they kissed one another in turn, and made each other's tears flow fast
again; and again wiped one another's eyes with one handkerchief.

Meadows griped the palings convulsively--hell was in his heart.

"Poor souls, God help them!" said William to himself in his purified
heart.

The silence their sorrow caused all around was suddenly invaded by a
voice that seemed to come from another world--it was Grandfather
Fielding. "The autumn sun is not so warm as _she_ used to be!"

Yes, there was the whole map of humanity on that little spot in the
county of Berks. The middle-aged man, a schemer, watching the success
of his able scheme, and stunned and wounded by its recoil. And old
age, callous to noble pain, all alive to discomfort, yet man to the
last--blaming any one but Number One, cackling against heavenly
bodies, accusing the sun and the kitchen fire of frigidity--not his
own empty veins! And the two poor young things sobbing as if their
hearts would break over their first great earthly sorrow.

George was the first to recover himself.

"Shame upon me!" he cried; he drew Susan to his bosom, and pressed a
long, burning kiss upon her brow.

And now all felt the wrench was coming. George, with a wild,
half-terrified look, signaled William to come to him.

"Help me, Will! you see I have no more manhood than a girl."