Rhoda Fleming -- Volume 5

their apologies, and nodded. They asked him more than once whether all was well at the Farm; to which he replied that all was quite well, and that he was never otherwise. About half-an-hou

mel'ns rotted ye

. "You'll have to get f

ly showed his spir

he fool with the sheep

d man in a ve

other. I never changes my food, nor'd e'er a sheep, nor'd a cow, nor'd a bullock, if animals was masters.

k soothed Rhoda, and she looked fondly on the old man, believing that

were visible in the twilight. Her eyes flew thoughtfully far over them, with the feeling that they had long known what wo

red to remark, so that the comfo

said Robert, signifying someth

erformed the fe

eartier," he prono

ations for melo

re fools 'n one about, I reckon"; and Rober

s in Wrexby? none a

ings of his reflectiveness, that it was the surest way of precluding a re

lancove,

used Rhoda

to a rounded coffin: he's just like half a hoop. He was all of a heap, like. Had a fight with 's bolster, and got th' wust of it. But, be 't the seizure, or be 't gout

herself open to the peace of the fields and the hedgeways stepping by. The farm-house came in sight, and friendly old Adam and Eve turning from the moon. She heard the sound of water. Every sig

ading his forehead. Rhoda kissed his ch

her," the

mbraced her, and heard her say that Dahlia had turned the key, and had been crying from mornings to nights. "It can't last," Mrs.

eheld her sister indeed, but not the broken Dahlia from whom she had parted. Dahlia was hard to her ca

will not trouble

ceit?" said Dahlia,

not, my

er bed, upon which her mother's Bible was lying, and t

upon

to swear to

he is not in

trouble you. See; I kiss the Book, and swear to you, my beloved! I speak truth.

ul? You are not cold

? You are not? Oh, m

as bitter for Rhoda to

smile: "I am only not d

not be di

ne preached-my duty! I am lost, I am lost! Why? you girl!-why?-What did you do? Why did you take my hand when I was asleep and hurry me so fast? What have I done to you? Why did you push me along?-I couldn't see where. I heard the Chu

w though

of her transformed sister, and sit

; but being weak, she fell to the bed, and lean

eyes and voice of this awakened Sacrifice, struck away the support of theoretic justification. Great pity for the poor enmeshed life, helpless there, and in a woman's worst peril,-looking either to madness, or to death, for an escape-drowned her reason in a heavy cloud of tears. Long on toward the stroke of the hour, Dahlia heard her weep, and she murmured on, "You deceived me;" but it was no more to reproach; rather, it was an exculpation of her r

see my misery

ews of supplicating tea and toast, and the cakes which, when eaten warm with good country butter and a sprinkle of salt, reanimate (as she did her utmost to assur

hlia said: "I found a letter

e is!" Rhoda could not contr

e it? It is very short-enough; it said enough, and written before-" She crumpled her fingers in Rhoda's; R

im open his arms to me, I go; I follow him as far as my feet will bear me. I would go if it lightened from heaven. If I saw up there the warning, 'You shall not!' I would go. But, look on me!" she smote contempt upon her bosom. "He would not call to such a thing as me. Me, now? My skin is like a toad's to him. I've become like something in the dust. I could hiss like adders. I am quite impenitent. I pray by my bedside, my head on my Bible, but I only say, 'Yes, yes; that's done; that's deserved, if there's no mercy.' Oh, if there is no mercy, that's deserved! I say so now. But this is what I say, Rhoda (I see nothing but blackness when I pray), and I say, 'Permit no worse!' I say, 'Permit no worse, or take the consequences.' He calls me his wife

at the pale pe

what bliss to be dead! I've felt nothing...nothing, for months." She flung herself on the bed, thrusting her handkerchief to her mouth to deaden the outcry. "I'm punished. I'm punished, because I did not trust to my darling. No, not for one year! Is it that since we parted? I am an impatient creature, and he does not reproach me. I tormented my own, my love, my dear, and he thought I-I was

raising her eyelid

in the street

derness too evidently deceitfu

Rhoda? Forgive me; I mean 'good;' my true, good Rhoda. Yes, you hate sin; it is dreadful; but you should never speak falsely to sinners, for that does not teach them to

" Rhoda

at man

ll not

hurch door, and said he

Edwa

rooped h

way. You are sa

p comes, I am lost-

e. We will read; we will work in the garde

ld man!" Da

our f

seems a stony old man. I don't understand fathers. He would make me go away. He talks the Scriptures when he is excited.

or permission to stay wi

vers. I can't hav

when they separ