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The door was locked； and she looked piteously at her father as her
weak push met the resistance； and he was somewhat slow in turning the
key with his left hand。 The whitewashed； slightly furnished room
reflected the light； and the moonbeams showed the window…frame in
pale and dim shades on the blinds； the dewy air breathed in coolly
from the park； and there was a calm solemnity in the atmosphereno
light； no watcher present to tend the babe。 Little Leonora needed
such no more； she was with the Keeper； who shall neither slumber nor
sleep。
So it thrilled across her grandfather； as he saw the little cradle
drawn into the middle of the room； and； on the coverlet； some pure
white rosebuds and lilies of the valley； gathered in the morning by
Mary and Blanche； little guessing the use that Meta would make of
them ere nightfall。
The mother sank on her knees； her hands clasped over her breast； and
rocking herself to and fro uneasily； with a low； irrepressible
moaning。
〃Will you not see her face？〃 whispered Dr。 May。
〃I may not touch her；〃 was the answer； in the hollow voice； and with
the wild eye that had before alarmed him； but trusting to the
soothing power of the mute face of the innocent； he drew back the
covering。
The sight was such as he anticipated； sadly lovely； smiling and
tranquilall oppression and suffering fled away for ever。
It stilled the sounds of pain； and the restless motion； the
compression of the hands became less tight； and he began to hope that
the look was passing into her heart。 He let her kneel on without
interruption； only once he said； 〃Of such is the kingdom of Heaven！〃
She made no immediate answer； and he had had time to doubt whether he
ought to let her continue in that exhausting attitude any longer；
when she looked up and said； 〃You will all be with her there。〃
〃She has flown on to point your aim more steadfastly；〃 said Dr。 May。
Flora shuddered； but spoke calmly〃No； I shall not meet her。〃
〃My child！〃 he exclaimed； 〃do you know what you are saying？〃
〃I know； I am not in the way；〃 said Flora； still in the same
fearfully quiet； matter…of…fact tone。 〃I never have been〃and she
bent over her child； as if taking her leave for eternity。
His tongue almost clave to the roof of his mouth； as he heard the
wordswords elicited by one of those hours of true reality that；
like death； rend aside every wilful cloak of self…deceit； and self…
approbation。 He had no power to speak at first； when he recovered
it； his reply was not what his heart had； at first； prompted。
〃Flora！ How has this dear child been saved？〃 he said。 〃What has
released her from the guilt she inherited through you； through me；
through all？ Is not the Fountain open？〃
〃She never wasted grace；〃 said Flora。
〃My child！ my Flora！〃 he exclaimed； losing the calmness he had gained
by such an effort； 〃you must not talk thusit is wrong！ Only your
own morbid feeling can treat thisthisas a charge against you； and
if it were； indeed〃he sank his voice〃that such consequences
destroyed hope； oh； Flora！ where should I be？〃
〃No；〃 said Flora； 〃this is not what I meant。 It is that I have never
set my heart right。 I am not like you nor my sisters。 I have seemed
to myself； and to you； to be trying to do right； but it was all
hollow； for the sake of praise and credit。 I know it； now it is too
late； and He has let me destroy my child here； lest I should have
destroyed her everlasting life； like my own。〃
The most terrible part of this sentence was to Dr。 May； that Flora
spoke as if she knew it all as a certainty； and without apparent
emotion； with all the calmness of despair。 What she had never
guessed before had come clearly and fully upon her now； and without
apparent novelty； or； perhaps； there had been misgivings in the midst
of her complacent self…satisfaction。 She did not even seem to
perceive how dreadfully she was shocking her father； whose sole
comfort was in believing her language the effect of exaggerated self…
reproach。 His profession had rendered him not new to the sight of
despondency； and； dismayed as he was； he was able at once to speak to
the point。
〃If it were indeed so； her removal would be the greatest blessing。〃
〃Yes；〃 said her mother； and her assent was in the same tone of
resigned despair； owning it best for her child to be spared a worldly
education； and loving her truly enough to acquiesce。
〃I meant the greatest blessing to you；〃 continued Dr。 May； 〃if it be
sent to open your eyes； and raise your thoughts upwards。 Oh； Flora；
are not afflictions tokens of infinite love？〃
She could not accept the encouragement； and only formed； with her
lips； the words； 〃Mercy to herwrath to me！〃
The simplicity and hearty piety which； with all Dr。 May's faults； had
always been part of his character； and had borne him； in faith and
trust； through all his trials； had never belonged to her。 Where he
had been sincere； erring only from impulsiveness； she had been
double…minded and calculating； and； now that her delusion had been
broken down； she had nothing to rest upon。 Her whole religious life
had been mechanical； deceiving herself more than even others； and all
seemed now swept away； except the sense of hypocrisy； and of having
cut herself off； for ever； from her innocent child。 Her father saw
that it was vain to argue with her； and only said； 〃You will think
otherwise by and by； my dear。 Now shall I say a prayer before we go
down？〃
As she made no reply； he repeated the Lord's Prayer； but she did not
join； and then he added a broken； hesitating intercession for the
mourners； which caused her to bury her face deeper in her hands； but
her dull wretchedness altered not。
Rising； he said authoritatively； 〃Come； Flora； you must go to bed。
See； it is morning。〃
〃You have sat up all night with me！〃 said Flora； with somewhat of her
anxious； considerate self。
〃So has George。 He had just dropped asleep on the sofa when you
awoke。〃
〃I thought he was in anger；〃 said she。
〃Not with you； dearest。〃
〃No； I remember now； not where it was justly due。 Papa；〃 she said；
pausing； as to recall her recollection； 〃what did I do？ I must have
done something very unkind to make him go away and leave me。〃
〃I insisted on his leaving you； my dear。 You seemed oppressed； and
his affectionate ways were doing you harm； so I was hardhearted； and
turned him out； sadly against his will。〃
〃Poor George！〃 said Flora； 〃has he been left to bear it alone all
this time？ How much distressed he must have been。 I must have vexed
him grievously。 You don't guess how fond he was of her。 I must go
to him at once。〃
〃That is right； my dear。〃
〃Don't praise me；〃 said she； as if she could not bear it。 〃All that
is left for me is to do what I can for him。〃
Dr。 May felt cheered。 He was sure that hope must again rise out of
unselfish love and duty。
Their return awoke George； who started； half sitting up； wondering
why he was spending the night in so unusual a manner； and why Flora
looked so pale； in the morning light； with her loosened； drooping
hair。
She went straight to him； and； kneeling by his side； said； 〃George；
forgi