Part 59 (2/2)
”He alone can save me,” said I, ”if He will It has come to this that I have none but Hian to weep I said no more, but obeyed the command and went down
Since I was last there uish in body and mind The remembrance of my last visit there came over me as I entered Yet I did not tremble or falter I crossed the threshold and entered the room, and stood before them in silence
I saw the three men who had been there before _He_ and his son, and theTheir voices were loud and their laughter boisterous as I approached When I entered they became quiet, and all three stared at me At last _he_ said to his son,
”She don't look any fatter, does she, Johnnie?”
”She gets enough to eat, any how,” answered John
”She's one of them kind,” said the man Clark, ”that don't fatten up But then, Johnnie, you needn't talk--you haven't much fat yourself, lad”
”Hard work,” said John, whereupon the others, thinking it an excellent joke, burst into hoarse laughter This put thean to turn their attention to ain Not a as said for so to ht so I paid enough for your education, any how It would be hard if you hadn't learned any thing else except squalling and banging on the piano”
I said nothing
”Why do you stare so, d--n you?” he cried, looking savagely at me
I looked at the floor
”Come now,” said he ”I sent for you to see if you can dance Dance!”
I stood still ”Dance!” he repeated with an oath ”Do you hear?”
”I can not,” said I
”Perhaps you want a partner,” continued he, with a sneer ”Here, Johnnie, go and help her”
”I'd rather not,” said John
”Clark, you try it--you were always gay,” and he gave a hoarse laugh
”Yes, Clark,” cried John ”Now's your chance”
Clark hesitated for a moment, and then came toward me I stood with my arms folded, and looked at hiht in that hour of who these men were, and what they were My life was in their hands, but I held life cheap I rose above the fear of the moment, and felt myself their superior
Clark came up to me and stopped I did not host She looks like one, any how”
_He_ laughed boisterously