登陆注册
5382100000121

第121章 CHAPTER XXV(2)

Miss Benson was too much accustomed to Sally's contempt for Dissenters, as viewed from the pinnacle of the Establishment, to pay much attention to all this grumbling; especially as Sally was willing to take as much trouble about Leonard as if she believed he was going to live, and that his recovery depended upon her care. Miss Benson's great object was to keep her from having any confidential talks with Ruth; as if any repetition of the dream could have deepened the conviction in Ruth's mind that the child would die. It seemed to her that his death would only be the fitting punishment for the state of indifference towards him--towards life and death--towards all things earthly or divine, into which she had suffered herself to fall since her last interview with Mr. Donne. She did not understand that such exhaustion is but the natural consequence of violent agitation and severe tension of feeling. The only relief she experienced was in constantly serving Leonard; she had almost an animal's jealousy lest any one should come between her and her young. Mr. Benson saw this jealous suspicion, although he could hardly understand it; but he calmed his sister's wonder and officious kindness, so that the two patiently and quietly provided all that Ruth might want, but did not interfere with her right to nurse Leonard. But when he was recovering, Mr. Benson, with the slight tone of authority he knew how to assume when need was, bade Ruth lie down and take some rest, while his sister watched. Ruth did not answer, but obeyed in a dull, weary kind of surprise at being so commanded. She lay down by her child, gazing her fill at his calm slumber; and, as she gazed, her large white eye lids were softly pressed down as with a gentle, irresistible weight, and she fell asleep. She dreamed that she was once more on the lonely shore, striving to carry away Leonard from some pursuer--some human pursuer--she knew he was human, and she knew who he was, although she dared not say his name even to herself, he seemed so close and present, gaining on her flying footsteps, rushing after her as with the sound of the roaring tide. Her feet seemed heavy weights fixed to the ground; they would not move. All at once, just near the shore, a great black whirlwind of waves clutched her back to her pursuer;she threw Leonard on to land, which was safety; but whether he reached it or no, or was swept back like her into a mysterious something too dreadful to he borne, she did not know, for the terror awakened her. At first the dream seemed yet a reality, and she thought that the pursuer was couched even there, in that very room, and the great boom of the sea was still in her ears. But as full consciousness returned, she saw herself safe in the dear old room--the haven of rest--the shelter from storms. A bright fire was glowing in the little old-fashioned, cup-shaped grate, niched into a corner of the wall, and guarded on either side by whitewashed bricks, which served for bobs. On one of these the kettle hummed and buzzed, within two points of boiling whenever she or Leonard required tea. In her dream that home-like sound had been the roar of the relentless sea, creeping swiftly on to seize its prey. Miss Benson sat by the fire, motionless and still; it was too dark to read any longer without a candle; but yet on the ceiling and upper part of the walls the golden light of the setting sun was slowly moving--so slow, and yet a motion gives the feeling of rest to the weary yet more than perfect stillness. The old clock on the staircase told its monotonous click-clack, in that soothing way which more marked the quiet of the house than disturbed with any sense of sound. Leonard still slept that renovating slumber, almost in her arms, far from that fatal pursuing sea, with its human form of cruelty. The dream was a vision;the reality which prompted the dream was over and past--Leonard was safe--she was safe; all this loosened the frozen springs, and they gushed forth in her heart, and her lips moved in accordance with her thoughts. "What were you saying, my darling?" said Miss Benson, who caught sight of the motion, and fancied she was asking for something. Miss Benson bent over the side of the bed on which Ruth lay, to catch the low tones of her voice. "I only said," replied Ruth timidly, "thank God! I have so much to thank Him for you don't know." "My dear, I am sure we have all of us cause to be thankful that our boy is spared. See! he is wakening up; and we will have a cup of tea together. Leonard strode on to perfect health; but he was made older in character and looks by his severe illness. He grew tall and thin, and the lovely child was lost in the handsome boy. He began to wonder and to question.

Ruth mourned a little over the vanished babyhood, when she was all in all, and over the childhood, whose petals had fallen away; it seemed as though two of her children were gone--the one an infant, the other a bright, thoughtless darling; and she wished that they could have remained quick in her memory for ever, instead of being absorbed in loving pride for the present boy.

