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The Living Link eBook

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James De Mille

“Oh,” she said, “I am quite recovered.  Indeed, I am as well as ever, and I wish to spend more time here.  Will you not let me stay here longer?”

“How can I?  The confinement would wear you out.”

“It would not be more fatiguing than staying in my own room,” persisted Edith.

“I’m afraid there would be very much difference,” said Dudleigh.  “In your own room you have no particular anxiety, but here you would have the incessant responsibility of a nurse.  You would have to watch your father, and every movement would give you concern.”

“And this harassing care is what I wish to save you from, and share with you,” said Edith, earnestly.  “Will you not consent to this?”

“To share it with you?” said Dudleigh looking at her with unutterable tenderness.  “To share it with you?” he repeated.  “It would be only too much happiness for me to do so, but not if you are going to overwork yourself.”

“But I will not,” said Edith.  “If I do, I can stop.  I only ask to be allowed to come in during the morning, so as to relieve you of some of your work.  You will consent, will you not?”

Edith asked him this as though Dudleigh had exclusive right here, and she had none.  She could not help feeling as if this was so, and this feeling arose from those memories which she had of that terrible past, when she ignorantly hurled at that father’s heart words that stung like the stings of scorpions.  Never could she forgive herself for that, and for this she now humbled herself in this way.  Her tone was so pleading that Dudleigh could refuse no longer.  With many deprecatory expressions, and many warnings and charges, he at last consented to let her divide the morning attendance with him.  She was to come in at eleven o’clock.

This arrangement was at once acted upon.  On the following day Edith came to her father’s room at eleven.  Dudleigh had much to ask her, and much to say to her, about her father’s condition.  He was afraid that she was not strong enough.  He seemed to half repent his agreement.  On the other hand, Edith assured him most earnestly that she was strong enough, that she would come here for the future regularly at eleven o’clock, and urged him to take care of his own health, and seek some recreation by riding about the grounds.  This Dudleigh promised to do in the afternoon, but just then he seemed in no hurry to go.  He lingered on.  They talked in low whispers, with their heads close together.  They had much to talk about; her health, his health, her father’s condition—­all these had to be discussed.  Thus it was that the last vestiges of mutual reserve began to be broken down.

Day succeeded to day, and Edith always came to her father’s room in the morning.  At first she always urged Dudleigh to go off and take exercise, but at length she ceased to urge him.  For two or three hours every day they saw much of one another, and thus associated under circumstances which enforced the closest intimacy and the strongest mutual sympathy.

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The Living Link from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.

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