Part 8 (2/2)
Kenneth sat huddled on his chair, and in awe and a He had not Galliard's nerves nor Galliard's indifference to death, so that neither could he follow his example, nor yet so much as realize how one should slumber upon the very brink of eternity
For a moment his wonder stood perilously near to adhteousness almost drew from him a contempt of this man's apathy There was much of the Pharisee's attitude towards the publican in histo him; it drew so marked a contrast 'twixt Crispin's frame of mind and his own Whilst Crispin had related his story, the interest it awakened had served to banish the spectre of fear which the thought of the morrow conjured up Now that Crispin was silent and asleep, that spectre returned, and the lad grew nuht followed thought as he sat huddled there with sunken head and hands clasped tight between his knees, and they were mostly of his dull uneventful days in Scotland, and ever and anon of Cynthia, his beloved
Would she hear of his end? Would she weep for hiht that he eht hi he would clench his hands still tighter, and the perspiration would stand' out in beads upon his callo
At length he flung himself upon his knees to address not so rievance to his Creator He felt hi of that sinner he despised--and he told hientleman should meet his end
”But I shall be brave to-morrow I shall be brave,” he ht, and vanity that ht uphold hiht be his spirit now
Meanwhile Crispin slept When he awakened the light of a lanthorn was on his face, and holding it stood beside hiure in a cloak and a slouched hat whose broad brim left the features unrevealed
Still half asleep, and blinking like an owl, he sat up
”I have always held burnt sack to be well enough, but--”
He stopped short, fully awake at last, and, suddenly re they were come for him, he drew a sharp breath and in a voice as indifferent as he could ht,voice ”Hast entered upon thy last day of life--a day whose sun thou'lt never see But five hours more are left thee”
”And it is to tell me this that you have awakened me?” demanded Galliard in such a voice that he of the cloak recoiled a step, as if he thought a blow must follow ”Out on you for an unentleman's repose”
”I co voice, ”to call upon thee to repent”
”Plague me not,” answered Crispin, with a yawn ”I would sleep”
”Soundly enough shalt thou sleep in a few hours' time Bethink thee, miserable sinner, of thy soul”
”Sir,” cried the Tavern Knight, ”I am a man of marvellous short endurance But mark you this your ways to heaven are notthings as you, I shall be thankful to escape it So go, my friend, ere I become discourteous”
Thehis lanthorn upon the table, he raised his hands and eyes towards the low ceiling of the chamber
”Vouchsafe, O Lord,” he prayed, ”to touch yet the callous heart of this obdurate, incorrigible sinner, this wicked, perjured and blaspheot no further Crispin was upon his feet, his harsh countenance thrust into the very face of theto the door ”Out! Begone! I would not be guilty at the end of o whilst I can bethink me of it! Go--take your prayers to hell”
The minister fell back before that blaze of passion For a second he appeared to hesitate, then he turned towards Kenneth, who stood behind in silence But the lad's Presbyterian rearing had taught him to hate a sectarian as he would a papist or as he would the devil, and he did no entler key
”I pray you go,” he said ”But if you would perform an act of charity, leave your lanthorn It will be dark enough hereafter”
The minister looked keenly at the boy, and won over by the humility of his tone, he set the lanthorn on the table Thentowards the door, he stopped and addressed himself to Crispin