CHAPTER XXXIV
NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND
Meanwhile Peg was passing her time wearily enough in prison. It wascertainly provoking to be deprived of her freedom just when she waslikely to make it most profitable. After some reflection she determinedto send for Mrs. Clifton, and reveal to her all she knew, trusting toher generosity for a recompense.
To one of the officers of the prison she communicated the intelligencethat she had an important revelation to make to Mrs. Clifton, absolutelyrefusing to make it unless the lady would visit her in prison.
Scarcely had Mrs. Clifton returned home after recovering her child, thanthe bell rang, and a stranger was introduced.
"Is this Mrs. Clifton?" he inquired.
"It is."
"Then I have a message for you."
The lady looked at him inquiringly.
"Let me introduce myself, madam, as one of the officers connected withthe city prison. A woman was placed in confinement this morning, whosays she has a most important communication to make to you, but declinesto make it except to you in person."
"Can you bring her here, sir?"
"That is impossible. We will give you every facility, however, forvisiting her in prison."
"It must be Peg," whispered Ida--"the woman that carried me off."
Such a request Mrs. Clifton could not refuse. She at once made ready toaccompany the officer. She resolved to carry Ida with her, fearful that,unless she kept her in her immediate presence, she might disappear againas before.
As Jack had not yet returned, a hack was summoned, and they proceeded atonce to the prison. Ida shuddered as she passed within the gloomy portalwhich shut out hope and the world from so many.
"This way, madam!"
They followed the officer through a gloomy corridor, until they came tothe cell in which Peg was confined.
Peg looked up in surprise when she saw Ida enter with Mrs. Clifton.
"What brought you two together?" she asked, abruptly.
"A blessed Providence," answered Mrs. Clifton.
"I saw Jack with her," said Ida, "and I ran out into the street. Ididn't expect to find my mother."
"There is not much for me to tell, then," said Peg. "I had made up mymind to restore you to your mother. You see, Ida, I've moved," shecontinued, smiling grimly.
"Oh, Peg," said Ida, her tender heart melted by the woman's misfortunes,"how sorry I am to find you here!"
"Are you sorry?" asked Peg, looking at her in curious surprise. "Youhaven't much cause to be. I've been your worst enemy; at any rate, oneof the worst."
"I can't help it," said the child, her face beaming with a divinecompassion. "It must be so sad to be shut up here, and not be able to goout into the bright sunshine. I do pity you."
Peg's heart was not wholly hardened. Few are. But it was long since ithad been touched, as now, by this warm-hearted pity on the part of onewhom she had injured.
"You're a good girl, Ida," she said, "and I'm sorry I've injured you. Ididn't think I should ever ask forgiveness of anybody; but I do ask yourforgiveness."
The child rose, and advancing toward her old enemy, took her large handin hers and said: "I forgive you, Peg."
"From your heart?"
"With all my heart."
"Thank you, child. I feel better now. There have been times when I havethought I should like to lead a better life."
"It is not too late now, Peg."
Peg shook her head.
"Who will trust me when I come out of here?" she said.
"I will," said Mrs. Clifton.
"You will?" repeated Peg, amazed.
"Yes."
"After all I have done to harm you! But I am not quite so bad as you maythink. It was not my plan to take Ida from you. I was poor, and moneytempted me."
"Who could have had an interest in doing me this cruel wrong?" asked themother.
"One whom you know well--Mr. John Somerville."
"Surely you are wrong!" exclaimed Mrs. Clifton, in unboundedastonishment. "That cannot be. What object could he have?"
"Can you think of none?" queried Peg, looking at her shrewdly.
Mrs. Clifton changed color.
"Perhaps so," she said. "Go on."
Peg told the whole story, so circumstantially that there was no room fordoubt.
"I did not believe him capable of such great wickedness," ejaculatedMrs. Clifton, with a pained and indignant look. "It was a base, unmanlyrevenge to take. How could you lend yourself to it?"
"How could I?" repeated Peg. "Madam, you are rich. You have always hadwhatever wealth could procure. How can such as you understand thetemptations of the poor? When want and hunger stare us in the face wehave not the strength that you have in your luxurious homes."
