Leah Mordecai

“This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875 edition. Excerpt: ...and when she opened the door in response to a gentle tap, her face was as placid as a summer lake. \" Is it you, father? Come in,\" said Leah, looking up to meet her father's eye. \"Yes, my daughter. Are you ready? Are the trunks packed? Can I do anything more for you?\" replied Mr. Mordecai, almost in one breath. \" Nearly ready, father. Aunt Barbara has about finished the last one, and I am ready to leave you.\" These words, so full of feeling, so sorrowfully spoken, too, struck deep into the father's heart, and filled him with unspeakable regret. \" Eeady to leave me, daughter,\" he reiterated, half petulantly, \" I fear that you do not appreciate, or rather that you misinterpret my motive in sending you on so grand a journey. How many girls there are who vainly wish, from day to day, for such advantages as I am oifering you!\" To these words Leah made no reply. And Mr. Mordecai, walking backward and forward with restless step across his daughter's bed-chamber, secretly regretted that he had ever considered the project for a moment. Then he said, half apologetically, \" You shall only stay a year, my daughter; that is not such a very long time.\" \" Maybe I shall never come back, father. But yon will love me always, won't you?\" \"Hush! hush! child. I do not like your words. They distress me! A year is a short time, you know; so don't be foolish. Come, braid up your hair, arrange your dress, and come down at once into the drawing-room. I must have some music to-night.\" \" With pleasure, dear father,\" answered Leah, as cheerfully as the swelling emotion at her heart would allow. Then, in an undertone to herself, she added, \" It may be the last time I shall have the privilege of playing for him in my life. If I were to go to Europe, that wretched woman would...”