The long weary hours of that day passed, but no message, either a
telegram or letter, came from Miss Desmond. Another wire was sent,
asking for a reply. Still none came. Then, later on in the evening, a
message was sent addressed to the housekeeper at Willmar Court, which
quickly brought a reply: "Miss Desmond away. Impossible to forward
messages."
Mrs. Mandeville told Carol very gently. He did not speak for some time,
and, though he lay with closed eyes, she knew he was not sleeping.
Then he looked up at her:
"Auntie, when Jesus was in the boat, and the winds arose, and the waves
surged high around the little boat, Jesus didn’t command them at once to
be still. The disciples had to awake him, and he rebuked them for their
little faith. Shouldn’t they have waited patiently, knowing it was all
right? Sometimes it seems error has bound me with ropes, and I cannot
move; sometimes it seems like waves washing over me. But I know that
Love is saying to error’s angry waves, ’Thus far, and no farther.’ And
just at the right moment the command will come: ’_Peace, be still_.’"
Mrs. Mandeville hid her face in the pillow beside him, that he might not
see the tears streaming from her eyes. She had lost again the faith
which for a time had uplifted her to a realization of God’s power to
save the boy from death. In imagination she saw a new little grave in
the churchyard with that word "Peace" graven in the marble headstone.
She had been anxious for news from Miss Desmond because Carol wished it
so much. She had little hope or faith that injuries, such as his, could
in any way be alleviated by Miss Desmond’s knowledge of Christian
Science. The night passed again, and not for one hour did sleep close
the suffering boy’s eyes. He had been unconscious for a time, murmuring
incoherently; but it was not sleep.
Dr. Burton said very little when he came in the morning; he only looked
graver and sadder. By telegram he had been in constant communication
with Sir Wilfrid Wynne, and he knew that, humanly speaking, nothing more
could be done for the boy than was being done. Yet there was no
progress.
"How I wish there was something I could do for you, Carol!" Mrs.
Mandeville said, as she sat beside him.
"Auntie, there is something, if Uncle Raymond will let you have it. I
know I should fall asleep if you read _Science and Health_ to me. I
always used to when I was ill before, and Cousin Alicia read it to me,
even before I began to understand it."
"I will go to the rectory at once, dear, and ask Uncle for the book.
Promise me to lie with closed eyes; and try not even to think about
anything whilst I am away."
She would not write, nor send a message, fearing a refusal. As soon as
Nurse came to take her place she left the room, and the house. There was
a path through the park direct to the rectory. It was less than ten
minutes’ walk.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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