United States or Guinea-Bissau ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Very weakness at last took pity on her; she swooned asleep again, this time dreamless. The fat nun getting up for Prime, also took enough pity upon her to let her he. So it was that Prosper left Gracedieu.
Further north, in Mid-Morgraunt, is Gracedieu, her other foundation equally endowed, but holding white nuns instead of white monks.
He played upon her, quite unconsciously, by wondering over the difficulties of the road, the slowness of their going, the probable speed of the Abbot's dogs and foresters, and so on. Her meekness and cheerful diligence delighted him. The nuns of Gracedieu, he promised himself, should know what a likely novice he was bringing them.
Gracedieu had broken down, was my anxiety now. Could I reconcile it to my conscience to permit a man, innocent of all knowledge of the truth, to marry the daughter of a condemned murderess, without honestly telling him what he was about to do? Did I deserve to be pitied? did I deserve to be blamed? my mind was still undecided when I entered the house.
"Remember your promise," I said "I don't forget it," she answered. "I can only wish that my promise would keep back the thoughts that come to me in spite of myself." "What thoughts?" "There is something, as I fear, in the story of my parents which you are afraid to confide to me. Why did Mr. Gracedieu allow me to believe and leave everybody to believe, that I was his own child?"
He made no reply. His silence was sufficiently expressive; he looked at me fondly. I may be wrong, but fond looks surely require an acknowledgment of some kind? Is a young woman guilty of boldness who only follows her impulses? I slipped my hand into his hand. Philip seemed to like it. We returned to our conversation. He began: "Tell me, dear, is Mr. Gracedieu always as serious as he is to-day?"
Tenbruggen, I obtained a chance of employment in a public Institution, on condition that I included a clergyman among my references. Knowing nobody else whom I could apply to, I rashly wrote to Mr. Gracedieu, and received one of those cold and cruel refusals which only the strictest religious principle can produce.
He went on the fourth day after his return from Gracedieu, and the expedition proved effectual in more ways than one. The dream stopped, and he forgot it. At Tortsentier there was very little daylight, because the trees about it formed a thick wall.
The way to the lost remembrance had perhaps been found there. In any case, after that bitter allusion to his "wicked daughter" some result must follow. Helena Gracedieu and a day of reckoning might be nearer to each other already than I had ventured to hope. I waited anxiously for what he might say to me next. For the moment, the Minister disappointed me.
On the first column, at the left-hand side of the sheet, appeared the customary announcements of Births. A mark with a blue pencil, against one of the advertisements, attracted my attention. I read these lines: "On the 10th inst., the wife of the Rev. Abel Gracedieu, of a daughter." The second newspaper bore a later date, and contained nothing that interested me.
Word Of The Day