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Chapter XXIV
It was not until they were quite exhausted and could no longer
maintain the pace at which they had fled from the race-ground, that
the old man and the child ventured to stop, and sit down to rest upon
the borders of a little wood. Here, though the course was hidden from
their view, they could yet faintly distinguish the noise of distant
shouts, the hum of voices, and the beating of drums. Climbing the
eminence which lay between them and the spot they had left, the child
could even discern the fluttering flags and white tops of booths; but
no person was approaching towards them, and their resting-place was
solitary and still.
Some time elapsed before she could reassure her trembling
companion, or restore him to a state of moderate tranquillity. His
disordered imagination represented to him a crowd of persons stealing
towards them beneath the cover of the bushes, lurking in every ditch,
and peeping from the boughs of every rustling tree. He was haunted
by apprehensions of being led captive to some gloomy place where he
would be chained and scourged, and worse than all, where Nell could
never come to see him, save through iron bars and gratings in the
wall. His terrors affected the child. Separation from her grandfather
was the greatest evil she could dread; and feeling for the time as
though, go where they would, they were to be hunted down, and could
never be safe but in hiding, her heart failed her, and her courage
drooped.
In one so young, and so unused to the scenes in which she had lately
moved, this sinking of the spirit was not surprising. But, Nature often
enshrines gallant and noble hearts in weak bosoms - oftenest, God
bless her, in female breasts - and when the child, casting her tearful
eyes upon the old man, remembered how weak he was, and how
destitute and helpless he would be if she failed him, her heart swelled
within her, and animated her with new strength and fortitude.
'We are quite safe now, and have nothing to fear indeed, dear
grandfather,' she said.
'
Nothing to fear!' returned the old man. 'Nothing to fear if they took me
from thee! Nothing to fear if they parted us! Nobody is true to me. No,
not one. Not even Nell!'
'
Oh! do not say that,' replied the child, 'for if ever anybody was true at
heart, and earnest, I am. I am sure you know I am.'
'
Then how,' said the old man, looking fearfully round, 'how can you
bear to think that we are safe, when they are searching for me
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