The World's Greatest Books — Volume 05 — Fiction by Various
page 89 of 406 (21%)
page 89 of 406 (21%)
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reveal where the missing documents were placed, the judge declared he
would have him confined in a public asylum as a lunatic, for there were many witnesses of Clifford's simple childlike ways. "You are stronger than I," said Hepzibah, "and you have no pity in your strength. Clifford is not now insane; but the interview which you insist upon may go far to make him so. Nevertheless, I will call Clifford!" Hepzibah went in search of her brother, and Judge Pyncheon flung himself down in an old chair in the parlour. He took his watch from his pocket and held it in his hand. But Clifford was not in his room, nor could Hepzibah find him. She returned to the parlour, calling out to the judge as she came, to rise and help find Clifford. But the judge never moved, and Clifford appeared at the door, pointing his finger at the judge, and laughing with strange excitement. "Hepzibah," he said, "we can dance now! We can sing, laugh, play, do what we will! The weight is gone, Hepzibah--gone off this weary old world, and we may be as lighthearted as little Phoebe herself! What an absurd figure the old fellow cuts now, just when he fancied he had me completely under his thumb!" Then the brother and sister departed hastily from the house, and left Judge Pyncheon sitting in the old house of his forefathers. Phoebe and Holgrave were in the house together when the brother and sister returned, and Holgrave had told her of the judge's sudden death. Then, in that hour so full of doubt and awe, the one miracle was wrought, without which every human existence is a blank, and the bliss |
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