CHAPTER X.
ENCHANTMENT.
Sedgwick and Browning had now been several days in London. Every day theyhad been riding and driving--seeing the sights. One morning at breakfastJack mentioned that it was Tuesday; that next day would be the annualcelebrated Derby Wednesday; that he had made arrangements for as many togo as could get away. The number was finally limited to four--Grace andRose, Jack and Jim.
This was talked over, and so soon as the arrangements were determinedupon, Jack proposed that when the race should be over, instead of comingback to London, they should go on beyond Surrey, down to the seashore inSussex, where an old uncle of Rose's resided, for a few days' visit. Thiswas, after some discussion, agreed upon; whereupon Jack rose and went outto make a few needed little preparations; the young ladies followed to dosome shopping, while Sedgwick went to his room to write some letters.
He finished his letters and was going out, when he met Mrs. Hamlin in thehall. She greeted him and asked him to sit down a moment, saying shewanted to talk with him. He swung a chair around for Mrs. Hamlin, andwhen she was seated he took another chair opposite, saying: "Is thereanything particular this morning, madam, which you desire to talk about?"The old lady looked at him a moment, then said:
"Mr. Sedgwick, I have noticed that since you came to my house you seem tobe worried, as though this London roar and confusion oppressed you; andI have seen a look on your face sometimes, which, it seemed to me, if setto words would say: 'I would give anything in the world to be out of thisand back once more free in my native land.' It worries me, and I want toask you if something cannot be done to make your life here morepleasant."
"Why, my dear madam," said Sedgwick, "I never was half so kindlyentertained before as I have been in your house. There is nothinglacking, nothing; and when I think of ever returning all this kindnessmy gratitude is made bankrupt."
"Still, you have something on your mind. Is it a business trouble? Willyou not test our friendship in real truth?" asked the lady.
Sedgwick looked at her seriously a moment, and said: "I have something,but it is not business, that distresses me. But, were I to tell you, itwould test your friendship indeed."
"Well," responded the lady, "I want to know it. I hope we can help you."
"Mrs. Hamlin," said Sedgwick, "I was reared a farmer's son. I was a wildboy, I guess. I left school with education not yet completed--left undera cloud, but no disgrace attached to my leaving. I went to Texas and wasa cowboy for a year. From there I wandered west, learned the occupationof mining; for four years almost every day I have been underground. I metJack: we were friends; how close at last you do not know. We startedeast; he accompanied me to my childhood's home. After a brief visit Icame with him to his. I have been three weeks under your roof; I am boundby a promise to remain until Jack's marriage, and, in the meantime, inspite of myself, I, the farmer, the cowboy, and the miner, have dared tolook upon your daughter, and my soul is groveling at her feet. I love herwith such intensity that I have feared sometimes I should break down andbeseech her to have pity on me. Now you have it all. Tell me, I pray, howI can be true to myself and to the hospitality which you have extended meuntil Jack shall be married and I can return to my native land!"
When he once had begun, his words were poured out in a torrent; his facewas pale; he trembled, and his breath came in half gasps.
Mrs. Hamlin was silent a moment. Then, looking up, she said: "Have youspoken of this to Jack?"
"Not one word," he replied.
"Or to Grace?"
"O, Mrs. Hamlin, believe me, not one word."
The lady leaned her head upon her hand for a few moments. Then, lookingup, she said: "You ask me what to do. I cannot help you. But my judgmentwould be that you go directly to Grace and ask her help. I have not theslightest idea of her sentiments toward you, but if she does not care foryou and thinks she never can, she will frankly tell you. If she does loveyou, she is probably suffering more than you are."
"O, Mrs. Hamlin," said Sedgwick, "are you willing that I shall speak toher, that I shall tell her how much she is to me?"
"Quite willing," was the answer; spoken after a moment's thought."Believe me, I never suspected anything of this kind, never in the least,or I should not have stopped you here; but if Grace loves you I shall bemost glad. And one thing more. Should Grace be willing to accept yourattentions, for the present, please, do not speak to Mr. Hamlin or toJack. I have my special reasons for making this request. I ask it becauseMr. Hamlin is peculiar, and Grace is my child, in fact, while he is buther step-father."
Then she arose, held out her hand and smiled. Then her face became grave,and she leaned over the young man, kissed his forehead, and left thehall.
When the door closed Sedgwick put his hands before his eyes as though toward off a great light; and when he removed them his lips were moving andhis face wore a softened and exalted look, such as Saul's might have wornafter he saw the "great light."
