He then paused a moment, impressed with that holy respect which
accompanies the remembrance of our infancy. The room was as he had
described it, for the religious devotedness of the old servant had
preserved it from any change. Paul, feeling doubtless that the eye of
a stranger would have interrupted the expression of the feelings he
experienced, and now certain of being alone, abandoned himself to them
He slowly advanced, and with clasped hands, towards the ivory crucifix;
and falling on his knees, which formerly he had the habit of doing,
morning and evening, he endeavoured to remember one of those simple
prayers, in which a child, still on the threshold of this life, prays
to God for those who have opened its gates to him. “What events had
succeeded each other in the lapse of time which had passed between these
genuflexions! Paul remained for a considerable time absorbed in thought,
and then slowly arose, and went to the window. The night was beautiful
and calm, the moon was shining in the heavens, and tipped the ocean
waves with silver. The three islands appeared on the horizon, like blue
vapor floating on the ocean. He remembered how often in his infancy he
had leaned against that window, gazing upon that same scene, following
with his eyes some bark, with its snowy sails, which glided silently
over the sea, like the wing of a night bird. Then his heart swelled with
sweet and tender recollection; his head fell upon his chest, and silent
tears ran down his cheeks. At that moment he felt that some one pressed
his hands--it was the old man--he wished to conceal his emotions; but
instantly repenting this vain feeling, he turned toward Achard, and
frankly let him see his face, down which the tears were streaming.
“You weep, my child,” said the old man.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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