| After a little bit his sobs ceased, and he raised... 705 |
[Jan. 27th, 2010|02:16 am] |
After a little bit his sobs ceased, and he raised himself with an apology, though he made no disguise of his emotionHe told me that for days and nights past, weary days and sleepless nights, he had been unable to speak with any one, as a man must speak in his time of sorrowThere was no woman whose sympathy could be given to him, or with whom, owing to the terrible circumstance with which his sorrow was surrounded, he could speak freely
"I know now how I suffered," he said, as he dried his eyes, "but I do not know even yet, and none other can ever know, how much your sweet sympathy has been to me todayI shall know better in time, and believe me that, though I am not ungrateful now, my gratitude will grow with my understandingYou will let me be like a brother, will you not, for all our lives, for dear Lucy's sake?"
"For dear Lucy's sake," I said as we clasped hands"Ay, and for your own sake," he added, "for if a man's esteem and gratitude are ever worth the winning, you have won mine todayIf ever the future should bring to you a time when you need a man's help, believe me, you will not call in vainGod grant that no such time may ever come to you to break the sunshine of your life, but if it should ever come, promise me that you will let me know
He was so earnest, and his sorrow was so fresh, that I felt it would comfort him, so I said, "I promise
As I came along the corridor I saw MrMorris looking out of a windowHe turned as he heard my footsteps"How is Art?" he saidThen noticing my red eyes, he went on, "Ah, I see you have been comforting himPoor old fellow! He needs itNo one but a woman can help a man when he is in trouble of the heart, and he had no one to comfort him
He bore his own trouble so bravely that my heart bled for himI saw the manuscript in his hand, and I knew that when he read it he would realize how much I knew, so I said to him, "I wish I could comfort all who suffer from the heartWill you let me be your friend, and will you come to me for comfort if you need it? You will know later why I speak
He saw that I was in earnest, and stooping, took my hand, and raising it to his lips, kissed itIt seemed but poor comfort to so brave and unselfish a soul, and impulsively I bent over and kissed himThe tears rose in his eyes, and there was a momentary choking in his throatHe said quite calmly, "Little girl, you will never forget that true hearted kindness, so long as ever you live!" Then he went into the study to his friend
"Little girl!" The very words he had used to Lucy, and, oh, but he proved himself a friend
CHAPTER 18
DRSEWARD'S DIARY
30 September-I got home at five o'clock, and found that Godalming and Morris had not only arrived, but had already studied the transcript of the various diaries and letters which Harker had not yet returned from his visit to the carriers' men, of whom DrHennessey had written to meHarker gave us a cup of tea, and I can honestly say that, for the first time since I have lived in it, this old house seemed like homeWhen we had finished, MrsSeward, may I ask a favour? I want to see your patient, MrWhat you have said of him in your diary interests me so much!"
She looked so appealing and so pretty that I could not refuse her, and there was no possible reason why I should, so I took her with meWhen I went into the room, I told the man that a lady would like to see him, to which he simply answered, "Why?"
"She is going through the house, and wants to see every one in it," I answered
"Oh, very well," he said, "let her come in, by all means, but just wait a minute till I tidy up the place
His method of tidying was peculiar, he simply swallowed all the flies and spiders in the boxes before I could stop himIt was quite evident that he feared, or was jealous of, some interferenceWhen he had got through his disgusting task, he said cheerfully, "Let the lady come in," and sat down on the edge of his bed with his head down, but with his eyelids raised so that he could see her as she enteredFor a moment I thought that he might have some homicidal intentI remembered how quiet he had been just before he attacked me in my own study, and I took care to stand where I could seize him at once if he attempted to make a spring at |
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