Vashti Part 18

'What's done we partly may compute, But know not what's resisted.'"

"Dr. Grey, you have great confidence in the efficacy of prayer?"

"Yes; for without it human lives are rudderless, drifting to speedy wreck and ruin."

"If I ask a favor, will you grant it?"

"Have I ever denied you anything that you asked?"

"Yes, sir,--your good opinion."

"I knew that had you really desired that, you would long since have rendered it impossible for me to withhold it. But to the point,--what is your pet.i.tion?"

"I want you to pray for me."

"Salome, are you serious? Are you really in earnest?"

"Mournfully in earnest."

"Then rest satisfied that henceforth you will always have a place in my prayer; but do not forget the greater necessity of praying for yourself. Now, tell me how you have been employed during my long absence. Where are the acc.u.mulated exercises which I promised to examine and correct when I returned?"

"Promised whom?"

"You."

"You forget that I did not see you the day you left, and that you did not even bid me good-by."

"I referred to your French exercises in a brief and hurried note that I left for you."

"Left where? I never received--never heard of it."

"I laid it upon your plate, where I supposed you would certainty notice it when you came home to dinner."

"Why did not you give it to Miss Jane?"

"Simply because she was not in the room when I wrote it. It is rather surprising that it escaped your observation, as I laid it in a conspicuous place."

She did not deem it necessary to inform him that on that unlucky day she had suddenly lost her appet.i.te, and failed to go to the table; and now she put her fingers over her eyes to conceal the blaze of joyful light that irradiated them, as he mentioned the circ.u.mstance, comparatively trivial, but precious in her estimation, since it was freighted with the a.s.surance that at least he had thought of her on the eve of his unexpected departure. What inexpressible comfort that note might have contributed during all those tedious months of silence and separation! While she sat there thinking of the dreary afternoon when, down in the orchard-gra.s.s she lay upon her face, Dr. Grey came nearer to her, and said,--

"I hope you have not abandoned your French?"

"No, sir; but I devote less time than formerly to it."

"If agreeable to you, we will resume the exercises as soon as I can wield my pen."

"If you can teach me Italian, I should prefer it; especially since I have learned to p.r.o.nounce French tolerably well?"

"What use do you expect to have for Italian,--at least, at present?

French is much more essential."

"I have a good reason for desiring to make the change, though just now I do not choose to be driven into any explanations."

"Pardon me. I had no intention of forcing your confidence. When in Italy, I always contrive to understand and make myself understood; but my knowledge and use of the language is rather too slip-shod to justify my attempting to teach you idioms, hallowed as the medium through which Dante and Ariosto charmed the world. Miss Dexter, Muriel's governess, is a very thorough and accomplished linguist, and speaks Italian not only gracefully but correctly. I have already engaged her to teach you whatever she may deem advisable when she comes here to live."

"You are very kind. Is she a young person?"

"She is a very highly cultivated and elegant woman, probably twenty-five or six years old, and has been in Florence with Muriel."

Involuntarily and unconsciously the orphan sighed, and the muscles in her broad forehead tangled terribly.

"Salome, please put your hand in the right pocket of my vest, and take out a key that ought to be there. No,--not that; a larger steel one.

Now you have it. Will you be so good as to open that trunk which came by express yesterday (it is in the upper hall), and bring me a box wrapped in pink tissue-paper? I would not trouble you with so many commissions if I could use my hands."

Unable longer to repress her feelings, the girl exclaimed eagerly,--

"If you could imagine what pleasure it affords me to render you the slightest service, I am very sure you would not annoy me with apologies for making me happy."

In a few moments she returned to the library, bearing in her hand a small but heavy package, which she placed on the table before him.

"Please open it, and examine the contents."

She obeyed him; and, after removing the wrapping, found a blue velvet case that opened with a spring and revealed a parcel enclosed in silver paper. Dr. Grey turned and walked to the window; and, as Salome took off the last covering, a watch and chain met her curious gaze.

One side of the former was richly and elaborately chased, and represented Kronos leaning on his scythe; the other was studded with diamonds that flashed out the name "Salome." Astonishment and delight sealed the orphan's lips, and, in silence, far more eloquent than words, she bowed her head upon the table. After a few moments had elapsed, Dr. Grey attempted to steal out of the room; but, being obliged to pa.s.s close by her chair, she put out her hand and arrested his movement.

"It is the most beautiful watch I have ever seen; but, oh, sir! how shall I sufficiently thank you? How can I express all that is throbbing here in my proud, grateful heart? Although the costly gift is elegant and tasteful, I hold still more precious the fact which it attests,--that during your absence you thought of me. How shall I begin to prove my grat.i.tude for your kindness and generosity?"

"Do not thank me, my little friend; for, indeed I require no verbal a.s.surances that my _souvenir_ is kindly received and appreciated. Wear the watch; and let it continually remind you not only of the sincerity of my friends.h.i.+p, but of the far more important fact that every idle or injudiciously employed hour will cry out in accusation against us in the final a.s.size, when we are called upon to render an account of the distribution of that invaluable time which G.o.d allows us solely for the accomplishment of His work on earth. It is so exceedingly difficult for young persons to realize how marvellously rapid is the flight of time, that you will, I trust, forgive me if I endeavor to impress upon you the vital importance of making each day fragrant with the burden of some good deed, the resistance of some sore temptation, some service rendered to G.o.d or to suffering humanity which shall make your years mellow with the fruitage that will ent.i.tle you to a glorious record in the golden book of Abou Ben Adhem's angel. Let this little jewelled monitress of the fleeting, mocking nature of time, this ingenious toy, whose ticking is but the mournful, endless knell of dead seconds, remind you that,--

"This life of ours, what is it? A very few Soon ended years, and then--the ceaseless psalm, And the eternal Sabbath of the soul."

As Salome looked up into his tranquil, happy face, two tears glided across her cheeks, and fell upon the pretty bauble.

"You will find a key in the case, and can wind it up, and set it by the clock in the parlor."

"Dr. Grey, are you willing that my watch shall bear daily testimony of something which I hold far above its diamonds,--that you have faith in Salome Owen?"

"Perfectly willing that you should make it eloquent with all friendly utterances and sympathy. Hester has bound my arm so tightly that it impedes the circulation, and is very painful. Please loosen the bandage."

She complied as carefully as possible, though her hands trembled; and, when the ligature had been comfortably adjusted and the arm restored to its sling, she stooped and pressed her lips softly and reverently to the cold, white fingers, that protruded from the linen bands. He endeavored ineffectually to prevent the caress, which evidently embarra.s.sed him; but she left two kisses on the bruised hand, and, s.n.a.t.c.hing her watch and chain from the table, hastily quitted the room.

In after years, when loneliness and disappointment pressed heavily upon her heart, she looked back to the three weeks that succeeded Dr.

Grey's return as the halcyon days, as the cloudless June morning of her life; and, in blissful retrospection, temporarily found Elysium.

She wrote his letters, read aloud from his favorite books, dressed and bandaged his blistered hand and fractured arm, and surrendered her heart to an intense and perfect happiness such as she had scarcely dared to hope would ever be her portion.