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It was late when the old man came home. The boy had led him to his
own dwelling, under some pretence, on their way back; and, rendered
drowsy by his long ramble and late want of rest, he had sunk into a
deep sleep by the fireside. He was perfectly exhausted, and they were
careful not to rouse him. The slumber held him a long time, and when
he at length awoke the moon was shining.
The younger brother, uneasy at his protracted absence, was watching
at the door for his coming, when he appeared in the pathway with his
little guide. He advanced to meet them, and tenderly obliging the old
man to lean upon his arm, conducted him with slow and trembling
steps towards the house.
He repaired to her chamber, straight. Not finding what he had left
there, he returned with distracted looks to the room in which they
were assembled. From that, he rushed into the schoolmaster's
cottage, calling her name. They followed close upon him, and when he
had vainly searched it, brought him home.
With such persuasive words as pity and affection could suggest, they
prevailed upon him to sit among them and hear what they should tell
him. Then endeavouring by every little artifice to prepare his mind for
what must come, and dwelling with many fervent words upon the
happy lot to which she had been removed, they told him, at last, the
truth. The moment it had passed their lips, he fell down among them
like a murdered man.
For many hours, they had little hope of his surviving; but grief is
strong, and he recovered.
If there be any who have never known the blank that follows death -
the weary void - the sense of desolation that will come upon the
strongest minds, when something familiar and beloved is missed at
every turn - the connection between inanimate and senseless things,
and the object of recollection, when every household god becomes a
monument and every room a grave - if there be any who have not
known this, and proved it by their own experience, they can never
faintly guess how, for many days, the old man pined and moped away
the time, and wandered here and there as seeking something, and had
no comfort.
Whatever power of thought or memory he retained, was all bound up
in her. He never understood, or seemed to care to understand, about
his brother. To every endearment and attention he continued listless.
If they spoke to him on this, or any other theme - save one - he would
hear them patiently for awhile, then turn away, and go on seeking as
before.
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