Dinner was hardly over that evening when Jack disappeared. He spentnearly all his evenings with Rose, and so his absence was not remarked.Mr. Hamlin had been called away to Scotland for two or three days onbusiness. Mrs. Hamlin, Grace and Sedgwick passed into the parlor. After alittle conversation, Sedgwick asked Grace to sing, and as she went to thepiano Mrs. Hamlin arose and left the room.
Grace struck the instrument softly, and in a moment began to sing. Thepiece she selected was the old one beginning:
"Could you come back to me, Douglas, Douglas, In the old likeness that I knew, I would be so faithful, so loving, Douglas, Douglas, Douglas, tender and true."
There was a strange thrill in the voice of Grace as the song progressed,and when she reached the fourth stanza and sang:
"I never was worthy of you, Douglas, Not half worthy the like of you; Now, all men beside seem to me like shadows,-- I love you, Douglas, tender and true,"
the last words ended in a tone very much like a sob, and the singingceased.
Sedgwick had risen, and walked to the side of Grace while she sang. Whenshe ceased he said:
"That is a very touching song, Miss Grace. Your voice vibrates in it asthough your heart were heavy."
"It is," she frankly answered.
He bent and took an unresisting hand and said: "If you are in trouble,may I not try to be your comforter?"
She rose from the piano, and looking up clear and brave into the eyes ofthe young man, said: "You are most kind, but I cannot tell you why myheart is heavy."
He looked down into her eyes for a moment and then said: "My heart islikewise heavy, Miss Grace; may I tell you why?"
"Surely," she answered, "if you have a sorrow, and if there is any balmin this household, it shall be yours."
He took her other hand, and drawing her gently toward him, said: "Comenear to me Miss Grace. I am involved in a trouble which I never dreamedof when I came here. Mine has been a harsh life, but I have always triedto meet my fate resignedly. Now I am overborne. Since the first hour Imet you, first looked into your divine face, first felt your hand-claspand heard your voice, my heart has been on fire. You have become mydivinity. I worship you. Oh, Grace, can you give me a thread, be it everso slight, out of which I may weave a hope that some time you will bend,and sanctify my life by becoming my wife?"
As he spoke, over the pale face of Grace Meredith an almost imperceptibleglow spread, as when an incandescent lamp is lighted under a translucentshade; her eyes grew moist, her lips quivered, she trembled in everylimb, and, suddenly dropping on her knees, drew his hands to her lips,kissed them, and murmured: "O! my king!"
He caught her to him and cried: "Is it true? Is it true? Do you reallycare for me?"
She looked up and said: "O, my blind darling, you are so very, veryblind! My soul has been calling to your soul since the first hour youcame."
Half an hour later Grace looked up and with a ravishing smile, said: "Doyou know, dearest, I believe all my heavy-heartedness is gone."
At last
Sedgwick said: "My beautiful, what will your friends say to yourmarrying a rough miner?"
"What," replied she, "will your friends say if you prove foolish enoughto marry a simple English girl, whose horizon is bounded by Devonshireand London?"
His response was: "My adored one!"
Then she crept nearer him, and with serious accent said: "My love, ifhappily our lives shall be united, whom will it be for, our friends orourselves? I will tell you. If ever I shall be permitted to become soblessed as to be your wife, it will be with the thought in my heart thatwe are all in all to each other in this world, and in the world to come."
"In this world and in the world to come," he repeated; and then, withbowed head, in a whisper, he added: "May I be worthy of such a blessing,and God spare to me my idol, that I may praise Him evermore."
And then they began to talk in earnest. One hour like that is due toevery mortal; no mortal can have more than one such an hour, no matterhow long may be his life.
Later they came directly to the subject of their marriage. They agreedthat, if possible, it should be on the same day that Jack and Rose shouldbe married. But Sedgwick mentioned Mrs. Hamlin's desire that for thepresent no one should know of his love or of hers (if it should bereturned), and said he believed it best not to mention their relationsuntil the wedding day of Rose and Jack drew near.
Grace agreed with him, except that Rose must be told, saying she wouldfind it out even if the attempt were made to conceal it from her, andadded: "Jack and Rose are completely absorbed in each other. They will bewith each other most of the time. My father is absent all day, and untillate at night. My mother is good, and will not much disturb us. I canlook in your eyes every day, kiss you sometimes, and feel your presencelike a robust spirit near me all the time." Then, suddenly pausing for aninstant, she again broke out with, "Oh, how happy I am; it seems asthough my heart would break with its ecstasy!" and, springing up, she ranto the piano, and sang a song which filled the room with melody, andcaused a linnet that was asleep on her perch to awaken and join hertrills to the song.
The Wedge of Gold Page 10