Margaret's feelings, upon being first told of Dr Bailey's opinion, were
bitter beyond expression. She accused herself of having been the cause
of all that had happened; and declared that unless Rose recovered she
should never again know a happy moment; and then, as the burst of sorrow
subsided, she endeavoured to find some excuse for her own conduct in
that of Miss Cunningham, appealing to Dora to determine whether, if
it had not been for her, she should have been induced to leave Rose by
herself. Dora tried to console her; but she could not help remembering
what Colonel Herbert had said; for she saw that Margaret had no idea
how faulty her conduct had been with regard to Miss Morton; so entirely,
indeed, had it passed from her mind, that even when told of what Amy had
thought it right to do, she took but little notice, merely saying that
she had always thought Amy loved to meddle with everything, and then
renewing her self-reproach and her complaints of Miss Cunningham. For
some time she could not be persuaded to leave her room; but, as the
hours wore away, she became more tranquil, and at last consented to go
to her little sister, though it was with a shrinking reluctance, which
proved how much she dreaded to look upon the change of which she had
been partly the cause. The effect, however, was at first less painful
than might have been expected. The medicines which had been administered
had in a great degree lulled the pain, and Rose was now lying in a
state of torpor. Margaret gazed on her for some moments in silence,
but without any great apparent distress, until Rose opened her eyes and
looked up in her face with perfect unconsciousness; and then her cheek
turned pale, and her lip quivered, and, unable to bear the sight, she
turned hastily away, and again shut herself up in her own room.
Several hours passed after Dr Bailey's departure, and Rose still
continued so quiet, that a faint hope was felt even by Emily Morton that
her strength of constitution would enable her to rally from the shock
she had received. Mrs Herbert also fancied that she perceived some signs
of returning intelligence, and went herself to Mr Harrington to cheer
him with the favourable account, and to ask whether he thought it would
be expedient to communicate it to Mrs Harrington; but the amendment was
so trifling, that he feared the consequences of a second disappointment.
She was therefore only told that Rose was more tranquil, and that
everything had been done which Dr Bailey advised; and Mrs Herbert
urged the necessity of her taking some rest, if she wished to be of any
service in attending upon her child on the following day. At first she
strenuously resisted, but her husband's entreaties at length prevailed;
and, after some consultation, it was decided that Morris and Emily
Morton should watch till the morning, and that Mrs Harrington should
have the earliest intelligence if any change took place for the worse.
Mr Harrington went to his room, but not to rest, still less to sleep.
There were none, indeed, in the house who could obtain more than a few
moments of forgetfulness. The slightest sound was listened for with
anxiety; but through the greater part of the night all remained still,
and nothing but the light which gleamed from the sick chamber would have
indicated that any thing unusual had occurred. During this time there
was no change to excite either hope or fear; and Emily, as she observed
the perfect repose in which Rose was lying, almost hoped that she slept.
The painful expression of a wandering mind had passed away, and but
for the irregular breathing and the altered complexion, she could have
imagined that her anxiety was a delusion. And yet the thought that Rose
might recover did not bring with it entire happiness. In those silent
hours of watching, Emily's mind had recovered its usual tone, and she
had forced herself to look with steadiness upon the loss she dreaded.
For herself, it would be the severing of her dearest earthly tie; but
for Rose, it would be an escape from all the dangers of the world to the
enjoyment of rest and peace for ever; and as she recurred to the bitter
trials of her own life, and the sins and infirmities with which it had
been crowded, she felt that to wish that one as yet so innocent should
be spared to struggle with the same temptations would be merely
a selfish regard to her own feelings, without any reference to
considerations of far higher importance.
What Rose might be in after-life no one could dare to say. When she grew
up Emily must leave Emmerton; and, though she could trust and hope that
God would guard her through the difficulties of life, she could not but
tremble for her. To lose her now, would be to feel that she was gone
to happiness; to lose her then, might be to dread lest she should have
forgotten the promise of her baptism, and departed from the path of
holiness in which she had so earnestly endeavoured to lead her. The very
possibility was fearful; and as it flashed upon her mind, Emily went
to the window to relieve herself from the oppressive gloom of a sick
chamber, by looking upon the heavenly beauty of a cloud-less night. All
was perfectly still; the long shadows of the trees were motionless upon
the lawn, and not even a leaf was stirred by the night breeze. The earth
seemed to be at rest; but Emily well knew that the peace of that hour
would quickly pass away, and that the morning might bring with it rain
and storms to deface all that now appeared so fair. It was not upon the
beauty of this world that her heart could dwell with comfort at such a
moment; but she could look upon the bright stars which glittered above
her head, and rejoice to think that there were homes where sorrow had
never entered; and then she prayed, not that Rose might be restored to
her, but that God would guard her whether in life or death, and grant to
herself a perfect submission to His will.
