So when he told me to go and buy some wood, some bread, and
some wine with money I had got, I didn't like, somehow, to leave
him alone with the stranger; and so made excuses, saying (which
was true) that it was too late to buy things in the village that
night. But he told me in a rage to go and do as he bid me, and
knock the people up if the shop was shut. So I went out, being
dreadfully afraid of your father--as indeed we all were at that
time--but I couldn't make up my mind to go far from the house; I
was afraid of something happening, though I didn't dare to think
what. I don't know how it was, but I stole back in about ten
minutes on tiptoe to the cottage; I looked in at the window, and
saw--O God! forgive him! O God! forgive me!--I saw--I--more to
drink, Gabriel! I can't speak again--more to drink!"
The voices in the next room had ceased; but in the minute of
silence which now ensued, Gabriel heard his sisters kissing
Perrine, and wishing her good-night. They were all three trying
to go asleep again.
"Gabriel, pray yourself, and teach your children after you to
pray, that your father may find forgiveness where he is now gone.
I saw him as plainly as I now see you, kneeling with his knife in
one hand over the sleeping man. He was taking the little book
with the notes in it out of the stranger's pocket. He got the
book into his possession, and held it quite still in his hand for
an instant, thinking.
Pages:
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336