Suddenly over that excited assembly there came a deep silence. It was
caused by the appearance of Fanny, who, with her loose white muslin
wrapper, and long curls, which floated over her shoulders, seemed like
some being from another world, come to stay that storm of passion. Mabel,
who was occupied with her cousin, looked back as the calm hush fell upon
them, and then and there she first saw Fanny Middleton. The scene was too
much for Fanny, and she, too, would have fainted had not Dr. Lacey caught
her in his arms. Clasping her slight form passionately to his bosom, he
exclaimed, "My own--my Fanny--my wife, for such you are, and such you will
be!"
Mr. William Middleton and Mr. Miller, who were bearing Julia from the
room, now passed them. Dr. Lacey glanced once at the corpse-like face over
which the heavy braids of long black hair had fallen, then with a shudder
he again strained Fanny to his heart, saying, "Thank God, thank God, I
escaped her in time!" Then turning to the minister, who all this time had
stood looking on in mute astonishment, he added, in an authoritative
manner, "Go on with the ceremony, sir, and make her my wife." But a new
thought entering his mind, he released Fanny, and said, "Pardon me, dear
Fanny; sorrow has well nigh bereft me of my senses. In my first joy in
finding you innocent, I forgot that you could not be mine, for you belong
to another--to Mr. Cameron."
"Cameron go to Thunder!" exclaimed Uncle Joshua, who was still standing
near. "That's another of Tempest's lies. She never was engaged to him;
never loved him, or any other mortal man, save yourself."
Here, Fanny, who, it will be remembered, was all this time ignorant of the
truth, asked if some one would not explain what she saw and heard. "I
will," said Dr. Lacey, "it is my duty to do so," and he led her to a
window, where he hurriedly told her all--everything which he himself knew,
intermingling his words with so much passionate embraces that his sanity
was much to be doubted. He had scarcely finished his story when Kate
approached him, saying, "For humanity's sake, Dr. Lacey, if you have any
skill, exert it in behalf of Julia, who seems to be dying."
Dr. Lacey arose, and winding his arm about Fanny, as if afraid he might
lose sight of her, moved toward the room where Julia lay. They had borne
her to the bridal chamber, which Fanny had arranged with so much care, and
as Dr. Lacey appeared at the door, Uncle Joshua met him and said, "I know
she sarved you mean, but I would not have her die. She is my own child,
and you must save her if you can." At the same time he pointed to Julia,
who lay in the same death-like trance, with the blood still issuing slowly
from her livid lips. All that Dr. Lacey could do, he did, but when Dr.
Gordon arrived, he gladly gave up his charge to him, and turned his
attention toward Fanny, who, overcome by what she had seen and heard, had
fainted, and been carried to her own room, where she was surrounded by
Mrs. Carrington, Florence and Mabel. These ladies ran against each other,
upset the camphor bottle, dropped the lamp and spilled half the cologne,
in their zealous efforts to take care of their patient!