Part 13 (2/2)
For the rest Joseph was spare and ofexpression that was rendered very evil by virtue of the slight cast in his colourless eyes
In earlier life Gregory had not been unhandsome; debauchery and sloth had puffed and coarsened hiht but ill-favoured
”Tis a week since Worcester field was fought,” gru lazily sideways at the mullioned s as he spoke, ”and never a word froed his narrow shoulders and sneered It was Joseph's habit to sneer when he spoke, and his words ont to fit the sneer
”Doth the lack of news trouble you?” he asked, glancing across the table at his brother
Gregory rose without lance
”Truth to tell it does trouble me,” heenough When battles are fought it is not uncoory crossed slowly to the , and stared out at the trees of the park which autu the fallen--if he were dead then indeed the matter would be at an end”
”Aye, and well ended”
”You forget Cynthia,” Gregory reproved hiet her? Not I, man Listen” And he jerked his thumb in the direction of the wainscot
To the two h was borne the sound--softened by distance of a girlish voice hed a cackle of conte of a maid whose lover comes not back from the wars?”
he asked
”But bethink you, Joseph, the child suspects not the possibility of his having fallen”
”Gadswounds, sir, did your daughter give the fellow a thought she must be anxious A week yesterday since the battle, and no word froory, there's little in that to warrant his --a child She reasons not as you and I, nor seeks to account for his absence”
”Troubles not to account for it,” Joseph aory irritably, ”I would I knew”
”That which we do not knoe may sometimes infer I infer him to be dead, and there's the end of it”
”What if he should not be?”
”Then, ood fool, he would be here”
”It is unlike you, Joseph, to argue so loosely What if he should be a prisoner?”
”Why, then, the plantations will do that which the battle hath left undone So that, dead or captive, you see it is all one”
And, lifting his glass to the light, he closed one eye, the better to survey with the other the rich colour of the wine Not that Joseph was curious touching that colour, but he was a juggler in gestures, and at that ht so naturally convey the utter indifference of his feelings in thehis back upon theand facing his brother ”It is not all one What if he return some day?”