CHAPTER XX.
MRS. GORDON FEELS FAINT, AND KATY ENTERS A NEW SPHERE.
On her arrival at Temple Street, Katy was promptly admitted by Michael,and shown in the sitting-room, where Mrs. Gordon and Grace were waitingfor her.
"I was very sorry to hear that your mother is sick, Katy," said theformer; "and I should have paid you a visit, instead of sending foryou, if I had not been so much exhausted by my journey from Baltimore."
"You are very kind, ma'am."
"Did Dr. Flynch call upon you at the first of the month?"
"Yes, ma'am; and we paid the rent as usual," replied Katy.
"I am sorry you did so, Katy; you should have told him you were not ina condition to pay the rent."
"I couldn't tell him so, he is so cold and cruel."
"I think you misjudge him, for he has a really kind heart, and wouldnot have distressed you for all the world. Besides, I told him he neednot collect your rent any time when you did not feel ready to pay it. Ihope he gave you no trouble?"
"No, ma'am; I didn't give him a chance, for I paid him as soon as hedemanded it; though it took nearly all the money we had. I hope youwill excuse me, ma'am, but I haven't liked him since the trouble we hada year ago, when he accused my dear mother of telling a lie."
"Perhaps he was hasty."
"I forgive him, ma'am; but I can't help thinking he is a very wickedman," answered Katy, with considerable emphasis.
"I hope not so bad as that; for I am sure, if you had told him it wasnot convenient for you to pay the rent, he would not have insisted. Butyou want some assistance Katy?"
"Yes, ma'am; that is, I want to borrow some money," replied Katy,blushing deeply.
"That's just like you," interposed Grace, laughing. "I suppose you willwant to give your note this time."
"I don't care about giving a note, but I mean to pay the money backagain, every cent of it."
"And the interest too, I suppose?"
"Yes," said Katy, though she had not a very clear idea of the value ofmoney, as an article of merchandise.
"Don't distress her, Grace; you forget that her mother is very sick,and she cannot feel like listening to your pleasantries," said Mrs.Gordon.
"Forgive me, Katy," replied Grace, tenderly.
Katy burst into tears, though she could not exactly tell why. She wasovercome with emotion as the beautiful young lady took her hand, andlooked so sorrowfully in her face. She was not used to so muchkindness, so much sympathy, so much love; for it seemed as though bothGrace and her mother loved her--that their hearts beat with hers.
"Don t cry, Katy; I am sorry I said a word," pleaded Grace. "I wouldnot have hurt your feelings for all the world."
"You did not hurt my feelings; you are so kind to me that I could nothelp crying. I suppose I am very silly."
"No, you are not, Katy; now dry up your tears, and tell us all aboutit," added Mrs. Gordon, in soothing tones. "How long has your motherbeen sick?"
"Almost two weeks."
"What ails her?"
"She has got a fever; but she is much better to-day. The doctor saysshe hasn't got it very bad; but she has been very sick, I think."
"Who takes care of her?"
"I do, ma'am."
"You! She must need a great deal of attention. But who takes care ofher at night?"
"I do, ma'am. I have been up a great deal every night."
"Poor child! It is enough to wear you out."
"I wouldn't mind it at all, if I had nothing else to trouble me."
"What other troubles have you?"
"I can't make any candy now, and haven't made any for nearly afortnight; so that we have no money coming in. We spent nearly all wehad in buying our winter clothing and fuel. It worries me very much,for we had plenty of money before mother was taken sick."
"I hope you haven't wanted for anything."
"No, ma'am; for when my purse was empty, I came up here, onlyyesterday, to borrow some of you, if you would please to lend it me."
"Certainly, I will, my child. I am very glad you came."
"Michael would make me tell what I wanted, and then he let me havethree dollars, and offered to let me have as much as I wanted. I didn'tknow as you would like it if I borrowed money of your servant."
"You did just right: and I am glad that Michael has a kind heart. Now,how much money do you want?"
"I thought I would ask you to lend me twenty dollars; and just as soon,after mother gets well, as I can gather the money together, I will payyou--and the interest," she added, glancing at Grace.
"Now, Katy, that is too bad!" exclaimed Grace, catching her by thehand, while a tear started from her eye. "You know I didn't mean that."
"I know you didn't; but I don't know much about such things, andthought likely it was right for us to pay interest, if we borrowedmoney."
"I should be very glad to give you twenty dollars, Katy, if you wouldonly let me; for I am rich, as well as mother, and I certainly shouldnot think of taking interest."
"We will say no more about that," interrupted Mrs. Gordon. "I will letyou have the money with the greatest pleasure, for I know you will makegood use of it."
"I will, indeed."