Emily was still standing at the window when a slight sound startled her.
She fancied that Rose had spoken; but Morris, who was at the further end
of the room, had not noticed it. Again, however, her name was repeated
distinctly; and when she went to the bed-side, she saw by the light
of the lamp, that Rose had opened her eyes, and was gazing around,
apparently bewildered with the new situation in which she found herself.
At the first instant, Emily's heart bounded with joy, but another glance
made it sink in despair. Rose had recovered her senses; but a change had
passed over her countenance, which told that her hours were numbered. It
was an expression that Emily had too often watched to be deceived; and
anxiously beckoning to Morris, she determined upon sending immediately
to Mr Harrington. Morris, however, was leaving the room, and did not
observe her; and afraid of startling Mrs Harrington by ringing the bell,
she thought it best to wait a few minutes for her return, and endeavour
in the meantime to soothe and tranquillise the suffering child. "I am
near you," she said, softly. "You know, my darling, that I never leave
you."
"I thought you were gone," said Rose. "Why do you let me stay here?"
"Because it is better for you to be here than in any other place. You
will not care if I am with you."
"It is all strange," said Rose. "When will you take me away?"
"If you are better, you may go by and by," answered Emily, hardly able
to articulate the words; "but you are too ill now."
Rose tried to lift her little hand to her head, but she had not strength
for the effort. "It pains me so," she said.
"But it is God who sends you the pain," replied Emily; "and He loves you
so much, you will try and bear it."
"Will He make me die?" asked Rose, fixing her dark eyes earnestly upon
Emily's face.
For a moment Emily could not answer; and then, recovering herself,
she said, "If God should make you die, my darling, He will take you to
heaven; and you will live with Him, and with Jesus Christ, and the holy
angels. You will not be afraid?"
"Must I go alone?" continued Rose. "You always said you would be with me
everywhere."
"It is not God's will," replied Emily. "I must not go with you now, but
I will pray that I may follow you by and by. And He will watch over you,
and love you much more than I can; and you will be so happy, so very
happy, you will never wish to return back again."
"Then you will come soon, and mamma, and papa, and all," murmured Rose,
whilst her head sank, and her eyes closed.
Emily, in alarm, was about to ring the bell, when she again opened them.
"Don't go," she said, feebly clasping Emily's hand. "It is all dark. Why
will not mamma come?"
"She will be here directly, I hope," replied Emily. "But it is not
really dark; and God is near, and the angels, though you cannot see
them."
A second time Rose closed her eyes, and appeared to be repeating
something to herself. Emily gently withdrew her hand, and going to the
other side of the room, she rang to summon Morris. Rose looked at her as
she stood again by her side, but scarcely seemed to know her, till
Emily placed her hand on hers; and then, with an effort, she said, "am I
naughty? Indeed I cannot remember it."
"Remember what?" asked Emily, anxiously endeavouring to catch the reply.
"Say it, say it," murmured the dying child.
Emily bent still closer, and heard the words--"Our Father, which art in
heaven," though they were so faint as hardly to be intelligible. "I will
say it for you," she replied, summoning all her self-command to subdue
the agony of her feelings; and, kneeling down, she repeated, calmly and
distinctly, the holy prayer which Rose had been taught in her earliest
infancy, and which was now recurring to her mind, to bless and soothe
her death-bed.
Whilst Emily was yet speaking, Mrs Harrington, followed by her husband,
who had been alarmed at the sound of the bell, entered the room; but
Rose did not appear to notice them. A momentary strength had been
granted her, and with a clear though feeble voice, she followed the
prayer to the end; and then, stretching out her little hand, she said,
"Mamma, it is bright now. They are come to take me." And with a faint
smile, as she half repeated Emily's name, her head once more sank upon
the pillow, and the innocent spirit was at rest.