Останній з Могікан

           "Godforbidthatanyactorthoughtofmineshouldleadtosuchachange!"exclaimedtheyoungman,whoseeyeneverquailedunderthepenetratinglookitencountered.Withoutadvertingtheimpossibilityoftheother’scomprehendingthosefeelingswhichwerehidinhisownbosom,Munrosufferedhimselftobeappeasedbytheunalteredcountenancehemet,andwithavoicesensiblysoftened,hecontinued—

           "Youwouldbemyson,Duncan,andyou’reignorantofthehistoryofthemanyouwishtocallyourfather.Sityedown,youngman,andIwillopentoyouthewoundsofasearedheart,inasfewwordsasmaybesuitable."

           Bythistime,themessageofMontcalmwasasmuchforgottenbyhimwhoboreitasbythemanforwhoseearsitwasintended.Eachdrewachair,andwhiletheveterancommunedafewmomentswithhisownthoughts,apparentlyinsadness,theyouthsuppressedhisimpatienceinalookandattitudeofrespectfulattention.Atlengththeformerspoke:—

           "You’llknow,already,MajorHeyward,thatmyfamilywasbothancientandhonorable,"commencedtheScotsman;"thoughitmightnotaltogetherbeendowedwiththatamountofwealththatshouldcorrespondwithitsdegree.Iwas,maybe,suchanoneasyourselfwhenIplightedmyfaithtoAliceGraham,theonlychildofaneighboringlairdofsomeestate.Buttheconnectionwasdisagreeabletoherfather,onmoreaccountsthanmypoverty.Ididthereforewhatanhonestmanshould—restoredthemaidenhertroth,anddepartedthecountryintheserviceofmyking.