CHAPTER VI. THE MAIDEN'S FIRST STRONG TRIAL. ។ Ir was not long before Mrs. Leslie managed to bring Anna and Mr. Gardiner together at her house. This she did adroitly. Neither of the parties suspected her agency in the matter. Since their last meeting, Anna had examined her own heart closely; she had also thought much about Gardiner, and endeavoured to analyze his character as accurately as possible. The result was, a distinct conviction that, although she could not but feel an interest in him, he was not one whose moral feelings could harmonize with her own. The glimpse she had obtained of his cha racter, when she told him that she must remain at home on account of her mother's illness, was enough to cause her to shrink from him. In meeting him again, she could not but manifest the reserve and coldness she felt. This disturbed him; and his disturbed feelings reacted on hers, and thus drove them further asunder. Mrs. Leslie saw all this, and tried hard to remove it; but without success. When Anna and the young man parted that night, both felt unhappy. From this time, Gardiner, who was piqued at Anna's coldness, was resolved to win her. The very indifference she manifested, only inflamed the passion he felt. Mrs. Leslie became his confi dent and adviser in the matter, and through her he gained a knowledge of all her movements; but not of all her feelings, for these were not communicated freely to the woman who professed for her so warm a friendship. Thus matters went on for several months, during which time Gardiner called frequently at the house of Mr. Lee to see his daughter, and managed often to throw himself into his company, in a business way. In every casual or prolonged interview with Mr. Lee, Gardiner was exceedingly polite and deferential. The effect of all this upon the father's mind was favourable. As for Anna, the oftener she met with the young man, the stronger was the sphere of repulsion that surrounded him. She could not tell why; but her heart shrunk from him more and more, daily. Spite of all she could do, she could not forget his manner, nor the expression of his face, on the evening she had declined going with him to Mrs. Leslie's, on the plea of duty to her sick mother. One evening she was sitting at her piano, and playing over for her own ear some favourite piece, when a domestic came in, and said that her mother, who was alone in her room, wished to see her. Anna went up, as desired. "Sit down, dear; I have something I wish to say to you." The manner in which Mrs. Lee spoke, caused the heart of Anna to sink heavily. There was something strange and ominous in it. She dropped into a chair by her mother's side, and looked earnestly in her face. Something half whispered to her the nature of what she was to hear. "Your father, Anna, who went out a little while ago, wishes me to say to you," began the mother, in a voice that was neither clear nor composed, "that Mr. Herbert Gardiner has asked of him the privilege of claiming, with your consent, your hand in marriage." The maiden rose quickly to her feet, and stood with a quivering lip before her mother. "You have no doubt expected as much, Anna," added Mrs. Lee, after a pause. "Mr. Gardiner has visited you frequently of late." Anna tried hard to speak, but it was nearly a minute before she could articulate. At length she said, in a tremulous voice, the tears starting from her eyes as she spoke "Mother - dear mother! Don't speak to me of that. I love you too well to wish to part from you." And she sunk by her mother's side, and hid her face in her lap. Mrs. Lee was deeply moved. She placed one hand tenderly upon Anna's head, and, with the other, clasped the hand of her child that had fallen upon her bosom. For some time all was still. Then Mrs. Lee endeavoured to raise Anna from her recumbent position; with some difficulty she succeeded in doing so, and placing her in a chair by her side. But the face of the maiden remained concealed in her hands. "Anna, dear,” again began the mother, "I respond with deep tenderness to the love you express. It will be a sad day for me, when I am called upon to give you up. But I cannot hide from myself the fact that I shall have to meet and go through the trial, sooner or later. I will not shrink from it, even if it should be to-morrow, if your best interests were concerned.” There was a pause, but no reply. Mrs. Lee resumed. "Let your mother speak to you freely. She loves Heretofore, she has always com municated with you unreservedly. Let her do so now. Be calm. Be a woman. Meet this subject, the most important in your life, with unruffled feelings. As I before said, Mr. Gardiner has declared to your father that he wishes to address you with views of marriage. He, in fact, through your father, offers you his hand. Do you accept it ?" There was a breathless silence. "Speak, my child! What is your decision?" "If left to my decision, mother, it is soon made," was the murmured reply. "It rests with you, of course." A quick shudder passed through the maiden's frame, which was distinctly felt by Mrs. Lee. Then she said in a firm voice, "I decline his offer!" "Anna!" and Mrs. Lee half started to her feet in surprize. "Did you not say that I was to decide?" "True. But how can you decide against him, of all others?" "Because, of all others, I least regard him. The oftener I see him, the more strongly I am repulsed by him." 66 |