登陆注册
5211200000054

第54章

There was no demonstration of grief.The Duke was in command, and his quiet, firm voice, giving directions, helped all to self-control.The women who were gathered in the middle room were weeping quietly.Bill was nowhere to be seen, but near the inner door sat Gwen in her chair, with Lady Charlotte beside her, holding her hand.Her face, worn with long suffering, was pale, but serene as the morning sky, and with not a trace of tears.As my eye caught hers, she beckoned me to her.

"Where's Bill?" she said."Bring him in."I found him at the back of the house.

"Aren't you coming in, Bill?" I said.

"No; I guess there's plenty without me," he said, in his slow way.

"You'd better come in; the service is going to begin," I urged.

"Don't seem as if I cared for to hear anythin' much.I ain't much used to preachin', anyway," said Bill, with careful indifference, but he added to himself, "except his, of course.""Come in, Bill," I urged."It will look queer, you know," but Bill replied:

"I guess I'll not bother," adding, after a pause: "You see, there's them wimmin turnin' on the waterworks, and like as not they'd swamp me sure.""That's so," said Hi, who was standing near, in silent sympathy with his friend's grief.

I reported to Gwen, who answered in her old imperious way, "Tell him I want him." I took Bill the message.

"Why didn't you say so before?" he said, and, starting up, he passed into the house and took up his position behind Gwen's chair.

Opposite, and leaning against the door, stood The Duke, with a look of quiet earnestness on his handsome face.At his side stood the Hon.Fred Ashley, and behind him the Old Timer, looking bewildered and woe-stricken.The Pilot had filled a large place in the old man's life.The rest of the men stood about the room and filled the kitchen beyond, all quiet, solemn, sad.

In Gwen's room, the one farthest in, lay The Pilot, stately and beautiful under the magic touch of death.And as I stood and looked down upon the quiet face I saw why Gwen shed no tear, but carried a look of serene triumph.She had read the face aright.

The lines of weariness that had been growing so painfully clear the last few months were smoothed out, the look of care was gone, and in place of weariness and care, was the proud smile of victory and peace.He had met his foe and was surprised to find his terror gone.

The service was beautiful in its simplicity.The minister, The Pilot's chief, had come out from town to take charge.He was rather a little man, but sturdy and well set.His face was burnt and seared with the suns and frosts he had braved for years.Still in the prime of his manhood, his hair and beard were grizzled and his face deep-lined, for the toils and cares of a pioneer missionary's life are neither few nor light.But out of his kindly blue eye looked the heart of a hero, and as he spoke to us we felt the prophet's touch and caught a gleam of the prophet's fire.

同类推荐
  • Jeff Briggs's Love Story

    Jeff Briggs's Love Story

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 裴子语林

    裴子语林

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金七十论

    金七十论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 谏书稀庵笔记

    谏书稀庵笔记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 燕丹子

    燕丹子

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 生命谎言

    生命谎言

    一份“代母”合约,暴露了惊天的秘密;一个连环杀人案,牵涉了黑白两道;谁是隐蔽的杀手?谁才是幕后的元凶?……光荣与罪恶,亲情与法理,在这部小说中非常迷离地展现。
  • 社火

    社火

    本书写的是上世纪二十年代初至四十年代末关中西部社火人的人生命运。小说以一个家庭、两代人耍社火遭遇的多种灾难,表现了社火人的爱恨情仇。小说通过社火人的正直善良爱国,灵魂与肉体的斗争,撕裂,表现了当时社会的真实人性。小说还描述了社火的多种表现形式,具有时代性和社会性。
  • 二度为后,嫡女有毒

    二度为后,嫡女有毒

    害我家人,毁我家族;今生无能,来世血债血偿!生意场上的女富商,看轻天下须眉;深宫之中霸道皇后,两代君王玩弄鼓掌之中!复仇,心机,虚情假意!纯爱,真挚,全心全意!铸铁山庄墨家大小姐墨无垢,两代君王中宫之后!改朝换代,只在她一念之间!【纯属虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 他手中有一把剑

    他手中有一把剑

    远方滚滚浓烟,瘴气弥漫的沼泽热浪汹涌而来,平行世界以变陌生超凡面前,秩序和契约面临崩坏殆尽,人类仅存的文明庇护所,又该何去何从?当两者意外融和,改变了这位平凡的高中生,他将在平行世界中有着怎样的血肉故事。
  • 小粉丝爱上大明星

    小粉丝爱上大明星

    他是当红影帝高艺辰,万千少女的梦想也是宋甜甜喜欢四年之久的人“他是我的特别关注,”“他是我的经常访问,”“他是我的微博置顶,”“他是我的手机壁纸,”“他的每次出现,都令我心动不已,”星河滚烫,你是人间理想~宋甜甜本想在他闪闪发光的人生道路中当个渺小粉丝就好了。她一次变故,摇身一变成为幸运女神,希望可以幸运下去,因为我的幸运都是关于你。入目无他人,四下都是你……从渺小粉丝到幸运女神,从视为偶像为全部到热爱职业,渐渐明白生活中不仅仅只有爱情让人着迷,喜欢的事业同样让人着迷。
  • 摄政王的俏毒妃

    摄政王的俏毒妃

    未来世界超级军委特工,因任务身首异处。醒来后成为丞相府被弃庶女,从此再不能众星捧月。从小生活在男人堆里,不懂男女之事,感情迟钝。却在频频无意间,总是撩到美男。乾陵国权倾朝野的摄政王,江湖上闻风丧胆的武林盟主,嗜血、霸道、我行我素,俊美到人神共愤,却过不了美人关。每次都被月卿影无意间的动作弄得面红耳赤,在这个小女人面前,他的里子面子都丢了个干净,却甘之如饴。
  • 天下无双只在倾刻之间

    天下无双只在倾刻之间

    穿越到一个陌生的世界,遇到个陌生的人,突然发现这个男人……
  • 白狐传奇

    白狐传奇

    这是一个流传久远的传说。在白云寺里修行的白狐仙恋上一绝色女子,遭其算计丧了性命。其魂魄哀求青年猎手杨三碗出手相救,不料遭其拒绝,结下仇怨。在白云寺住持的帮助下,白狐仙托生于吴家,取名登瀛。吴登瀛自小聪慧,深得先生欢喜。成婚后,妻子守身如玉,一心帮助丈夫成名。一次偶然的机会,吴登瀛得了一个《无字天书》,食了一粒神雀蛋,有了指物变物、隔物观物的本领。为检验天书的效用,贻误了妻子性命。在恩师的帮助下,吴登瀛到盐渎县任知县。到任伊始,他破陈案,办实事,深得民心。至京述职时,与恩师甥女喜结连理,新婚的妻子原是白狐仙恋人之女。为了实施“灌水排碱,沤草为肥”的成功经验,逼迫龙王斩杀了作祟的老鼋。
  • On the Soul

    On the Soul

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 蜜宠娇妻:夫君来报恩

    蜜宠娇妻:夫君来报恩

    十三年前,她在一个小渔村救下奄奄一息的他;十三年后,他找到她:“我要报答你的救命之恩。”看着眼前多金到天下无敌、俊美到绝世无双的男人,乐颜心花怒放,“你想怎么报答我?”男人欺身迫近她,脸上带着意味深长的笑:“以身相许。”乐颜震惊了:这货怎能如此厚颜无耻?男人气定神闲:“救命之恩大于天,以身相许,是最好的报答方式。”“还有我,我也要以身相许!”一个萌萌的小包子也闯进来凑热闹,脱了衣服就往被子里钻。乐颜:“……”本书原名:君子报恩,萌妻宠上天