Part 16 (1/2)
The wild March winds by this time had given place to the warmer, balmier air of April. The winter snow had melted from the hillside, and here and there tufts of fresh young gra.s.s were seen starting into life. It was just such a morning, in short, as is most grateful to the young, and Edith felt its inspiriting influence as she rode along the rather muddy road. Another there was, too, who felt it; and as Edith sauntered slowly up the path, entering this time upon the rear piazza instead of the front, she heard again the soft, low voice which had sounded so mournful and sweet when heard in the still moonlight. Looking up she saw that a window of the Den was open, and through the lattice work a little hand was thrust, as if beckoning her to come. Stepping bank she tried to obtain a view of the person, but failed to do so, though the hand continued beckoning, and from the height there floated down to her the single word, ”MIGGIE.” That was all; but it brought her hand to her head as if she had received a sudden blow.
”Miggie--Miggie,” she repeated. ”I HAVE heard that name before. It must have belonged to some one in the Asylum.”
A confused murmur as if of expostulation and remonstrance was now heard--the childish hand disappeared and scarcely knowing what she was about, Edith stepped into the hall and advanced into the library, where she sat down to wait for Arthur. It was not long ere he appeared, locking the door as he came in and thus cutting off all communication between that room and the stairway leading to the Den. Matters were, in Edith's estimation, a.s.suming a serious aspect, and remembering how pleadingly the name ”Miggie”
had been uttered, she half-resolved to demand of Arthur the immediate release of the helpless creature thus held in durance vile. But he looked so unhappy, so hopelessly wretched that her sympathy was soon enlisted for him rather than his fair captive.
Still she would try him a little and when they were fairly at work she said to him jestingly,
”I heard it hinted that you would bring home a wife, but I do not see her. Where is she, pray?”
Arthur uttered no sound save a stifled moan, and when Edith dared to steal a look at him she saw that his brown hair was moist with perspiration, which stood also in drops about his lips.
”Mr. St. Claire,” she said, throwing down her pencil and leaning back in her chair, ”I can endure this no longer. What IS the matter? Tell me. You have some great mental sorrow, I know, and I long to share it with you--may I? Who have you up stairs and why this mystery concerning her?”
She laid her hand upon his arm, and looked imploringly into the face, which turned away from her, as if afraid to meet her truthful glance. Once he thought to tell her all, but when he remembered how beautiful she was, how much he loved her, and how dear her society was to him, he refrained, for he vainly fancied that a confession would drive her from him forever. He did not know Edith Hastings; he had not yet fathomed the depths of her womanly nature, and he could not guess how tenderly, even while her own heart was breaking, she would have soothed his grief and been like an angel of mercy to the innocent cause of all his woe.
”I dare not tell you,” he said. ”You would hate me if I did, and that I could not endure. It may not be pleasant for you to come here any more, and perhaps you had better not.”
For a moment Edith sat motionless. She had not expected this from Arthur, and it roused within her a feeling of resentment.
”And so you only sent for me to give me my dismissal,” she said, in a cold, icy tone. ”Be it as you like. I draw tolerably well, you say. I have no doubt I can get along alone. Send your bill at once to Mr. Harrington. He does not like to be in debt.”
She spoke proudly, haughtily, and her eyes, usually so soft in their expression, had in them a black look of anger, which pierced Arthur's very soul. He could not part with her THUS, and grasping the hand reached out to take its gauntlet, he held it fast, while he said, ”What are we doing, Edith? Quarrelling? It must not be. I suggested your giving up the lessons because I thought the arrangement might be satisfactory to you, and not because _I_ wished it, for I do not; I cannot give up the only source of happiness left to me. Forget what I said. Remain my pupil and I'll try to be more cheerful in your presence. You shall NOT help to bear my burden as you bear that of Collingwood's unfortunate inmates.”
Edith never liked to hear her relations to Richard referred to in this manner, and she answered quickly,
”You are mistaken, Mr. St. Claire, in thinking I bear any burden either here or elsewhere. No one ever had a happier home than I, and there's nothing on earth I would not do for Richard.”
”Would you marry him, Edith?” and Arthur scanned her closely.
”Would you be his wife if he demanded it as his right? and I think he will do this sometime.”
Edith trembled from head to foot, as she answered,
”Not if he demanded it as a right, though he might well do that, for I owe him everything. But if he loved me, and I loved him.”
She paused, and in the silence which ensued the tumultuous beating of her heart was plainly audible. No one before had suggested to her the possibility of her being Richard's wife, and the idea was terrible to her. She loved him, but not as a wife should love her husband. He loved her, too; and now, as she remembered many things in the past, she was half convinced that she to him was dearer than a sister, child, or friend. He had forgotten the Swedish baby's mother. She knew he had by his always checking her when she attempted to speak of Eloise. Out of the ashes of this early love a later love had sprung, and SHE was possibly its object. The thought was a crus.h.i.+ng one, and unmindful of Arthur's presence she laid her head upon the table and sobbed,
”It cannot be. Richard will never ask me to be his wife. Never, oh never.”
”But if he does, Edith, you will not tell him NO. Promise me that.
It's my only hope of salvation from total ruin!” and Arthur drew so near to her that his arm found its way around her slender waist.
Had he struck her with a glittering dagger he could not have hurt her more than by pleading with her to be another's wife. But she would not let him know it. He did not love her as she had sometimes foolishly fancied he did; and lifting up her head she answered him proudly,
”Yes, Arthur St. Claire, when Richard Harrington asks me to be his bride I will not tell him no. Are you satisfied?”
”I am,” he said, though his white lips gave the lie to the words he uttered, and his heart smote him cruelly for his selfishness in wis.h.i.+ng to save himself by sacrificing Edith; and it would be a sacrifice, he knew--a fearful sacrifice, the giving her to a blind man, old enough to be her sire, n.o.ble, generous and good, though he were.