THE STAFF
Five years later almost all the members of the Morton family were met
once more at Westhaven.
Ida was slowly dying. She had always been more or less delicate, and she
had never entirely recovered the effect of the distress she had brought
upon herself by that foolish crime towards her little cousin. Her mother
had joined Miss Gattoni, and they had roamed about the Continent in the
various resorts of seekers of health and of pleasure, hoping to distract
her mind and restore her strength and spirits. For a time this sometimes
seemed to succeed, and she certainly became prettier; but disappointment
always ensued; a little over-exertion or excitement was sure to bring on
illness, and there were even more painful causes for her collapses. Her
uncle's care had not been entirely able to prevent the publication of
such a sensational story, known, as it was, to most people at Westhaven;
in fact, he was only able to reach the more respectable papers; and the
society to which Miss Gattoni introduced them was just that which
revelled in the society papers. So every now and then whispers would go
about that Miss Morton was the heroine--or rather the villain--of the
piece, and these were sure ultimately to reach Miss Gattoni. And at
Genoa they had actually been at the same _table-d'hote_ with Tom Brady's
sister--nay, they had seen the _Morna_ in the harbour.
Gradually each summer brought less renovation; each winter, wherever
spent, brought Ida lower, till at length she was ill enough for her
mother thankfully to reply to Constance's entreaty to come out to them at
Biarritz.
Constance had grown to be in her vacation more and more the child of the
house at Northmoor, and since her college career had ended with credit
externally, and benefit inwardly, she had become her aunt's right hand,
besides teaching Amice music and beginning Michael's Latin; but it was
plain that her duty lay in helping to nurse her sister, and her uncle
escorted her. They were greatly shocked at the change in the once
brilliant girl, and her broken, dejected manner, apparently incapable of
taking interest in anything. She would scarcely admit her uncle at
first, but when she discovered that even Constance was in perfect
ignorance of her part in the loss of Michael, she was overcome with the
humiliation of intense gratitude, and the sense of a wonderful
forgiveness and forbearance.
He never exactly knew what he had said to her; but for the two days that
he was able to remain, she wished for him to sit with her as much as
possible, though often in silence; and she let him bring her the English
chaplain.
No one expected her to live through the spring, but with it came another
partial revival, and therewith a vehement desire to see Westhaven again.
It was as if her uncle had extracted the venom of the sting of remorse,
and when that had become repentance, the old affection for the home of
her childhood was free to revive. Good Mr. Rollstone was dead, but his
wife and daughter kept on the lodging-house, and were affectionately glad
to welcome their old friends. Herbert, who had been happily farming for
two years on his own account, on an estate that his uncle had purchased
for him, came for the first time on a visit from the Dominion--tall,
broad, bearded, handsome, and manly, above all, in his courtesy and
gentleness to the sick sister who valued his strong and tender help more
than any other care. Mary came with her husband and boy from Northmoor
for the farewell. When Ida tearfully asked her forgiveness, the injury
was so entirely past that it was not hard to say, in the spirit of
Joseph--
'Oh, my poor child, do not think of that! No one has suffered from it so
much as you have. It really did Michael no harm at all, only making a
little man of him; and as to Herbert, his going out was the best thing in
the world for him, dear, noble, generous fellow. And after all, Ida,'
she added, presently, 'I do believe you had rather be as you are now than
the girl you were then?'
'Oh, Aunt Mary, it is what Uncle Frank and you are--that--makes one
feel--'
Ida could say no more. She once saw Michael's bright boyish face awed
into pity, and had the kiss that sealed her earthly pardon, unconscious
as he was of the evil she had attempted. There was the pledge of higher
pardon, before her uncle and aunt left her to those nearer who could
minister to her as she went down to the River ever flowing.
Before that time, however, Herbert had made known to Rose one of his
great reasons for settling in Canada, namely, that he meant to take her
back with him. He had told his uncle long ago, and Mrs. Alder was quite
ready and eager to welcome her as a cousin. Even Mr. Rollstone could
hardly have objected under these circumstances, and Rose only doubted
about leaving her mother. It presently appeared, however, that Mrs.
Morton wished to remain with Mrs. Rollstone. Westhaven was more to her
than any other place, and her vanity had so entirely departed that she
could best take comfort in her good old friend's congenial society.
Constance offered to remain and obtain some daily governess or high
school employment there; but it was to her relief that she found that the
two old ladies did not wish it. There was a sense that her tastes and
habits were so unlike theirs that they would always feel her to be like
company and be on their best behaviour, and decidedly her mother would
not 'stand in her light,' and would be best contented with visits from
her and to Northmoor.
So, after the quietest of weddings in the beautiful St. James's Church,
Herbert and Rose went out to be welcomed at Winnipeg, and Constance
returned with her uncle to be a daughter to Aunt Mary--till such time as
she was sought by the young Vicar of Northmoor.
THE END.