Chapter 7
public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Destiny, Volume 2, by Susan Edmund Stone Ferrier. Chapter 7. It was not until he'd seen Lady Waldegrave restored to consciousness. The Reginald awoke from the delirium into which his selfish, headstrong passion had thrown him. He started as from a dream, but at the same time, he was conscious that it was a dream in which he had laid bare the inmost recesses of his heart,
that he had given to the winds that secret which he had sworn should never pass his lips, and that in the very ear of plighted love he had proclaimed the apostasy of his affection. His cheek burned with remorse and shame. Even while, slave to passion, his heart bounded with delight, as one who had flung his fetters far from him. The barrier was now broken down, which had separated him from his idol.
Accident had now discovered to Edith that he loved another. He would never have told her so. He never would have renounced her. But she might, she would, now renounce him. She might be happy, too.
And a tumult of wild contradictory feelings swelled in his heart as conscience and passion struggled for mastery. He waited with the most intense interest to hear how Edith bore the shock. He well knew she must have sustained. by this abrupt disclosure of his infidelity.
And not even the witchery of Florinda's charms, as she appeared in renovated beauty, could so wholly engross him, but the both eye and ear were frequently turned from her to catch some tidings of Edith.
Dear Edith, what would he not give to be assured she was happy, as happy as he should be when satisfied that he had not been the destroyer of her happiness? Unable any longer to endure the workings of his own mind,
he sent to request that Mrs. Malcolm would see him, if but for a single moment. Meanwhile, Mrs. Malcolm was keeping watch by the couch of poor Edith. In the bustle that had prevailed at the landing of the little party, Reginald's behavior had passed unnoticed. And thus Edith's state of mind was inexplicable to one who had known her long,
and had seen her in circumstances of at least equal danger, evinced the utmost strength of mind and self-possession. She had seen Lady Waldegrave for a few minutes, and had expressed to her her surprise and alarm at Edith's aberration of mind. But though she appeared shocked, she had hastily waved the subject, saying she herself had been wholly insensible to what had passed. As for Madame Letour, she was still too hysterical to be spoken with.
Nor, indeed, had it been otherwise, could she have thrown any light upon the subject beyond her own conjectures. as she and the attendants had all been too much agitated and absorbed in personal alarms to have eyes or ears for anything but their own danger. Aware of the impetuosity of Sir Reginald's feelings, Mrs. Malcolm was unwilling to excite them by a hasty disclosure of Edith's alarming condition.
She had therefore quietly dispatched a message for the nearest medical assistants, trusting that, in the meantime, silence and repose would gradually restore her mind to its right tone. But her gentle cares had hitherto been vain, her hapless charge continued in the same state of mute, rigid suffering, her breast heaving, as if with some forbidden woe, her eyes fearfully open, as though they gazed on some vision of a fright.
On receiving Sir Reginald's message, however, Mrs. Malcolm thought it best to comply with his request. She found him in an adjoining apartment, pacing to and fro, in all the restlessness of excitement and suspense. It was so completely a part of that lady's character to speak the truth at all times and in all circumstances that it never occurred to her to dissemble or give it any false glosses to serve a temporary purpose. But she always spoke it with a sympathy and
tenderness which usually disarmed it of its bitterest sting. But it was not from the fiery, unregulated mind of Sir Reginald that any truth, however gently told, which reproached his conscience and opposed his wishes, could meet with a submissive reception. Cautious and considerate as Mrs. Malcolm had been in her communications, he was stung to the soul by self-reproach, and gave way to the most vehement expressions of anguish and despair. He had been, he said,
the destroyer of one who is dear to him, as his own life. He called heaven to witness there was no sacrifice. He was not ready to make for her happiness. He had suffered much for her sake. He would suffer all, anything, everything, to see her restored. He would see her himself. He would explain everything.
His happiness was in her hands. He never could know peace until he saw her well and happy, and for the moment he was sincere. But Mrs. Malcolm feared little for the passionate overflows of that grief, excessive as it was,
which could thus vent itself in outward manifestations. It was the silence of poor Edith's overcharging heart which alarmed her, but she strove by mild and gentle words to soothe Sir Reginald into composure, and at last succeeded in restoring him to a comparative degree of calmness. the surgeon soon after arrived but as he possessed no more than common penetration and in the course of his practice was little accustomed to minister to mind's disease he saw nothing more than a mere nervous panic in the case having therefore administered an opiate
and remained till it took effect he recommended the patient to keep perfectly quiet and said he had no doubt but that he should find all well when he returned the following day this was a blowed off Reginald's heart, and his buoyant spirit soon rose in proportion to its previous depression. Edith, he was sure, would soon surmount the shock she had sustained by his abrupt disclosure. Her sentiments would change, and all would yet be well. Unhearing so favorable
a report, Lady Wallagrave prepared for setting off to join her mother, for although messengers had been dispatched both to her and Glenroy to acquaint them with the safety of the party, It was not to be supposed she would rest satisfied with that, or that any other assurance short of actually seeing her daughter would quiet her natural fears. Florenda said she would have preferred remaining where she was,
but that she knew Lady Elizabeth would not proceed without her, and that she could not bear the thought of bringing so large a party, at such a time, to a house where quiet was enjoined. This seemed only what was considerate and reasonable, and Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm forbode to urge the invitation
which their hospitality, rather than their inclination, had led them to make. They therefore followed that admirable precept, welcomed the coming, speed the parting guest, and ordered their horses to be got ready to carry the travelers forward on their journey. Although it is only a few miles from this to the ferry, said Captain Malcolm,
addressing Lady Weldergrave. yet as the road in some places borders rather too much on the sublime i hope you will allow me thought to mew to escort you so far that i may consign you into lady elizabeth's hands past all peril by land as well as by water i trust before florinda could reply reginald hastily interposed and said pardon me captain malcolm but i undertook the office of conducting lady
Waldegrave to her friends, and therefore consider myself bound to see her safe under Lady Elizabeth's care. It was an important trust that was committed to you, I admit. But may you not delegate your authority to another, and appoint me your proxy, said Captain Malcolm, who supposed Sir Reginald must be doing the greatest violence to his feelings, and quitting Edith at such a time, even for a few hours. What do you say, Lady Waldegrave? Don't you think a state old Highlander
may be as safe an escort as a hot-brained young lover who... I've already said, cried Reginald, with a heightened color and a great embarrassment, that I must see Lady Waldergrave to the ferry myself. The distance is short, and I shall find my own horses there, or most likely I shall take the boat in returning.
At all events, I shall be back here certainly within a few hours, and in that time... He stopped in a motion. And in that time, said Captain Malcolm kindly, Our dear charge will, I trust, have a refreshing sleep,
and that on your return you will find her perfectly restored. I give you credit, Sir Reginald, in thus sacrificing your own feelings to your sense of duty. Reginald turned hastily away. Florinda slightly blushed,
while she answered that she hoped Sir Reginald would not think it necessary to make any sacrifice on her account, and she pronounced the word with emphasis. At that moment the carriage was announced, and Madame Latour, having composed her spirits, changed her dress, repaired her charms,
and partaken plentifully of some refreshments, now made her appearance. Mrs. Malcolm, who had been with Edith, also entered to receive the adeus of the guests. She was struck at first with hearing of Sir Reginald's intention of accompanying the party so far on their way, But like her husband, she gave him credit for his sense of duty, thus prevailing over his dearer interests, especially when she read the struggle of his mind depicted on his countenance.
Nor did this evince any want of common penetration. Who can look back upon events in their own life without acknowledging that there were times when they could not discern those things face to face, which, viewed retrospectively, showed clear as noonday. End of section 7
