Clarence
tried in vain to turn away this idea, but nothing had any effect
till he bethought himself of Ellen's message, that she knew even
this fatal act had been prompted by generosity of spirit. There was
truth enough in it to touch Griff, but only so far as to cry, 'What
might I not have been with her?' Still, there was no real softening
till my mother came. He knew her at once, and all the old childish
relations were renewed between them. There was little time left
now, but he was wholly hers. Even Clarence was almost set aside,
save where strength was needed, and the mother seemed to have equal
control of spirit and body. It was she, who, scarcely aware of what
had gone before, caused him to admit Selina.
'Tell her not to talk,' he said. 'But we have each much to forgive
one another.'
She came in, awed and silent, and he let her kiss him, sit near at
hand, and wait on my mother, whose coming had, as it were,
insensibly taken the bitterness away and made him as a little child
in her hands. He could follow prayers in which she led him, as he
could not, or did not seem to do, with any one else, for he was
never conscious of the presence of the clergyman whom Thomson hunted
up and brought, and who prayed aloud with Martyn while the physical
agony claimed both my mother and Clarence.
Once Griff looked about him and called out for our father, then
recollecting, muttered, 'No--the birthright gone--no blessing.
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