He had not discharged his commission; how could he? Things had taken a
turn which made it almost impossible. It must be done another day. Poor
child! The young man's mind was filled with sympathy and compassion, as
he looked at Rotha sitting beside him and noted how her aspect had
changed and brightened; just with this afternoon's pleasure and the new
thoughts and mental stir and hope to which it had given rise. Poor child!
what lay before her, that she dreamed not of, yet must face and meet
inevitably. That in the near future; and beyond--what? No friend but
himself in all the world; and how was he to take care of her? The young
man felt a little pity for himself by the way. Truly, a girl of this
sort, brimfull of mental capacity and emotional sensitiveness, was a
troublesome legacy for a young man situated as he was. However, his own
trouble got not much regard on the present occasion; for his heart was
burdened with the sorrow and the tribulation coming upon these two, the
mother and daughter. And these were but two, in a world full of the like
and of far worse. He remembered how once, in the sight of the tears and
sorrowing hearts around him and in view of the great flood of human
miseries of which they were but instances and reminders, "Jesus wept;"
and the heart of his servant melted in like compassion. But he shewed
none of it, when he came with Rotha into her mother's presence again; he
was calm and composed as always.
"Mrs. Carpenter," he said, as he found himself for a moment alone with
her, Rotha having run off to change her dress,--"you did not tell me your
sister's name. I think I ought to know it."
"Her name?" said Mrs. Carpenter starting and hesitating. What did he want
to know her sister's name for? But Mr. Digby did not look as if he cared
about knowing it; he had asked the question indifferently, and his face
of careless calm reassured her. She answered him at last.
"Her name is Busby."
It was characteristic of Mr. Digby that his features revealed no
quickening of interest at this; for he was acquainted with a Mrs. Busby,
who was also the wife of a lawyer in the city. But he shewed neither
surprise nor curiosity; he merely said in the same unconcerned manner and
tone,
"There may be more Mrs. Busby's than one. What is her husband's name?"
"I forget--It begins with 'A.' I know; but I can't think of it. I can
think of nothing but the name of that old New York baker they used to
speak of--Arcularius."
"Will Archibald do?"
"That is it!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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