A mild, soft day, with low-lying clouds, and rich odors of wild-flowers
rising from the ground, a certain dreamy quiet pervading earth and sky
and sea, over which faint shadows lingered lazily; some drops of the
night dew still glittered on the feathery larches, and bluebells hung
down their heads, heavy with moisture; so still the scene that the plash
of the leaping trout could be heard as he rose in the dark stream. And
yet there was a vast multitude of people there. The whole surface of the
lawn that sloped from the cottage to the river was densely crowded, with
every age, from the oldest to very infancy; with all conditions, from
the well-clad peasant to the humblest “tramper” of the high-roads.
Weariness, exhaustion, and even hunger were depicted on many of their
faces. Some had passed the night there; others had come long distances,
faint and footsore; but as they sat, stood, or lay in groups around,
not a murmur, not a whisper escaped them; with aching eyes they looked
towards an open window, where the muslin curtain was gently stirred in
the faint air.
The tidings of Mary Martin's illness had spread rapidly: far-away glens
down the coast, lonely cabins on the bleak mountains, wild remote spots
out of human intercourse had heard the news, and their dwellers had
travelled many a mile to satisfy their aching hearts.
From a late hour of the evening before they had learnt nothing of her
state; then a few words whispered by old Catty to those nearest the door
told “that she was no better,--if anything, weaker!” These sad tidings
were soon passed from lip to lip; and thus they spent the night, praying
or watching wearily, their steadfast gaze directed towards that spot
where the object of all their fears and hopes lay suffering.
Of those there, there was scarcely one to whom she was not endeared by
some personal benefit. She had aided this one in distress, the other she
had nursed in fever; here were the old she had comforted and cheered,
there the children she had taught and trained beside her chair. Her
gentle voice yet vibrated in every heart, her ways of kindness were in
every memory. Sickness and sorrow were familiar enough to themselves.
Life was, at least to most of them, one long struggle; but they could
not bring themselves to think of _her_ thus stricken down! She! that
seemed an angel, as much above the casualties of such fortune as theirs
as she was their superior in station,--that _she_ should be sick and
suffering was too terrible to think of.
There was a stir and movement in the multitude, a wavy, surging motion,
for the doctor was seen to issue from the stable-yard, and lead his pony
towards the bridge. He stopped to say a word or two as he went. They
were sad words; and many a sobbing voice and many a tearful eye told
what his tidings had been. “Sinking,--sinking rapidly!”
A faint low cry burst from one in the crowd at this moment, and the
rumor ran that a woman had fainted. It was poor Joan, who had come that
night over the mountain, and, overcome by grief and exhaustion together,
had at last given way.
“Get a glass of wine for her, or even a cup of water,” cried out three
or four voices; and one nigh the door entered the cottage in search of
aid. The moment after a tall and handsome girl forced her way through
the crowd, and gave directions that Joan might be carried into the
house.
“Why did ye call her my Lady?” muttered an old hag to one of the men
near her; “sure, she's Henderson's daughter!”
“Is she, faith? By my conscience, then, she might be a better man's!
She's as fine a crayture as ever I seen!”
“If she has a purty face, she has a proud heart!” muttered another.
“Ayeh! she'll never be like _her_ that's going to leave us!” sighed a
young woman with a black ribbon in her cap.
Meanwhile Kate had Joan assisted into the cottage, and was busily
occupied in restoring her. Slowly, and with difficulty, the poor
creature came to herself, and gazing wildly around, asked where she was;
then suddenly bursting out in tears, she said,--“Sure, I know well where
I am; sure, it's my own self, brought grief and sorrow under this roof.
But for _me_ she 'd be well and hearty this day!”
“Let us still hope,” said Kate, softly. “Let us hope that one so dear
to us all may be left here. You are better now. I 'll join you again
presently.” And with noiseless footsteps she stole up the stairs. As she
came to the door, she halted and pressed her hands to her heart, as if
in pain. There was a low murmuring sound, as if of voices, from within,
and Kate turned away and sat down on the stairs.
Within the sick-room a subdued light came, and a soft air, mild and
balmy, for the rose-trees and the jessamine clustered over the window,
and mingled their blossoms across it. Mary had just awoke from a
short sleep, and lay with her hand clasped within that of a large and
white-haired man at the bedside.
“What a good, kind doctor!” said she, faintly; “I'm sure to find you
ever beside me when I awake.”
“Oh, darlin', dear,” broke in old Catty, “sure you ought to know who he
is. Sure it 's your own--”
“Hush! be silent!” muttered the old man, in a low, stern voice.
“Is it Tuesday to-day?” asked Mary, softly.
“Yes, dear, Tuesday,” said the old man.
“It was on Thursday my poor uncle died. Could I live till Thursday,
doctor?”
The old man tried to speak, but could not.
“You are afraid to shock me,” said she, with a faint attempt to smile,
“but if you knew how happy I am,--happy even to leave a life I loved
so well. It never could have been the same again, though--the spell was
breaking, hardship and hunger were maddening them--who knows to what
counsels they 'd have listened soon! Tell Harry to be kind to them,
won't you? Tell him not to trust to others, but to know them himself; to
go, as I have done, amongst them. They 'll love him _so_ for doing it.
He is a man, young, rich, and high-hearted,--how they 'll dote upon him!
Catty used to say it was my father they 'd have worshipped; but that was
in flattery to me, Catty, you always said we were so like--”
“Oh dear! oh dear! why won't you tell her?” broke in Catty. But a severe
gesture from the old man again checked her words.
