CHAPTER X.
THE INVITATION.
When I repeated to Mrs. Melville the conversation I had had with Mrs.Maclean, we were just passing in to dinner, and she bade Anna, as soonas we had dined, go over and invite the Leslies to pass the afternoonand evening with her; adding, in a lower tone, to me, that such wasEllen's wilfulness, she would not be at all surprised to hear that shehad held her purpose for all day, or even for several days. Anna did notneed to be reminded of her errand, but went over to Mrs. Maclean's quiteearly, and quickly returned, bringing Mary and Ellen along with her. Itwas now May, and Emma Melville having reported the spring roses to be inbud, the children soon left the parlor, where Col. and Mrs. Melville andI were seated, and from the windows of which, a few minutes after, wecould see them walking around the flower-beds in the garden, andoccasionally stopping to search for, or to communicate some new token ofthe advancing season. Our observations on them were interrupted by thesound of the door-bell and the entrance of a servant, who, handing Col.Melville a card and a letter, announced that the gentleman who broughtthem was waiting to see him in the next room. Col. Melville only glancedat the card, ran his eye hastily over the letter, and handing them bothto Mrs. Melville, went to meet his visiter. "The Rev. Mr. Wallace," saidMrs. Melville, as she looked at the card, in a tone which indicated thatto her at least he was a stranger. "And the letter," she added, asopening it she looked at once at the name of the writer, "is from Mrs.Herbert."
"And who is Mrs. Herbert?" I asked.
"Did you never hear of her? She is a sister of Mr. Leslie. I have notseen her since her marriage, fifteen years ago; but if her maturer yearshave fulfilled the promise of her early life, she must be excellentindeed."
"You say you have not seen her in fifteen years; has she never visitedher brother in all that time?"
"No--she removed on her marriage to the western part of the State of NewYork; and as Mr. Herbert was not wealthy, the expense of travelling sofar has perhaps had something to do with keeping her away."
"But Mr. Leslie was long thought a very wealthy man; did he not assisthis sister?"
"I have heard that he offered to do so; but as he had disapproved hermarriage with one who had so few worldly advantages to offer as Mr.Herbert, it was probably regard for her husband's feelings which madeMrs. Herbert decline his aid, replying, as I was told she did, withevery expression of grateful affection for her brother, but adding theassurance that they had enough for happiness." After a few minutes'silence Mrs. Melville added: "I doubt not they were very happy, for heseemed worthy of her, and that is, I assure you, high praise. What ablow his death must have been!"
"His death!" I exclaimed--"is he dead?"
"Yes; I thought I had mentioned that she was now a widow: he died aboutthe same time with Mr. Leslie. His death was sudden, and I fear he lefther and her three children but illy provided for. Had it beenotherwise, she would, I am sure, before this time have endeavored to dosomething for Mary and Ellen; for I know that Mr. Villars wrote soonafter their father's death, informing her of their entire destitution,and of those embarrassments on his part which would prevent his doingall he wished for them."
Mrs. Melville had scarcely ceased speaking, when the door between thetwo parlors was opened, and Mr. Melville entered, accompanied by a verybenevolent-looking old gentleman, whom he introduced as Mr. Wallace,saying, as he presented him to Mrs. Melville, that he was a nearneighbor of her old friend Mrs. Herbert, of whom he could give her verylate intelligence, as he had been only about a fortnight from home.
"I have just been speaking of Mrs. Herbert," said Mrs. Melville,addressing herself to Mr. Wallace, "and though it has been fifteen yearssince we met, there are few of whom I retain a more admiring andpleasant remembrance. I was indeed grieved when I heard of Mr. Herbert'sdeath."
"It was a terrible blow," said Mr. Wallace, "the more terrible frombeing so sudden; but Mrs. Herbert is a mourner from a yet more recentaffliction--the death of her eldest child and only daughter."
"Indeed! such repeated and heavy strokes--how has she borne up underthem?"
"As one who, though a devoted wife and mother, is likewise a devotedChristian. The strokes have been indeed as you say, heavy, but she hasbowed to them, and kissed the rod which she knew was in a Father's hand.You who remember her, madam, will not be surprised to learn that noselfish sorrow has made her forgetful of her remaining duties."
"She has yet two children, I believe," said Mrs. Melville.
"Yes--two fine boys, whose education is scarcely commenced yet, as theeldest is but thirteen years old. Her orphan and destitute nieces, too,who, I understood, were with you this afternoon, she feels to havestrong claims upon her, almost as strong as those of her own children.To these claims she had not hitherto been able to attend, for she hadscarce recovered from the first bewildering effect of her husband'sdeath, when the symptoms which had already alarmed her in her daughter'shealth, deepened into decided consumption, and her whole time wasnecessarily given to her till death released her from her cares."
"And will she now be able to give a home to these poor girls?"
"Only to one of them," said Mr. Melville,--"to Ellen."
"And separate them!" exclaimed Mrs. Melville; "that will never do."
"So Mrs. Herbert thought at first," said Mr. Wallace, smiling, "but shehas been in correspondence with Mr. Villars on the subject, and she hasyielded to his arguments, on the one condition, that the childrenthemselves consent to the arrangement."
"That I am sure they will never do," said Mrs. Melville.
