Part 111 (2/2)
”Well, since you ask my opinion,” said Edward, ”I think it was rather presumptuous of you to undertake the care of my father: and, having undertaken it, you ought not to have left him a moment out of your sight.”
”Oh, that is your opinion, is it? And you, dear Julia?”
Julia made no reply, but hid her face in her hands and sighed deeply.
”I see,” said Alfred sorrowfully. ”Even you are against me at heart. You judge by the event, not the motive. There is no justice in this world for me. I'm sick of life. I have no right to keep the mistress of the house out of her own room: there, I'll go, my heart is broken. No, it is not, and never shall be, by anything that breathes. Thank Heaven, I have got one friend left in this bitter world: and I'll make her the judge whether I have deserved this last injustice. _I'll go to my sister._”
He jumped up and hobbled slowly across the room, while Julia and Edward sat chilled to the bone by those five little words, so simple, so natural, yet so incredible, and to the hearers so awful. They started, they shuddered, they sat petrified, staring at him, while he hobbled across the room to go to his sister.
As he opened the door to go out he heard stout Edward groan and Julia utter a low wail. He stood confounded a moment. Then he hobbled down a stair or two. But, ere he had gone far, there was a hasty whispering in the drawing-room, and Edward came after him in great agitation, and begged him to return; Julia must speak with him. He turned, and his face brightened. Edward saw that, and turned his own face away and stammered out, ”Forget what I said to you. I am your friend, and always must be for her sake. No, no, I cannot go into that room with you; I'll go and comfort mamma. Hardie, old fellow, we are very unhappy, all of us. We are too unhappy to quarrel.”
These kind words soothed Alfred's sore heart. He brightened up and entered the drawing-room. He found Julia standing in the middle of it, the colour of ashes. Alfred was alarmed. ”You are unwell, dearest,” he cried; ”you will faint. What have I done with my ungoverned temper?” He moved towards her with a face full of concern.
”No, Alfred,” said she solemnly, ”I am not the least ill. It is sorrow, deep sorrow for one I love better than all the world. Sit down beside me, my poor Alfred; and--G.o.d help me to speak to him!”
Alfred began to feel dire misgivings.
”Yes,” said she, ”I love you too well to let any hand but mine wound you.” And here she took his sinewy hand with her soft palm. ”I want to soften it in the telling: and ah, how can I? Oh, why can I not throw myself body and soul between you and all trouble, all sorrow?”
”My Julia,” said Alfred gravely, ”something has happened to Jane.”
”Yes, Alfred. She met with a terrible accident.”
”Ah!”
”She was struck by an unfortunate man; he was not in his right mind.”
”Struck? My sister struck. What, was there no man by?”
”No. Edward nearly killed him afterwards.”
”G.o.d bless him.”
”Alfred, be patient. It was too late.”
”What, is she hurt seriously? Is she disfigured?”
”No, Alfred,” said Julia solemnly; ”she is not disfigured; oh far from that.”
”Julia, you alarm me. This comes of shutting her brother up. May Heaven's eternal curse light on those who did it. My poor little sister!
How you weep, Julia. My heart is lead.”
”I weep for you, darling, not for her.”
”Ah, that is how they talk when those we love are----One word! I shall never see my poor little Jenny again; shall I?”
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