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A Simpleton by Charles Reade
page 253 of 528 (47%)
Now this officer always went to sea singing "Oh be joyful." But a strong
man's agony, who can make light of it? It was a revelation to him; but
he took it quickly. The first thing he did, being a man of action, was
to dash into his cabin, and come back with a short, powerful double
glass. "There!" said he roughly, but kindly, and shoved it into
Staines's hand. He took it, stared at it stupidly, then used it, without
a word of thanks, so wrapped was he in his anguish.

This glass prolonged the misery of that bitter hour. When Rosa could no
longer tell her husband from another, she felt he was really gone, and
she threw her hands aloft, and clasped them above her head, with the
wild abandon of a woman who could never again be a child; and Staines
saw it, and a sharp sigh burst from him, and he saw her maid and others
gather round her. He saw the poor young thing led away, with her head
all down, as he had never seen her before, and supported to the inn; and
then he saw her no more.

His heart seemed to go out of his bosom in search of her, and leave
nothing but a stone behind: he hung over the taffrail like a dead thing.
A steady foot-fall slapped his ear. He raised his white face and filmy
eyes, and saw Lieutenant Fitzroy marching to and fro like a sentinel,
keeping everybody away from the mourner, with the steady, resolute,
business-like face of a man in whom sentiment is confined to action; its
phrases and its flourishes being literally terra incognita to the honest
fellow.

Staines staggered towards him, holding out both hands, and gasped out,
"God bless you. Hide me somewhere--must not be seen SO--got duty to
do--Patient--can't do it yet--one hour to draw my breath--oh, my God, my
God!--one hour, sir. Then do my duty, if I die--as you would."
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