Not the day and hour
of my marriage any more. Neelie, I want to ask you something."
Cornelia lifted her head from the bedside; then, divining from Sophie's
face, ere it was spoken, what her question was to be, faintness and
terror seized upon her, and she clasped her hands over her eyes. The
unexpectedness of Sophie's first awakening, and her subsequent strange
speech concerning Bressant, had driven from Cornelia's head the matter
which had monopolized her thoughts and fears before; and it now recurred
to her with an effect almost as overwhelming as if the idea had been a
new one.
"I couldn't do it," said she, huskily; "it seemed worse than killing
myself. I believe it would have killed me to have stood before him, with
his eyes upon my face, and have told him--told him--"
"Yes, dear, yes; it must not be you, Neelie. How is he? Does he seem
well and cheerful?"
"I don't know--I've hardly dared to look at him, or speak to him. He's
been lying down, I believe, since you went to sleep."
"Ask him to come to me," Sophie said, after a pause. "I will speak to
him; I'll tell him; it will be best that I should do it; and you will
trust me?"
"O Sophie!" was all that Cornelia could say; but it expressed at least
the fullness of her heart.
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