She took
away her clinging arms from his neck, and said, "Go,--whether it be for
life or for death; whether you come back to me or go up to God; I am
willing--glad--to yield you to such a cause."
It was finished. There was nothing more to be said. Both had climbed the
mount of sacrifice, and sat still with God.
After a while the cool gray dawn stole into their room. The night had
passed in this communion, and another day come.
There were many "last things" which claimed Surrey's attention; and he,
wishing to get through them early so as to have the afternoon and
evening undisturbed with Francesca, plunged into a stinging bath to
refresh him for the day, breakfasted, and was gone.
He attended to his business, came across many an old acquaintance and
friend, some of whom greeted him coldly; a few cut him dead; whilst
others put out their hands with cordial frankness, and one or two
congratulated him heartily upon his new condition and happiness. These
last gave him fresh courage for the task which he had set himself. If
friends regarded the matter thus, surely they--his father and
mother--would relent, when he came to say what might be a final adieu.
He ran up the steps, rang the bell, and, speaking a pleasant word to the
old servant, went directly to his mother's room. His father had not yet
gone down town; thus he found them together. They started at seeing him,
and his mother, forgetting for the instant all her pride, chagrin, and
anger, had her arms about his neck, with the cry, "O Willie, Willie,"
which came from the depths of her heart; then seeing her husband's face,
and recovering herself, sat down cold and still.
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