And as she matured in thought and
affection, the question grew more earnest and importunate. Oh, that he
would unburden his heart to her; oh! that she might share and alleviate
his griefs. If "all earnest desires are prayers," then prayer was
Miriam's "vital breath and native air" indeed; her soul earnestly
desired, prayed, to be able to give her sorrowing brother peace.
CHAPTER XXXI.
DREAMS AND VISIONS.
Winter waned. Mrs. Waugh had attended the commodore to the South, for
the benefit of his health, and they had not yet returned.
Mrs. Morris and Alice were absent on a long visit to a relative in
Washington City, and were not expected back for a month. Paul remained
in Baltimore, attending the medical lectures.
The house at Dell-Delight was very sad and lonely. The family consisted
of only Thurston, Fanny and Miriam.
A change had also passed over poor Fanny's malady. She was no longer the
quaint, fantastical creature, half-lunatic, half-seeress, singing
snatches of wild songs through the house--now here, now there--now
everywhere, awaking smiles and merriment in spite of pity, and keeping
every one alive about her. Her bodily health had failed, her animal
spirits departed; she never sang nor smiled, but sat all day in her
eyrie chamber, lost in deep and concentrated study, her face having the
care-worn look of one striving to recall the past, to gather up and
reunite the broken links of thought, memory and understanding.
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