CHAPTER 8.
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When Alice left the chamber of Mrs. Waverly, she sought that in which Mrs. Grafton was sitting; and drawing a chair close to her side, looked at her with a serious face, and said —
"I have been to Mr. Waverly's."
"Indeed!" was the surprised response.
"And have seen the children."
"Did they know you?"
"Oh yes. And I saw Mr. Waverly, also."
The countenance of the girl still wore a serious expression, and there was in the tone of her voice, unmistakable evidence that she was about to make communication of something that weighed upon her mind.
"Was not that rather unfortunate!" said Mrs. Grafton.
"I don't know whether it was or not," replied Alice. "Time will show. He seemed glad to see me, and asked if I would not come into his family again and, take the care of Herbert and Ada."
"Strange! Is it not?"
"To me it seems strange. The thought that I might get back into the family had, indeed, crossed my mind. But, I had no expectation of this so soon."
"Everything is working favorably," said Mrs. Grafton.
"I'm sure I don't know," replied the girl, doubtingly. "I begin to feel troubled about the matter."
"From what cause?"
Alice did not reply immediately. A debate was evidently going on in her mind.
"I would like to do right," she said, at length.
"We all desire that," returned Mrs. Grafton. "Are you in doubt as to your present action?"
"Not in regard to what is already done. But the question as to what I ought to do in the future, remains unsettled."
"We should weigh well all we do," said Mrs. Grafton; "for, an act once performed, can never be fully recalled. Repentance is often of little avail, except so far as it removes evil in ourselves. The consequences of a wrong act are usually beyond the circle of our control. But, in what are you in doubt?"
"Mr. Waverly is about confiding to me the care of his children!"
"So you have just said."
"And their mother will expect me to place them in her hands!"
"She will, undoubtedly. For what other purpose do you intend entering the family of Mr. Waverly? Have you not pledged yourself to Mrs. Waverly, that you will aid her in all possible ways to get possession of her children?"
"In all right ways," said Alice.
"How do you discriminate?" asked Mrs. Grafton.
"My mind is not much given to discrimination," replied the girl. "I act as I feel that it is right for me to act. I believe that Mrs. Waverly is innocent of the crime charged against her. That great wrong has been done to her in this separation of her children. That she ought to have them. And, I am willing, in all ways that meet my own approval, to aid her in the recovery of her natural rights. I would pick up the children in the street and run off with them. I would take them off from their nurse, if I could do so, and take them to their mother. But, to steal into the house of Mr. Waverly, under false colors, is what I cannot do. There is something here that forbids it." And she laid her hand upon her bosom.
"He will trust to me his children," she continued; "will confide in me — and shall I betray this confidence? No, Mrs. Grafton! I cannot do it. The more I think of this, the more impossible it seems. I wish, now, that I had not gone there; or, that I had not agreed to go back into his family. What ought I to do, Mrs. Grafton? Won't you advise me?"
"You must do what you think to be right," was the answer to this appeal.
"And shun what I think to be wrong?"
"Undoubtedly. There is no other safe way of action in this life."
"Mrs. Waverly will expect me to restore her children immediately. Already she has suggested our carrying them off tomorrow. But, I am not prepared for this. I never could and never will violate the confidence reposed in me by another. How I ever could have thought, for a moment, of stealing into the family of Mr. Waverly for the purpose of getting possession of the children — I cannot imagine. I must have been carried away by my ardent desire to serve the poor, unhappy, almost heart-broken mother. And I will serve her — but not in this way."
"You need not go into the family of Mr. Waverly," said Mrs. Grafton.
"I do not see how I can help doing so now," replied Alice. "What reason can I give to Mrs. Waverly for my conduct."
"Tell her the whole truth."
"She will not, I fear, comprehend me. And, besides, I have engaged to go."
"A doubtful and perplexing business," said Mrs. Grafton, speaking partly to herself. "One hardly knows whether any step is right. As for me, I shall remain passive. I will aid nothing and betray nothing — though my heart is with the mother."
"So is mine," spoke Alice, quickly. "My heart is with her and my hands shall work for her. But, I must work in my own way. She shall have her children — but not now."
"Alice!"
It was the voice of Mrs. Waverly, calling from the door of her room.
Alice slowly arose and obeyed the summons.
