Cora and The Doctor; or, Revelations of A Physician's WifeLeslie, Madeline
General
Cora and The Doctor; or, Revelations of A Physician's Wife
Leslie, Madeline
Physicians -- Fiction
I could not tell how Emily looked, for I took particular pains to be
occupied with Pauline, but I am sure my own face burned.
"Well," said uncle, "pass on to the next," little aware what an interest
that small item had to some of the hearers. Emily soon made an excuse to
leave the room, and I thought it best not to revert to the subject. In
the course of the day I looked over the paper to see if any part of this
communication had been omitted in the reading; when to my astonishment
it was nicely cut out.
Aunt looked up at my expression of surprise and said, "O! Emily asked if
we had done with the paper, she wanted to cut out a pattern of
something." I had my own thoughts, but of course said nothing, and so
the subject passed. I may as well say here that on my return, I asked
Frank what family Mr. Karswell had, and learned that there were two
accomplished daughters. He has been a widower many years, and the eldest
daughter has kept house for him. The younger one, Gertrude, Frank says,
gave promise of great beauty.
Frank was a little troubled about the cutting out of that "pattern" from
the paper, especially as Emily did it so secretly. "If she loves him
yet," said he, "she has had a severe punishment for her proud
dissimulation."
On our return from New York, and when we were within thirty miles of
home, the cars were full, and Emily was separated from us by two seats,
Pauline and I being together. A gentleman who was a stranger to me took
the vacant seat by sister. He was very much browned, as if he had come
from a foreign clime, but altogether a noble specimen of man. After a
few moments I was astonished to see them in the full tide of
conversation, Emily being more interested than I had seen her for many a
day. The burden of the conversation at length devolved upon her, while
he grew more and more taciturn, until I saw that he put his handkerchief
to his eyes and was much overcome by what she said. As she turned a
little toward her companion, I saw that her own eyes were humid with
tears; and I wondered at the meaning of this emotion. Fortunately for my
curiosity, we soon reached a station, and the persons sitting in front
of us left. Emily and her companion immediately arose and availed
themselves of this seat.
I was not a little surprised, as well as pleased, when Emily said to me,
"Do you remember, Cora, I told you about Edward Ryland, brother to your
little Anna's mother?"
"Yes, perfectly."
"Well, this is he, just returned from India. He has not heard from his
sister for many years. I have been giving him a sketch of her history."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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