“There is some one else much more deserving
of prayers than I, though needing them less.
You will know some day: pass it by now.
To return to the point: you are happy; if I
asked why, would you not say, ’Because I have
married the girl I love, and have never repented’?”
“Well, sir, that is about it; though, begging
your pardon, I think it could be put more prettily
somehow.”
“You are right there. But perhaps love
and happiness never yet found any words that could
fitly express them. Good-bye, for the present.”
Ah! if it were as mere materialists, or as many middle-aged
or elderly folks, who, if materialists, are so without
knowing it, unreflectingly say, “The main element
of happiness is bodily or animal health and strength,”
that question which Chillingly put would appear a very
unmeaning or a very insulting one addressed to a pale
cripple, who however improved of late in health, would
still be sickly and ailing all his life,—put,
too, by a man of the rarest conformation of physical
powers that nature can adapt to physical enjoyment,—a
man who, since the age in which memory commences,
had never known what it was to be unwell, who could
scarcely understand you if you talked of a finger-ache,
and whom those refinements of mental culture which
multiply the delights of the senses had endowed with
the most exquisite conceptions of such happiness as
mere nature and its instincts can give! But
Will did not think the question unmeaning or insulting.
He, the poor cripple, felt a vast superiority on the
scale of joyous being over the young Hercules, well
born, cultured, and wealthy, who could know so little
of happiness as to ask the crippled basket-maker if
he were happy.—he, blessed husband and father!
Lily was seated on the grass under a chestnut-tree
on the lawn. A white cat, not long emerged from
kittenhood, curled itself by her side. On her
lap was an open volume, which she was reading with
the greatest delight.
Mrs. Cameron came from the house, looked round, perceived
the girl, and approached; and either she moved so
gently, or Lily was so absorbed in the book, that
the latter was not aware of her presence till she
felt a light hand on her shoulder, and, looking up,
recognized her aunt’s gentle face.
“Ah! Fairy, Fairy, that silly book, when
you ought to be at your French verbs. What will
your guardian say when he comes and finds you have
so wasted time?”
“He will say that fairies never waste their
time; and he will scold you for saying so.”
Therewith Lily threw down the book, sprang to her
feet, wound her arm round Mrs. Cameron’s neck,
and kissed her fondly. “There! is that
wasting time? I love you so, aunty. In
a day like this I think I love everybody and everything!”
As she said this, she drew up her lithe form, looked
into the blue sky, and with parted lips seemed to
drink in air and sunshine. Then she woke up the
dozing cat, and began chasing it round the lawn.
