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372 |
THE HAUNTED MAN |
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might not afflict those who are dearest to yon, your home will be doubly dear and doubly blest. Now, isn't that a good, true thing?"
She was too intent upon her work, and too earnest in what she said, and too composed and quiet altogether, to be on the watch for any look he might direct towards her in reply; so the shaft of his ungrateful glance fell harmless, and did not wound her.
" Ah !" said Milly, with her pretty head inclining thoughtfully on one side, as she looked down, following her busy fingers with her eyes. " Even on me—and I am very different from you, Mr. Edmund, for I have no learning, and don't know how to think properly—this view of such things has made a great impression, siuce you have been lying ill. When I have seen you so touched by the kindness and attention of the poor people down stairs, I have felt that you thought even that experience some repayment for the loss of health, and I have read in your face, as plain as if it was a book, that but for some trouble and sorrow we should never know half the good there is about us."
His getting up from the couch, interrupted her, or she' was going on to say more.
"We needn't magnify the merit, Mrs. William," he rejoined slightingly. " The people down stairs will be paid in good time I dare say, for any little extra service they may have rendered me ; and perhaps they anticipate no less. I am much obliged to you, too."
Her fingers stopped, and she looked at him.
" I can't be made to feel the more obliged by your exaggerating the case," he said. " I am sensible that you have been interested in me, and I say I am much obliged to you. What more would you have ?"
Her work fell on her lap, as she still looked at him walking to and fro with an intolerant air, and stopping now and then.
"I say again, I am much obliged to you. Why weaken my sense of what is your due in obligation, by preferring enormous claims upon me ? Trouble, sorrow, affliction, adversity! One might suppose I had been dying a score of deaths here !"
"Do you believe, Mr. Edmund," she asked, rising and going nearer to him, " that I spoke of the poor people of the house, with any reference to myself ? To me ?" laying her hand upon her bosom with a simple and innocent smile of astonishment.
" Oh ! I think nothing about it, my good creature," he returned. " I have had an indisposition, which your solicitude—observe ! I say solicitude—makes a great deal more of, than it merits; and it's over, and we can't perpetuate it."
He coldly took a book, and sat down at the table. |
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