Go away. Leave the young woman alone. Hold your
tongue, or I'll pull you up. If he says another word, or
interferes with you again, my dear, come and tell me; and, as
sure as he's a bullying, unmanly, braggadocio of a landlord, I'll
pull him up."
With those words the beadle gave a loud cough to clear his
throat, and another thump of his cane on the floor, and so went
striding out again before I could open my lips to thank him. The
landlord slunk back into his room without a word. I was left
alone and unmolested at last, to strengthen myself for the hard
trial of my poor love's funeral to-morrow.
March 13th. It is all over. A week ago her head rested on my
bosom. It is laid in the churchyard now; the fresh earth lies
heavy over her grave. I and my dearest friend, the sister of my
love, are parted in this world forever.
I followed her funeral alone through the cruel, hustling streets.
Sally, I thought, might have offered to go with me, but she never
so much as came into my room. I did not like to think badly of
her for this, and I am glad I restrained myself; for, when we got
into the churchyard, among the two or three people who were
standing by the open grave I saw Sally, in her ragged gray shawl
and her patched black bonnet. She did not seem to notice me till
the last words of the service had been read and the clergyman had
gone away; then she came up and spoke to me.
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