“How that wild night at sea dwells in my thoughts! I never sleep but to
dream of it. Cousin Harry must not forget those brave fellows. I
have nothing to requite them with. I make no will, doctor,” said she,
smiling, “for my only legacy is that nosegay there. Will you keep it for
my sake?”
The old man hid his face, but his strong frame shook and quivered in the
agony of the moment.
“Hush!” said she, softly; “I hear voices without. Who are they?”
“They're the country-people, darlin', come from Kiltimmon and beyond
Kyle-a-Noe, to ax after you. They passed the night there, most of them.”
“Catty, dear, take care that you look after them; they will be hungry
and famished, poor creatures! Oh, how unspeakably grateful to one's
heart is this proof of feeling! Doctor, you will tell Harry how _I_
loved _them_ and how _they_ loved _me_. Tell him, too, that this bond
of affection is the safest and best of all ties. Tell him that their old
love for a Martin still survives in their hearts, and it will be his
own fault if he does not transmit it to his children. There's some one
sobbing there without. Oh, bid them be of good heart, Catty; there is
none who could go with less of loss to those behind. There--there come
the great waves again before me! How my courage must have failed me to
make this impression so deep! And poor Joan, and that dear fond girl
who has been as a sister to me,--so full of gentleness and love,--Kate,
where is she? No, do not call her; say that I asked for her--that I
blessed her--and sent her this kiss!” She pressed a rose to her hot,
parched lips as she spoke, and then closing her eyes seemed to fall off
to sleep. Her breathing, at first strong and frequent, grew fainter and
fainter, and her color came and went, while her lips slightly moved, and
a low, soft murmur came from them.
“She's asleep,” muttered Catty, as she crouched down beside the bed.
The old man bent over the bed, and watched the calm features. He sat
thus long, for hours, but no change was there; he put his lips to hers,
and then a sickly shuddering came over him, and a low, deep groan, that
seemed to rend his very heart!
Three days after, the great gateway of Cro' Martin Castle opened to
admit a stately hearse drawn by six horses, all mournfully caparisoned,
shaking with plumes and black-fringed drapery. Two mourning-coaches
followed, and then the massive gates were closed, and the sad pageant
wound its slow course through the demesne. At the same moment another
funeral was approaching the churchyard by a different road. It was a
coffin borne by men bareheaded and sorrow-struck. An immense multitude
followed, of every rank and age; sobs and sighs broke from them as they
went. Not an eye was tearless, not a lip that did not tremble. At the
head of this procession walked a small group whose dress and bearing
bespoke their class. These were Barry Martin, leaning on Repton;
Massingbred and the two Nelligans came behind.
The two coffins entered the churchyard at the same instant The uncle
and the niece were laid side by side in the turf! The same sacred words
consigned them both to their last bed; the same second of time heard the
dank reverberation that pronounced “earth” had returned “to earth.” A
kind of reverential awe pervaded the immense crowd during the ceremony,
and if here and there a sob would burst from some overburdened
heart, all the rest were silent; respecting, with a deference of true
refinement, a sorrow deeper and greater than their own, they never
uttered a word, but with bent-down heads stole quietly away. And now
by each grave the mourners stood, silently gazing on the little mounds
which typify so much of human sorrow!
Barry Martin's bronzed and weather-beaten features were a thought paler,
perhaps. There was a dark shade of color round the eyes, but on the
whole the expression conveyed far more of sternness than sorrow. Such,
indeed, is no uncommon form for grief to take in certain natures. There
are men who regard calamity like a foe, and go out to meet it in a
spirit of haughty defiance. A poor philosophy! He who accepts it as
chastisement is both a braver and a better man!
Repton stood for a while beside him, not daring to interrupt his
thoughts. At length he whispered a few words in his ear. Barry started
suddenly, and his dark brow grew sterner and more resolute.
“Yes, Martin, you must,” said Repton, eagerly, “I insist upon it. Good
heavens! is it at such a time, in such a place as this, you can harbor a
thought that is not forgiveness? Remember he is poor Godfrey's son, the
last of the race now.” As he spoke, passing his arm within the other's,
he drew him gently along, and led him to where a solitary mourner was
standing beside the other grave.
Barry Martin stood erect and motionless, while Repton spoke to the young
man. At first the words seemed to confuse and puzzle him, for he
looked vaguely around, and passed his hand across his brow in evident
difficulty.
“Did you say here, in this country? Do I understand you aright?”
“Here, in this very spot; there, standing now before you!” said Repton,
as he pushed young Martin towards his uncle.
Barry held out his hand, which the young man grasped eagerly; and then,
as if unable to resist his emotions longer, fell, sobbing violently,
into the other's arms.
“Let us leave them for a while,” said Repton, hurrying over to where
Massingbred and the Nelligans were yet standing in silent sorrow.
They left the spot together without a word. Grief had its own part for
each. It is not for us to say where sorrow eat deepest, or in which
heart the desolation was most complete.
“I'd not have known young Martin,” whispered Nelligan in Repton's ear;
“he looks full twelve years older than when last I saw him.”
“The fast men of this age, sir, live their youth rapidly,” replied the
other. “It is rarely their fortune to survive to be like me, or heaven
knows what hearts they would be left with!”
While they thus talked, Massingbred and Joe Nelligan had strolled away
into the wood. Neither spoke. Massingbred felt the violent trembling
of the other's arm as it rested on his own, and saw a gulping effort by
which more than once he suppressed his rising emotion. For hours they
thus loitered along, and at length, as they issued from the demesne,
they found Repton and Mr. Nelligan awaiting them.
“Barry Martin has taken his nephew back with him to the cottage,” said
Repton, “and we 'll not intrude upon them for the rest of the evening.”