"What do you think had best be done?" said Mrs. Waverly, as soon as her companion joined her. She was entirely composed, and spoke in a calm voice. "I know that I am too impatient. But, I will endeavor to control myself."
Alice did not answer immediately. In fact, she was entirely at a loss how or what to answer. At length, she said —
"We can hardly tell now what it will be best to do. First let me go to Mr. Waverly's. In a few days some certain action can be decided upon."
"In a few days! How strangely you talk, Alice! What need is there of waiting a few days? The children will be in your possession tomorrow."
Alice made no answer. She was distressed and embarrassed.
"You are changed, Alice," said Mrs. Waverly, speaking in an altered tone. "What has come over you?"
"No, ma'am, not changed," was answered. "I am as true to you as ever. But, while true to you — I must be true to myself also."
"True to yourself, Alice? What am I to understand by that?"
The brows of Mrs. Waverly contracted, and she looked, with something of sternness, upon the perplexed and unhappy girl.
"I cannot," said Alice, "accept of Mr. Waverly's confidence — and then betray it."
"Alice!"
"Think, madam," said the girl, with an unusual dignity of manner, "think for yourself, and say if it would not be sin for me to do so."
Mrs. Waverly did not answer.
"If," resumed Alice, "I accept the care of his children, I cannot pass them into your hands. I must be true to the trust reposed in me."
Still there was no reply from Mrs. Waverly. She sat almost motionless, with her head bent and her eyes cast down. So near the fruition of her fluttering hopes, and to have thisunexpected barrier interposed! It had seemed as if she could not wait even until the afternoon of the next day; but now, all was again indefinite. What a mockery of her passionate longings to embrace her children!
"If you say so, I will not go into Mr. Waverly's family. I will not bind myself to him by any act."
Still Mrs. Waverly did not answer.
For a while longer, both sat silent. Then Alice said —
"I will be governed by your wishes, ma'am. If you think it best, I will go to Mr. Waverly in the morning, and tell him that I cannot become nurse to his children."
"To his children!"
There was a strong emphasis and a tone of bitterness in the words of Mrs. Waverly.
"Your children, then." Alice spoke mildly, yet sorrowfully.
"No, his children," returned Mrs. Waverly, with the same utterance as before. "Leave me, and go to him. Desert me as all the rest of the world has done. Spurn me as unworthy and an outcast. It matters not. The story will soon be told. A few strokes more — and my heart will break!"
"Oh, ma'am! Why will you talk so?" exclaimed Alice, in much distress. "You wrong me greatly. Indeed you do! I am not on his side; I am on yours, and will serve you if I can. Only wait patiently. It cannot be long before all will come out as you desire. If I were capable of acting falsely to Mr. Waverly, you could put no faith in me. If I would betray him — then I would betray you. Just say the word, and I will not go to him. But, if I go, I cannot be false to him. I cannot give you possession of the children, while I am pledged to him. Oh, ma'am! if you would only think calmly, you would see that I am right. Do try and compose yourself. Still have faith in me. My heart is with you, and my best efforts shall be yours. But you must let me work in my own way."
"While Alice continued thus to talk, Mrs. Waverly's excitement of manner gradually calmed down.
"Perhaps you are right," said she, at length, in a sad voice. "But it is hard for me, just now, to think so."
"I will not go," returned Alice. "I will not bind myself to Mr. Waverly."
Mrs. Waverly did not reply immediately to this. Her mind, which had become almost paralyzed with disappointment by the words of Alice, was now active again. At length, she said —
"Go. But you must bring the children to see me!"
"If you think it will be prudent to do so," returned the girl.
"I must see them, Alice! I must clasp them in my arms again!" said the mother, passionately.
"Will they not tell their father that they have seen you?" asked Alice.
"Not if I charge them to keep my presence here a secret."
"I don't know about that. Children are children. They will be almost sure to speak of it."
"I will tell them that their father will not let them come to see me if they do. I'm not afraid, Alice. I am willing to take the risk."
"All may be lost by your too great eagerness, Mrs. Waverly," urged the girl.
"Don't oppose me in this, Alice," returned Mrs. Waverly with some coldness of manner. "I must see my children!"
Alice made no further remark, and each sat for a long time in silent self-communion."
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