A big heart enamelled of "coarse flesh" is his; but with
his warm functions he has done much good; may he be rich in heaven's
rewards, for he is poor in earth's!
CHAPTER LV.
IN WHICH IS A HAPPY MEETING, SOME CURIOUS FACTS DEVELOPED, AND
CLOTILDA'S HISTORY DISCLOSED.
IT was seven days after the sailing of the Maggy Bell, as described
in the foregoing chapter, that Montague was seen sitting in the
comfortably furnished parlour of a neat cottage in the suburbs of
Nassau. The coal fire burned brightly in a polished grate; the
carpets and rugs, and lolling mats, indicated of care and comfort;
the tabbied furniture and chastely worked ottomans, and sofas, and
chairs, and inlaid workstands, seem bright of regularity and taste;
and the window curtains of lace and damask, and the scroll cornices
from which they flowingly hung, and the little landscape paintings
that hung upon the satin-papered walls, and the soft light that
issued from two girandoles on the mantel-piece of figured marble,
all lent their cheering aid to make complete the radiant picture of
a happy home. But Montague sat nervous with anxiety. "Mother won't
be a minute!" said a pert little fellow of some seven summers, who
played with his hands as he sat on the sofa, and asked questions his
emotions forbid answering. On an ottoman near the cheerful fire,
sat, with happy faces, the prettily dressed figures of a boy and
girl, older in age than the first; while by the side of Montague sat
Maxwell, whose manly countenance we transcribed in the early part of
our narrative, and to whom Montague had in part related the sad
events of the four months past, as he heaved a sigh, saying, "How
happy must he die who careth for the slave!" Ere the words had
escaped his lips, the door opened, and the graceful form of a
beautiful woman entered, her finely oval but pensive face made more
expressive by the olive that shaded it, and those deep soul-like
eyes that now sparkled in gentleness, and again flashed with
apprehension.
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