CHAPTER XXV. THE WEST WIND BLOWS.

t,probably,ofharmonyofviewsandtemperament—weregone"upnorth"onapedestrianexcursiontotheLakes.EvenHortense,whowouldfainhavestayedathomeandaidedMrs.PryorinnursingCaroline,hadbeensoearnestlyentreatedbyMissManntoaccompanyheroncemoretoWormwoodWells,inthehopeofalleviatingsufferingsgreatlyaggravatedbytheinsalubriousweather,thatshefeltobligedtocomplyindeed,itwasnotinhernaturetorefusearequestthatatonceappealedtohergoodnessofheart,and,byaconfessionofdependency,flatteredheramourpropre.AsforRobert,fromBirminghamhehadgoneontoLondon,wherehestillsojourned. SolongasthebreathofAsiaticdesertsparchedCaroline'slipsandfeveredherveins,herphysicalconvalescencecouldnotkeeppacewithherreturningmentaltranquillitybuttherecameadaywhenthewindceasedtosobattheeasterngableoftherectory,andattheorielwindowofthechurch.Alittlecloudlikeaman'shandaroseinthewestgustsfromthesamequarterdroveitonandspreaditwidewetandtempestprevailedawhile.Whenthatwasoverthesunbrokeoutgenially,heavenregaineditsazure,andearthitsgreenthelividcholera-tinthadvanishedfromthefaceofnaturethehillsroseclearroundthehorizon,absolvedfromthatpalemalaria-haze. Caroline'syouthcouldnowbeofsomeavailtoher,andsocouldhermother'snurture.Both,crownedbyGod'sblessing,sentinthepurewestwindblowingsoftasfreshthroughtheever-openchamberlattice,rekindledherlong-languishingenergies.AtlastMrs.Pryorsawthatitwaspermittedtohope:agenuine,materialconvalescencehadcommenced.ItwasnotmerelyCaroline'ssmilewhichwasbrighter,orherspiritswhichwerecheered,butacertainlookhadpassedfromherfaceandeye—alookdreadandindescribable,butwhichwilleasilyberecalledbythosewhohavewatchedthecouchofdangerousdisease.Longbeforetheemaciatedoutlinesofheraspectbegantofill,oritsdepartedcolourtoreturn,amoresubtlechangetookplaceallgrewsofterandwarmer.Insteadofamarblemaskandglassyeye,Mrs.Pryorsawlaidonthepillowafacepaleandwastedenough,perhapsmorehaggardthantheotherappearance,butlessawfulforitwasasick,livinggirl,notamerewhitemouldorrigidpieceofstatuary. Now,too,shewasnotalwayspetitioningtodrink.Thewords,"Iamsothirsty,"ceasedtobeherplaint.Sometimes,whenshehadswallowedamorsel,shewouldsayithadrevivedher.Alldescriptionsoffoodwerenolongerequallydistastefulshecouldbeinduced,sometimes,toindicateapreference.Withwhattremblingpleasureandanxiouscaredidnothernursepreparewhatwasselected!Howshewatchedherasshepartookofit! Nourishmentbroughtstrength.Shecouldsitup.Thenshelongedtobreathethefreshair,torevisitherflowers,toseehowthefruithadripened.Heruncle,alwaysliberal,hadboughtagarden-chairforherexpressuse.Hecarriedherdowninhisownarms,andplacedherinithimself,andWilliamFarrenwastheretowheelherroundthewalks,toshowherwhathehaddoneamongstherplants,totakeherdirections