"Not unjustly so--no--no--I would soon contrive some test by which to
try the woman I admired, if I doubted her. Thank you, no more chocolate,
I am going."
So saying, he rose, and drew on his gloves, and wished her good
morning--leaving her in a pleasing reverie.
"Ha, master Henry," she observed to herself; "you are not so deep, but
you let out a secret, now and then. So you are testing me, are you--I
understand."
As she indulged these thoughts, one by one of the breakfast party
strolled in, and conversation was soon briskly engaged in on the
bonnets, shawls, and gloves, which they intended wearing, interspersed
by some hints from Caroline, on the agreeable nature of her morning's
_tete-a-tete_. Before the meal was fully concluded, the bells from the
different churches began to ring, but, somehow, they were not in harmony
with the voices of the little party, as, one after another, they took up
the same solemn tune, in different notes, all speaking the same
language, but in such harsh tones, it seemed as if the sisters disliked
them, for they rose up hastily, and hurried off to dress for church.
Neither did those bells seem to speak less harshly, when they intruded
their voices into the quiet study; yet there was a sadness, too, about
them, when they found Mr. Villars seated there, at his table, surrounded
by books and papers--his inkstand, and letter-drawer, and scraps of his
book--and wearing his dusty coat--and as his pen ran rapidly and
unceasingly across and across the paper, they seemed to whisper, still
in sadder, sadder tones--
"No man can do seven days' work."
Perhaps he heard that whisper, for he stopped, and listened, and laid
his hand uneasily upon his aching brow; and when he went on again,
trying to shut out their voices, something darker and darker stole upon
his mind, and he stopped and listened again to the same sad
tones--sadder, sadder still--as he heeded them more and more.
But merrily, merrily, merrily over the hills and green meadows--up from
the busy town, and borne upon the rippling waters of the Avon, came
those bells--when Mabel sat at her garret window, and looked out upon
the small peep of blue sky, which was not shut out by the dark walls and
tall chimney pots, which surrounded her--and as they fell upon her ear,
they whispered--"We are glad sounds to those who listen for us as you
do"--But back with those bells had her thoughts gone to the student, in
his silent room--and the expression of her face grew more and more sad.
"I cannot leave him there," she said, to herself; "but what can I say to
him? Oh, is there not enough. I will tell him how he is wasting himself
week after week without rest. I will tell him, that knowledge so
acquired is like the manna of the wilderness, which only turned to
corruption, when gathered on the Sabbath. Yes, surely he will listen to
me, for truth is so plain--I will go now."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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