Valmond, no longer able to watch this grief in silence, stepped quickly
forward. The dogs, seeing him, barked, and then were still; and the dwarf
looked up as he heard footsteps.
"Another has come to mourn him, Parpon," said Valmond.
A look of bewilderment and joy swam into Parpon's eyes. Then he gave a
laugh of singular wildness, his face twitched, tears rushed down his
cheeks, and he threw himself at Valmond's feet, and clasped his knees,
crying:
"Ah-ah, my prince, great brother, thou hast come also! Ah, thou didst
know the way up the long hill Thou hast come to the burial of a fool. But
he had a mother--yes, yes, a mother! All fools have mothers, and they
should be buried well. Come, ah, come, and speak softly the Act of
Contrition, and I will cover him up."
He went to throw in the earth, but Valmond pushed him aside gently.
"No, no," he said, "this is for me." And he began filling the grave.
When they left the place of burial, the fire was burning low, for they
had talked long. At the foot of the hills they looked back. Day was
beginning to break over Dalgrothe Mountain.
CHAPTER X
When, next day, in the bright sunlight, the Little Chemist, the Cure, and
others, opened the door of the shed, taking off their hats in the
presence of the Master Workman, they saw that his seat was empty.
Pages:
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136