It hurts me to my heart to see thee; that it does,"--and
he got up suddenly, and walked to the window to hide the tears that
forced themselves into his eyes.
"Shake hands with me, father."
"Nay, I'd rather not."
He had his hands under his coat, behind his back, and he kept them
there, staring the while resolutely into the garden, though his large
blue eyes were too full to see any thing clearly. Antony watched him
a moment, and then approached him.
"Forget, sir, what I am going to do. Before I leave Hallam give me
your hand, father, as you would give it to your son Antony."
The squire was not able to resist this appeal. He sunk into his chair
and covered his face, saying mournfully: "O, Antony! Antony! Thou hes
broken my heart."
But when Antony knelt down by his side, and kissed the hand that lay
so pathetically suggestive upon the broad knee, he made no movement
of dissent. In another minute the door closed softly, and he was
alone--as really a bereaved father as if he stood at an open grave.
Antony's adieu to Phyllis was easily made, but his parting with his
sister hurt him in his deepest affections. Whatever of unselfish love
he felt belonged to Elizabeth, and she returned to her brother the
very strongest care and tenderness of her nature. They had a long
conference, from which Antony came away pale and sick with emotion,
leaving his sister sobbing on her couch.
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