Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/294

Julia sighed, and slightly smiled, as she pressed his hand to her pallid lips.

"Julia," said Sylvester, after a pause, during which her eyes continued to be fixed upon him; "will you for a moment excuse me?"

Her lips moved, and Sylvester, on bending his ear to them, heard, faintly, the words, "You will not leave me long?"

"I will not be one moment," he replied, and, on leaving the room, he sent a man off to Mr. Scholefield, to request his immediate attendance. On his return, he resumed his seat, in silence, by her side, and again took her weak hand, and met her fond gaze; and thus he continued to sit in silence until Mr. Scholefield arrived.

Mr. Scholefield, who, in a moment, saw how the case stood, gave Julia a few drops of wine, which, in some degree, revived her; and, having instructed Sylvester what to do in an event which he clearly perceived to be inevitable, he sat for some time with the poor old lady—who was overwhelmed with grief, and whose heart was then ready to break—and when he had affectionately taken leave of Julia—as he felt, for the last time—he left them, with Sylvester's hand still clasped in hers.

It was then eight o'clock, and for nearly an hour Sylvester sat watching her, almost in silence, without perceiving the slightest change. About nine o'clock, however, she intimated a wish to have a little more wine, and—as Mr. Scholefield had privately told him that whatever she wished for then she might have—Sylvester tenderly raised her head and gave her a few drops more.

Again she revived and was able to speak, although but in a whisper; and that so faint, that it could scarcely be said to have violated silence: still, finding that she had this power restored, she moved her lips slightly, and Sylvester listened.

"Sylvester," he heard her say, "I soon shall be no more. I feel that every hope of my recovery has fled: the only hope I cherish still, is that we may meet in heaven! God for ever bless you! I die happy, Sylvester!—quite happy now that you are near me! Pray for me, Sylvester—pray with me. Angels of light are waiting now to bear our prayers to heaven!"

Sylvester, who was deeply affected, knelt and prayed with fervour: her mother also knelt and prayed—and Julia ceased to breathe!

They were, however, for some time unconscious of this, for her eyes continued bright, and her features were unchanged, while she still pressed Sylvester's hand; but, when they at length found that her spirit had fled, her poor devoted, broken-hearted, mother gave one convulsive shriek, and instantly fell upon the bed a corpse!

For some time Sylvester stood by the bed motionless. His faculties were paralysed. He seemed struck with horror! Eventually, however, he recovered himself, and summoned assistance from below.

The person who kept the house—a kind, honest, motherly creature—no sooner ascertained what had occurred, than she begged of him, as a favour, to remain—for she had heard from Julia's mother how kind he had been—until he had seen what property had been left.

To this Sylvester consented; and, at the earnest request of this poor