Cora and The Doctor; or, Revelations of A Physician's WifeLeslie, Madeline
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Cora and The Doctor; or, Revelations of A Physician's Wife
Leslie, Madeline
Physicians -- Fiction
But all other annoyances were slight compared with the one great desire
which had taken possession of her soul, which was to render her husband
jealous of the Doctor. To this one purpose she bent all her powers. I
cannot describe to you the variety of conflicting emotions struggling
for mastery during the hours of that never to be forgotten Sabbath. I
had slept little the night previous, but had lain awake revolving the
character of my cousin, and, for the first time, doubts of her
truthfulness began to intrude themselves into my mind. I acknowledged
her fascination, her great conversational powers, but I could not shut
my eyes to the fact that all these gifts were perverted to unlawful
purposes, such as would surely destroy not only her own, and her
husband's happiness, but the happiness of all with whom she associated.
Even in my troubled sleep she was before me, and appeared like the
serpents I had read of, who fascinate and charm but to destroy.
On Sabbath morning, Fidelia appeared elaborately dressed and really
looked beautiful. Frank's eyes rested upon her with such a singular
expression that I looked at him with wonder. I had before thought her
free in manner with him, but now I was amazed. I had never even imagined
any person so artfully insinuating. Sometimes I determined to leave the
room, unable longer to endure the annoyance and excitement; but the next
moment I was restrained by a desire to see what would follow.
Directly after family prayers, she availed herself of a seat near the
Doctor, and, leaning familiarly on the arm of his chair, said, "Dear
Frank, I've so often longed to talk with you upon some subjects
connected with my spiritual interests! You, dear cousin, always
understood my inner nature, my better feelings. Oh," said she, slightly
raising her voice, and sighing heavily as she glanced toward her
husband, "how I have longed for a congenial spirit--for some one who
could appreciate my aspirations after higher good. Dear cousin," she
added, laying her hand on his, and gazing up into his face with an
expression of languishing fondness, "those were blissful days when we
scarce called a thought or wish our own, until we had imparted it to
each other."
Frank started from his seat, and I was sure there was a strong
expression of disgust upon his countenance. But the indignant husband
saw not this. He had caught his hat and rushed from the house.
Fidelia remarked with a sneer, "it is a great grief to me that I have
never been able to prevail with Mr. Schuyler to keep in doors on the
Sabbath. It is really disgraceful to see any one so openly profane the
day."
"Fidelia," said the Doctor, in a reproving tone, "The God of the Sabbath
requires not only an outward observance, but a regulation of the
thoughts and feelings of the heart. We may offend him as truly by
indulging in unkind thoughts or improper feelings, as by any outward
violation of the sanctity of the day."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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