Winifred had no amenable patient. Weak and depressed as Albinia was,
her restlessness and air of anxiety could not be appeased. There was
a look of being constantly on the watch, and once, when her door was
ajar, before Winifred was aware she exerted her voice to call
Gilbert!
Pushing the door just wide enough to enter, and treading almost
noiselessly, he came forward, looking from side to side as with a
sense of guilt. She stretched out her hand and smiled, and he obeyed
the movement that asked him to bend and kiss her, but still durst not
speak.
'Let me have the baby,' she said.
Mrs. Ferrars laid it beside her, and held aloof. Gilbert's eyes were
fixed intently on it.
'Yes, Gilbert,' Albinia said, 'I know what you will feel for him. He
can't be what you once had--but oh, Gilbert, you will do all that an
elder brother can to make him like Edmund!'
Gilbert wrung her fingers, and ventured to stoop down to kiss the
little red forehead. The tears were running down his cheeks, and he
could not speak.
'If your father might only say the same of him! that he never grieved
him!' said Albinia; 'but oh, Gilbert--example,' and then, pausing and
gazing searchingly in his face, 'You have not told papa.'
'No,' whispered Gilbert.
'Winifred,' said Albinia, 'would you be so kind as to ask papa to
come?'
Winifred was forced to obey, though feeling much to blame as Mr.
Kendal rose with a sigh of uneasiness.
Pages:
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138