They descended from the carriages;
they embraced each other. It was as joyful to be forgiven past
unworthinesses as to forgive them. For a moment they realized
vast possibilities of good.
The older people recovered quickly. In the very height of their
emotion they knew it to be unmanly or unladylike. Miss Lavish
calculated that, even if they had continued, they would not have
been caught in the accident. Mr. Eager mumbled a temperate
prayer. But the drivers, through miles of dark squalid road,
poured out their souls to the dryads and the saints, and Lucy
poured out hers to her cousin.
"Charlotte, dear Charlotte, kiss me. Kiss me again. Only you can
understand me. You warned me to be careful. And I--I thought I
was developing."
"Do not cry, dearest. Take your time."
"I have been obstinate and silly--worse than you know, far worse.
Once by the river--Oh, but he isn't killed--he wouldn't be
killed, would he?"
The thought disturbed her repentance. As a matter of fact, the
storm was worst along the road; but she had been near danger, and
so she thought it must be near to every one.
Pages:
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146