Did either of them think of it, or would either have reckoned it an
ominous coincidence, if the remembrance of that long-ago parting had
presented itself then and there?
Herbert spent the day upon the lounge in the family sitting-room--a
cosy retreat, between the parlor and the conservatory, which had
been added to the lower floor in the reign of the present queen. Her
brother's seizure was no trifling ailment. Alternations of stupor
and racking spasms of pain defied, for several hours, his wife's
application of the remedies she had found efficacious in former
attacks. Her ultimate resort was chloroform, and by the liberal use
of this, relaxation of the tense nerves and a sleep that resembled
healing repose were induced by the middle of the afternoon. The
weather continued to threaten rain, although none had fallen as yet,
and the wind moaned lugubriously in the leafless branches of the
great walnut before the end window of the narrow apartment. It was a
grand tree, the patriarch of the grove that sheltered the house from
the north winds. Mabel, relieved from watchfulness, and to some
extent from anxiety, by her husband's profound slumber, lay back in
her chair with a long-drawn sigh, and looked out at the naked limbs
of the wrestling giant--the majestic sway and reel she used to note
with childish awe--and thought of many things which had befallen her
since then, until the steady rocking of the boughs and hum of the
November breeze soothed her into languor--then drowsiness--then
oblivion.
She awoke in alarm at the sense of something hurtful or startling
hovering near her.
The fire had been trimmed before she slept, and now flamed up gayly;
the window was dusky, as were the distant corners of the room, and
Herbert was gazing steadfastly at her.
"I fell asleep without knowing it. I am sorry! Have you wanted
anything? How long have you been awake?"
"Only a few minutes, my dearest!" with no change in the mesmeric
intentness of his gaze. "I want nothing more than to have you always
near me. You have been a good, faithful wife, Mabel, better and
nobler--a thousandfold nobler than I deserved. I have thought it all
over while you were sleeping so tranquilly in my sight. I wish my
conscience were void of evil to all mankind as is yours. I awoke
with an odd and awful impression upon my mind. The firelight flamed
in a bright stream between your chair and me--and I must have
dreamed it--or the chloroform had affected my head--I thought it was
a river of light dividing us! You were a calm, white angel who had
entered into rest--uncaring for and forgetful of me. I was lost,
homeless, wandering forever and ever!"