Ben Yolland read the service over the grave, and therewith there was
the low voice of many, many weepers, as they closed it in, and left
him there among his forefathers, under his lion's skin; and even at
that moment a great, golden, glorious sun broke out above the
horizon, and bathed them all over with light, while going forth as a
giant to run his course, conquering the night mists.
Then they turned back to the town, and Dermot came by the next train
to town to tell me. But of all this I at first gathered but little,
for his words were broken and his voice faint and choked, not only
with grief, but with utter exhaustion; and I was so slow to realise
all, that I hardly knew more than the absolute fact, before a message
came hurriedly down that Dora was worse, and I must come instantly.
Dermot, who had talked himself into a kind of dull composure, stood
up and said he would come again on the morrow, when he was a little
rested, for, indeed, he had not lain down since Saturday, and was
quite worn out.
I went up, with heart quailing at the thought of letting that
passionately loving creature guess what had befallen her, and yet how
could I command myself with her? But that perplexity was spared me.
The tidings had, through the Horsman family, reached the house, and,
in my absence, that same foolish housemaid had actually told Dora of
them point-blank.
Pages:
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362