I cannot describe the weary tumult of
thought and doubt that tossed me, till, after a brief sleep, I heard
the church-bells. I rose and dressed for early mass, taking my boy,
who always awoke betimes, leaving the house quietly, and only calling
my trusty lackey Nicolas to take me to the nearest Church, which was
not many steps off. I do not think I found peace there: there was
too much SELF in me to reach that as yet; but at any rate I found the
resolution to try to bend my will in what might be indifferent, and
to own it to be wholesome for me to learn submission once more.
As I was about to enter our court, I heard a little cough, and
looking round I saw a gentleman and lady coming towards the house.
They were my brother and sister, who had been to the daily prayers at
the house of Sir Richard Browne, the English ambassador. I was
struck at my first glance with the lightsome free look of Annora's
face but it clouded ad grew constrained in an instant when I spoke to
her.
They said my mother would not be awake nor admit us for an hour or
two, and in the meantime Eustace was ready to come to my apartments,
for indeed we had hardly seen one another. Annora anxiously reminded
him that he must take his chocolate, and orders were given that this
should be served in my cabinet for us both.
There is no describing what that interview was to us. we, who had
been one throughout our childhood, but had been parted all through
the change to man and woman, now found ourselves united again,
understanding one another as no other being could do, and almost
without words, entering into full sympathy with one another.
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