"In that case, Mrs. Herbert's power of being useful to them ceases,since Mr. Villars has decided that the eldest must on no accountrelinquish the advantages of her position here, as neither he nor Mrs.Herbert are in circumstances to ensure them future support independentlyof their own exertions."
"Mr. Villars is certainly a very eccentric man," said Mrs. Melville;"does he suppose that a few years could make any difference in Mary'sclaims upon the people of H., or their willingness to give her theirsupport, if she were then compelled to teach."
"Mr. Villars is eccentric," said Mr. Melville; "yet for what seemed tous strange, he has always had some good reason to give, as I doubt nothe has now."
"Well, here come the children," said Mrs. Melville; "we shall soon heartheir decision, and I suspect you will find that Mr. Villars' limitationis a complete hinderance to Mrs. Herbert's kind intentions."
The door was thrown open as Mrs. Melville spoke, and the children,unconscious of a stranger's presence, came laughing and talking in. EvenEllen looked pleased, which I was especially glad to see, as her usualgloomy countenance would have impressed a stranger unfavorably. Mrs.Melville led Mary and Ellen to Mr. Wallace, and introduced him to themas a friend of their Aunt Herbert. To their inquiries respecting theiraunt and her family Mr. Wallace replied very fully. The children havingsaid that they had never seen her, he described her appearance, hermanners, her character--spoke of their cousins George and CharlesHerbert, whom he represented as spirited, manly, but kind andaffectionate tempered boys.
"And my cousin Lucy?" said Mary.
"Was one of the loveliest and most engaging young persons I ever saw,when she was on earth," said Mr. Wallace; "she is now, I hope, an angelin heaven."
"Is my cousin Lucy dead?" said Ellen, who had hitherto been a silentlistener.
"Yes, my child, she has now been dead for more than two months, afterenduring for almost two years very great suffering. During all thattime, though I saw her very often, I never heard a complaining word fromher. All her grief was for her mother. Even when she was dying shethought of her, and the last words we could distinguish from her were,'Our good heavenly Father will comfort you, mother.'"
"Poor Aunt Herbert!" exclaimed Mary, touched with sympathy for such aloss.
"Yes, my dear child," said Mr. Wallace, "you may well pity her forlosing such a daughter, her only daughter; your Aunt Herbert hopes thatyou will do more than pity her, that you will send
her by me anotherdaughter in your sister Ellen, to whom she will be just such a mother asshe was to Lucy Herbert. She wished to have you both come to her as herdaughters, but your Uncle Villars does not think it wise that you shouldleave H. just at present; he consents, however, that Ellen should go toher aunt, if you are both willing."
From the moment Ellen's name was mentioned, the sisters had sat lookingearnestly into each other's eyes.
"Ellen," said Mr. Wallace, "will you not go with me, and be another Lucyto this good aunt?"
"I could not be like Lucy--I am not good enough; and I cannot leaveMary--I cannot leave Mary for anybody."
Mary threw her arm around Ellen, and drew her closely to her side,answering all Mr. Wallace's arguments only with her tears, or a silentshake of the head. Colonel Melville attempted to influence her, and thenshe spoke: "Oh! Colonel Melville, I cannot let Ellen go: I promised mymother, when I was a very little girl, and then I promised my fatherwhen he was on his death-bed, that I never would part with Ellen, and Icannot do it."
"Mary," said Colonel Melville, "I do not wish you to do it; none wishyou to do it, unless you feel it to be not only right but desirable, andall I would ask of you now is that you and Ellen too would think beforeyou decide on a question of so much importance. As respects yourpromise, you could not have promised that she should not leave you,because about that, you know, she will one of these days have a will ofher own, and you cannot prevent her going from you if she chooses it.Now Ellen's home with you is not, I fear, a very happy one,"--Ellencolored and looked down at these words,--"and you have it not in yourpower to make it so; and here your kind aunt sends and asks her to cometo her and be her daughter, promising to cherish her as her own dearchild. Mrs. Herbert will educate Ellen as few are capable of doing, andso enable her to be of use to herself and to you too, if the necessityfor your labors continue. And there will be no force exercised overEllen's wishes there, more than here. I doubt not if, after six monthsor a year's trial of her home there, she should be dissatisfied, andwish to return to you, she will be permitted to do so."
"Will she, sir?--May she come back if she should wish to?" asked Maryquickly, turning to Mr. Wallace.
"Certainly, my dear; your aunt's desire is to make Ellen happy, and thatcould not be done by keeping her against her will. But I would not haveyou make up your minds in a hurry--take to-night to think about it. Youhave, I hope, been taught to pray; ask your heavenly Father to directyou to what is best for you. I intended to set off to-morrow afternoonon my way home, but I will wait till the next morning for Ellen, if youwill give me your answer in the course of the day, or to-morrow."
And so it was determined. The children consented to defer their decisiontill the next day, and Colonel Melville advised that nothing more shouldthen be said on the subject. I saw, however, that though they did notspeak of it, Mary and Ellen both thought of it; for more than once I sawMary's eyes fill with tears as they rested on her sister, and Ellenherself perceiving it at one time, shook her head, and said with asmile, "You need not be afraid, Mary; I shall not leave you." Thesethoughts, however, did not interfere with Ellen's enjoyment of hersupper, which, from the appetite with which it was eaten, was, I doubtnot, the only regular meal she had made that day.
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