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I'm going to see him." He rose and made towards the door. 'Lizabeth stepped before him. "Hush! You mustn't." "'Mustn't? That's a bold word." "Well, then 'can't. Sit down, I tell you." "Hullo! Ain't you coming the mistress pretty free in this house? Stand aside. I've got something to tell him something that won't wait. Stand aside, you she-cat!"
He was often moaning and mourning that way nights, when he judged I was asleep, and saying, "Po' little 'Lizabeth! po' little Johnny! it's mighty hard; I spec' I ain't ever gwyne to see you no mo', no mo'!" He was a mighty good nigger, Jim was.
A thin puff of rain floated against her face as the door opened, and a tall soldier stepped out of the darkness into the glow of the warm kitchen. "Well, this here's a queer home-coming. Why, hullo, 'Lizabeth with a pistol in your hand, too! Do you shoot the fatted calf in these parts now? What's the meaning of it?"
After a minute or so, getting no reply, he added more querulously "I reckon you might answer, 'Lizabeth. Do 'ee think I've got to die?" 'Lizabeth, who stood by the uncurtained window, staring into the blackness without, barely turned her head to answer "Certain." "Doctor said so, did he?" 'Lizabeth, still with her back towards him, nodded. For a minute or two there was silence.
Eh, Cousin 'Lizabeth?" She turned her hot face to the flame, without reply; and he went on his way up the stairs. 'Lizabeth sat for a while staring into the wood embers with shaded eyes. Whatever the path by which her reflections travelled, it led in the end to the kettle.
"I was on'y thinkin' of how you'd manage when I'm dead an' gone." "I reckon I'll shift." She drew a chair towards the bed and sat beside him. He seemed drowsy, and after a while stretched out an arm over the coverlet and fell asleep. 'Lizabeth took his hand, and sat there listlessly regarding the still shadows on the wall.
Here, Cousin 'Lizabeth," he exclaimed, starting up, "I'll be sworn for all your tongue you're the prettiest maid I've seen this five year. Give me a kiss." "Don't, William!" Such passionate entreaty vibrated in her voice that William, who was advancing, stopped for a second to stare. Then, with a laugh, he had caught and kissed her loudly. Her cheeks were flaming when she broke free.
Mr Prothero put on a smart coat, brushed his hair, and came into the parlour, as became one about to meet a grand lady. 'How d'ye do, cousin 'Lizabeth? Glad to see you looking so well; welcome to Glanyravon. They shook hands, and as Mrs Jenkins made rather a grand attempt at a curtsey, Owen looked at Netta, and showed his white teeth; but Netta was as grave as a judge.
'Lizabeth looked into the room, and then, with a quick impulse, darted in front of her companion. It was too late. Mrs. Transom was already at her shoulder, and the eyes of the two women rested on the sorry spectacle before them. Candle in hand, the prodigal was kneeling by the dead man's bed.
"Oh, Mary, you've fixed everything, you little angel, you!" said Kennedy, seeing that hats and wraps had been put away, and a couch made up in a large shabby bedroom. 'Lizabeth, professing that she loved a couch, settled herself upon it with great satisfaction, Julia had a single bed, and Kennedy and the little Mary shared a somewhat larger one.
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