"`You don't mean to say that she is dead?' interrupted I, seizing the gentleman by the arm.
"`Yes,' replied he, looking at me with surprise; `she died last year of a broken heart.'
"I fell back on the luggage behind me, and should have fallen off the coach if the gentleman had not held me. He called to the coachman to pull up the horses, and they took me down, and put me inside; and as the coach rolled on, I cried as if my heart would break."
Ready appeared so much affected, that Mr. Seagrave proposed that he should leave off his history for the present.
"Thank you, sir, it will be better; for I feel my old eyes dim with tears, even now. It's a dreadful thing in after-life to reflect upon, that your foolish conduct has hastened the death of a most kind mother; but so it was, William, and I give you the truth for your advantage."
Chapter XL
A few mornings afterwards, Juno came in before breakfast with six eggs in her apron, which she had found in the hen-house.
"Look, Missy Seagrave - fowls lay eggs - soon have plenty - plenty for Master William - make him well again - and plenty for chickens by and by."
"You haven't taken them all out of the nests, Juno; have you?"
"No; leave one in each nest for hen to see."