Part 49 (2/2)
”I give all that I possess back to G.o.d. He gave me my wealth, and He shall have it again,” repeated Mrs. Aylmer; and she doubtless thought she was doing a n.o.ble thing.
This brief will was signed without any difficulty by the dying woman and attested by the two nurses. Two hours later, the rich woman left her wealth behind her and went to meet her G.o.d.
CHAPTER XLIII.
MRS. AYLMER'S WILL.
Nothing would induce Florence to go to Aylmer's Court and Mrs. Aylmer the less, in great distress of mind, was forced to remain with her in her flat that evening.
Florence gave her the very best that the flat contained, sleeping herself on the sofa in her sitting-room.
Mrs. Aylmer sat up late and talked and talked until she could talk no longer. At last Florence got her into bed, and then went to visit Edith in her room.
”You don't look well,” said Edith; ”your engagement has not improved you. What is the matter?”
”I don't exactly know what is the matter,” said Florence. ”I am worried about mother's visit. My aunt, Mrs. Aylmer, is dying. She is a very rich woman. Mother is under the impression that, if she and I went to Aylmer's Court, Mrs. Aylmer might leave me her property. I don't want it; I should hate to have it. I have learned in the last few months that money is not everything. I don't want to have Aunt Susan's money.”
”Well,” replied Edith, staring her full in the face, ”that is the most sensible speech you have made for a long time. I have closely studied the question of economics, and have long ago come to the conclusion that the person of medium income is the only person who is truly happy. I am even inclined to believe that living from hand to mouth is the most enviable state of existence. You never know how the cards will turn up; but the excitement is intense. When I am a doctor, I shall watch people's faces with intense interest, wondering whether, when their next illness comes on, they will send for me; then there will be the counting up of my earnings, and putting my little money by, and living _just_ within my means. And then I shall have such wide interests besides money: the cure of my patients, their love and grat.i.tude to me afterwards. It is my opinion, Florence, that the more we live _outside_ money, and the smaller place money takes in the pleasures of our lives, the happier we are; for, after all, money can do so little, and I don't think any other people can be so miserable as the vastly rich ones.”
”I agree with you,” said Florence.
”It is more than Tom does,” replied Edith, looking fixedly at her.
”After all, Florence, are you not in some ways too good for my brother?”
”In some ways too good for him?” repeated Florence. She turned very white. ”You don't know me,” she added.
”I don't believe I do, and, it occurs to me, the more I am with you the less I know you. Florence, is it true that you have a secret in your life?”
”It is quite true,” said Florence, raising her big dark eyes and fixing them on the face of her future sister-in-law.
”And is it a secret that Tom knows nothing about?”
”A secret, Edith, as you say, that Tom knows nothing about.”
”How very dreadful! And you are going to marry him holding that secret?”
”Yes; I shall not reveal it. If I did, he would not marry me.”
”But what is it, my dear? Won't you even tell me?”
”No, Edith. Tom marries me for a certain purpose. He gets what he wants.
I do not feel that I am doing wrong in giving myself to him; but, wrong or right, the thing is arranged: why worry about it now?”
”You are a strange girl. I am sorry you are going to marry my brother. I do not believe you will be at all happy, but, as I have said already, I have expressed my opinion.”
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