Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

up her head, and looked as if she too would have asked permission, if she had not been afraid of crying if she spoke.

"Come as often as your papa will let you, my children," answered Mrs. Colton; "but my dear Emma, remember that charity beareth all things, and should the temptation to repine be the consequence of your visits to me, promise me, my love, you will endeavour to pray against it."

"I will indeed, indeed I will," answered Emma.

"That is right, my love," said Mrs. Colton, "and I trust that both the will and the power will be bestowed in our light afflictions to follow that blessed example of holy submission given by the Lord Jesus himself, who, in his hour of extreme suffering, in which his love bore all things for us, breathed forth the prayer, 'Father, if thou be willing, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done;' and you, my little Aly," continued Mrs. Colton, addressing the child, "know that I love you, my sweet baby, and that I shall always love you, and should the time ever come when I am again at liberty, it will be my earnest desire to return to you at the Hall.'

[ocr errors]

Alice smiled through her tears, and William, seeing they were more composed, took the opportunity of telling them they had already been near an hour at the Parsonage, and that Mary herself had more than once been at the garden gate to see if they were coming.

"And my uncle will be wanting me," added Mrs. Colton; so shaking hands with William, and kissing the little girls, she again ascended the stairs, while the sisters and brother walked silently towards the churchyard, where they found Mary impatient to return home.

Jemima contented herself with asking if Mr. Addison was better, and the giddy though affectionate Caroline did not allow herself to be made unhappy many minutes. by the bad news William and Emma had heard; but Robert had much to say to Aly, and it afterwards appeared that the little fellow wished very much to see Mrs. Colton; but when Alice was refused, he thought they would not be more likely to listen to him, and when, at last, his darling sister had gained her wish, the boy would not speak lest it might prevent their taking Aly.

Robert could not have put down his

thoughts as I have done for him, but nevertheless they were his thoughts, as he himself clearly proved by the numerous affectionate little questions which he put to his brother and sisters, who had seen Mrs. Colton.

CHAPTER XII.

Charity believeth all things.

ON Thursday and Friday Emma again saw Mrs. Colton at the Parsonage, and her brothers and sisters also went with her; for as Mr. Addison was not able to walk down stairs, and was obliged to sit in a small dressing-room adjoining his sleeping apartment, their presence in the house did not disturb him.

"Will you ask your papa's permission, my dear children," said Mrs. Colton, "for you all to see my uncle to-morrow? he wishes very much to see you once together again, before he leaves Westmoreland."

"Papa will be sure to allow us, Ma'am," exclaimed Emma, "if Mr. Addison will be kind enough to let us go into his room.'

[ocr errors]

"But I would rather your papa knew of the visit beforehand," said Mrs. Colton, "for

some people do not like children to be in an invalid's room."

"We were very often with poor mamma when she was ill, Ma'am," answered Emma; "but, if you wish it, we will ask papa this evening."

Mr. Fortescue came into the drawingroom that day rather later than usual. He held an open letter in his hand which he gave to his sister. "Read that, Isabella," he said, gravely, "I did not think poor Mr. Addison was so dangerously ill."

Miss Fortescue took the letter from her brother: it was from Mrs. Colton, to say that Mr. Addison's health required a speedy change of air, and that the physician had ordered him to go without loss of time to Bath. Mrs. Colton then entreated permission to go with her uncle; saying that she felt it her duty as well as her inclination to attend and nurse him to the last. She, therefore, begged Mr. Fortescue to excuse her fulfilling her agreement with him, to be governess to his children, as she could not say how long Mr. Addison might be spared to her.

"I shall always feel grateful for the kindness which I have experienced," was the conclusion of the letter; "and my beloved

« ÎnapoiContinuă »