Последний из Могикан
Chapter 25
Rememberthatyouflytothearmsofyourvenerableparent,andhowmuchhishappiness,aswellasyourown,dependsonthoseexertions."
"CanIdootherwiseforafatherwhohasdonesomuchforme?"
"Andformetoo,"continuedtheyouth,gentlypressingthehandheheldinbothhisown.
ThelookofinnocenceandsurprisewhichhereceivedinreturnconvincedDuncanofthenecessityofbeingmoreexplicit.
"Thisisneithertheplacenortheoccasiontodetainyouwithselfishwishes,"headded;"butwhatheartloadedlikeminewouldnotwishtocastitsburden?Theysaymiseryistheclosestofallties;ourcommonsufferinginyourbehalfleftbutlittletobeexplainedbetweenyourfatherandmyself."
"AnddearestCora,Duncan;surelyCorawasnotforgotten?"
"Notforgotten!no;regretted,aswomanwasseldommournedbefore.Yourvenerablefatherknewnodifferencebetweenhischildren;butI—Alice,youwillnotbeoffendedwhenIsay,thattomeherworthwasinadegreeobscured—"
"Thenyouknewnotthemeritofmysister,"saidAlice,withdrawingherhand;"ofyousheeverspeaksasofonewhoishernearestfriend."
"Iwouldgladlybelievehersuch,"returnedDuncan,hastily;"Icouldwishhertobeevenmore;butwithyou,Alice,Ihavethepermissionofyourfathertoaspiretoastillneareranddearertie."
