“Ah! I wish we did know,” answered Bride, with brightening eyes; “I would go with you, papa, and see the wonderful new ship too.”
The Duke was studying her face attentively.
“You are pleased to think of having your cousin here again, Bride?” he asked tentatively.
Her face was very sweet in its soft increase of colour, but her eyes were steady, and truthfully fearless.
“I think I am very glad,” she said softly. There was a pause after this which neither seemed exactly to know how to break; but at last Bride said in a different tone, “And I am glad for another reason too. Eustace is the only person who has any influence over poor Saul Tresithny. It seems as though he were the only person in the world that Saul has ever loved. He does love him. His name is just the one thing that will rouse him to listen to Abner, or which wins him a look from me if I try to speak to him. Whatever harm Eustace may have done Saul in the beginning—and I fear he did help to rouse in him those fierce and evil passions which have worked such havoc of his life—at least he has won the only love of a heart that seems closed to all the world besides; and Abner thinks as I do, and Mr. St. Aubyn also, that no soul is quite dead, no spirit altogether beyond hope of reclaim in which the spirit of love yet burns, however feebly and fitfully. Eustace always believes that it was to save him from being trampled down by the sudden turning and plunging of the horses that day in the crowd, which made Saul spring at them, and almost cost him his life. If so, there must be a vein of gold in his nature somewhere; and I always think that Eustace will find it some day, somehow. Poor Saul! He looks most terribly haggard and wild and miserable. Everybody else has failed to touch him; but I do think Eustace may succeed when he comes. He had to leave last time, before Saul had recovered consciousness enough to bear the excitement of a visit.”
“I trust it may be so, for the sake of the unhappy young man himself, and of his patient and heroic old grandfather. Abner’s faith is a lesson to us all. May God send him at last his heart’s desire!”
It was so seldom that her father spoke thus, that sudden tears sprang to the girl’s eyes; and instead of answering, she laid her hand softly on his shoulder, the mute caress speaking more eloquently than words. For a moment there was silence between them, and then the Duke asked—
“Shall you let Saul know that Eustace is coming?”
“I shall tell Abner. I never see Saul now. He can do as he thinks best; but I believe he will decide to say nothing, but let Eustace come upon him quite unexpectedly, before Saul knows anything about his being here, or has had time to harden his heart, as he might try to do, even against Eustace, if he were prepared beforehand. I think with such natures as his it is better to give no time for that. But Abner will know best.”