Chapter 12

Summary

When all was settled after poor old Mrs Price's death, it was decided that Everard and Emily should go to Geneva, Emily's spirits and health having received a severe shock in her kind mother's death. Captain Dunstan had departed the first day, grumbling at the ill-timed decease of his friend's remaining parent. Alixe and her mother made their melancholy adieus and returned to the cottage. Here, Alixe speedily recovered her spirits. The bright side of the picture was constantly before her and with the sanguine disposition of youth she foresaw no obstacles now that Everard had explained himself. His impassioned tone rung in her ear when she was alone and she conjured up plans innumerable for the future for Everard's happiness and advantage. Sometimes indeed, the shriek which had interrupted their interview weighed on her spirit and appeared like an evil omen to secure her from dreams of happiness. But the cloud soon past away and left all sunny as before. It was at this juncture that Charles St Clair returned and our readers have already been informed of the events which followed. When made acquainted with the outline of Alixe's history since his departure, by means of her journal, he generously resolved never by word or look to remind his adopted sister that he had ever wished to be other to her than a fond visitor. His love was too pure, too perfect, to allow even in his solitary hours all the bitterness of his regret.

“After all,” would he say, “ought I not to prefer Alixe's happiness to my own? Is it possible I was selfish enough for a moment as to reproach her for a natural feeling? If she is happy, that is all I desire and I think. Nay, I am sure, I could rejoice with her and love those she loved.” Sometimes his heart would ache, in spite of his resolutions, when he thought of Everard Price, whom he endeavoured to clothe with perfection to make him worthy of Alixe. And as the day drew nearer for their departure for town, he almost wished himself at sea again.