Page:Comin' Thro' the Rye (1898).djvu/467

Rh the night, and hear him cry, '''Nell! Nell!''' over and over again, and toss his outstretched arms into the air; often as I have watched and listened, I never yet heard him whisper, 'Silvia!

A deep pity wells up from my heart as I look down on this passionate, sinful woman, between whose lips the fruits of evil-doing have turned to such bitter dust and ashes. Has not God punished her heavily enough for me to forego my little impotent" condemnation?

"If I had known how it would be, I never would have tricked him into marrying me—never. I thought that if I was his wife I should regain all my old empire over him; no man ever withstood me yet. My one heart's desire was to make him love me again, then I should have known happiness at last. Happiness! good God! though I have always hated the very name of death, I shall not be sorry when he calls me; only I dread the cold, narrow bondage, and the thought of the blind worms creeping over my breast—pah!

"Will you give me some of that medicine? I sent that fussy doctor away, he was no good, and I know the proper remedies. Thank you. I told them just now to send my"

"Mamma! mamma!" says a gentle little voice outside the door, which opens softly, and on the threshold stands Paul's son, and Silvia's. A breathless calm binds me hand and foot as he stands still for a moment, hesitating, then comes on his little unsteady feet straight across the room to my side, looking up into my face with Paul's own proud, wilful, beautiful brown eyes. And still I do not stir, until, perplexed, he lifts a tiny, dimpled hand, and slips it inside mine—and the clinging baby fingers touch some strange, till now unknown, chords deep in my heart I tremble, and a passion of new-born love, fierce regret, and bitter pain shakes me like a reed, and I bow my head low over the innocent, childish face Nay, Silvia, it is you who have conquered, not