Page:Once a Week Jul - Dec 1859.pdf/511

500 beration. He did not think it right that Rachel’s whole life should be sacrificed to a delusion, and he believed that her union with Captain Grey would secure her happiness. Their arguments were therefore added to his persuasions; and, after much hesitation, Rachel yielded. Yet it seemed as if her decision, though in accordance with her own inclinations, was powerless to make her happy, so strong were still her scruples, so constantly recurring her doubts whether she were not doing wrong. In Randolph’s presence all was well, but in solitude they would return upon her mind with double force; and it required all his eloquence to restore to her her peace of mind, and reconcile her conscience to the step she had taken.

A fortnight thus passed away, and it became necessary that Captain Grey should go to London to make the arrangements indispensable for his marriage, which in accordance with Rachel’s wish, was to be celebrated in her present abode, with the utmost privacy. He was very unwilling to leave his pale and mournful bride, especially in so uneasy and excited a frame of mind; but there was no help for it, and all he could do was to hurry the proceedings as much as possible.

He was absent only a week, but on his return he was inexpressibly shocked to perceive the change, which even in so short a time had taken place in Rachel. She was worn to a shadow, and her eyes had acquired an anxious, terrified expression, very painful to behold. At her first meeting with him, she appeared greatly agitated, and even after it, he could not conceal from himself that she shunned his society. When he perceived that in the lapse of a few days this had not worn off, and that her nervous depression of spirits perceptibly increased, while Mr. and Mrs. Wood were totally unable to account for the change, he resolved to question her, and one day having succeeded in finding her alone, he inquired of her the cause of the alteration he perceived.

Her agitation was so excessive that it was some time before she could speak, but at length she informed him, with many tears, that they must no longer look forward to any happiness together, for that their marriage could never take place. It was vain to struggle, or to hope — it was impossible, and she must submit to her fate.

The reason was a fearful one, and she shuddered, and her very lips grew wfhite, as, in answer to Grey’s inquiries, she told him that if she had failed to keep her promise, her dead husband had kept his, and w as come back, as he had threatened, even from the ends of the universe, to reproach her with her broken vow. She had not seen him, she had not heard his voice; but whenever she was alone, by night or day, she was conscious of an invisible presence near her. She had striven to believe it a delusion — but in vain — she could not be deceived. Towards night she was most miserable when alone, for in the dark the sense of this unearthly companionship became almost unendurable; and yet she feared to have a light, for turn which way she would, she saw an undefined shadow cast upon the wall, which was even more terrible than the viewless presence that haunted her in the darkness. She felt that such torment if prolonged must drive her mad, and that she had no alternative, but to renounce all hope of earthly happiness by parting from Randolph Grey.

He, on his side, believed her to be the victim of some delusion, caused by distress of mind and weakness of nerve, and strove to reason her out of her belief. He determined that she should be alone as little as possible, and even persuaded her to let Mrs. Wood’s maid sleep in her room at night. For the present he contented himself with en- treating her to suspend her decision, for he trusted to his influence over her, and being persuaded that, whatever her nerves might be, her mind was not affected, he had little doubt that he should succeed in bringing her to consent to his wishes. But he found the task more difficult than he had anticipated. At first, indeed, Rachel appeared more cheerful, and suffered herself to be persuaded not actually to break off their engagement; but her resolution varied with her spirits, and if ever she were left alone, the same conviction of a companionship, the more awful because not cognizable by her senses, resumed possession of her mind.

The suspense at length became almost intolerable, even to Grey himself, whose love for Rachel grew but the stronger in proportion to the uncertainty of his hopes, and the compassion he felt for the sufferings which told painfully upon her bodily health. He therefore resolved to put an end to it, bringing the affair, as he trusted, to a favourable conclusion; and the same evening he walked up to the parsonage, and having asked to see Miss Morland, was admitted to the small sitting-room reserved for her use.

She was seated alone, beside the embers of the dying fire, and there wras no light in the room. She started at his entrance, and as she rose on recognising him, he could distinguish by the faint glow of fire-light the traces of tears upon her checks. He took her hand in both his own, murmuring “dearest Rachel!“

“Hush, hush!“ she exclaimed, hurriedly, striving to withdraw her hand — then in a lower and trembling voice — “hush! we are not alone!“

Involuntarily Randolph started and looked round. The dim light sufficed to show him that no one else was present. It was only Rachel’s delusion.

“This is but a fancy, Rachel,“ said he. “Do not indulge it. Let me light the lamp, and you will be able to satisfy yourself that there is no one with us.”

“Do as you please,” she replied, with a deep, quivering sigh. It is strange how contagious are nervous feelings! Randolph Grey smiled at his own weakness, for he could almost have fancied he heard it faintly echoed near him.

He lighted a candle lamp, and placed it on the table. Truly there was nothing visible even to the anxious eyes of Rachel as they wandered round the room. As soon as he saw her more tranquil, Captain Grey approached the subject which he had at heart. He began cautiously, for his object was no other than to win her consent to their immediate union. Every necessary step had been taken; nothing but her indecision yet delayed it. At first she started, and shrank almost with terror from the thought; but this he had foreseen, and once more he brought forward every argument he