Rebecca's appearance struck Amelia with terror, and made her shrink back.It recalled her to the world and the remembrance of yesterday.In the overpowering fears about to-morrow she had forgotten Rebecca--jealousy--everything except that her husband was gone and was in danger.Until this dauntless worldling came in and broke the spell, and lifted the latch, we too have forborne to enter into that sad chamber.How long had that poor girl been on her knees! what hours of speechless prayer and bitter prostration had she passed there! The war-chroniclers who write brilliant stories of fight and triumph scarcely tell us of these.These are too mean parts of the pageant: and you don't hear widows' cries or mothers' sobs in the midst of the shouts and jubilation in the great Chorus of Victory.And yet when was the time that such have not cried out: heart-broken, humble protestants, unheard in the uproar of the triumph!
After the first movement of terror in Amelia's mind --when Rebecca's green eyes lighted upon her, and rustling in her fresh silks and brilliant ornaments, the latter tripped up with extended arms to embrace her--a feeling of anger succeeded, and from being deadly pale before, her face flushed up red, and she returned Rebecca's look after a moment with a steadiness which surprised and somewhat abashed her rival.
"Dearest Amelia, you are very unwell," the visitor said, putting forth her hand to take Amelia's."What is it?
I could not rest until I knew how you were."Amelia drew back her hand--never since her life began had that gentle soul refused to believe or to answer any demonstration of good-will or affection.But she drew back her hand, and trembled all over."Why are you here, Rebecca?" she said, still looking at her solemnly with her large eyes.These glances troubled her visitor.
"She must have seen him give me the letter at the ball," Rebecca thought."Don't be agitated, dear Amelia,"she said, looking down."I came but to see if I could--if you were well."
"Are you well?" said Amelia."I dare say you are.
You don't love your husband.You would not be here if you did.Tell me, Rebecca, did I ever do you anything but kindness?""Indeed, Amelia, no," the other said, still hanging down her head.
"When you were quite poor, who was it that befriended you? Was I not a sister to you? You saw us all in happier days before he married me.I was all in all then to him; or would he have given up his fortune, his family, as he nobly did to make me happy? Why did you come between my love and me? Who sent you to separate those whom God joined, and take my darling's heart from me-- my own husband? Do you think you could I love him as I did? His love was everything to me.
You knew it, and wanted to rob me of it.For shame, Rebecca; bad and wicked woman--false friend and false wife.""Amelia, I protest before God, I have done my husband no wrong," Rebecca said, turning from her.
"Have you done me no wrong, Rebecca? You did not succeed, but you tried.Ask your heart if you did not."She knows nothing, Rebecca thought.
"He came back to me.I knew he would.I knew that no falsehood, no flattery, could keep him from me long.
I knew he would come.I prayed so that he should."The poor girl spoke these words with a spirit and volubility which Rebecca had never before seen in her, and before which the latter was quite dumb."But what have I done to you," she continued in a more pitiful tone, "that you should try and take him from me? I had him but for six weeks.You might have spared me those, Rebecca.And yet, from the very first day of our wedding, you came and blighted it.Now he is gone, are you come to see how unhappy I am?" she continued."You made me wretched enough for the past fortnight: you might have spared me to-day.""I--I never came here," interposed Rebecca, with unlucky truth.
"No.You didn't come.You took him away.Are you come to fetch him from me?" she continued in a wilder tone."He was here, but he is gone now.There on that very sofa he sate.Don't touch it.We sate and talked there.I was on his knee, and my arms were round his neck, and we said 'Our Father.' Yes, he was here: and they came and took him away, but he promised me to come back.""He will come back, my dear," said Rebecca, touched in spite of herself.