It was Saturday evening when the message was dispatched to Abchurch, but
Mr. Cardew was fortunately able to secure a substitute for the morrow;
Sunday morning came. Mrs. Furze, who had been sitting up all night, drew
down the blinds at dawn, but Catharine asked, not only that they might be
drawn up again, but that her bed might be shifted a little so that she
might look out across the meadow and towards the bridge. "The view that
way is so lovely," said she. It was again a triumphal spring day, and
light and warmth streamed into the sick chamber.
Presently her mother went to take a little rest, and Mr. Cardew was
announced almost immediately afterwards. He came upstairs, and Mrs.
Bellamy, who had taken Mrs. Furze's place, left the room. She did not
think it proper to intrude when the clergyman visited anybody who was
dying. Mr. Cardew remained standing and speechless.
"Sit down, Mr. Cardew. I felt that I should like to see you once more."
He sat down by the bedside.
"Do you mind opening the window and drawing up the blind again? It has
fallen a little. That is better: now I can see the meadows and away
towards the bridge foot. Will you give me a glass of water?"
She drank the water: he looked steadily at her, and he knew too well what
was on her face. Her hand dropped on the bed: he fell on his knees
beside her with that hand in his, but still he was dumb, and not a single
article of his creed which he had preached for so many years presented
itself to him: forgiveness, the atonement, heaven--it had all vanished.
"Mr. Cardew, I want to say something."
"Wait a moment, let me tell you--_you have saved me_."
She smiled, her lips moved, and she whispered--
"_You_ have saved _me_."
By their love for each other they were both saved. The disguises are
manifold which the Immortal Son assumes in the work of our redemption.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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