"This will be good reading as I walk along tomorrow," he added, as he
stuffed the book into the pocket of the greatcoat; "very good reading." He
nodded his head and lay down. He thought a little of his own troubles, a
good deal of the two little girls he was leaving, of the earl, of Emilina,
of the baron; but he was soon asleep--sleeping as peacefully as a little
child, upon whose innocent soul sorrow and care cannot rest.
It was very quiet in the room. The coals in the fireplace threw a dull red
light across the floor upon the red lions on the quilt. Eleven o'clock
came, and the room was very still.
One o'clock came. The glimmer had died out, though the ashes were still
warm, and the room was very dark. The grey mouse, who had his hole under
the toolbox, came out and sat on the sacks in the corner; then, growing
bolder, the room was so dark, it climbed the chair at the bedside, nibbled
at the roaster-cake, took one bite quickly at the candle, and then sat on
his haunches listening. It heard the even breathing of the old man, and
the steps of the hungry Kaffer dog going his last round in search of a bone
or a skin that had been forgotten; and it heard the white hen call out as
the wild cat ran away with one of her brood, and it heard the chicken cry.
Then the grey mouse went back to its hole under the toolbox, and the room
was quiet.
Pages:
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109