|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 36
She put her arm round the girl's neck, and kissed her. Clara
returned the kiss; Clara answered, sadly and submissively,
"I do love you, Lucy. I _will_ try."
Having answered in those terms, she sighed to herself, and said
no more. It would have been plain, only too plain, to far less
observant eyes than Mrs. Crayford's that no salutary impression
had been produced on her. She had ceased to defend her own way of
thinking, she spoke of it no more--but there was the terrible
conviction of Frank's death at Wardour's hands rooted as firmly
as ever in her mind! Discouraged and distressed, Mrs. Crayford
left her, and walked back toward the house.
Chapter 15.
At the drawing-room window of the villa there appeared a polite
little man, with bright intelligent eyes, and cheerful sociable
manners. Neatly dressed in professional black, he stood,
self-proclaimed, a prosperous country doctor--successful and
popular in a wide circle of patients and friends. As Mrs.
Crayford approached him, he stepped out briskly to meet her on
the lawn, with both hands extended in courteous and cordial
greeting.
"My dear madam, accept my heartfelt congratulations!" cried the
doctor. "I have seen the good news in the paper; and I could
hardly feel more rejoiced than I do now if I had the honor of
knowing Lieutenant Crayford personally. We mean to celebrate the
occasion at home. I said to my wife before I came out, 'A bottle
of the old Madeira at dinner to-day, mind!--to drink the
lieutenant's health; God bless him!' And how is our interesting
patient? The news is not altogether what we could wish, so far as
she is concerned. I felt a little anxious, to tell you the truth,
about the effect of it; and I have paid my visit to-day before my
usual time. Not that I take a gloomy view of the news myself. No!
There is clearly a doubt about the correctness of the
information, so far as Mr. Aldersley is concerned--and that is a
point, a great point in Mr. Aldersley's favor. I give him the
benefit of the doubt, as the lawyers say. Does Miss Burnham give
him the benefit of the doubt too? I hardly dare hope it, I
confess."
"Miss Burnham has grieved and alarmed me," Mrs. Crayford
answered. "I was just thinking of sending for you when we met
here."
With those introductory words, she told the doctor exactly what
had happened; repeating not only the conversation of that morning
between Clara and herself, but also the words which had fallen
from Clara, in the trance of the past night.
The doctor listened attentively. Little by little, its easy
smiling composure vanished from his face, as Mrs. Crayford went
on, and left him completely transformed into a grave and
thoughtful man.
"Let us go and look at her," he said.
He seated himself by Clara's side, and carefully studied her
face, with his hand on her pulse. There was no sympathy here
between the dreamy mystical temperament of the patient and the
downright practical character of the doctor. Clara secretly
disliked her medical attendant. She submitted impatiently to the
close investigation of which he made her the object. He
questioned her--and she answered irritably. Advancing a step
further (the doctor was not easily discouraged) he adverted to
the news of the Expedition, and took up the tone of remonstrance
which had been already adopted by Mrs. Crayford. Clara declined
to discuss the question. She rose with formal politeness, and
requested permission to return to the house. The doctor attempted
no further resistance. "By all means, Miss Burnham," he answered,
resignedly--having first cast a look at Mrs. Crayford which said
plainly, "Stay here with me." Clara bowed her acknowledgments in
cold silence, and left them together. The doctor's bright eyes
followed the girl's wasted, yet still graceful figure as it
slowly receded from view, with an expression of grave anxiety
which Mrs. Crayford noticed with grave misgiving on her side. He
said nothing, until Clara had disappeared under the veranda which
ran round the garden-side of the house.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|