Despite his greatness,she felt a kindness and grace in him which was not condescension,and which almost dispelled the timidity which,being part of her nature,so unduly beset her at all times when she addressed or was addressed by a stranger.John Oxon,bowing his bright curls,and seeming ever to mock with his smiles,had caused her to be overcome with shy awkwardness and blushes;but this man,who seemed as far above him in person and rank and mind as a god is above a graceful painted puppet,even appeared to give of his own noble strength to her poor weakness.He bore himself towards her with a courtly respect such as no human being had ever shown to her before.He besought her again to be seated in her nook,and stood before her conversing with such delicate sympathy with her mood as seemed to raise her to the pedestal on which stood less humble women.All those who passed before them he knew and could speak easily of.The high deeds of those who were statesmen,or men honoured at Court or in the field,he was familiar with;and of those who were beauties or notable gentlewomen he had always something courtly to say.
Her own worship of her sister she knew full well he understood,though he spoke of her but little.
"Well may you gaze at her,"he said."So does all the world,and honours and adores."He proffered her at last his arm,and she,having strangely taken courage,let him lead her through the rooms and persuade her to some refreshment.Seeing her so wondrously emerge from her chrysalis,and under the protection of so distinguished a companion,all looked at her as she passed with curious amazement,and indeed Mistress Anne was all but overpowered by the reverence shown them as they made their way.
As they came again into the apartment wherein the host and hostess received their guests,Anne felt her escort pause,and looked up at him to see the meaning of his sudden hesitation.He was gazing intently,not at Clorinda,but at the Earl of Dunstanwolde.
"Madam,"he said,"pardon me that I seem to detain you,but--but Ilook at my kinsman.Madam,"with a sudden fear in his voice,"he is ailing--he sways as he stands.Let us go to him.Quickly!He falls!"And,in sooth,at that very moment there arose a dismayed cry from the guests about them,and there was a surging movement;and as they pressed forward themselves through the throng,Anne saw Dunstanwolde no more above the people,for he had indeed fallen and lay out-stretched and deathly on the floor.
'Twas but a few seconds before she and Osmonde were close enough to him to mark his fallen face and ghastly pallor,and a strange dew starting out upon his brow.
But 'twas his wife who knelt beside his prostrate body,waving all else aside with a great majestic gesture of her arm.
"Back!back!"she cried."Air!air!and water!My lord!My dear lord!"But he did not answer,or even stir,though she bent close to him and thrust her hand within his breast.And then the frightened guests beheld a strange but beautiful and loving thing,such as might have moved any heart to tenderness and wonder.This great beauty,this worshipped creature,put her arms beneath and about the helpless,awful body--for so its pallor and stillness indeed made it--and lifted it in their powerful whiteness as if it had been the body of a child,and so bore it to a couch near and laid it down,kneeling beside it.
Anne and Osmonde were beside her.Osmonde pale himself,but gently calm and strong.He had despatched for a physician the instant he saw the fall.
"My lady,"he said,bending over her,"permit me to approach.Ihave some knowledge of these seizures.Your pardon!"He knelt also and took the moveless hand,feeling the pulse;he,too,thrust his hand within the breast and held it there,looking at the sunken face.
"My dear lord,"her ladyship was saying,as if to the prostrate man's ear alone,knowing that her tender voice must reach him if aught would--as indeed was truth."Edward!My dear--dear lord!"Osmonde held his hand steadily over the heart.The guests shrunk back,stricken with terror.
There was that in this corner of the splendid room which turned faces pale.
Osmonde slowly withdrew his hand,and turning to the kneeling woman--with a pallor like that of marble,but with a noble tenderness and pity in his eyes -"My lady,"he said,"you are a brave woman.Your great courage must sustain you.The heart beats no more.A noble life is finished."
The guests heard,and drew still farther back,a woman or two faintly whimpering;a hurrying lacquey parted the crowd,and so,way being made for him,the physician came quickly forward.
Anne put her shaking hands up to cover her gaze.Osmonde stood still,looking down.My Lady Dunstanwolde knelt by the couch and hid her beautiful face upon the dead man's breast.