"Pardon me," said Mrs. Clifton, touched by these words, half bitter,half pathetic. "Let me, at any rate, thank you for the service you havedone me now. When you are released from your confinement come to me. Ifyou wish to change your mode of life, and live honestly henceforth, Iwill give you the chance."
"After all the injury I have done you, you are yet willing to trust me?"
"Who am I that I should condemn you? Yes, I will trust you, and forgiveyou."
"I never expected to hear such words," said Peg, her heart softened, andher arid eyes moistened by unwonted emotion; "least of all from you. Ishould like to ask one thing."
"What is it?"
"Will you let her come and see me sometimes?" pointing to Ida as shespoke. "It will remind me that this is not all a dream--these wordswhich you have spoken."
"She shall come," said Mrs. Clifton, "and I will come too, sometimes."
"Thank you."
They left the prison behind them, and returned home.
There was a visitor awaiting them.
"Mr. Somerville is in the drawing room," said the servant. "He said hewould wait till you came in."
Mrs. Clifton's face flushed.
"I will go down and see him," she said. "Ida, you will remain here."
She descended to the drawing room, and met the man who had injured her.He had come with the resolve to stake his all upon one desperate cast.His fortunes were desperate. But he had one hope left. Through themother's love for the daughter, whom she had mourned so long, whom as hebelieved he had it in his power to restore to her, he hoped to obtainher consent to a marriage which would retrieve his fortunes and gratifyhis ambition.
Mrs. Clifton entered the room, and seated herself quietly. She bowedslightly, but did not, as usual, offer her hand. But, full of his ownplans, Mr. Somerville took no note of this change in her manner.
"How long is it since Ida was lost?" inquired Somerville, abruptly.
Mrs. Clifton heard this question in surprise. Why was it that he hadalluded to this subject?
"Seven years," she answered.
"And you believe she yet lives?"
"Yes, I am certain of it."
John Somerville did not understand her. He thought it was only because amother is reluctant to give up hope.
"It is a long time," he said.
"It is--a long time to suffer," said Mrs. Clifton, with deep meaning."How could anyone have the heart to work me this great injury? For sevenyears I have led a sad and solitary life--seven years that might havebeen gladdened and cheered by my darling's presence!"
There was something in her tone that puzzled John Somerville, but he wasfar enough from suspecting that she knew the truth, and at last knew himtoo.
"Rosa," he said, after a pause, "I, too, believe that Ida still lives.Do you love her well enough to make a sacrifice for the sake ofrecovering her?"
"What sacrifice?" she asked, fixing her eye upon him.
"A sacrifice of your feelings."
"Explain. You speak in enigmas."
"Listen, then. I have already told you that I, too, believe Ida to beliving. Indeed, I have lately come upon a clew which I think will leadme to her. Withdraw the opposition you have twice made to my suit,promise me th
at you will reward my affection by your hand if I succeed,and I will devote myself to the search for Ida, resting not day or nighttill I have placed her in your arms. This I am ready to do. If Isucceed, may I claim my reward?"
"What reason have you for thinking you would be able to find her?" askedMrs. Clifton, with the same inexplicable manner.
"The clew that I spoke of."
"And are you not generous enough to exert yourself without demanding ofme this sacrifice?"
"No, Rosa," he answered, firmly, "I am not unselfish enough. I have longloved you. You may not love me; but I am sure I can make you happy. I amforced to show myself selfish, since it is the only way in which I canwin you."
"But consider a moment. Put it on a different ground. If you restore memy child now, will not even that be a poor atonement for the wrong youdid me seven years since"--she spoke rapidly now--"for the grief, andloneliness, and sorrow which your wickedness and cruelty have wrought?"
"I do not understand you," he said, faltering.
"It is sufficient explanation, Mr. Somerville, to say I have seen thewoman who is now in prison--your paid agent--and that I need noassistance to recover Ida. She is in my house."
"Confusion!"
He uttered only this word, and, rising, left the presence of the womanwhom he had so long deceived and injured.
His grand scheme had failed.