"And you must promise me that you will not distress yourself to pay itagain," continued the kind lady, as she took out her purse.
"I will not distress myself, but I will pay it as soon as I can."
"You must not be too proud."
"No, ma'am; but just proud enough."
"Yes, that's it," replied Mrs. Gordon, smiling. "Pride is a very goodthing in its place. It keeps people from being mean and wickedsometimes."
"That's true pride," added Katy.
"Yes; for there is a false pride, which makes people very silly andvain; which keeps them from doing their duty very often. You have noneof this kind of pride."
"I hope not."
"Your friend Simon Sneed, whom the mayor spoke to me about, affords usa very good example of the folly of cherishing false pride. Where isSimon now?"
"He keeps a store in Washington Street. He is a salesman now, and Idon't think he is so foolish as he was."
"Perhaps the lesson he learned did him good. But I am keeping you awayfrom your mother, Katy. Who stays with her while you are away?"
"Mrs. Sneed--Simon's mother."
"Then she is a good woman."
"And Simon is very kind; he has done a great many things for me, and Ihope I shall be able to do something for him one of these days."
"That's right, Katy. Think well of your friends, though others speakill of them," said Grace. "Ah, there comes the carriage. I am goinghome with you, Katy, to see your mother."
"You are very kind, Miss Grace."
"Here is the money," added Mrs. Gordon, handing her a little roll ofbills.
"Thank you, ma'am," replied Katy, as she placed the money in herporte-monnaie. "But----"
Here she came to a full stop, and her face was as crimson as a blushrose, but she took out the silver watch, and approached Mrs. Gordon.
"What were you going to say, Katy?"
"I brought this watch up," stammered she.
"What for?"
"You know I am a poor girl, my mother is a poor woman, and we didn'twant you to think you were giving us the money, for we are very proud;that is, my mother is very proud, and so am I; and----"
Here Katy drew a long breath, and came to a full stop again, unable tosay what she wanted to say.
"If you want anything else, Katy, don't hesitate to mention it; for Iwill not do anything to mortify your pride, even if it isunreasonable," said Mrs. Gordon. "I understand you perfectly; thetwenty dollars is not a gift, but a loan."
"Yes, ma'am; but if we should never be able to pay it, then it would bea gift."
"No, it wouldn't."
"I think so; and so I brought this watch, which you will please to takeas security for the payment of the loan," said Katy, much confused, asshe offered the watch to Mrs. Gordon.
"My dear child, I do not want any security. Your word is just as goodas your bond."
"But I would rather you would take it. My mother is prouder than I am,for she wasn't always as poor as she is now."
Katy suddenly clapped her hand over her mouth, when she recollectedthat this was a forbidden topic.
"Some time you may tell me all about your mother; and I will call andsee her to-morrow, and help you take care of her."
"Please to take the watch, ma'am."
"If you very much desire it, I shall do so, though I cannot take it assecurity. Is this the watch you carried to the pawnbroker?" said Mrs.Gordon as she took the treasure.
"Yes, ma'am. It belonged to my father."
Mrs. Gordon turned over the watch, and looked at it with considerableinterest, as she thought of it as a memento of the dead, and how highlyit must be prized by the poor woman.
"Mercy, what's this!" exclaimed she, starting back, and staggeringtowards her chair.
"What is the matter, mother?" cried Grace, running to her side. "Areyou ill?"
"No, Grace; that inscription!" replied Mrs. Gordon, faintly, for sheseemed very deeply moved, and on the point of swooning. "Bring me aglass of water."
There was no water in the room, but Michael was in the entry, and wasdispatched to procure it. He returned in a moment, and when Mrs. Gordonhad in some measure recovered from the sudden shock she pointed to theinscription on the back of the watch:--
"M. G. to J. R. All for the Best."
"What does, it mean, mother? I do not see anything very strange aboutthat."
"I have seen this watch before," she replied, stopping to think. "Wheredid your mother get this watch, Katy?" she asked, as it occurred to herthat she might be arriving at a conclusion too suddenly.
"It was my father's."
"Where did your father get it? Did you ever hear your mother say?"
"Yes, ma'am; her father, who was a rich Liverpool merchant, gave it toher husband, my father," replied Katy, who felt justified in revealingwhat her mother had told her to keep secret.
"Mercy!" gasped Mrs. Gordon, almost overcome by her emotions.
"What is the matter, mother? What has all this to do with you?" askedGrace, anxiously.
"Come here, Katy, my child," continued Mrs. Gordon, as she drew thelittle candy merchant to her side, and warmly embraced her. "Yourmother, Katy, is my sister, I have scarcely a doubt."
"Why, mother! Is it possible?" exclaimed Grace.