But these were only fanciful regrets, flitting like shadows across a mirror.

Peace and thankfulness were once more the atmosphere of her mind; nor was her unconsciousness disturbed by any suspicion of Mr. Farquhar's increasing approbation and admiration, which he was diligently nursing up into love for her. She knew that he had sent--she did not know how often he had brought--fruit for the convalescent Leonard. She heard, on her return from her daily employment, that Mr. Farquhar had bought a little gentle pony on which Leonard, weak as he was, might ride. To confess the truth, her maternal pride was such that she thought that all kindness shown to such a boy as Leonard was but natural; she believed him to be "A child whom all that locked on, loved." As in truth he was; and the proof of this was daily shown in many kind inquiries, and many thoughtful little offerings, besides Mr. Farquhar's.

同类推荐
  • 明伦汇编皇极典法令部

    明伦汇编皇极典法令部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Five Little Peppers And How They Grew

    Five Little Peppers And How They Grew

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 许真君玉匣记

    许真君玉匣记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 海游记

    海游记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 解卷论

    解卷论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 每天懂点好玩心理学

    每天懂点好玩心理学

    本书精选了百余个生活小场景,呈现了心理学最基础的面貌,展示了心理学在职场、消费、爱情、生活、影视等领域拥有的神奇魅力。阅读本书,是一场奇妙的心理阅读旅程,你会慢慢发现,心理学并没有你想象的那么高深,而且,那些难解的生活现象本质上也没有那么深奥。
  • 背着阳光拥抱

    背着阳光拥抱

    我在阳光的背后等你,即使你看不到我。记住:“我爱你,因为你是你。”
  • 伟大的人物

    伟大的人物

    人类历史中所诞生的巨匠,永远在感召着我们。我们能够聆听到他们的声音,感受到他们的魅力。我们会听从他们的教诲,使自己趋于尽善尽美;我们也会激昂于他们的精神之下,令自己百折不挠,奋勇向前。一个没有榜样的人是可悲的,一个没有导师的人是可怜的。但只要我们去倾听,去感受,这些伟大的心灵就会与我们同在,陪我们走过人生的风风雨雨。看吧,在绝世的闪电之中,无数的伟大灵魂,正与你一起在暴风雨中无畏地前行!
  • 月如钩锁清秋

    月如钩锁清秋

    明末清初,乾坤失序,朝代更替无法可避,历史巨轮无人可挡,但谁料到原来在历史大舞台的背后,竟然是被一个来自穷乡僻壤的小女子悄悄地影响着,她更对往后百年的滿清皇朝有着鲜为人知的影响。
  • 余之见

    余之见

    黑夜给了我黑色的眼睛,我却用它寻找光明——顾城
  • 夜店妖事

    夜店妖事

    十八岁那天,我抵不住哥们的怂恿,去了夜店,没想却差点把我整整一辈子都搭进去里面……
  • 腹黑天王的小甜甜

    腹黑天王的小甜甜

    小时候的安然喜欢初淡之,因为他秀色可餐,老想着怎么能尝尝味道。等大了,人主动凑上来,她避之不及。他笑:“不想尝尝我是什么味道了?”安然舔了舔唇,还是禁不住诱惑,鬼使神差地点了点头:“……想。”于是她成了全民公敌。在外她对初淡之实行三个不,不认识,不清楚,不知道。直到有一次,前一秒还在电视屏幕里的人,下一秒众目睽睽下走到她面前,身旁的朋友呆住了,安然也呆住,直到面前的人向她伸出手来。“回家了。”“……”
  • 黄庭内外景玉经解

    黄庭内外景玉经解

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大荒皇极经

    大荒皇极经

    大荒开,人神降。诸天万灵定神府。天珠现,唯血战。尽做枯骨得保全。北山徐,立雄图。纵立千载难为虎。无迹之狱,苦少年。韬光养晦,俱以得生还!emmm。。。哈哈哈,文笔有限,凑合着用。
  • 还山遗稿

    还山遗稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。