I tried to speak
to her; I tried to break away from Owen's arms, to throw my own
arms round her, to keep her on my bosom, till _he_ came to take
her from me. But all my strength had gone in the long waiting and
the long suspense. My head sank on Owen's breast--but I still
heard the wheels. Morgan loosened my cravat, and sprinkled water
over my face--I still heard the wheels. The poor terrified girl
ran into her room, and came back with her smelling-salts--I heard
the carriage stop at the house. The room whirled round and round
with me; but I heard the eager hurry of footsteps in the hall,
and the opening of the door. In another moment my son's voice
rose clear and cheerful from below, greeting the old servants who
loved him. The dear, familiar tones just poured into my ear, and
then, the moment they filled it, hushed me suddenly to rest.
When I came to myself again my eyes opened upon George. I was
lying on the sofa, still in the same room; the lights we had read
by in the evening were burning on the table; my son was kneeling
at my pillow, and we two were alone.
THE MORNING.
THE wind is fainter, but there is still no calm. The rain is
ceasing, but there is still no sunshine. The view from my window
shows me the mist heavy on the earth, and a dim gray veil drawn
darkly over the sky.
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