Moreover, having heard some inexplicable report, through Jumbo, of
the Porteous mob, Mr. Belamour became curious to learn the truth,
and this led to his causing the newspapers to be sent weekly to be
read and reported to him by Aurelia. It seemed incredible that a
man of much ability should have been content to spend all these
years in the negro's sole society, but no doubt the injury done
to the brain had been aggravated by grief and remorse, so that he
had long lain, with suspended faculties, in a species of living
death; whence he had only gradually, and as it were unconsciously,
advanced to his present condition. Perhaps Mr. Wayland's endeavours
to rouse him had come too soon, or in a less simple and attractive
form, for they had been reluctantly received and had proved entirely
unsuccessful; while the child-like efforts of the girl, following
his lead instead of leading him, were certainly awakening him, and
renewing his spirits and interest in the world at large in an
unlooked-for manner.
CHAPTER XI. A VOICE FROM THE GRAVE.
He hath a word for thee to speak.
KEBLE.
No difference was made to Aurelia's visits to Mr. Belamour on Sunday
evenings, but he respected her scruples against indulgence in profane
literature, and encouraged her to repeat passages of Scripture,
beginning to taste the beauty of the grand cadences falling from her
soft measured voice.
Pages:
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128