CHAPTER XXIV. THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH.

s.Haditshownmeasunburntlittlerustic—aheavy,blunt-featured,commonplacechild—Ishouldhavehastenedtoclaimyoubutthere,underthesilverpaper,Isawbloomingthedelicacyofanaristocraticflower—'littlelady'waswrittenoneverytrait.Ihadtoorecentlycrawledfromundertheyokeofthefinegentleman—escapedgalled,crushed,paralyzed,dying—todaretoencounterhisstillfinerandmostfairy-likerepresentative.Mysweetlittleladyoverwhelmedmewithdismayherairofnativeelegancefrozemyverymarrow.InmyexperienceIhadnotmetwithtruth,modesty,goodprincipleastheconcomitantsofbeauty.Aformsostraightandfine,Iargued,mustconcealamindwarpedandcruel.Ihadlittlefaithinthepowerofeducationtorectifysuchamindorrather,Ientirelymisdoubtedmyownabilitytoinfluenceit.Caroline,Idarednotundertaketorearyou.Iresolvedtoleaveyouinyouruncle'shands.MatthewsonHelstoneIknew,ifanaustere,wasanuprightman.Heandalltheworldthoughthardlyofmeformystrange,unmotherlyresolve,andIdeservedtobemisjudged." "Mamma,whydidyoucallyourselfMrs.Pryor?" "Itwasanameinmymother'sfamily.IadopteditthatImightliveunmolested.MymarriednamerecalledtoovividlymymarriedlifeIcouldnotbearit.Besides,threatswereutteredofforcingmetoreturntobondage.Itcouldnotbe.Ratherabierforabed,thegraveforahome.Mynewnameshelteredme.Iresumedunderitsscreenmyoldoccupationofteaching.AtfirstitscarcelyprocuredmethemeansofsustaininglifebuthowsavourywashungerwhenIfastedinpeace!Howsafeseemedthedarknessandchillofanunkindledhearthwhennoluridreflectionfromterrorcrimsoneditsdesolation!Howserenewassolitude,whenIfearednottheirruptionofviolenceandvice!" "But,mamma,youhavebeeninthisneighbourhoodbefore.HowdidithappenthatwhenyoureappearedherewithMissKeeldaryouwerenotrecognized?" "Ionlypaidashortvisit,asabride,twentyyearsago,andthenIwasverydifferenttowhatIamnow—slender,almostasslenderasmydaughterisatthisday.Mycomplexion,myveryfeaturesarechangedmyhair,mystyleofdress—everythingisaltered.Youcannotfancymeaslimyoungperson,attiredinscantydraperyofwhitemuslin,withbarearms,braceletsandnecklaceofbeads,andhairdisposedinroundGreciancurlsabovemyforehead?" "Youmust,indeed,havebeendifferent.Mamma,Iheardthefrontdooropen.Ifitismyunclecomingin,justaskhimtostepupstairs,andletmehearhisassurancethatIamtrulyawakeandcollected,andnotdreamingordelirious." Therector,ofhisownaccord,wasmountingthestairs,andMrs.Pryorsummonedhimtohisniece'sapartment. "She'snotworse,Ihope?"heinquiredhastily. "Ithinkherbetter.Sheisdisposedtoconversesheseemsstronger." "Good!"saidhe,brushingquicklyintotheroom.—"Ha,Cary!howdo?Didyoudrinkmycupoftea?ImadeitforyoujustasIlikeitmyself." "Idrankiteverydrop,uncle.Itdidmegoodithasmademequitealive.Ihaveawishforcompany,soIbeggedMrs.Pryortocallyouin." Therespectedecclesiasticlookedpleased,andyetembarrassed.Hewaswillingenoughtobestowhiscompanyonhissickniecefortenminutes,sinceitwasherwhimtowishitbutwhatmeanstoemployforherentertainmentheknewnot.Hehemmed—hefidgeted. "You'llbeupinatrice,"heobserved,bywayofsayingsomething."Thelittleweaknesswillsoonpassoffandthenyoumustdrinkportwine—apipe,ifyoucan—andeatgameandoysters.I'llgetthemforyou,iftheyaretobehadanywhere.Blessme!we'llmakeyouasstrongasSamsonbeforewe'redonewithyou." "Whoisthatlady,uncle,standingbesideyouatthebed-foot?" "GoodGod!"heejaculated