I fear me it will always
be divided for thee, wife, and Alice and Henry. If I am subdued by
the element which I only meant to asssume, how much more
deeply must it have wrought in your natures! Yes, Sylvia is right,
we must get away at once. To-morrow we must leave Londongrove
forever!"
He had scarcely spoken, when a new surprise fell upon the family.
Joel Bradbury arose and walked forward, as if thrust by an emotion
so powerful that it transformed his whole being. He seemed to
forget every thing but Alice Donnelly's presence. His soft brown
eyes were fixed on her face with an expression of unutterable
tenderness and longing. He caught her by the hands. "Alice, O,
Alice!" burst from his lips; "you are not going to leave me?"
The flush in the girl's sweet face faded into a deadly paleness.
A moan came from her lips; her head dropped, and she would have
fallen, swooning, from the chair had not Joel knelt at her feet and
caught her upon his breast.
For a moment there was silence in the room.
Presently, Sylvia, all her haughtiness gone, knelt beside the young
man, and took her sister from his arms.
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