"It is even so. Mrs. Redburn, whose name we have often heard mentionedwithout thinking it might be the wife of John Redburn, my father'sclerk, is my sister. I had given her up, and have regarded her as deadfor more than ten years. But, Grace, get my things, and I will go toher at once."
"Is that your portrait, ma'am?" asked Katy, pointing to the picture ofthe mischievous lady.
"No, child; that is your mother's portrait."
"I almost knew it."
"It was taken when she was only sixteen years old. She was a gay, wildgirl then. I suppose she is sadly changed now."
The thought completely overcame Mrs. Gordon, and throwing herself upona sofa, she wept like a child. She thought of her sister suffering frompoverty and want, while she had been rolling in opulence and plenty.Grace tried to comfort her, but it was some time before she was in acondition to enter the carriage which was waiting at the door.
"What an adventure, mother!" exclaimed Grace, as she seated herself bythe side of Katy; and it was evident she had a vein of the romantic inher composition.
"Do not talk to me, Grace. My heart is too full for words."
"But I may talk to Katy--may I not?"
"Yes."
"Well, cousin Katy," laughed Grace; "I shall call you cousin, thoughyou are not really my cousin."
"Not your cousin?" said Katy, a shade of disappointment crossing heranimated features.
"No; for Mrs. Gordon is not really my mother; only my stepmother; butshe is just as good as a real mother, for I never knew any other. Dearme! how strange all this is! And you will go up and live with us inTemple Street, and----"
"I can't leave my mother," interrupted Katy.
"You mother shall go, too."
"She is too sick now."
Grace continued to talk as fast as she could, laying out ever so manyplans for the future, till the carriage reached Colvin Court. I willnot follow them into the chamber of the sick woman; where Mrs. Gordon,by a slow process that did not agitate the invalid too violently,revealed herself to her sister. The fine lady of Temple Street had aheart, a warm and true heart, and not that day, nor that night, nor fora week, did she leave the sick bed of the sufferer. There, in the midstof her sister's poverty, she did a sister's offices.
It was three weeks before Mrs. Redburn was in a condition to be movedto her sister's house; and then she was once more in the midst of theluxury and splendor of her early life. One day, when she had improvedso much as to be able to bear the fatigue of a long conversation, Mrs.Gordon, who had thus far declined to discuss any exciting topics withthe invalid proposed to have everything explained. Each had a very longstory to tell; but as the reader already knows Mrs. Redburn's history,I shall only briefly narrate that of Mrs. Gordon and the Guthriefamily, after the departure of the former.
Mr. Guthrie, the father of both, died two years after the flight ofMargaret--Mrs. Redburn--when of course there was a large property to bedivided. Diligent search was made for Margaret in America but herhusband had declared to some person in Liverpool that he had anengagement in Montreal. This place was thoroughly canvassed, butwithout success. No trace of the runaways could be discovered. Agentswere sent to various parts of America, and no tidings of Margaret hadever reached them.
About two year after her father's death, Jane--Mrs. Gordon--had marrieda very wealthy gentleman from Baltimore. He was then a widower with onechild--Grace Gordon. She had come to America with him, and resided inBaltimore till his death, a period of only two years. Then, havingnever liked to live in that city, she had removed to Boston, where shehad a few friends. She had invested her money and resided there, veryhappily situated, and with no desire to return to her native land.
Her father's estate had been divided, and the portion which belonged toMargaret was held in trust for seven years--when the law presumed shewas dead--and was then delivered to her sister, who was the onlyremaining heir. Now that she had appeared, it was promptly paid over toher, and Mrs. Redburn, before poor and proud, was now rich, andhumility never sat more gracefully on the brow of woman than on hers.
Katy and her mother had entered upon a new life, and in the midst ofluxury and splendor, they could not forget the past nor cease to thankGod for His past and present mercies. Mrs. Gordon used to declare itwas strange she had never thought that Mrs. Redburn might be hersister; but it was declared that stranger things than that had happened.
Katy continued to go to school with great regularity, and became anexcellent scholar. She was beloved by all her companions and Grace, whowas married shortly after Katy entered the family, always regarded herwith the affection of a sister, insisting that she should spend halfthe time at her house. Mrs. Redburn was soon completely restored tohealth. She had a fortune to manage now, and when Dr. Flynch proposedto collect her rents and take charge of her affairs, she respectfullydeclined the offer. Mrs. Gordon did not like him as well as formerly,for her sister had opened her eyes in regard to his true character, andshe soon found an opportunity to discharge him.
Having carried Katy through her principal troubles and chronicled therise and fall of the candy trade we shall step forward ten years totake a final look at her and her friends, and then bid them farewell.