"
"Thank God! Now the bitterness of death is passed. There is nothing
else to leave."
The boy was a lovely boy, inheriting his father's _physique_ with
much of his mother's sensitive refined nature. He was a great joy in
the silent, old house. He came, too, just at the time when Elizabeth,
having conquered the first great pangs of her sorrow, was needing some
fresh interest in life. She adopted him with all her heart. He was
her lost brother's only child, he was the prospective heir of Hallam.
In him were centered all the interests of the struggle she was making.
She loved him fondly, with a wise and provident affection.
It scarcely seemed to pain Evelyn that he clung to Elizabeth more than
to herself. "He cannot reason yet," she said, "and instinct leads him
to you. He feels that you are strong to love and protect him. I am
too weak to do any thing but die." She was, indeed, unable to bear
his presence long at a time; and his short visits to the silent,
darkened chamber were full of awe and mystery to the sensitive child.
In a month it became evident that the end was very near. She suffered
much, and Elizabeth left her as little as possible. She was quite
dependent upon her love, for Elizabeth had notified the dying lady's
family of her dangerous condition, and no action of any kind was taken
upon the information.
Pages:
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242