'Mother, what shall I do?' a child's voice said. 'Shall I sing?' The mother seemed to assent, for the child began-'The robin has fled from the wood
To the snug habitation of man.' This performance apparently attracted but little attention from the
child's companion, for the young voice suggested, as a new form of
entertainment, 'Shall I say my prayers?' 'Yes,' replied one whom Swithin had begun to recognize.
'Who shall I pray for?' No answer.
'Who shall I pray for?' 'Pray for father.' 'But he is gone to heaven?' A sigh from Viviette was distinctly audible.
'You made a mistake, didn't you, mother?' continued the little one.
'I must have. The strangest mistake a woman ever made!' Nothing more was said, and Swithin ascended, words from above indicating
to him that his footsteps were heard. In another half-minute he rose
through the hatchway. A lady in black was sitting in the sun, and the
boy with the flaxen hair whom he had seen yesterday was at her feet.
'Viviette!' he said.
'Swithin!--at last!' she cried.
The words died upon her lips, and from very faintness she bent her head.
For instead of rushing forward to her he had stood still; and there
appeared upon his face a look which there was no mistaking.
Yes; he was shocked at her worn and faded aspect. The image he had
mentally carried out with him to the Cape he had brought home again as
that of the woman he was now to rejoin. But another woman sat before
him, and not the original Viviette. Her cheeks had lost for ever that
firm contour which had been drawn by the vigorous hand of youth, and the
masses of hair that were once darkness visible had become touched here
and there by a faint grey haze, like the Via Lactea in a midnight sky.
Yet to those who had eyes to understand as well as to see, the chastened
pensiveness of her once handsome features revealed more promising
material beneath than ever her youth had done. But Swithin was
hopelessly her junior. Unhappily for her he had now just arrived at an
age whose canon of faith it is that the silly period of woman's life is
her only period of beauty. Viviette saw it all, and knew that Time had
at last brought about his revenges. She had tremblingly watched and
waited without sleep, ever since Swithin had re-entered Welland, and it
was for this.
Swithin came forward, and took her by the hand, which she passively
allowed him to do.