There are pauses in every life; seasons of thought after outward
experiences, when the soul questions, balances, and adjusts its
emotions; weighs each act, condemns and justifies self in one breath,
then throws itself hopefully into the future to await the incoming tide,
whether of joy or sorrow it knows not.
In such a state Florence Vernon found herself a few days after her visit
to Miss Evans. She thought when with her that no doubt could ever shadow
her heart again; but fears had crept over her, even though she desired
to be firm.
“Shall I stay and trust his nature, or go away and take up my old life,
and be again desolate and lonely? Which?” She kept asking this again and
again to herself. “I have been so happy here; but, if I go, it must be
before he returns. No! I will not. I will stay and brave the talk, and-”
“Miss Vernon, please come down, papa has come!
“O, why did he come so soon? How I dread to meet him,” were the words
that Florence found springing to her lips; but not hearing his voice,
she thought that Dawn must have been only in jest.
She listened again. Yes, Mr. Wyman was talking to Dawn in the hall. She
sat very still, and soon heard them both go into the garden; then all
was still. Again alone, she tried to analyze her emotions, and see
whether her deepest feeling was that of peace and rest, the same she
felt when she first entered the home of Mr. Wyman. It was there, as it
had been, but so agitated that the effort to ascertain its presence gave
back no deep trust to her questioning heart. The bell rang for tea.
She would gladly have stayed away, but could fame no excuse, and after
bathing her eyes, which were red and swollen, she went slowly down
stairs.
“I suppose you are surprised, Florence, among the rest, at my unexpected
presence. I did not myself expect to be at home so soon, but meeting one
of the firm with whom my business was connected, I was but too glad to
adjust it and return at once. I have felt very weary, too, since the
first day I left home, as though some cloud was hanging over my home. My
first thought was of Dawn, but her rosy, happy face soon put to flight
the apprehensions I had for her; yet you, Florence, are not looking
well; are you ill?”
“I am quite well, thank you.”
He looked deeper than her words, and saw within a tumult of emotions. He
did not notice her farther, but talked with Dawn during the remainder of
the meal, and when they were through went alone to walk.
“He shuns me,” she said, as she went into her room and sat down, sad and
dejected, “what but wrong can make him appear so? But I will not leave
it thus. I will know from him to-night whether these reports are true,
and then if true, leave here forever. Happiness, like that I have
experienced the past few months is too great to last.”
He sat alone in the library; she rapped softly at his door.
“Come in,” he said kindly, and rose to meet her as she entered.
She motioned him back to his seat. “Stay, do not rise,” was all she
could say, and fell at his feet.
He lifted her gently, as a mother might have raised a weary child, and
placed her beside him. Then, taking her hand, cold with excitement, in
his own, said,--
“I knew, Florence, by my depression, that your grief called me home.
Some slander has reached your ears. Is it not so?”
“It is. I have trusted and doubted, until I scarce know my own mind.”
“Do you feel most at rest when you trust me?”
“I think-yes, I know I do. Forgive me,” she continued, “if these shadows
had not fallen so suddenly on my path, I never should for a moment have
lost my trust in you. I have been shaken, convulsed, and scarce know my
best thoughts.”
“You have, indeed. I know not who have thus disturbed you, but may they
never suffer as we both have, and more especially yourself. I say I know
not, and yet my suspicions may not be entirely without foundation. And
now remember, Florence, the moment you feel that I am not what your
ideal of a friend and brother should be, that moment we had better
part.”
She started, and grew pale.
“I do not allude to the present, or to the scandal which has unnerved
and disturbed your state; nor can I expect you who are learning to trust
impressions rather than experiences, to feel otherwise than you have. It
was natural. I only wonder that you did not go at once. Your remaining
has shown me your worth, and a trait of character which I admire. Now
that the ordeal is passed, I shall feel that you are my friend, even
though slander, vile and dark, may be hurled against me, as it is
possible, for I have a battle to fight for you, my friend, and all
womankind. The rights of woman, which have been ignored, or thought but
lightly of, I shall strongly advocate, as opportunity occurs. I shall be
misunderstood, over and underrated in the contest, but for that I care
not. I only am too impatient to see the day when your sex shall not
marry for mere shelter, and when labor of all kinds shall be open
for their heads and hands, with remuneration commensurate with their
efforts. I am anxiously looking for the time when their right to vote
shall be admitted them, not grudgingly, but freely and willingly given;
for is not woman God's highest work, and his best gift to man? Now, if
the shadows come again, in shape of scandal, think you, you can trust
me?”
“I can. I do, and can never doubt again. Forgive the past. I was weak-”
“There is nothing to forgive,” said Mr. Wyman, as he leaned over and
kissed her forehead.
The seal of brotherhood was set, and Hugh and Florence knew from that
hour the bond which bound them, and that it was pure and spotless.