The Missing BrideSouthworth, Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte
General
The Missing Bride
Southworth, Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte
Fiction
To Jacquelina's surprise she found the note lying upon the same spot
where she had dropped it. Dr. Grimshaw was standing with his back toward
her, looking out of the window. She could not see the expression of his
countenance. She stooped and picked up the note, but had scarcely
replaced it in her pocket before Dr. Grimshaw abruptly turned, walked up
and stood before her and looked in her face. Jacquelina could scarcely
suppress a scream; it was as if a ghost had come before her, so blanched
was his color, so ghastly his features. An instant he gazed into her
eyes, and then passed out and went up-stairs. Jacquelina turned slowly
around, looking after him like one magnetized. Then recovering herself,
with a deep breath she said:
"Now I ask of all the 'powers that be' generally, what's the meaning of
that? He picked up the note and he read it; that's certain. And he
dropped it there again to make me believe he had never seen it; that's
certain, too. I wonder what he means to do! There'll be fun of some
sort, anyway! Stop! here comes Marian from the quarters. I shouldn't
wonder if she has missed her note, and hurried back in search of it.
Come! I'll take a hint from Grim, and drop it where I found it, and say
nothing."
And so soliloquizing, the fairy glided back into the breakfast-room, let
the note fall, and turned away just in time to allow Marian to enter,
glance around, and pick up her lost treasure. Then joining Marian, she
invited her up-stairs to look at some new finery just come from the city.
The forenoon passed heavily at Luckenough. When the dinner hour
approached, and the family collected in the dining-room, Dr. Grimshaw
was missing; and when a messenger was sent to call him to dinner, an
answer was returned that the professor was unwell, and preferred to keep
his room.
Jacquelina was quivering between fun and fear--vague, unaccountable
fear, that hung over her like a cloud, darkening her bright frolic
spirit with a woeful presentiment.
After dinner Marian asked for the carriage, and Mrs. Waugh gave orders
that it should be brought around for her use. Jacquelina prepared to
accompany Marian home, and in an hour they were ready, and set forth.
"You may tell Grim, if he asks after me, that I am gone home with Marian
to Old Fields, and that I am not certain whether I shall return to-night
or not," said Jacquelina, as she took leave of Mrs. Waugh.
"My dear Lapwing, if you love your old aunty, come immediately back in
the carriage. And, by the way, my dear, I wish you would, either in
going or coming, take the post-office, and get the letters and papers,"
said Mrs. Waugh.
"Let it be in going, then, Mrs. Waugh, for I have not been to the
post-office for two days, and there may be something there for us also,"
said Marian.
"Very well, bright Hebe; as you please, of course," replied good
Henrietta.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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