Read Online Winter Song by James Hanley - Free Book Online

open—she was endeavouring to speak, but only breath came out.
    â€˜Do you remember, dear, how I said to you day after day, do not give up, never give up?’
    The woman’s hands suddenly clung to her, gripped hard, she leaned heavily against the Mother Superior, she cried, her body shook. Suddenly the candle in the room went out. They held each other in the darkness. Through the open window came a rush of salt-laden wind. They sat silent, motionless, she could feel the old woman’s heart beating under her.
    â€˜Poor creature, the poor woman. I believe she knows. There is no need to speak, to explain. She has felt him near her.’ She moved, she leaned down and kissed the woman.
    â€˜You will be brave,’ she said.
    There was no answer. After a while the old woman stammered—‘I knew.’
    â€˜You knew. How did you know?’
    â€˜I just knew. Oh God—take me to him. Take me to my husband. Last night I dreamed of him again, tossing in that same sea, redder than blood. Oh, Mother.’
    â€˜You will see him in the morning,’ the Mother Superior said quietly, ‘in the morning. You are tired. You must go to sleep. The candle’s gone out. I never really noticed. Please lie down.’
    She obeyed like a child. She lay with wide open eyes, staring fixedly into the darkness. She spoke, but so softly that the other had to put her ear to her mouth to catch the words.
    I knew when you said that mark. I never doubted. It would have been cruel to doubt.’
    â€˜I will ring the bell for one of the Sisters.’
    The Mother Superior got to her feet. She went to the door and pressed the bell push.
    â€˜Bring candles please. Bring stimulants.’
    â€˜Yes, Mother,’ the white robed figure looked ghostly in the darkness.
    Then she went back to the bed and sat there and watched. The candles came and were lighted. The Mother Superior took the young nun aside. She whispered to her.
    â€˜I want you to bring in the camp bed, Sister Angelica. I want you to spend the night here with Mrs Fury. Something has happened. She has had a shock. It is she more than him of whom I’m afraid.’
    â€˜Him, Mother.’
    â€˜Her husband, missing for so long, given up as lost by the authorities, by the shipping company, returned to this country yesterday. He is ill and at present at the Apostleship of the Sea. They must see each other to-morrow.’
    â€˜Very well, Mother. Indeed, and that’s glorious news.’
    â€˜I’ll take those,’ she said, and took the tumbler, the brandy, the sleeping tablets.
    â€˜I will wait with her until you return.’
    The nun went out.
    â€˜To-morrow they’ll both be happy. Extraordinary. I’d never seen her cry until to-day. There is no hardness there. I thought she would never melt, I thought she would never break. Thank God, this has happened—that heart knotted all these months, those feelings bottled up, strangling the creature. The falsity of the indifference. I don’t really think she ever gave up hope.’
    The camp bed came in. She helped to make it up. Then she crossed over to the bed.
    â€˜Mrs Fury,’ she said.
    â€˜The brandy, Sister—the old woman has collapsed. I thought so. She held on so long.’
    They poured the brandy between the dry, parted lips.
    â€˜A great shock.’
    â€˜I’m sure, Mother. But a beautiful one.’
    â€˜I think she’ll sleep. She dreams, she has these tossings and turnings, you can hear them all over the house. Be careful with her. She looks strong, but is not. It has been a long wait for her.’
    Sister Angelica made up her bed.
    â€˜Just watch, quietly.’
    â€˜Yes, Mother. Good-night, Mother.’
    â€˜God bless you,’ she replied. She went quietly out. Sister Angelica sat on her camp bed, as quiet as a mouse, and she watched. There was no sound, save the wind from the sea, the clock’s tick, and pulsating