the doom of the griffiths-第11章

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the　path。



〃Let　me　look　at　him；　Nest！〃　said　Owen。



She　took　her　little　dead　son　out　from　under　her　shawl；　they　looked　at

his　waxen　face　long　and　tenderly；　kissed　it；　and　covered　it　up

reverently　and　softly。



〃Nest；〃　said　Owen；　at　last；　〃I　feel　as　though　my　father's　spirit　had

been　near　us；　and　as　if　it　had　bent　over　our　poor　little　one。　　A

strange　chilly　air　met　me　as　I　stooped　over　him。　　I　could　fancy　the

spirit　of　our　pure；　blameless　child　guiding　my　father's　safe　over　the

paths　of　the　sky　to　the　gates　of　heaven；　and　escaping　those　accursed

dogs　of　hell　that　were　darting　up　from　the　north　in　pursuit　of　souls

not　five　minutes　since。



〃Don't　talk　so；　Owen；〃　said　Nest；　curling　up　to　him　in　the　darkness

of　the　copse。　　〃Who　knows　what　may　be　listening？〃



The　pair　were　silent；　in　a　kind　of　nameless　terror；　till　they　heard

Ellis　Pritchard's　loud　whisper。　　〃Where　are　ye？　　Come　along；　soft　and

steady。　　There　were　folk　about　even　now；　and　the　Squire　is　missed；

and　madam　in　a　fright。〃



They　went　swiftly　down　to　the　little　harbour；　and　embarked　on　board

Ellis's　boat。　　The　sea　heaved　and　rocked　even　there；　the　torn　clouds

went　hurrying　overhead　in　a　wild　tumultuous　manner。



They　put　out　into　the　bay；　still　in　silence；　except　when　some　word　of

command　was　spoken　by　Ellis；　who　took　the　management　of　the　vessel。

They　made　for　the　rocky　shore；　where　Owen's　boat　had　been　moored。　　It

was　not　there。　　It　had　broken　loose　and　disappeared。



Owen　sat　down　and　covered　his　face。　　This　last　event；　so　simple　and

natural　in　itself；　struck　on　his　excited　and　superstitious　mind　in　an

extraordinary　manner。　　He　had　hoped　for　a　certain　reconciliation；　so

to　say；　by　laying　his　father　and　his　child　both　in　one　grave。　　But

now　it　appeared　to　him　as　if　there　was　to　be　no　forgiveness；　as　if

his　father　revolted　even　in　death　against　any　such　peaceful　union。

Ellis　took　a　practical　view　of　the　case。　　If　the　Squire's　body　was

found　drifting　about　in　a　boat　known　to　belong　to　his　son；　it　would

create　terrible　suspicion　as　to　the　manner　of　his　death。　　At　one　time

in　the　evening；　Ellis　had　thought　of　persuading　Owen　to　let　him　bury

the　Squire　in　a　sailor's　grave；　or；　in　other　words；　to　sew　him　up　in

a　spare　sail；　and　weighting　it　well；　sink　it　for　ever。　　He　had　not

broached　the　subject；　from　a　certain　fear　of　Owen's　passionate

repugnance　to　the　plan；　otherwise；　if　he　had　consented；　they　might

have　returned　to　Penmorfa；　and　passively　awaited　the　course　of

events；　secure　of　Owen's　succession　to　Bodowen；　sooner　or　later；　or

if　Owen　was　too　much　overwhelmed　by　what　had　happened；　Ellis　would

have　advised　him　to　go　away　for　a　short　time；　and　return　when　the

buzz　and　the　talk　was　over。



Now　it　was　different。　　It　was　absolutely　necessary　that　they　should

leave　the　country　for　a　time。　　Through　those　stormy　waters　they　must

plough　their　way　that　very　night。　　Ellis　had　no　fearwould　have　had

no　fear；　at　any　rate；　with　Owen　as　he　had　been　a　week；　a　day　ago；　but

with　Owen　wild；　despairing；　helpless；　fate…pursued；　what　could　he　do？



They　sailed　into　the　tossing　darkness；　and　were　never　more　seen　of

men。



The　house　of　Bodowen　has　sunk　into　damp；　dark　ruins；　and　a　Saxon

stranger　holds　the　lands　of　the　Griffiths。











End