CHAPTER XXXV.
THE WAY OF TRANSGRESSORS IS HARD.
It is a trite saying, illustrated over and over again in many lives,that the way of transgressors is hard; and when Augusta lay on hersickbed, stricken down by the fell disease, she was paying a bitterprice for her days of selfishness, hypocrisy, cunning, and cruelty.
When God struck so hard it was impossible for man to say anything. Noone could have nursed the poor girl more devotedly than did Miss Roy.Professional nurses were of course sent for; and Nora and Kitty weresent immediately to the house of a cousin who promised to receive themand take every care of them. The doctor said, when he learnt allparticulars, that it would not be safe to send Nancy away. She was notallowed to go near Augusta, but she still remained at Fairleigh.
Nan and Captain Richmond had a little talk together. Nan came awayafter that talk and crept into a corner by herself, and cried andcried for a long time; then she came back to the Captain, put her armsround his neck, and kissed him.
"I don't mind anything now, for _you_ understand, and Godunderstands. And please--please forgive poor Gussie; she could nothave known what she was doing."
But the Captain would make no promises about Augusta.
"We will leave her out for the present," he said. "You and I are happytogether; we understand each other, and that which rested like anightmare on your poor little soul is lifted. The weather is fine; wewill spend all our time in the open air, and I will tell you some morethings about what soldiers do."
So in those dark days the Captain and Nancy became better friends thanever.
At last there came the hour when the crisis had passed for Augusta.The danger was over--she would get well. Then both the Captain andMiss Roy looked with fear at Nan; would she sicken, or would sheescape the danger? Ten days passed; then slowly--very slowly--thefortnight of probation came to an end, and Nancy was still well, stillsmiling, still happy.
"I do believe she will escape," said the Captain. "It seems almost toogood to be true."
Wonderful as it is to relate, Nancy did not become ill. And when thispoint was clearly ascertained, she was taken to join Nora and Kitty attheir cousin's house.
There the children had a gay time together while Augusta slowly cameback to convalescence. Very slow indeed was her recovery, for she hadtaken the complaint badly, and for some time the fresh, fair beauty ofher face was marred. "But not for ever," said Dr Earle. "By-and-by shewill recover her looks; but she has had a narrow escape both of herlife and of her eyesight."
When Augusta was comparatively well again, on an evening in lateOctober, Mrs. Richmond arrived at her home.
Augusta was seated by herself in the drawing-room. She sat with herback to the light. Her eyes were weak, and she did not like people tosee more of her poor disfigured face than was absolutely necessary.But when Mrs. Richmond came in, and the girl noticed the kindly face,so like her own mother's, she uttered a strangled cry, and runningforward, flung her arms round her neck.
"Oh, Aunt Jessie, it _is_ good to see you. Oh, now I believe Ishall have a chance of being happy again."
"Yes, my darling, I am glad to have got back. Oh, what I have sufferedon your account!"
"But don't you know the truth? Hasn't Uncle Pete told you?"
"He came down with me from London, Augusta. And--yes--he has told meeverything."
"Then you can never really love me again." Mrs. Richmond did not replyfor a moment; then she said slowly:
"When you lay in great pain and delirium, when you were nigh to death,and missed your own mother, and felt, as you must have felt for ashort time at least, that God Himself was hiding His face from you,then was your punishment, Augusta dear. If you have received it in duesubmission and repentance, who am I that I should not love you?"
"And does Nan--does Nan forgive me?"
"She is in the other room. You are quite free from infection; she willspeak to you in a moment. But, Gussie, before you meet I have onelittle thing to tell you: Nan will never go to the Asprays. She willbe my child always, for I owe to Nancy just as great a debt as Mr.Aspray owed her father. It is an old story, dear, and I will not tellit to Nancy yet for she is too young; but I think it right that youshould hear it. Long, long ago, before you were born, and before yourmother was married, Nancy's mother and I were friends. But a greattrouble arrived, for we both--each unknown to the other--loved thesame man. He cared more for Nancy's mother than he did for me; andNancy's mother loved him with all her heart and soul and strength. Ididn't know it at the time, although the knowledge came to meafterwards. She refused him for my sake. She loved him, and allowedhim to think she cared nothing at all for him; and she did italtogether for me.
"I married him: he was my husband. He was very good to me. I neverlearnt the truth from him. He died, and after his death, somehow, Ilearnt the truth. My dear friend married in time another man. Themarriage was not happy, and they were terribly poor. He died too, andlittle Nancy was left unprovided for. So I told her mother on herdeathbed that Nancy would always be my tender care, my most cherisheddarling. Now, Augusta, you know for yourself that she has a right tomy home and my love and my money. She is no charity-child, but a childany mother would be proud of."
"There never was any one like her," said Augusta slowly. "There was atime when I was mad with jealousy of her; but I know at last what shereally is. But, oh, Aunt Jessie! I am tired, and I want to be forgivenright out. I have told Uncle Peter everything--every single thing fromthe first. And now let me see Nancy, that she also may forgive me."
THE END.
Edinburgh: Printed by W. & R. Chambers, Limited.
BOOKS BY MRS L. T. MEADE.
SEVEN MAIDS. Illustrated by Percy Tarrant.
THE ODDS AND THE EVENS. Ten Illustrations by Percy Tarrant.
A VERY NAUGHTY-GIRL. Eight Illustrations by W. Rainey.
MISS NONENTITY. Illustrated by W. Rainey.
LIGHT O' THE MORNING. Eight Illustrations by W. Rainey.
THE GIRLS OF ST WODE'S. Eight Illustrations by W. Rainey
WILD KITTY. Eight Illustrations by J. Ayton Symington.
CATALINA. Eight Illustrations by W. Boucher.
GIRLS NEW AND OLD. Illustrated by J. Williamson.
BETTY: A School-Girl. Illustrated by Everard Hopkins.
FOUR ON AN ISLAND. Illustrated by W. Rainey.
THE CHILDREN OF WILTON CHASE. Six Illustrations by Everard Hopkins.
PLAYMATES. Six Illustrations by G. Nicolet.
LITTLE MARY. AND OTHER STORIES. Illustrated.
A FARTHINGFUL. Illustrated.
POOR MISS CAROLINA. Illustrated.
THE GOLDEN LADY. Illustrated.
BOOKS BY MRS MOLESWORTH
Published by W. & R. Chambers, Limited.
MEG LANGHOLME; or, The Day after To-morrow. Eight Illustrations by W. Rainey.
PHILIPPA. Eight Illustrations by J. Finnemore.
OLIVIA. Eight Illustrations by Robert Barnes.
BLANCHE. Eight Illustrations by Robert Barnes.
"MY PRETTY AND HER BROTHER TOO." Illustrated by Lewis Baumer.
THE THREE WITCHES. Illustrated by Lewis Baumer.
THE BOYS AND I: A Child's Story for Children. Seventeen Illustrations by Lewis Baumer.
HOODIE. Seventeen Illustrations by Lewis Baumer.
HERMY. Seventeen Illustrations by Lewis Baumer.
ROBIN REDBREAST. Six Illustrations by R. Barnes.
GREYLING TOWERS: A Story for the Young. Seventeen Illustrations by P. Tarrant.
WHITE TURRETS. Four Illustrations by W. Raines.
IMOGEN: or, Only Eighteen. Four Illustrations by Herbert A. Bone.
THE NEXT-DOOR HOUSE. Six Illustrations by W. Hatherell.
THE GREEN CASKET, AND OTHER STORIES. Illustrated.
THE BEWITCHED LAMP. Frontispiece by R. Barnes.
NESTA; or, Fragments
of a Little Life.
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