Ten days elapsed before Dr Challen gave his consent for Isa to be
removed, and during that time she had been carefully tended by Mrs
Norton and Jane McCray, who had made her way to the Hall as soon as she
heard of the accident. But two days would have been sufficient to have
shown to Mrs Norton the character of the gentle, inartificial girl,
whose gratitude was extreme for every act of attention she received.
Hour after hour would Mrs Norton sit by her bedside watching her sleep;
but once, and once only, came a dread suspicion that made her heart leap
with agony.
She had driven that thought away, though, the next minute, as something
too hateful to be nurtured even for an instant. Then, kneeling down,
she prayed long and earnestly that, come what might, rest and happiness
should be the lot of her son, as well as that of the gentle spirit whom
she had already begun to love as a child of her own. For, irrespective
of a sweet disposition and clinging ways to attract her when the poor
motherless girl had been thrown, as it were, into her arms for
protection, there was the recollection of the past--the old affection
for her mother, and pity--shuddering pity--as she thought of her old
friend's mysterious fate and the sad position of her child.
Had she required more to interest her in Isa Gernon, Mrs Norton
possessed it in the knowledge that Brace loved her, that he had
confessed his love, and that Isa knew it. If such a thing could have
been possible, how Mrs Norton would have rejoiced in the union! But,
with many a sigh, she told herself that it could never be, and to the
best of her ability she strove to avoid all reference to her son.
That was a hard task to the loving mother, whose every thought turned to
the frank, handsome young fellow who was her pride--who had, year by
year, won for her more and more her husband's love, binding him tightly
and more tightly to her, as time rolled on, till she owned to herself
that, in spite of the stormy past, hers was a life of true happiness--of
happiness greater than usually fell to the lot of mortals. For as time
had softened the grief and despair in Philip Norton's heart, he had
learned to thank Heaven for the blessings that had, after all, fallen to
his share, so that his feeling of friendly affection had gradually grown
into a firm and lasting love for the woman so full of faith in him--a
love that grew stronger as the years glided on.
Weak, and hardly yet recovered, Isa Gernon was, one day, lying sleeping
gently. Sir Murray had paid his morning's visit, and, meeting Dr
Challen there, received another sharp snubbing for evincing a desire to
remove the patient.
"I'll tell you when she may go," said the doctor; "but let me tell you
that you ought to go down upon your knees and thank Mrs Norton for her
motherly care. Like a mother to you, isn't she, my child?" he said,
turning to Isa.
The look of love directed by Isa at Mrs Norton was like gall and
wormwood to Sir Murray, whose dark face grew more black; but he was too
courteous to display his annoyance in his words; and besides, though he
looked upon Mrs Norton as a weak, foolish woman, at heart he retained
for her a profound feeling of respect; for he admired her faith and
constancy under troubles that might have broken another's heart. In
spite of himself, too, he could not help noticing the respect that had
been paid to his feelings, for he knew that the departure of Captain
Norton and his son must have been on account of this unforeseen train of
circumstances. He was glad of this, for he was troubled about Brace,
from feeling an instinctive dread that he might presume to assert
himself as a suitor for Isa's hand.
Matters had gone very unfortunately; but as soon as he could get Isa
home, he determined that Lord Maudlaine should press his suit, and that
the wedding should shortly follow.
Sir Murray felt a confidence in Mrs Norton that was not misplaced, for
hardly once had Brace's name passed her lips till this morning, when
some time after father and doctor had taken their departure, Mrs Norton
entered the room to find Isa sleeping.
She stood watching the sleeper for some few minutes, tracing again the
lineaments of Marion Elstree, when the likeness was completed by the
unclosing of two soft, appealing eyes, which gazed full in hers for a
few minutes, as a sweet smile of recognition swept over the countenance;
then Mrs Norton bent down and kissed her, Isa's arms being passed round
her loving nurse's neck, and there for a few moments she clung.
"So much better!" whispered Isa; and then, as her eyes fell upon a
locket-brooch which Mrs Norton was wearing, she asked, in the course of
conversation, whose countenance it contained.
"It was my son's twelve years ago," said Mrs Norton, softly, as she
covered it, she knew not why, with one hand, watching keenly the face
before her as she spoke, and in the change that came over it, she saw
something that for the moment gave her she hardly knew which, pleasure
or pain; for Isa's pale face became gradually suffused with a deep
crimson flush, she shrank away from Mrs Norton as if guilty, her eyes
filled with tears, and then, casting her arms round the mother's neck,
she nestled there, weeping long and hysterically.
No word was spoken; but the mother's thoughts required no further
confirmation. She religiously refrained, though, from speaking, telling
herself that a greater will than hers should be done, that her duty was
rather to check than encourage, even while she tremblingly hoped that a
happier future might be the result.
There was no need for interpretation of Isa Gernon's tears: her heart
spoke for itself; and it was not surprising that he, against whom she
had been warned by a parent--now loving almost to doting, now fiercely
morose--should form the object of her musing thoughts. She had met him
frequently during her walks, at a time, too, when distasteful attentions
were being paid her, and she felt that her heart was being treated as a
piece of merchandise.
There was something winning and frank in Brace Norton that had attracted
her in spite of the chiding she gave her wandering thoughts; and young,
ardent, unused to the ways of the world, she had allowed herself to
dwell upon the face of the young sailor more often than was right for
her peace of mind. Then came the ramble by the marsh, the leaning over
the black pool-side to pluck a blossom, and her narrow escape from poor
Ophelia's fate. Was it, then, strange that when he appeared rushing to
her rescue, and after his many vain struggles, told her, as he promised
to die by her side, how he loved her--told her what her heart had before
whispered--was it, then, strange that this should be the hour which
should, in spite of her efforts, sweep away the impression of all
warnings and forbidding words, and that she should yield up the heart
only partly hers?
Book 2, Chapter XII.