Part 67 (2/2)
”In Key West, and I leave you to judge whether she makes a good sick nurse or no.”
”Has she been my nurse?”
”To be sure? Nice place you've got here, sir! Everything as dainty as a lady's boudoir; and what a magnificent bunch of flowers! Think of that in March!”
”Miss Walsingham--my Perdita! The girl who risked her life for me!”
”Even so. Precious short were her visits to my bedside, for watching at yours; and between us she's had a wearing time of it, the dear, kindly girl!”
”Good Heaven--is my own darling, that Miss Walsingham?”
”Yes, and I thank Heaven to hear that from you. You love her, so it's all right.”
The lawyer here dropped his jocund air, pressed the hand which had nervously clutched his, and retired to the window for a while.
A silence fell upon the pair; the rescued man was turned face downward to his pillow, with his hands clasped tightly.
Her bravery, her generosity, her devotion came up to gild her gentle worth; and he could well judge now how great had been that bravery, that generosity, that devotion.
Taking in by slow degrees, the greatness of this woman's soul, whom falsely and bitterly he had maligned; comprehending the grandeur of humility in one whose garments he in his high-handed pride felt unworthy to touch, the time had come when St. Udo Brand could pray; when he could plead that Heaven would bless him with Margaret Walsingham's love, and bestow on him her hand, as the richest gift of earth.
Presently Davenport resumed the conference by recounting all the particulars of the Castle Brand plot, and you may be sure he lost no opportunity of adding l.u.s.ter to his admired Miss Margaret's laurels, by unstinted praise, which brought tears, one by one, into the eyes of young Brand.
”And here's the formal relinquis.h.i.+ng of every rood of Seven-Oak Waaste, drawn up and signed,” said the lawyer, unfolding a parchment and spreading it out triumphantly on his knee; ”and she has even made provision against your refusing to accept it. In that case, it is all to go, on the 28th of March (one year from the date of the will), toward building a Charitable Inst.i.tution for sick seamen, (I suppose from her father having been a sea-captain), and she is going as governess into Mr. Stanhope's family here. What do you think of all this, eh?” chuckled the old gentleman, with the air of being vastly amused.
”She will do it,” said St. Udo, gazing with consternation at the parchment.
”But will you allow her to do it?”
A keen pang struck to the heart of St. Udo; his merciless scorn of her came back to him as expressed only the day before; her mournful words; ”She will never marry you,” recurred like a death-knell to his memory.
Now he understood the cause of her gentle tears--of her clinging wistfulness, of her sweet and humble timidity; he comprehended all, and covered his eyes with a remorseful moan.
”I have ruined all, and lost her!” he thought. ”Where is the n.o.ble girl?”
”Gad! I thought you'd soon be asking that! It's likely she's taking a rest, poor dear; but I'll send her to you.”
”No--let her have her rest; I would never be so selfish as to disturb her, while I can wait. But, Davenport, I will be candid with you, and say that I have no hope of winning her. I have insulted her too deeply.”
”Did she think of your former insults when she came here at the risk of her life to find you, and to nurse you out of the fever?”
”No, bless her--all that was forgiven!”
”And will she think of your former insults when you say, 'Margaret, I won't accept one penny piece of the Brand property unless you be my wife?'”
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