He was awed into admiration by the wonderful beauty of that dead
woman.
"How beautiful she is!" said he, beneath his breath. "Do all dead
people look so peaceful--so happy?"
"Not all," replied Sally, crying. "Few has been as good and as
gentle as she was in their lives." She quite shook with her
sobbing.
Mr. Donne was disturbed by her distress.
"Come, my good woman! we must all die----" he did not know what
to say, and was becoming infected by her sorrow. "I am sure you
loved her very much, and were very kind to her in her lifetime;
you must take this from me to buy yourself some remembrance of
her." He had pulled out a sovereign, and really had a kindly
desire to console her, and reward her, in offering it to her.
But she took her apron from her eyes, as soon as she became aware
of what he was doing, and, still holding it midway in her hands,
she looked at him indignantly, before she burst out--
"And who are you, that think to pay for my kindness to her by
money? And I was not kind to you, my darling," said she,
passionately addressing the motionless, serene body--"I was not
kind to you. I frabbed you, and plagued you from the first, my
lamb! I came and cut off your pretty locks in this very room--I
did--and you said never an angry word to me;--no! not then, nor
many a time after, when I was very sharp and cross to you.--No! I
never was kind to you, and I dunnot think the world was kind to
you, my darling,--but you are gone where the angels are very
tender to such as you--you are, my poor wench!" She bent down and
kissed the lips, from whose marble, unyielding touch Mr.
Pages:
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596