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THE CHIMES. |
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upon your shoulder, where her own head might have lain, and was so humble to you, Richard. Tell her that you looked into my face, and saw the beauty which she used to praise, all gone : all gone : and in its place, a poor, wan, hollow cheek, that she would weep to see. Tell her everything, and take it back, and she will not refuse again. She will not have the heart!' "
So he sat musing, and repeating the last words, until he woke again, and rose.
" You won't take it, Margaret."
She shook her head, and motioned an entreaty to him to leave her.
" Good night, Margaret."
" Good night !"
He turned to look upon her; struck by her sorrow, and perhaps by the pity for himself which trembled in her voice. It was a quick and rapid action ; and for the moment some flash of his old bearing kindled in his form. In the next he went as he had come. Nor did this glimmer of a quenched fire seem to light him to a quicker sense of his debasement.
In any mood, in any grief, in any torture of the mind or body, Meg's work must be done. She sat down to her task, and plied it. Night, midnight. Still she worked.
She had a meagre fire, the night being very cold ; and rose at intervals to mind it. The Chimes rang half-past twelve while she was thus engaged ; and when they ceased she heard a gentle knocking at the door. Before she could so much as wonder who was there, at that unusual hour, it opened.
Oh Youth and Beauty, happy as ye should be, look at this ! Oh Youth and Beauty, blest and blessing all within your reach, and working out the ends of your Beneficent Creator, look at this!
She saw the entering figure; screamed its name; cried " Lilian!"
It was swift, and fell upon its knees before her : clinging to her dress.
" Up, dear ! Up ! Lilian ! My own dearest! "
"Never more, Meg; never more! Here! Here! Close to you, holding to you, feeling your dear breath upon my face ! "
"Sweet Lilian! Darling Lilian! Child of my heart—no mother's love can be more tender—lay your head upon my breast!"
" Never more, Meg. Never more ! When I first looked into your face, you knelt before me. On my knees before you, let mc die. Let it be here ! " |
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