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AND THE GHOST'S BARGAIN. 405 |
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and I recollect, as I was stirring up the blaze for the young lady to warm her pretty feet by, she read the scroll out loud, that is underneath that picter. ' Lord, keep my memory green !' She and my poor wife fell a talking about it; and it's a strange thing to think of, now, that they both said (both being so unlike to die) that it was a good prayer, and that it was one they would put up very earnestly, if they were called away young, with reference to those who were dearest to them. ' My brother,' says the young lady—' My husband,' says my poor wife.—' Lord, keep his memory of me, green, and do not let me be forgotten !' "
Tears more painful, and more bitter than he had ever shed in all his life, coursed down Redlaw's face. Philip, fully occupied in recalling his story, had not observed him until now, nor Milly's anxiety that he should not proceed.
" Philip !" said Redlaw, laying his hand upon his arm, " I am a stricken man, on whom the hand of Providence has fallen lieavily, although deservedly. You speak to me, my friend, of what I cannot follow; my memory is gone."
" Merciful Power ! " cried the old man.
" I have lost my memory of sorrow, wrong, and trouble," said the Chemist, " and with that I have lost all man would remember!"
To see old Philip's pity for him, to see him wheel his own great chair for him to rest in, and look down upon him with a solemn sense of his bereavement, was to know, in some degree, how precious to old age such recollections are.
The boy came running in, and ran to Milly.
" Here's the man," he said, " in the other room. I don't want him."
" What man does he mean ?" asked Mr. William.
" Hush ! " said Milly.
Obedient to a sign from her, he and his old father softly withdrew. As they went out, unnoticed, Redlaw beckoned to the boy to come to him.
" I like the woman best," he answered, holding to her skirts.
" You are right," said Redlaw, with a faint smile. " But you needn't fear to come to me. I am gentler than I was. Of all the world, to you, poor child !"
The boy still held back at first, but yielding little by little to her urging, he consented to approach, and even to sit down at his feet. As Redlaw laid his hand upon the shoulder of the child, looking on him with compassion and a fellow-feeling, he put out his other hand to Milly. She stooped down on that side of him, so that she could look into his face, and after silence, said:
"Mr. Redlaw, may I speak to you?" |
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