tales for fifteen-第28章

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her　as　at　all　engaged　by　the　permission。



CHAPTER　V。

WHILE　such　happy　prospects　were　opening　on　the
future　life　of　her　friend；　the　time　of　Charlotte
Henley　was　very　differently　occupied　in　the　country。
There　is；　however；　a　tendency　in　youth　to　rise　with
events　that　does　not　readily　admit　of　depression；
and　the　disorder　of　George　Morton　was　one　of　all
others　the　most　flattering　when　near　its　close。　Even
the　more　mature　experience　of　his　parents　was
misled　by　the　deceptive　symptoms　that　his
complaint　assumed　in　the　commencement　of
summer。　They　who　so　fondly　hoped　the　result；
began　to　believe　that　youth　and　the　bland　airs　of
June　were　overcoming　the　inexorable　enemy。　That
the　strength　of　the　young　man　lessened　with　every
succeeding　day；　was　an　event　to　be　expected　from
his　low　diet　and　protracted　confinement；　but　his
brightening　eyes；　and　the　flitting　colour　that　would
at　times　add　to　their　fiery　radiance；　brought　to　the
youthful　Charlotte　the　most　heartfelt；　though
secret；　rapture。　This　state　between　reviving　hope
and　momentary　despondency　had　prevailed　for
several　weeks；　when　the　affectionate　girl　entered
an　apartment　that　communicated　with　George's　own
room；　where　she　found　the　invalid　reclining　on　a
settee　apparently　deeply　communing　with　himself。
He　was　alone；　and　his　appearance；　as　well　as　the
heavens　and　the　earth；　united　to　encourage　the
sanguine　expectation　of　the　pure　heart　that
throbbed　so　ardently　when　its　owner　witnessed　any
favourable　change　in　the　countenance　of　the　young
man。　The　windows　were　raised；　and　the　balmy　air
of　a　June　morning　played　through　the　apartment；
lending　in　reality　an　elastic　vigour　to　the　decaying
organs　of　the　sick　youth。　The　tinge　in　his　cheeks
was　heightened　by　the　mellow　glow　of　the　sun's
rays　as　they　shone　through　the　medium　of　the　rose…
coloured　curtains　of　the　window；　and　Charlotte
thought　she　once　more　beheld　the　returning　colour
of　health　where　it　had　been　so　long　absent。

〃How　much　better　you　appear　this　morning；
George；〃　she　cried；　in　a　voice　whose　melody　was
even　heightened　by　its　gaiety。　〃We　shall　soon　have
you　among　us　once　more；　and　then；　heedless　one；
beware　how　you　trifle　again　with　that　best　of
heaven's　gifts；　your　health。　Oh；　this　is　a　blessed
climate！　our　summer　atones　with　its　mildness　for
the　dreariness　and　perils　of　our　winter；　it　has　even
given　me　a　colour；　pale…face　as　I　amI　can　feel　it
burn　on　my　cheek。〃

He　raised　his　head　from　its　musing　position　at　the
first　sounds　of　her　voice；　and　smiled　faintly；　and
with　an　expression　of　anguish；　as　she　proceeded；
but　when　she　had　ended；　and　taken　her　seat　near
him；　still　keeping　her　eyes　on　his　varying
countenance；　he　took　her　hand　into　his　own　before
he　replied。　A　good　deal　surprised　at　his　manner；
and　at　this　act；　which　exceeded　the　usual
familiarity　of　even　their　affectionate　intercourse；
the　colour；　of　which　Miss　Henley　had　been　so
playfully　boasting；　changed　once　or　twice　with　rapid
transitions。

〃Seem　I　so　well；　dear　Charlotte？〃　he　at　length　said
in　a　low；　tremulous；　and　hollow　voice；　〃seem　I　so
well？　I　believe　you　are　right；　and　that　I　shall
shortly　be　bettermuch　better。〃

〃What　mean　you；　George？　feel　you　any　worse？　have
I　disturbed　you　with　my　presence　and　my
thoughtless　gaiety？〃

The　young　man　smiled　again；　but　the　expression　of
his　face　was　no　longer　mingled　with　a　look　of
anguish；　it　was　a　kind　benevolent　gleam　of
gratitude　and　affection　which　crossed　his　ghastly
features；　like　a　ray　of　sunshine　enlivening　the
gloom　of　a　day　in　winter。

〃You　disturb　me；　Charlotte！〃　he　answered；　his　very
voice　trembling　as　if　in　sympathy　with　his　frame：　〃I
do　believe　but　for　you　I　should　have　been　long
since　in　my　grave。〃

〃No；　no；　George；　this　is　too　melancholy　a　theme　for
us　both　just　now；　let　us　talk　of　your　returning
health。〃

He　pressed　her　hand　to　his　heart　before　he　replied
〃My　health　will　never　return；　I　am　lost　to　this　world；
and　in　fact　at　this　moment　I　properly　belong　to
another　in　my　body：　would　to　God　that　I　was　purely
so　in　feelings　also。〃

