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Show 272 HJCIL4.BD IIUHDIS. than that wl 1ich !:~he already knew, were yet nlmost certain to Larrow up her fc<'lings by the gradual nccmcuh1tion of events before Iter imagination, to a pitch alm~st uncndnrnL.Ie. I _resorted to CYCry a rgmnr11t, plea, suggcstJOn-c,·crytlnng winch might move her to forego her wish-at lcnst, for the }Jrcscnt. But my cfror tl; ·were unaYstiling. "You rntircly mistake me," she would say, "I am earnest not excited. Uy earn estness 3lways shows itself in tlds manner. I ussnrc you that my blood is quite as temperate as it would be under the most ord inary aflliction." And this site said in words tiJ:lt were uttered with spasmodic effort. Her mother cal led me aside for a moment. "You will ltavc to tell her," she sa id ; u the very opposition to her desire makes ll('l' worse. 'l'e lJ Jter all, Richard, as she demands it, and God send, that it be for the best!" Thinking it probable that such might be tlte case, though sti1lrcluctant, I waived my obj ections, and determined to comply. "When I resumed my scat by the bedside, and avowed this determinntion, as if to confirm the words of the mother, a sudden change came over lJCr. IIcr res}Jiration, wltich lJD.d been impeded and Yiolcnt before, been me easier; and, closing her eyes, she leaned back upon the pil1ow, from whicl1 , during the greater part of tl1e previous conference, her J~eacl had been uplifted, and tlms prepared herself to listen. It was a strong effort which she made to be, or seem, composed, and it was only successful for a time. :My confidence in it soon began to waver, as I found, when fairly in my nanative, that Iter eyes were re-opened, and with a fearful resumption of ligh t-her ltead once more raised from the pillow-and Iter unconscious J1and, wlten I reaclted tlmt part of my narrative which detailed the first assault upon us at tltc ltoYel of 'Vebber, suddenly extended and grasping my arm wl1ich lay on the Led beside her. "Stop-stop awhile-n moment-! Elm not ready yet to Lear you-not yet-not yet!" I paused at her direction, ::md she sank back upon tl1e }Jillow, and closed her eyes with a rigid pressure of lter fingers upon their lids, as if to shut out from sight some horrible vision. In this state she remained for a space of several seconds; and I could perceive, when she resumed her attitude of attention, Tim MANL\f', 273 r.nd bade me proceC'd with my narr.1th·e, that though she might 1laYe succeeded in expel ling the phantom from her sight, tho very effort requisite in doing so, had accelerated the action of her blood. I proceeded, however, striving to avoid every word, phrase, or unnecessary jnc idcnt, wltich might have the effect of increasing the vividness of an event, already too terribly imprc:- sivc; but with all my caution I could perceive the constant flow nnd gathering of excitement in her brain. ller words became thick, yet more frequent. She started constantly from tl10 pillow, to whiclt sl1e as constantly atHl immediately sank back, ns if conscious of departing from tho tacit pledge which site lmd g- iven me, but which I had neve1· relied on, to be calm and collected while I spoke. At length, wltcn I told of the flight of Oanington, of his pursuit by tlte rullians, of the long interval, in which, bound to the fl oor, I lay at their mercy, and after they l1ad gone, before tlto arrivnl of Grafton to my relief; and how I looked for my friend in Yain among those who rescued me i Iter emotion grew utterly beyond constraint, and sl1c cried out alou(l, and gasped with such C'ffort between her cries, that I dreaded lest suffocation should follow from her fruitless endeavors at speech. But she contrived to speak u Yes! yes! they came-they loosed you-they set you free -but wlwt did they for him-wha.t did you, who called yourself his fri end 1 'Vhat did you for him, who was yours 1 'l'ell me that-that!" 'These were words of madness-certainly there was madness in the wild and rovi11g expression of l1er fire-darting eye. I would even then lwve paused, if I could i but she would not suffer it. Resuming a look of calmness-such a look as mocked itself by its inadequacy to effect her object-when she saw me hesitate. she begged me to continue. " I nm calm again, llicl1ard- it was for a moment only. },argive me, I pmy you, Richard-forgive me, and go on. J.. .. et me l1ear the rest. I will no't cry out again." I hastened to close the painful narrative, but she did not hear me to the end. She was no longer capable of knowing what she did or said; but leaping from the couch, in defiance of aU my own nnd her mother's efforts-short of absolute violence-to realraiu her, she strode across the chamber, as if with a leading !2• |