A SURPRISE.
After tea I felt that I must walk out in the air, as I was suffering
from a severe headache. I made my way to the church-yard, and sought the
graves of my parents; and, seating myself at the headstone of my
mother's grave, I remained for a long time wrapped in profound
meditation.
I know not how long I remained thus, for I took no note of time; but
when I raised my head at the sound of approaching footsteps, the shades
of evening were gathering around me. It was Willie Leighton whose
footsteps had aroused me from my reverie.
"My dear Clara," he began.
But when I looked up with a little surprise at his familiar use of my
christian name, it being the first time he had thus addressed me, he
colored slightly, and said,--
"I beg pardon, Miss Roscom, for thus intruding upon your solitude, but,
finding you absent on our return, I came to seek you and, with your
permission, to escort you home. I think you do wrong to come to this
lonely place to cherish a sorrow which seems to me to be almost
unreasonable. I would not have you forget your parents; but, surely, if
they are permitted to look down upon you from their home in heaven, they
would not wish to see you thus debar yourself from society and all the
innocent pleasures of youth. The dews of evening," said he, "are
beginning to fall, and I must insist upon your return home."
On our way home I could not help a feeling of uneasiness lest Willie's
attentions to me should displease the family. I had allowed him to
accompany me home, as I could not have done otherwise without absolute
rudeness; yet I feared that, in so doing, I should displease his
friends. My uneasiness increased as, upon entering the house, I thought
I detected a shade of displeasure in the manner of Mrs. Leighton toward
me. If Willie noticed anything of the kind, he _seemed_ unconscious of
it, for he made several efforts to engage us in conversation; but, for
some reason or other, no one, except himself, seemed inclined to be
social that evening. I felt very much depressed in spirits, for I
attributed their silence to displeasure because Willie had accompanied
me home, and, at an early hour, I bade them good night, and retired to
my own apartment. After reading, as was my custom, a chapter in my
Bible, and commending myself to the care of Heaven, I sought my pillow;
but hour after hour passed away and sleep refused to visit my eyes.
Again and again I mentally asked myself what had I done to merit the
coldness which Mrs. Leighton had shown in her manner to me? It was not
my fault that Willie had sought me, and in a kind and gentlemanly manner
escorted me home; and I only attributed his attention to that respect
which the _real_ gentleman ever accords to a lady, be she rich or poor.
I, however, decided that in future I should receive no attentions from
Willie. The Leightons were kind, but extremely proud, and I feared that
the pleasure Willie had lately evinced in my society had displeased
them, although his attentions had been nothing more than a person
socially inclined might be expected to show to one dwelling beneath the
same roof. Again did the remark made by Mrs. Kingsley occur to my mind,
and I firmly decided that, if Mrs. Leighton was displeased, she should
have no further cause for displeasure, for I too was possessed of a
proud spirit. The dawn of the new day glimmered in the east 'ere sleep
closed my eyes, and then my slumbers were disturbed by unpleasant
dreams. One dream, in particular, I still remember. I seemed, in my
dream, to be a homeless wanderer I know not whither. I had left the
limits of the city and was walking in the open country, on a road that
seemed strange and unfamiliar to me. At length such a feeling of
loneliness and misery overpowered me that I felt unable to proceed
further. Seating myself by the roadside, I burst into tears. Raising my
eyes, I observed a female figure approaching me, which I soon recognized
as my mother. She drew near, and, laying her hands upon my head, as if
in blessing, said,--
"Fear not, my beloved daughter, only continue in the path of duty and
all will yet be well."
With a cry of joy, I sprang forward to embrace her, and awoke to find
the sun shining dimly through the partially closed blinds of my window.
I felt fatigued and nervous, after passing such a restless night. I was
startled by the pale and haggard countenance which my mirror reflected
that morning. I had scarcely finished my toilet when the breakfast bell
rang, and I hastened down stairs, where the family were already
assembled around the breakfast table.
Whatever of displeasure Mrs. Leighton might have felt the previous
evening seemed to have vanished with the light of morning. Perhaps,
thought I, her displeasure existed only in my own imagination, after
all. Noticing my pale countenance, she enquired if I was ill? I replied
that I had a slight headache, owing to my not having slept well. She
kindly offered to excuse me from attending to my pupils that morning,
but I told her that I felt quite able to attend to my usual duties. In
the course of the day I mentioned to her the case of the poor woman who
had called the day previous. She replied that, after seeing her and
making some enquiries regarding her capability, she would speak to a
friend of hers, who was in want of a servant, and she had no doubt she
could influence her friend to engage her, should she consider her a
suitable person. Accordingly, when Mrs. O'Flaherty called, two or three
days after, Mrs. Leighton questioned her in regard to her capability as
a servant. She replied that she had had considerable experience as a
servant in genteel families, previous to her marriage in the old
country. Mrs. Leighton requested her to call again shortly, saying that
she hoped to be able to find her a situation. Mrs. Leighton further
informed her that, if the lady engaged her, it must be entirely on her
own recommendation; and that she hoped she would prove herself faithful
and trustworthy. She replied,--
"An' its mesilf that'll be afther doin' me best to plaze the leddy,
mem."
And, with many thanks, she left the house. Mrs. Leighton was much
interested by the intelligent countenance and honest, truthful manner of
the woman, and she accordingly so strongly enlisted the sympathies of
her friend, Mrs. Wallingford, that she agreed to give her a trial. Mrs.
O'Flaherty seemed very thankful when she called, soon after, and Mrs.
Leighton informed her that she had obtained a situation for her. Mrs.
Leighton also furnished her with money sufficient to purchase some
plain, but decent clothing, and a few days after she entered upon her
duties in the dwelling of Mrs. Wallingford, who afterwards frequently
remarked to Mrs. Leighton that she had much reason to thank her for
providing her with the best servant she had ever engaged.