CHAPTER X
A Friend in Need
WHEN I returned to my Reason, it was with an inexpressible Sense of Weakness and Weariness. The first Thing I saw was dear Violet’s Face close to mine, her large, dark Eyes fixed full upon me; and as soon as she saw that I knew her, she exclaims, “Cherry, dear Cherry! I thought I had no more Tears left to shed, but I must cry again with Pleasure now—” and wept over me.
I said, “Is he come back yet?” She said, “You must only think of getting well now.”
“Ah,” I said, “I know he is not,” and turned my Head away, and still felt her warm Tears dropping over me. They seemed to heal where they fell; and presently, I shed Tears too, which cleared my Head, and somewhat relieved me; but oh! the Weakness!—
I was very slow getting well. All the While, dear Violet kept with me, read to me, cheered me, cherished me ... oh, what a Friend! How Trouble brings out the real Good in People’s Characters, if there be any!
Before I was well able to sit up, Master Benskin sent in Word he had Something important to say to me as soon as I was equal to hearing it. I thought he might have got some Clue to my Father, and said I was quite equal to hearing Anything he had to tell. Then he came in, treading on Tip-toe, and looking very awe-stricken; and, says he, “Mistress Cherry,”—taking a Chair as he spoke, a good Way off from me,—“the lamented Event which we may now consider to have taken place....”
“No, Master Benskin, no,” interrupted I, faintly; “I still hope there has been no lamented Event——”