"When they took him out of the sleigh the
first words he spoke were "Anah jouhan." He used them many times,
and while he forgot they remembered them. Now "Anah jouhan" is a
phrase of the Syrian tongue, meaning 'I am hungry.'"
"Very well!" said the old man, with emphasis, "and sailors--that is
a just inference. It was a big port, and far people came on the
four winds. Very well! Now, for the young lady. An' away with
thy book unless I love her."
"She is from life--a simple-hearted girl, frank and beautiful
and--" Trove hesitated, looking into the dying fire.
"Noble, boy, make sure o' that, an' nobler, too, than girls are apt
to be. If Emulation would measure height with her, see that it
stand upon tiptoes."
"So I have planned. The young man loves her. She is in every
thought and purpose. She has become as the rock on which his hope
is founded. Now he loves honour, too, and all things of good
report. He has been reared a Puritan. By chance, one day, it
comes to him that his father was a thief."
The boy paused. For a moment they heard only the voices of the
night.
"He dreaded to tell her," Trove continued; "yet he could not ask
her to be his wife without telling.
Pages:
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178