-
28. Suspicions Awakened
- University of Nebraska Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
238 ch a p ter t w en t y-eigh t Suspicions Awakened “It’s the finest kind of a day for a ride,” said Helen Linton, as she stood before her mirror, in her chamber, smoothing her hair. “The air is so cool and refreshing, and everything in the country must look so beautiful. It would do you good, Will, to go out.” “It would be very pleasant,” replied her husband, who was leaning back, languidly, in a chair; his eyes were heavy, his cheek thin and pale, and when he rose, it was evident that he was much emaciated. He looked like one just recovering from a severe fit of sickness, and, indeed, he had but recently been able to leave his chamber ; for months he had been dangerously ill, and to the untiring care and attention of his wife, so the physician acknowledged, even more than to his remedies, he owed his life. Night after night had she sat by his bedside, moistening his parched lips, bathing his fevered brow, and watching his every movement, anticipating his every want, and when he had sunk into an uneasy sleep, how often she had buried her face in the pillow, and wept noiseless but bitter tears, as she thought of the possibility of what might be in store for her; but night, Christine 239 alone, saw her give way thus to her grief; for the sake of her husband, she had hid her bleeding heart under a cheerful countenance , and spoke cheerfully of his recovery when she dared hardly trust herself to think of what a day might bring forth; now he was out of danger, and he seemed doubly dear to her since she had so nearly lost him. She would have thought it impossible to have loved him better before his illness, but now she realized that, without him, life would lose all its charms to her. “Well, then, if you would like it, let us go,” she said; “let us see if the fresh country air won’t put a little life into those dull eyes of yours, and put a little glow on your pale cheek. Fie! are you the handsome husband I was so proud of? Ah, this is a world where sooner or later justice is done to everybody. ‘Every dog must have his day.’ I am the beauty now. Come and contrast yourself with me in the mirror, and you will be forced to acknowledge it. Come,” and she took him playfully by the hand. “No, Helen,” he said, stroking her hair fondly, and drawing her closer to his side; “if that is so, it is a heart-rending fact, of which I don’t care to have ocular demonstration. But let us have breakfast, I am hungry.” “Who would think that three such commonplace words as those last, my dear Will, would sound so pleasant. Only four weeks ago, what would I not have given for the assurance that you would ever again utter that sentence? But come, I hear the tinkle of the breakfast bell.” “And where shall we go to-day?” asked Will, as he leisurely sipped his coffee. “Do you think of any place where you would particularly like to go?” “I had thought of Woodland Vale,” replied Helen. “It is not far, and the roads there are delightful; then, too, lastly—” “And now comes the true reason,” interrupted Will; “for a woman always put that last, as she commits the most important thing in a letter to the postscript.” [44.200.210.43] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 17:20 GMT) Christine 240 “Well, lastly, then, my dear lord and master, I want to see Mrs. Frothingham, and inquire after Christine. Your sickness has put everything else out of my head, but I really want to know what has become of her.” “And so do I,” said her husband. “She was a noble woman. Ah me, how sad it is that so many of our most gifted spirits have fallen under the curse of insanity.” “We will find out where she is, and go to see her, at any rate, Will,” said Helen, as she left the table, “and now let us be off as soon as possible.” Not many minutes had elapsed ere they were on their way to Woodland Vale; a most charming drive it was. It was so pleasant to leave the dusty city, with its noisy murmur, its clattering pavements, and its...