Rocke, weeping.
"I will go at once and do what I can to soothe her," said Doctor
Williams, following Mrs. Rocke, who led him up to Clara's room.
They found her prostrate upon her bed, crushed with grief.
"Come, come, my dear girl, this is too bad! It is not like the usual
noble fortitude of our Clara," said the old man, kindly taking her
hand.
"Oh, Doctor, forgive--forgive me! but my courage must have been very
small, for I fear it is all gone. But then, indeed, everything comes
on me at once. My dear, dear father's death; then the approaching
departure and expected long absence of Traverse! All that was
grievous enough to bear; and now to be torn away from the home of my
childhood, and from the friend that has always been a mother to me,
and by a man, from whom every true, good instinct of my nature
teaches me to shrink. I, who have always had full liberty in the
house of my dear father, to be forced away against my will by this
man, as if I were his slave!" exclaimed Clara, bursting into fresh
tears of indignation and grief.
"Clara, my dear, dear girl, this impatience and rebellion is so
unlike your gentle nature that I can scarcely recognize you for the
mild and dignified daughter of my old friend. Clara, if the saints
in heaven could grieve at anything, I should think your dear father
would be grieved to see you thus!" said the old man in gentle rebuke
that immediately took effect upon the meek and conscientious maiden.
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