And once or twice she rose and left the
room, as if to save her from an otherwise unavoidable exposure of her
feelings.
The gloom fell upon the servants too. Beeves waited in a leaden-handed
way, that showed he was determined to do his duty, although it should
bring small pleasure with it. He took every opportunity of unburdening his
bosom to me.
"It's just like when mis'ess died," said he. "The very cocks walk about
the yard as if they had hearse-plumes in their tails. Everybody looks
ready to hang hisself, except you, Mr. Smith. And that's a comfort."
The fact was, that I had very little doubt as to how it would all end. But
I would not interfere; for I saw that it would be much better for the
colonel's heart and conscience to right themselves, than that he should be
persuaded to anything, it was very hard for him. He had led his regiment
to victory and glory; he had charged and captured many a gun; he had
driven the enemy out of many a boldly defended entrenchment; and was it
not hard that he could not drive the _eidolon_ of a country surgeon out of
the bosom of his little girl? (It was hard that he could not; but it would
have been a deal harder if he could).
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