Volume Ii Part 79 (2/2)
”You will be an invaluable help to me, Elfie, if you can read my English friends as closely.”
”I am afraid you will not let me come as close to them,” said Fleda, laughing.
”Perhaps not. I shouldn't like to pay too high a premium for the knowledge. How is Hugh, to-day?”
Fleda answered, with a quick change of look and voice, that he was much as usual.
”My mother has written me that she will be here by the 'Europa,' which is due to-morrow. I must set off for New York this afternoon; therefore I came so early to Queechy.”
Fleda was instinctively pulling off her gardening gloves, as they walked towards the house.
”Aunt Miriam wants to see you, Mr. Carleton ? she begged I would ask you to come there some time ?”
”With great pleasure. Shall we go there now, Elfie?”
”I will be ready in five minutes.”
Mrs. Rossitur was alone in the breakfast-room when they went in. Hugh, she reported, was asleep, and would be just ready to see Mr. Carleton by the time they got back. They stood a few minutes talking, and then Fleda went to get ready.
Both pair of eyes followed her as she left the room, and then met with perfect understanding.
”Will you give your child to me, Mrs. Rossitur?” said the gentleman.
”With all my heart!” exclaimed Mrs. Rossitur, bursting into tears ? ”even if I were left alone entirely ?”
Her agitation was uncontrolled for a minute; and then she said, with feeling seemingly too strong to be kept in ?
”If I were only sure of meeting her in heaven, I could be content to be without her till then!”
”What is in the way, my dear Madam?” said Mr. Carleton, with a gentle sympathy that touched the very spring he meant it should. Mrs. Rossitur waited a minute, but it was only till tears would let her speak, and then said like a child ?
”Oh, it is all darkness!”
”Except this,” said he, gently and clearly, ”that Jesus Christ is a sun and a s.h.i.+eld; and those that put themselves at His feet are safe from all fear, and they who go to Him for light shall complain of darkness no more.”
”But I do not know how ?”
”Ask Him, and He will tell you.”
”But I am unworthy even to look up towards Him,” said Mrs.
Rossitur, struggling, it seemed, between doubts and wishes.
”He knows that, and yet He has bid you come to Him. He knows that; and, knowing it, He has taken your responsibility, and paid your debt, and offers you now a clean discharge, if you will take it at His hand; and for the other part of this unworthiness, that blood cannot do away, blood has brought the remedy ?
Shall we, who are evil, give good things to our children; and shall not our Father, which is in heaven, give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?”
<script>