And,
mamma, are you sure that you are quite happy to-day? You look as
if something had happened to trouble you--something more than
usual, I mean."
They were sitting in the dark, with just the light of the stars
shining through the upper panes of the one unshaded window.
Deborah, therefore, had little to fear from her daughter's eye,
only from the sensitiveness of her touch and the quickness of her
ear. Alas, in this delicately organised girl these were both
attuned to the nicest discrimination, and before the mother could
speak, Reuther had started up, crying:
"Oh, how your heart beats! Something has happened, darling mother;
something which--"
"Hush, Reuther; it is only this: When I came to Shelby it was with
a hope that I might some day smooth the way to your happiness. But
it was only a wild dream, Reuther; and the hour has come for me to
tell you so. What joys are left us must come in other ways; love
unblessed must be put aside resolutely and forever."
She felt the shudder pass through the slender form which had
thrown itself again at her side; but when the young girl spoke it
was with unexpected bravery and calm.
"I have long ago done that, mamma. I've had no hopes from the
first. The look with which Oliver accepted my refusal to go on
with the ceremony was one of gratitude, mother. I can never forget
that. Relief struggled with grief. Would you have me cherish any
further illusions after that?"
Mrs. Scoville was silent.
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