."She'snotwandering,isshe,ma'am?" Mrs.Pryorsmiled. "Iamwanderinginapleasantworld,"saidCaroline,inasoft,happyvoice,"andIwantyoutotellmewhetheritisrealorvisionary.Whatladyisthat?Giveheraname,uncle." "WemusthaveDr.Rileagain,ma'amorbetterstill,MacTurk.He'slessofahumbug.Thomasmustsaddletheponyandgoforhim." "NoIdon'twantadoctor.Mammashallbemyonlyphysician.Now,doyouunderstand,uncle?" Mr.Helstonepusheduphisspectaclesfromhisnosetohisforehead,handledhissnuff-box,andadministeredtohimselfaportionofthecontents.Thusfortified,heansweredbriefly,"Iseedaylight.You'vetoldherthen,ma'am?" "Andisittrue?"demandedCaroline,risingonherpillow."Isshereallymymother?" "Youwon'tcry,ormakeanyscene,orturnhysterical,ifIanswerYes?" "Cry!I'dcryifyousaidNo.Itwouldbeterribletobedisappointednow.Butgiveheraname.Howdoyoucallher?" "Icallthisstoutladyinaquaintblackdress,wholooksyoungenoughtowearmuchsmarterraiment,ifshewould—IcallherAgnesHelstone.ShemarriedmybrotherJames,andishiswidow." "Andmymother?" "Whatalittlescepticitis!Lookathersmallface,Mrs.Pryor,scarcelylargerthanthepalmofmyhand,alivewithacutenessandeagerness."ToCaroline—"Shehadthetroubleofbringingyouintotheworldatanyrate.Mindyoushowyourdutytoherbyquicklygettingwell,andrepairingthewasteofthesecheeks.—Heigh-ho!sheusedtobeplump.WhatshehasdonewithitallIcan't,forthelifeofme,divine." "Ifwishingtogetwellwillhelpme,Ishallnotbelongsick.ThismorningIhadnoreasonandnostrengthtowishit." Fannyheretappedatthedoor,andsaidthatsupperwasready. "Uncle,ifyouplease,youmaysendmealittlebitofsupper—anythingyoulike,fromyourownplate.Thatiswiserthangoingintohysterics,isitnot?" "Itisspokenlikeasage,Cary.SeeifIdon'tcaterforyoujudiciously.Whenwomenaresensible,and,aboveall,intelligible,Icangetonwiththem.Itisonlythevague,superfinesensations,andextremelywire-drawnnotions,thatputmeabout.Letawomanaskmetogiveheranedibleorawearable—bethesamearoc'seggorthebreastplateofAaron,ashareofSt.John'slocustsandhoneyortheleatherngirdleabouthisloins—Ican,atleast,understandthedemandbutwhentheypinefortheyknownotwhat—sympathy,sentiment,someoftheseindefiniteabstractions—Ican'tdoitIdon'tknowitIhaven'tgotit.—Madam,acceptmyarm." Mrs.Pryorsignifiedthatsheshouldstaywithherdaughterthatevening.Helstone,accordingly,leftthemtogether.Hesoonreturned,bringingaplateinhisownconsecratedhand. "Thisischicken,"hesaid,"butwe'llhavepartridgeto-morrow.—Liftherup,andputashawloverher.Onmyword,Iunderstandnursing.—Now,hereistheverysamelittlesilverforkyouusedwhenyoufirstcametotherectory.Thatstrikesmeasbeingwhatyoumaycallahappythought—adelicateattention.Takeit,Cary,andmunchawaycleverly." Carolinedidherbest.Herunclefrownedtoseethatherpowersweresolimited.Heprophesied,however,greatthingsforthefutureandasshepraisedthemorselhehadbrought,andsmiledgratefullyinhisface,hestoopedoverherpillow,kissedher,andsaid,withabroken,ruggedaccent,"Good-night,bairnie!Godblessthee!" Carolineenjoyedsuchpeacefulrestthatnight,circledbyhermother'sarms,andpillowedonherbreast,thatsheforgottowishforanyotherstayandthoughmorethanonefeverishdreamcametoherinslumber,yet,whenshewokeuppanting,sohappyandcontentedafeelingreturnedwithreturningconsciousnessthatheragitationwassoothedalmostassoonasfelt. Astothemother,shespentthenightlikeJacobatPeniel.TillbreakofdayshewrestledwithGodinearnestprayer.