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desirableness of telling the few further particulars that she knew. The Squires mouth was dry and stiff, but he tried to say, Tell me alleverything. And Molly understood the half-formed words. He said his wife was a good woman, and that he loved her dearly; but she was a French Roman Catholic, and a another glance at her fathershe had been a servant once. That was all; except that I have her address at home. He wrote it down and gave it me. Well! well! moaned the Squire. Its all over now. All over. All past and gone. Well not blame himno; but I wish hed ha told me; he and I to live together with such a secret in one of us! Its no wonder to me now nothing can be a wonder again, for one never can tell whats in a mans heart. Married so long! and we sitting together at mealsand living together! Why, I told him everything! Too much, may be; for I showed him all my passions and ill-tempers. Married so long! Oh, Osborne, Osborne, you should have told me! Yes, he should! said Mr. Gibson. But I dare say he knew how much you would dislike such a choice as he had made. But he should have told you! You know nothing about it, sir, said the Squire sharply. You dont know the terms we were on. Not hearty or confidential. I was cross to him many a time; angry with him for being dull, poor ladand he with all this weight on his mind. I wont have people interfering and judging between me and my sons. And Roger too! He could know it all, and keep it from me! Osborne evidently had bound him down to secrecy, just as he bound me, said Molly; Roger could not help himself. Osborne was such a fellow for persuading people, and winning them over, said the Squire dreamily. I rememberbut whats the use of remembering? Its all over, and Osbornes dead without opening his heart to me. I could have been tender to him, I could. But hell never know it now! But we can guess what wish he had strongest in his mind at the last, from what we do know of his life, said Mr. Gibson. What, sir? said the Squire, with sharp suspicion of what was coming. His wife must have been his last thought, must she not? How do I know she was his wife? Do you think hed go and marry a French baggage of a servant? It may be all a tale trumped up. Stop, Squire! I dont care to defend my daughters truth or accuracy. But, with the dead mans body lying upstairshis soul with Godthink twice before you say more hasty words, impugning his character; if she was not his wife, what was she? I beg your pardon. I hardly know what Im saying. Did I accuse Osborne? Oh, my lad, my ladthou might have trusted thy old dad! He used to call me his old dad, when he was a little chap not bigger than this, indicating a certain height with his hand. I never meant to say he was notnot what one would wish to think him nowhis soul with God, as you say very justlyfor Im sure it is there Well, but, Squire, said Mr. Gibson, trying to check the others rambling, to return to his wife And the child, whispered Molly to her father. Low as the whisper was, it struck on the Squires ear. What? said he, turning round to her suddenly, child? You never named that? Is there a child? Husband and father, and I never knew! God bless Osbornes child! I say, God bless it! He stood up reverently, and the other two instinctively rose. He closed his hands, as if in momentary prayer. Then, exhausted, he sate down again, and put out his hand to Molly. |
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