〃Surely；　George；　you　are　alarming　yourself
unnecessarily。〃

〃I　am　not　alarmed；〃　he　replied；　〃I　have　too　long
foreseen　this　event；　to　feel　alarmed　at　my
approaching　dissolutionno；　for　that；　blessed　be
my　God　and　my　Redeemer；　I　am　in　some　degree
prepared；　but　I　feel　it　impossible　to　shake　off　the
feelings　of　this　life　while　the　pulse　continues　to
beat；　and　yet　the　emotions　I　now　experience　must
be　in　some　measure　allied　to　heaven；　they　are　not
impure；　they　are　not　selfish；　nothing　can　partake　of
either；　dear　Charlotte；　where　your　image　is
connected　with　the　thoughts　of　a　future　world。〃

〃Oh；　George！　talk　not　so　gloomily；　so　cruelly；　this
morningyour　whole　countenance　contradicts　your
melancholy　speech；　and　you　are　betterindeed　you
are；you　must　be　better。〃

〃Yes；　I　am　better；　I　am　nearly　well；〃　returned　the
youth；　pausing　a　moment；　while　a　struggle　of　the
most　painful　interest　seemed　to　engross　his
thoughts。　As　it　passed　away；　he　drew　his　hand
feebly　across　his　clammy　brow；　and；　smiling　faintly；
resumed　his　speech；〃on　the　brink　of　the　grave；　at
a　moment　when　all　thoughts　of　me　must　be
connected　with　the　image　of　death；　there　can　no
longer　be　any　necessity　for　silence。　You　have　been
kind　to　us；　dear　Miss　Henley；　as　you　are　kind　to　all；
but　to　me　your　sympathy　has　been　trebly　dear；　for
it　has　brought　with　it　a　consolation　and　pleasure
that　you　but　little　imagine。〃

Miss　Henley　raised　her　tearful　eyes　from　the　floor　to
his　wan　features；　that　now　appeared　illumined　with
more　than　human　fires；　and　her　pale　lips　quivered；
but　her　voice　was　inaudible。

〃Yes；　Charlotte；　I　may　now　speak　without　injustice；
or　the　fear　of　being　selfish：　I　have　long　loved　you
how　tenderly；　how　purely；　none　can　ever　know；　but
could　I；　with　a　certainty　of　my　fate　before　my　eyes；
with　the　knowledge　that　my　days　were　numbered；
and　that　the　sun　of　my　life　could　never　reach　its
meridian；　woo　you　to　my　love；　to　make　you
miserable！　No；　dearest！　your　gentle　heart　will
mourn　the　brother　and　the　friend　too　much　for　its
own　peace；　it　needed　not　the　sting　of　a　stronger
grief。〃

〃George；　George；〃　sobbed　the　convulsed　girl；　〃think
not　of　me；　speak　not　of　meif　it　can　cheer　you　at
such　a　moment　to　know　how　much　you　are　valued
by　me；　no　cold　reserve　shall　be　found　on　my　part。〃

The　young　man　started；　and　fastened　his　eyes　on
her　face　with　an　indefinable　look　of　delight　mingled
with　sorrow。

〃Charlotte！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃do　I　hear　aright？　am　I
so　miserable！　am　I　so　happy！　repeat　those　words
quickmy　eyes　grow　dimmy　senses　deceive　me。〃

〃Live；　George　Morton；〃　said　Charlotte　firmly：　〃you
are　betteryour　whole　face　bespeaks　it；　and　if　the
tender　care　of　an　affectionate　wife　can　preserve
your　health；　you　shall　long　live　a　blessing　to　all
who　love　you。〃

As　Charlotte　uttered；　thus　ingenuously；　her　pure
attachment；　the　youth　extended　his　hand　towards
her　blindly。　She　gave　him　her　own；　which　he　drew　to
his　heart；　and　folded　to　his　bosom　with　a　warm
pressure　for　an　instant；　when　his　hold　relaxed；　his
form　dropping　backward　on　the　sofa；　and　in　that
attitude　he　expired　without　a　struggle。

We　shall　not　dwell　on　the　melancholy　scene　that
followed。　At　the　funeral　of　George　Morton　Miss
Henley　was　not　to　be　seen；　nor　was　it　generally
understood　that　the　young　people　had　been
connected　in　the　closest　ties　of　feeling。　She　made
no　display　of　her　grief　in　her　dress；　unless　the
slight　testimonials　of　a　few　bright　ribbands　on　the
virgin　white　of　her　robe　could　be　called　such；　and
the　rumour　that　was　at　first　propagated　of　their
being　engaged　to　each　other　was　discredited；
because　the　traces　of　sorrow　were　not　particularly
visible　in　the　attire　of　Miss　Henley。　When　the
season　of　gaiety　returned；　she　appeared　as　usual　in
her　place　in　society。　Though　her　cheeks　were
seldom　enriched　with　the　faint　glow　that　once
rendered　her　so　beautiful；　and　she　was　less
dazzling　in　her　appearance；　yet；　if　possible；　she
was　more　lovely　and　attractive。　In　the　course　of　the
winter；　several　gentlemen　approached　her　with　the
evident　intention　of　offering　their　hands。　Their
advances　were　recei