Wherever any of the
family went, they saw the reflection of their own sorrow; and a new
spirit informed to their eyes the quiet pastoral landscapes.
In their life at home there was little change. Abraham Bradbury
had insisted on sending his favorite grandson, Joel, a youth of
twenty-two, to take De Courcy's place for a few months. He was a
shy quiet creature, with large brown eyes like a fawn's, and young
Henry Donnelly and he became friends at once. It was believed that
he would inherit the farm at his grandfather's death; but he was as
subservient to Friend Donnelly's wishes in regard to the farming
operations as if the latter held the fee of the property. His
coming did not fill the terrible gap which De Courcy's death
had made, but seemed to make it less constantly and painfully
evident.
Susan Donnelly soon remarked a change, which she could neither
clearly define nor explain to herself, both in her husband and in
their daughter Sylvia. The former, although in public he preserved
the same grave, stately face,--its lines, perhaps, a little more
deeply marked,--seemed to be devoured by an internal unrest.
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