FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126  
127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   >>   >|  
y! It is very important," said the dyer, with a mysterious look; "and only concerns you." "Me, only?" said Agricola, with surprise. "What can it be. "Go and see, my child," said Frances. "Yes, mother; but the deuce take me if I can make it out." And the blacksmith left the room, leaving his mother with Mother Bunch. CHAPTER XXX. THE RETURN. In five minutes Agricola returned; his face was pale and agitated--his eyes glistened with tears, and his hands trembled; but his countenance expressed extraordinary happiness and emotion. He stood at the door for a moment, as if too much affected to accost his mother. Frances's sight was so bad that she did not immediately perceive the change her son's countenance had undergone. "Well, my child--what is it?" she inquired. Before the blacksmith could reply, Mother Bunch, who had more discernment, exclaimed: "Goodness, Agricola--how pale you are! Whatever is the matter?" "Mother," said the artisan, hastening to Frances, without replying to the sempstress,--"mother, expect news that will astonish you; but promise me you will be calm." "What do you mean? How you tremble! Look at me! Mother Bunch was right--you are quite pale." "My kind mother!" and Agricola, kneeling before Frances, took both her hands in his--"you must--you do not know,--but--" The blacksmith could not go on. Tears of joy interrupted his speech. "You weep, my dear child! Your tears alarm me. 'What is the matter?--you terrify me!" "Oh, no, I would not terrify you; on the contrary," said Agricola, drying his eyes--"you will be so happy. But, again, you must try and command your feelings, for too much joy is as hurtful as too much grief." "What?" "Did I not say true, when I said he would come?" "Father!" cried Frances. She rose from her seat; but her surprise and emotion were so great that she put one hand to her heart to still its beating, and then she felt her strength fail. Her son sustained her, and assisted her to sit down. Mother Bunch, till now, had stood discreetly apart, witnessing from a distance the scene which completely engrossed Agricola and his mother. But she now drew near timidly, thinking she might be useful; for Frances changed color more and more. "Come, courage, mother," said the blacksmith; "now the shock is over, you have only to enjoy the pleasure of seeing my father." "My poor man! after eighteen years' absence. Oh, I cannot believe it," sai
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126  
127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
mother
 

Agricola

 

Frances

 

Mother

 

blacksmith

 
countenance
 
emotion
 

terrify

 
matter
 

surprise


feelings

 

hurtful

 
pleasure
 

Father

 
father
 

command

 
absence
 
eighteen
 

contrary

 

drying


timidly

 

thinking

 

assisted

 

sustained

 

witnessing

 

discreetly

 

engrossed

 

completely

 

changed

 

distance


strength

 
courage
 

beating

 

sempstress

 

returned

 
agitated
 

glistened

 
minutes
 

RETURN

 
trembled

expressed
 

affected

 
accost
 
moment
 

extraordinary

 

happiness

 
CHAPTER
 

mysterious

 
concerns
 

important