Blessed are the peacemakers. Have we ever realized how fearful must be the reverse of that benediction? Of whom can they be called the children whose delight is in sowing suspicion, awakening mistrust—they who would rob the innocent of a treasure dearer than life, the confidence and affection of those whom they love? Lady Selina rejoiced in the secret hope that she had done something that morning to loosen Clemence’s strong hold on the affections of her husband; that she had with some skill employed paternal love as a lever to shake that perfect confidence in which lay the young wife’s power. Lady Selina saw Mr. Effingham depart for the city, his brow clouded, and his manner abstracted, with feelings, perhaps, in some degree resembling those of the Tempter when he had succeeded in bringing misery into the abode of peace. She little considered whose work she was doing, whose example following; not the slightest shadow of self-reproach lay on the conscience of the woman of the world.
In the meantime the weary Clemence slept sweetly, and at length awoke refreshed. Sorrow, however, returned with consciousness; and, springing up like one who fears that some duty may have been neglected, Clemence hastened towards the room of Louisa, which was upon the same floor as her own. She was met in the corridor by her maid.
“Oh, ma’am! Miss Louisa is so dreadfully ill! Lady Selina has sent for another doctor besides Dr. Howard.”
“Why was I not awakened?” exclaimed Clemence; and as she spoke, a knock at the outer door announced the arrival of one of the medical men.
Louisa was, indeed, alarmingly ill. Lady Selina had had cause for her fear. With a throbbing heart Clemence awaited the decision of the doctors, who, after seeing their patient, remained together in consultation. It was a time when she would naturally have felt her soul drawn towards Lady Selina by a common dread. But an icy barrier appeared to be between the ladies; and the aunt tacitly treated the young step-mother as one who affected an anxiety which she did not feel,—one who was only adding hypocrisy to heartless indifference. Never are we more acutely sensitive to unkindness than when the heart is lacerated by sorrow; and never had Lady Selina inflicted a keener pang than she did in that interval of anxious suspense.
“Miss Effingham is in a very precarious state,” was the opinion at length given by one of the medical men, addressing himself to Clemence.
“We must be prepared, I fear, for the worst,” rejoined Dr. Howard, “though the patient’s youth is greatly in her favour.”
“Prepared for the worst,” faintly repeated Clemence, as the doctors quitted the house. The words brought with painful force before her mind the thought how totally unprepared the unhappy girl was for the awful change which might be so near. She who had lived only for pleasure,—she who had put religion aside as a tedious, gloomy thing, profitable only for the sick and the aged,—charity itself, which thinketh no evil, could not have regarded her as prepared; and now but a few days or hours might remain of a life hitherto wasted and thrown away,—precious days or hours, if given to God. “Louisa ought to know her danger,” said Clemence gravely and thoughtfully to Lady Selina.
“Goodness me!” exclaimed the aunt in indignant surprise, “you would not kill the poor child outright by talking to her about dying! I know well your sentiments towards her, Mrs. Effingham; but this would be carrying them a little too far.”
“God guide me!” murmured Clemence, as, turning sadly away, she glided noiselessly into the sick-room.