Attempt > Volume 1 and Select writings

THE ATTEMPT
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Chapter YI.
She sat thus till the hour of midnight had rung out, and then sank into a dreamy,
half conscious slumber, from which she was aroused by hearing her name pronounced
in a tone of surprise, and, looking up, she saw her brother standing before her. She
replied to his astonished look by saying, “ You see, Charles, I have waited for you.
I thought there was something weighing heavily on your mind, and I was determined
either to know the cause of your anxiety, or be persuaded that it was my own fancy.”
“ Then believe the latter, dear Kate, and off to bed, or we shall have pale cheeks
to-morrow morning ; thanks to this midnight vigil.” “ Ko, Charles, I cannot be thus
easily answered. Your only sister has surely some claim on your confidence; and if
aught distress you, who can better sympathize with you 1 Rest assured, I will not force
your confidence, but I would rest with a lighter heart if I shared your care.” Charles
did not reply to this appeal, save by drawing a small miniature from his breast, and
after gazing on it with a look of mournful tenderness, he placed it in her hand, and
watched her earnestly as she regarded it. Kate’s face was a study, as surprise,
admiration, and inquiry were all depicted on it, for the face she was now looking upon
was a most faithful likeness of the fair girl she had left ministering to the sick nun.
Refraining from any expression of recognition, however, as she was anxious to hear her
brother’s story in his own words, she warmly expressed her admiration of the miniature,
and returned it to him, anxiously waiting the explanations which A’ere to follow.
Charles drew his chair closer to her side and began his tale as follows :—
“ I daresay you may remember my telling you, about six months ago, that I met
a lady and gentleman walking round the Crags whilst I was enjoying my customary
ride, and that I had been fortunate enough to save the lady from falling from a
considerable height, up which she had scrambled in search of some rare plant. I did
not, however, tell you that next day we met, and for many days after that I assisted
them in their search for plants and flowers, accompanied them in their daily walks,
that I exchanged cards, and that when illness prevented Mr Howard from accompanying
his daughter in walks which he insisted she should have, I offered my services, which
were accepted. What wonder was it, that thus thrown into the society of Alice
Howard, I learned to love her, with a love so devoted, so unchangeable in its nature,
that I cared only for life so that I might spend it in her service. You have yourself