Clotelle stood and bathed her mother's temples with cold water
until she once more revived.
Although the laws of Virginia forbid the education of slaves, Agnes
had nevertheless employed an old free negro to teach her two
daughters to read and write. After being separated from her mother
and sister, Isabella turned her attention to the subject of
Christianity, and received that consolation from the Bible which
is never denied to the children of God. This was now her last
hope, for her heart was torn with grief and filled with all the
bitterness of disappointment.
The night passed away, but without sleep to poor Isabella. At the
dawn of day, she tried to make herself believe that the whole of
the past night was a dream, and determined to be satisfied with
the explanation which Henry should give on his next visit.
CHAPTER XII
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW.
When Henry returned home, he found his wife seated at the window,
awaiting his approach. Secret grief was gnawing at her heart. Her
sad, pale cheeks and swollen eyes showed too well that agony, far
deeper than her speech portrayed, filled her heart. A dull and
death-like silence prevailed on his entrance. His pale face and
brow, dishevelled hair, and the feeling that he manifested on
finding Gertrude still up, told Henry in plainer words than she
could have used that his wife, was aware that her love had never
been held sacred by him. The window-blinds were still unclosed,
and the full-orbed moon shed her soft refulgence over the
unrivalled scene, and gave it a silvery lustre which sweetly
harmonized with the silence of the night.
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