FullReads

Hour after hour Miriam lay awake, pondering the new aspect which things had assumed, and gazing down the fearful abyss into which, in a spirit of self-devotion, she was seeking to find the courage to leap.

“I am rich.” Ever and anon these words sounded in her ears. As the wife of Burton, she could at once lift her mother out of her present unhappy situation. Thus, before the hour of midnight came and went, she thought. He had offered her his hand. She might accept the offer, on condition of his settling an income upon her mother.

This the tempter whispered in her ears, and she hearkened, in exquisite pain, to the suggestion.

When Edith awoke on the next morning, Miriam slept soundly by her side; but Edith, observed that her face was pale and troubled, and that tears were on her cheeks. At breakfast time, she did not appear at the table; and when her mother sent to her room she returned for answer that she was not very well. The whole of the day she spent in her chamber, and, during all the time, was struggling against the instinctive repulsion felt towards the man who had made her an offer of marriage.

At supper time, she reappeared at the table with a calm, yet sad face. As she was passing from the dining room after tea, Burton came to her side and whispered–

“Can I have a word with you in the parlour, Miriam?”

The young girl neither looked up nor spoke, but moved along by his side, and descended with him to the parlour, where they were alone.

“Miriam,” said Burton, as he placed himself by her side on the sofa, “have you thought seriously of what I said last evening? Can you reciprocate the ardent sentiments I expressed?”

“Oh, sir!” returned Miriam, looking up artlessly in his face, “I am too young to listen to words like these.”

“You are a woman, Miriam,” replied Burton, earnestly–“a lovely woman, with a heart overflowing with pure affections. Deeply have you interested my feelings from the first; and now I ask you to be mine. As I was going to say last evening, I am rich, and will surround you with every comfort and elegance that money can obtain. Dearest Miriam, say that you will accept the hand I now offer you.”

“My mother will never consent,” said the trembling girl, after a long pause.

“Your mother is in trouble. I have long seen that,” remarked Mr. Burton, “and have long wanted to advise and befriend her. Put it in my power to do so, and then ask for her what you will.”

This was touching the right key, and Burton saw it in a moment.

“Yes, you have said truly,” replied Miriam; “my mother is in great trouble. Ah! what would I not do for her relief?”

“Ask for your mother what you will, Miriam,” said Burton.

The maiden’s eyes were upon the floor, and the rapid heaving of her bosom showed that her thoughts were busy in earnest debate. At length, looking up, she said–

“Will you lift her out of her present embarrassed position, and settle upon her an income sufficient for herself and family?”

“I will,” was the prompt answer. “And now, my dear Miriam, name the sum you wish her to receive.”

Another long silence followed.

“Ah, sir!” at length said the maiden, “in what a strange, humiliating position am I placed!”

“Do not speak thus, Miriam. I understand all better than words can utter it. Will an income of two thousand dollars a year suffice?”

“It is more than I could ask.”

“Enough. The moment you are mine, that sum will be settled on your mother.”

Miriam arose up quickly, as Burton said this, murmuring–

“Let me have a few days for reflection,” and, ere he could prevent her, glided from the room.

CHAPTER VIII.

Two weeks more went by, and the pressure upon Mrs. Darlington was heavier and heavier. Her income was below her table expenses and servant-hire, and all her reserve fund being exhausted, she felt the extremity of her circumstances more than at any time before. To bear longer the extra weight of poor, deserted Mrs. Marion and her two children was felt to be impossible. With painful reluctance did Mrs. Darlington slowly make up her mind to say to Mrs. Marion that she must seek another home; and for this purpose she one day waited upon her in her room. As tenderly and as delicately as possible did she approach the subject. A word or two only had she said, when Mrs. Marion, with tears upon her face, replied,–