Cruel as the graveSouthworth, Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte
General
Cruel as the grave
Southworth, Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte
American fiction -- 19th century
But Rachel was not suspicious. She again apologized for not being able
to fill her guest's order in its utmost extent, and she remained in the
room and waited on Sybil until the breakfast was finished, and then she
took away the service, wondering how little her guest had eaten, after
having ordered such a vast amount of food.
Again Rachel came back to the room, and made everything tidy in each
chamber, and then finally left her guest alone.
Sybil walked about and took up and put down every small object that lay
about her humble apartments, and then looked out of each window upon the
narrow crowded and noisy street below; and finally, she took the volume
of "Celebrated Criminal Trials" that had a terrible attraction for her,
in her present circumstances, and she sat down and read until her
husband's return.
Lyon Berners drove his empty wagon into the stable yard, at noon. He had
sold out all his produce, and pretended to be in great glee at his
success. The landlord congratulated him, and some chance loungers in the
bar-room suggested that, under such circumstances, it would be the right
thing for him to treat the company. Lyon thought so too; and in his
character of farmer, he ordered pipes and glasses all around. And then
he made his escape, and went up stairs to see Sybil.
"Still moping over that depressing book. Put it away, Sybil, and get on
your bonnet, and throw a thick veil over it, and come out with me for a
walk; we have to buy something for our voyage, you know," said Lyon,
cheerfully.
Sybil with a sigh given to her fears, did as he requested her to do; and
the two went down stairs together.
"Going out for a walk, I reckon, farmer?" inquired the landlord, who
stood at the bar-room door with a pipe in his mouth.
"Aye, aye. You know these girls--when they find out that their pappies
have made a little bit of money, there is no peace till it's spent. My
girl is taking me out shopping, to buy gimcracks and things! I'll be
glad when I get her home again," grumbled Lyon.
"Well, well, she's your onliest one, and you mustn't be hard on her. My
Rachel gets all she wants, and deserves it too. Dinner at two o'clock,
sharp, farmer."
"Aye, aye! I know. Men o' my age never forget their dinners," said Lyon,
as he drew Sybil's arm within his own and led her out into the streets.
They went only into the back streets, and the poor shops, and they
bought only what was strictly necessary for their voyage; and having
concluded their purchases, they returned to the inn in time for dinner.
Sybil was very much depressed. She could not rally from the effect the
reading of that book had had upon her mind. She frequently repeated her
fervent aspiration:
"Oh! that the ship would sail to-day!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account