'Is this Mr. Hale's?' said he, in a clear, full, delicate voice.

Margaret trembled all over; at first she did not answer. In a

moment she sighed out, 'Frederick!' and stretched out both her hands to Catch his, and

draw him in.

'Oh, Margaret!' said he, holding her off by her shoulders, after

they had kissed each other, as if even in that darkness he could

see her face, and read in its expression a quicker answer to his

question than words could give,-'My mother! is she alive?' 'Yes, she is alive, dear, dear brother! She--as ill as she can be

she is; but alive! She is alive!' 'Thank God!' said he.

'Papa is utterly prostrate with this great grief.' 'You expect me, don't you?' 'No, we have had no letter.' 'Then I have come before it. But my mother knows I am coming?' 'Oh! we all knew you would come. But wait a little! Step in here.

Give me your hand. What is this? Oh! your carpet-bag. Dixon has

shut the shutters; but this is papa's study, and I can take you

to a chair to rest yourself for a few minutes; while I go and

tell him.' She groped her way to the taper and the lucifer matches. She

suddenly felt shy, when the little feeble light made them

visible. All she could see was, that her brother's face was

unusually dark in complexion, and she caught the stealthy look of

a pair of remarkably long-cut blue eyes, that suddenly twinkled

up with a droll consciousness of their mutual purpose of

inspecting each other. But though the brother and sister had an

instant of sympathy in their reciprocal glances, they did not

exchange a word; only, Margaret felt sure that she should like

her brother as a companion as much as she already loved him as a

near relation. Her heart was wonderfully lighter as she went

up-stairs; the sorrow was no less in reality, but it became less

oppressive from having some one in precisely the same relation to

it as that in which she stood. Not her father's desponding

attitude had power to damp her now. He lay across the table,

helpless as ever; but she had the spell by which to rouse him.

She used it perhaps too violently in her own great relief.

'Papa,' said she, throwing her arms fondly round his neck;

pulling his weary head up in fact with her gentle violence, till

it rested in her arms, and she could look into his eyes, and let

them gain strength and assurance from hers.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024