Mother has had to go to bed with
one of her bad headaches. Now you are come in--
'Phillis,' said I, rushing at my subject and interrupting her, 'I
went a long walk to think over a letter I had this morning--a
letter from Canada. You don't know how it has grieved me. I held
it out to her as I spoke. Her colour changed a little, but it was
more the reflection of my face, I think, than because she formed
any definite idea from my words. Still she did not take the
letter. I had to bid her to read it, before she quite understood
what I wished. She sate down rather suddenly as she received it
into her hands; and, spreading it on the dresser before her, she
rested her forehead on the palms of her hands, her arms supported
on the table, her figure a little averted, and her countenance
thus shaded. I looked out of the open window; my heart was very
heavy. How peaceful it all seemed in the farmyard! Peace and
plenty. How still and deep was the silence of the house!
Tick-tick went the unseen clock on the wide staircase. I had
heard the rustle once, when she turned over the page of thin
paper. She must have read to the end. Yet she did not move, or
say a word, or even sigh.
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