He had fought another boy, who, it may be added, was older
than himself, and beaten him. But the matter did not end there, since
after his adversary had given up the fight Anthony flew at him and
maltreated him so ferociously before they could be separated, that for a
while the poor lad was actually in danger of collapse.
When reproached he expressed no penitence, but said only that he wished
that he had killed him. This he repeated to his mother's face; moreover,
he was furious when he found that Bess Catton had been sent away and
demanded her return. When told that this was impossible he announced
quietly that he would make the place a hell, and kept his word.
For a year or more before this date Barbara had not been well. She
suffered from persistent colds which she was unable to shake off, and
with these came great depression of spirit. Now in her misery the poor
woman went to her room, and falling on her knees prayed with all her
heart that she might die. The burden laid upon her was more than she
could bear. Only one consolation could she find, that her beloved
husband had not lived to share it, for she knew it would have crushed
him as it crushed her.
Her father was now very old, and so feeble that everyone screened him
from trouble so far as might be.
Pages:
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344