferdinand, think only of your health; and happiness, believe me, will yet be yours.'

'If you could only find out where she is,' continued Ferdinand, 'and go to her. Yes! my dear Glas...o...b..ry, good, dear, Glas...o...b..ry, go to her,'

he added in an imploring tone; 'she would believe you; everyone believes you. I cannot go; I am powerless; and if I went, alas! she would not believe me.'

'It is my wish to do everything you desire,' said Glas...o...b..ry, 'I should be content to be ever labouring for your happiness. But I can do nothing unless you are calm.'

'I am calm; I will be calm; I will act entirely as you wish; only I beseech you see her.'

'On that head let us at present say no more,' replied Glas...o...b..ry, who feared that excitement might lead to relapse; yet anxious to soothe him, he added, 'Trust in my humble services ever, and in the bounty of a merciful Providence.'

'I have had frightful dreams,' said Ferdinand. 'I thought I was in a farm-house; everything was so clear, so vivid. Night after night she seemed to me sitting on this bed. I touched her; her hand was in mine; it was so burning hot! Once, oh! once, once I thought she had forgiven me!'

'Hus.h.!.+ hus.h.!.+ hus.h.!.+'

'No more: we will speak of her no more. When comes my mother?'

'You may see her to-morrow, or the day after.'

'Ah! Glas...o...b..ry, she is here.'

'She is.'

'Is she alone?'

'Your father is with her.'

'My mother and my father. It is well.' Then, after a minute's pause, he added with some earnestness, 'Do not deceive me, Glas...o...b..ry; see what deceit has brought me to. Are you sure that they are quite alone?'

'There are none here but your dearest friends; none whose presence should give you the slightest care.'

'There is one,' said Ferdinand.

'Dear Ferdinand, let me now leave you, or sit by your side in silence.

To-morrow you will see your mother.'

'To-morrow! Ah! to-morrow. Once to me tomorrow was brighter even than to-day.' He turned his back and spoke no more. Glas...o...b..ry glided out of the room.

CHAPTER XII.

_Containing the Intimation of a Somewhat Mysterious Adventure_.

IT WAS absolutely necessary that Lady Armine's interview with her son be confined merely to observations about his health. Any allusion to the past might not only produce a relapse of his fever, but occasion explanations, at all times most painful, but at the present full of difficulty and danger. It was therefore with feelings of no common anxiety that Glas...o...b..ry prepared the mother for this first visit to her son, and impressed upon her the absolute necessity of not making any allusion at present to Miss Grandison, and especially to her presence in the house. He even made for this purpose a sort of half-confidant of the physician, who, in truth, had heard enough during the fever to excite his suspicions; but this is a cla.s.s of men essentially discreet, and it is well, for few are the family secrets ultimately concealed from them.