Queenie's whim, Volume 2 (of 3) : $b A novelCarey, Rosa Nouchette
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Queenie's whim, Volume 2 (of 3) : $b A novel
Carey, Rosa Nouchette
English fiction -- 19th century
"Hush! you are not yourself to-day! I cannot hear you talk any more
in this way;" and Langley rose, pale and resolute. "Put yourself and
your unhappiness aside, it is too late to talk of such things now;
think only of the duty you owe to Harry and your little child."
"Yes, my little child, who will so soon be without a mother," she
returned, weeping passionately; but Langley only stooped over her
with sad dry eyes, and, kissing her, bade God bless her, and turned
away.
CHAPTER V.
A GOLDEN HARVEST.
"Yes; keep me calm, though loud and rude
The sounds my ears that greet;
Calm in the closet's solitude,
Calm in the bustling street;
Calm in the hour of buoyant health,
Calm in my hour of pain;
Calm in my poverty or wealth,
Calm in my loss or gain."--_Bonar._
It had been arranged that Queenie should return to Carlisle for a day
or two before entering on her new duties, leaving Emmie behind her at
Church-Stile House. She must bid good-bye to her old friend, Caleb
Runciman, and redeem her promise of seeing Mr. Calcott again. A
brisk correspondence had been kept up between her and Caleb. The old
man had expressed himself well satisfied with her plans, though many
and sore were his regrets at losing her and his little favorite. "I
told Mr. Calcott your intention, as you wished me, my dear," wrote
Caleb, in his cramped neat hand. "He received the news in silence,
but after a while he muttered, 'Well, well, it will do for a time;
but it seems strange. Frank Marriott's daughter a village
school-mistress!' and then he asked, querulously, if the girl were
coming back? I think he misses you, my dear, though not more than I
do; and what we shall do without you and the precious lamb is more
than Molly and I can tell; but she has got your old room ready, and
has baked a first-rate cake; and there's a warm welcome waiting for
you, Miss Queenie, my dear; so no more at present, from your attached
friend, Caleb Runciman."
The day after their return from Karlsmere, as they were sitting at
breakfast, Garth looked up rather suddenly from the paper he was
reading. "Miss Marriott, I am afraid you have lost a friend," he
said, rather abruptly. "Andrew Calcott of Carlisle is dead!"
"Uncle Andrew! Oh, poor Uncle Andrew!" exclaimed Emmie, mournfully;
but Queenie only started and turned pale.
"By some mistake the announcement has been postponed; he died three
days ago. Ah, there is the postman coming up the walk. I should not
be surprised if you have another letter from your old friend, Mr.
Runciman."
Garth was right; but Queenie rose from the table and carried off the
letter to read in the privacy of her own room. Cathy found her
quietly crying over it when she went up some time afterwards.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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