"
There was no sign of maternal ambition on the motionless face,
though there might be some little spring in her heart, as it beat
quick and strong at the idea of the proposal she imagined he was
going to make of taking her boy away to give him the careful
education she had often craved for him. She should refuse it, as
she would everything else which seemed to imply that she
acknowledged a claim over Leonard; but yet sometimes, for her
boy's sake, she had longed for a larger opening--a more extended
sphere.
"Ruth! you acknowledge we were happy once;--there were
circumstances which, if I could tell you them all in detail,
would show you how, in my weak, convalescent state, I was almost
passive in the hands of others. Ah, Ruth! I have not forgotten
the tender nurse who soothed me in my delirium. When I am
feverish, I dream that I am again at Llan-dhu, in the little old
bedchamber, and you, in white--which you always wore then, you
know--flitting about me."
The tears dropped, large and round from Ruth's eyes--she could
not help it--how could she?
"We were happy then," continued he, gaining confidence from the
sight of her melted mood, and recurring once more to the
admission which he considered so much in his favour. "Can such
happiness never return?" Thus he went on, quickly, anxious to lay
before her all he had to offer, before she should fully
understand his meaning.
"If you would consent, Leonard should be always with
you--educated where and how you liked--money to any amount you
might choose to name should be secured to you and him--if only,
Ruth--if only those happy days might return.
Pages:
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401