GETTING RIGHT.
No word of caution had been spoken in the ears of Agnes by either her
father or her mother; and so, with a heart full of joy at the news
she had heard, she ran to the chamber where Florence was alone with
Madeline, and, throwing her arms around her neck, kissed her, and said,—
“Dear sister! Dear sister!”
Florence returned the embrace, and kissed Agnes tenderly.
“Dear sister!” murmured the excited girl, again pressing her lips to
the cheek of Miss Harper.
“I am your true friend, Agnes,” said the young governess, calmly—“your
true and loving friend.”
“Be nearer than a friend; even as a sister. Father says that now you
are to be as a daughter in the house. Uncle John has told him all. Oh,
I am so glad! so glad!”
The face of Miss Harper grew pale, and she sat very still for some
moments.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have told you,” said Agnes, looking concerned. “But
my heart was so full I could not help it.”
“Where is your mother?” asked Florence, after a pause.
“In the library, with father,” replied Agnes.
“Will you remain for a little while with Madeline? I wish to see your
mother. You will stay with your sister, dear, until I come back?” And
she stooped over Madeline.
“You won’t stay long, will you?”
“No. I will return soon.” And she arose and left the chamber.
Since the remark of Mrs. Dainty, with which the preceding chapter
closed, no words had passed between her and her husband. They were
still sitting in the library, when the door was pushed quietly open,
and the subject of their recent conversation entered. A glance at her
almost pale face showed that her feelings were strongly agitated. Her
manner, as she crossed the room toward Mrs. Dainty, was subdued and
respectful. The latter rose as Florence approached her. The struggle
with herself was powerful, but brief. Suddenly her cold face was broken
by rippling smiles, and, with a warmth of tone and manner that was
remarkable, considering the real state of her feelings, she said,
grasping the young girl’s hand, and kissing her,—
“We have heard all, dear Miss Harper, and take you to our home and
hearts. Be to us as a daughter, and to our children, who love you, as
an elder sister.”
“Welcome! Thrice welcome!” said Mr. Dainty, offering his hand.
Florence was so much overcome by this unexpected reception that she was
unable to reply. Her face remained pale and strongly agitated. Before
self-control was regained, Mr. Fleetwood entered the library.
“See, Uncle John,” cried Mrs. Dainty; “we have already taken this dear,
good girl into our love and confidence. She shall be as our daughter.”
Mr. Fleetwood was taken by surprise. He stood still for a moment or
two, half bewildered. Then, comprehending the scene, he advanced to
Florence, and, drawing an arm around her, said, with much feeling,—
“The trial is over, dear child! There are no more rough paths for your
tender feet.”
And he pressed his lips against her pure forehead. She could bear up
under the weight of emotion no longer. Sobs convulsed her, and, as
tears poured over her cheeks, she hid her face upon the old man’s
breast and wept passionately. Even the worldly, calculating heart of
Mrs. Dainty was touched, and Mr. Dainty drew his hand quickly across
his eyes to dash away the blinding drops.
“I promised Madeline to return very soon.” Florence was the first to
gain entire self-control. She spoke in a low but steady voice, as she
looked up. “And now I must go back to her. I need not say that my heart
is deeply touched by this unexpected occurrence. You offer more than I
have any right to claim,—more than I desire. Let me still be to your
children as in the beginning. I came as their teacher; I have learned
to love them; I am sure that I can do them good.”
“The children’s teacher, and the mother’s friend!” said Mrs. Dainty,
whose feelings were taking a higher tone. She saw herself in the right
path, although by constraint, and felt that the way before her was
easier to walk in than she had dared to hope.
“Yes,—the mother’s friend,” Mr. Fleetwood spoke slowly and with
emphasis; “for none else is worthy to be the children’s instructor,
companion, and guide.”
While he was yet speaking, Florence retired from the room.
“You have done well, Madeline,” added Mr. Fleetwood, as the door
closed on Florence, “and better a great deal than I had reason to
expect. In bending down to one like Miss Harper, and raising her up
to the social level you occupy, there is no loss on your part, while
the sphere of life in which you move gains largely by an accession of
virtue, intelligence, refined taste, and womanly self-reliance. Depend
upon it, Madeline, the benefit is largely in your favor. Florence will
give more of good than she receives.”
“She is certainly a remarkable girl,” said Mr. Dainty. “In our late
trouble she exhibited qualities that now excite my admiration. If our
dear lost child had been her own sister, she could not have pursued the
search with greater assiduity. We owe her more than we can ever repay.”
“And there is a work,” replied Mr. Fleetwood, speaking in a tone of
unusual seriousness, “which, if she have the wisdom to execute, will
lay us under still higher obligations.”
Uncle John paused. Mr. and Mrs. Dainty looked at him inquiringly.
“Maddy is changed.”
He paused again,—then added,—
“And there is a fearful mystery connected with the change. We trace its
beginning from the hour that demon in human guise entered our home,
and let the glare of her evil eye fall upon the child. She gained, by
some infernal art, control over the will of that child, and led her off
a captive, powerless to resist. Thank God, we have rescued her, so far
as the body is concerned. But the thraldom went far below the visible
and the external. There is yet a spell upon her life,—a spell that must
be broken; and I have no hope, except in Florence Harper!”
A shadow of fear settled on the face of Mrs. Dainty.
“It is wonderful,” continued Uncle John, “with what wise caution Miss
Harper is already acting toward Maddy. Would you believe it? the child
not only refused to let Florence read to her from the Bible, but
actually sought to destroy the book! And yet the good girl was not
turned aside from her holy purpose, but lured the perverse one into the
right way. In the end, Maddy listened with deep interest while Florence
read of the Saviour’s birth. Wise, loving, true-hearted girl! She is
the angel in our house, Madeline! Fail not to honor the heavenly guest.
She has begun right; let us give her all possible aid, so that the
angel may triumph over the demon.”