No, he could not. The
inner John Hatton would not permit the outer man to do such a thing. His
looms must work while he had a pound of cotton to feed them.
This resolution, warm and strong in his heart, cheered him, and he
hastened home. Then he wondered how it would be with him there, and a
feeling of unhappiness conquered for a moment. But John's mental bravery
was the salt to all his other virtues, and mental bravery does not quail
before an uncertainty.
He hoped that Jane would, as was her usual custom, meet him at the
door, that she would hear his step and answer the call of it. But she
did not. Then he remembered that the night had turned chilly and that it
was near to dinner-time. She was probably in her dressing-room, but this
uncertainty was not cheerful. Yet he sang as he prepared himself for
dinner. He did not know why he sang for the song was not in his
heart--he only felt it to be an act of relief and encouragement.
When he went to the dining-room Jane was there. She roused herself with
a sleepy languor and stretched out her arms to him with welcoming
smiles.
Pages:
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262