Mrs. Cabell and her daughters, attended by Major Cabell, arrived in due time, and were received with great pleasure by their orphaned relative. And Catherine, now that she was no longer necessary to the cheerfulness of Miss Clifton, took leave and returned to her brother’s cot. Life in the mansion, and life in the hut, like day and night, about equally divided the girl’s experience—a strange lot, to be ever alternating between luxury and refinement, and poverty and coarseness. And though it was a wonderfully strengthening discipline, Kate found the contrast so painful as to wish that life would change—in some way.
A month passed away—during which she heard nothing whatever from White Cliffs. She was therefore in total ignorance of what was going on there, until one cold morning that had succeeded a snow-stormy night, while she was shoveling away the snow in front of the cottage door, Dandy rode up and delivered her a note from Miss Clifton. The note ran thus:
“Dear Catherine,—
“I am going to leave for Richmond with Aunt Clifton to-morrow morning. Come over, dear girl, and let me take leave of you before I start. Come, my good, wise Catherine, for I want to consult you about a certain matter.
“Your friend CAROLYN.”
Kate saddled her pony and set out, attended by Dandy. As soon as she arrived at White Cliffs, she was invited immediately up into Miss Clifton’s room. She found the young lady surrounded with trunks and bandboxes, and busy with her maids, packing. Carolyn dismissed her attendants, begged Kate to be seated, and sat down by her. After a few mutual inquiries about health and so on, and a little introductory conversation, and some considerable hesitation, Miss Clifton said—
“Catherine! I think—I hope that I have succeeded at last in emancipating myself from the degrading slavery of that old love spell! At last the dread sense of bereavement and desolation is deadened.... If I were to see him again, however, I do not know how it might be.... Perhaps, though, I shall never see him again.... Kate! I have had a proposal for marriage.... My cousin Major Cabell!... It was at least generous in him, all things considered.... Family feeling, I suppose.... Kate, I think of accepting him!... We owe something to our position in society.... My Aunt Cabell has been talking to me about it for a month past.”
Miss Clifton made this communication in a hesitating, disjointed manner; while Catherine looked and listened in grief and astonishment, feeling regret amounting almost to remorse, that she had left her friend, enfeebled in mind and body, so long under the influence of a strong-willed thoroughly worldly-minded woman. And she understood the instinct that had impelled the wavering girl to send for her to steady her. And then athwart these, her purest emotions, swept a dark, burning impulse, like a breath of hell. It was the whisper of the devil, and it said to her,—“Agree with her—agree with her! Let her marry another if she wishes, and thus remove the greatest impediment that separates you from the love, the hope of Archer Clifton.” Catherine stood for a moment horrified by the darkness of the temptation. But then summoning the whole strength of her soul, she inwardly exclaimed, “Get thee behind me, Satan!” And the devil fled from her.
“You do not answer me, Catherine. My dear girl, I have so much confidence in your rectitude of mind! Advise me!”
“Dear Miss Clifton, never, as you value your whole life’s peace and rectitude—never, for any purpose whatever—under any temptation whatever—consent to marry a man you do not love; never, as you hope for earthly content—as you trust in God—never put an insurmountable object between yourself and one you love! How criminal to become a wife, while you love another living man! How terrible to find out, when it is too late, that he loves you still! Perhaps from year to year to long for the—! Lady, I have no words strong enough to express to you all that I feel and fear on this subject! Grave faults sometimes follow little errors! I would fain gain your promise not to entertain any gentleman’s suit until you have met again with Captain Clifton. You cannot have long to wait. He must return to settle up this estate. And legal business, if nothing else, must bring you together!”