The Three BridesYonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
General
The Three Brides
Yonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; Marriage -- Fiction
But he had half raised himself. "Yes, Camilla, you have had your
revenge. Let it be enough. No--no; I forgive you; but I forbid you
to touch her."
He grasped Anne's arm with one hand, and stretched the other out as
though to warn some one away. The same moment there was another
outburst of the bleeding. Anne rang for help with one hand, and
held him as best she could. It lasted long; and when it was over he
was manifestly dying. "It is coming," he said; looking up to
Julius. "Pray! Only first--my love to Cecil. I hope she is still
young enough not to have had all her life spoilt. Is her father
coming?"
"To-morrow," said Anne.
"That's well. Poor child! she is better free."
How piteously sad those words of one wedded but a year! How unlike
the look that met his mother's woeful yet tender eyes, as she held
his hand. She would aid him through that last passage as through
all before, only a word of strong and tender love, as he again
looked up to Julius and Anne, as if to put her in their keeping, and
once more murmured something of "Love to sweet Rose! Now, Julius,
pray!"
An ever dutiful man, there was no wandering in look or tone. He
breathed 'Amen' once or twice, but never moved again, only his eyes
still turned on his mother, and so in its time came the end.
Old Susan saw at first that the long fluttering gasp had no
successor, and her touch certified Julius. He rose and went towards
his mother. She held out her hands and said. "Take me to my
Frank."
"We had better," whispered Anne.
They wheeled her to the foot of the stairs. Julius took her in his
arms, Anne held her feet, and thus they carried her up the stairs,
and along the passage, hearing Frank's husky rapid babble all the
way, and finding him struggling with the fierce strength of delirium
against Jenkins, who looked as if he thought them equally senseless,
when he saw his helpless mistress carried in.
"Frank, my boy, do lie still," she said, and he took no notice; but
when she laid her hand on his, he turned, looked at her with his
dull eyes, and muttered, "Mother!"
It was the first recognition for many a day! and, at the smoothing
motion of her hand over him, while she still entreated, "Lie still,
my dear," the mutterings died away; the childish instinct of
obedience stilled the struggles; and there was something more like
repose than had been seen all these weary months.
"Mother," said Julius, "you can do for us what no one else can. You
will save him."
She looked up to him, and hope took away the blank misery he had
dreaded to see. "My poor Frankie," she said dreamily, "he has
wanted me, I will not leave him now."
All was soon still; Frank's face had something like rest on it, as
he lay with his mother's hand on his brow, and she intent only on
him.
"You can leave them to me, I think," said Anne. "I will send if
there be need; but if not, you had better not come up till you have
been to Wil'sbro'--if you must go."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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