Мхи старой усадьбы
Roger Malvin's Burial
Inthissituationhewasdiscoveredbyapartywho,uponthefirstintelligenceofthefight,hadbeendespatchedtothereliefofthesurvivors.Theyconveyedhimtothenearestsettlement,whichchancedtobethatofhisownresidence.
Dorcas,inthesimplicityoftheoldentime,watchedbythebedsideofherwoundedlover,andadministeredallthosecomfortsthatareinthesolegiftofwoman’sheartandhand.DuringseveraldaysReuben’srecollectionstrayeddrowsilyamongtheperilsandhardshipsthroughwhichhehadpassed,andhewasincapableofreturningdefiniteanswerstotheinquirieswithwhichmanywereeagertoharasshim.Noauthenticparticularsofthebattlehadyetbeencirculated;norcouldmothers,wives,andchildrentellwhethertheirlovedonesweredetainedbycaptivityorbythestrongerchainofdeath.DorcasnourishedherapprehensionsinsilencetilloneafternoonwhenReubenawokefromanunquietsleep,andseemedtorecognizehermoreperfectlythanatanyprevioustime.Shesawthathisintellecthadbecomecomposed,andshecouldnolongerrestrainherfilialanxiety.
"Myfather,Reuben?"shebegan;butthechangeinherlover’scountenancemadeherpause.
Theyouthshrankasifwithabitterpain,andthebloodgushedvividlyintohiswanandhollowcheeks.Hisfirstimpulsewastocoverhisface;but,apparentlywithadesperateeffort,hehalfraisedhimselfandspokevehemently,defendinghimselfagainstanimaginaryaccusation.
