Mrs. Dorriman: A Novel. Volume 3 of 3Chetwynd, Henry Wayland, Mrs.
General
Mrs. Dorriman: A Novel. Volume 3 of 3
Chetwynd, Henry Wayland, Mrs.
Fiction
"It is not only the loss of the baby, that's sore, but a sense of having
sinned, that's helping to keep her down," said Jean; "she feels that she
has done evil that good may come, and we are commanded not to do that.
And her nerves are nearly gone. You do not realize, my dear, all that
poor thing has suffered. I tremble, myself, when I think of her, month
after month, in the power of the poor madman. It's awful, Miss Grace,
you must just be patient and pray for her too."
Mrs. Dorriman's letters were now addressed to Margaret, and showed to no
one.
But one day she said to Jean, "When the doctor next comes, Jean, we will
ask him when I may go to Scotland," and the old woman was delighted, for
to her to be so far from Mrs. Dorriman, and not a "kent face" near her,
was a trial.
Another subject that amazed Grace a good deal was the apparent desertion
of Sir Albert Gerald and Mr. Paul Lyons.
Sir Albert having effected poor Margaret's release was full of remorse
because that release had been so late, though he was conscious of not
having lost time when he had fully grasped the situation; he still
mourned over the death of the poor child, whose life might have been
saved under ordinary circumstances. He understood Margaret better than
most of those round her, and he knew that if ever, in the future, he
hoped to see her, he must keep away now.
Grace was exceedingly amazed when she received a letter from him--from
Spain; true he entreated her to write to him, but his having gone so far
off was tiresome.
Then Mr. Lyons, he neither came nor wrote, and altogether Grace thought
now, as she once had done before, it is always Margaret.
Still there were consolations in her present lot; she appreciated to the
full having the command of money, and this was supplied unsparingly by
Mrs. Dorriman at her brother's wish.
He was not, in any way, a man who grudged money, and he was one of the
men who had a vague idea that most things, even a broken heart, could be
mended by a cheque.
He was more relieved by Mr. Drayton's death than any one, and horrified
his sister by saying so.
"It is a terrible thing you say, Anne; now I call that humbug; what is
the use of pretending to grieve?"
"He might have recovered," she said, gently; "and brother, I do not
think it is right to rejoice over any one's death."
"Who says I rejoice?"
"You look as if you did."
"Well, it is a relief; and in this world so seldom the right person
seems to die...."
"Oh, hush!" she said, inexpressibly shocked and distressed.
"Anne, I know you try to be honest, but you have a crooked way of
looking at things."
"I do not think I have, and," she added, plucking up a little spirit,
"you have no right to say so; and the subject is so terribly painful to
me, I thought it would be equally painful to you."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account