Shining in all their magnificence lay these mated crescents, gently curved and softly rounded. It was upon these that the eyes of the field-cornet were bent!
Aye, and bent too with an eagerness unusual in his glance. His lips were compressed, his chest was visibly heaving. Oh! there was a world of thoughts passing through the mind of Von Bloom at that moment.
Were they painful thoughts? The expression of his face told the contrary. The cloud that all that day sat perched upon his brow had vanished. Not a trace of it remained, but in its place could be seen the lines of hope and joy, and these feelings at length found expression in words.
“It is the hand of Heaven!” he exclaimed aloud. “A fortune—a fortune!”
“What is it, papa?” inquired little Trüey, who was near him; “what were you speaking about, dear papa?”
And then all the others gathered around him, noticing his excited manner, and pleased at seeing him look so happy.
“What is it, papa?” asked all together, while Swartboy and Totty stood eager as the rest to hear the answer.
In the pleasant excitement of his thoughts, the fond father could no longer conceal from his children the secret of his new-born happiness. He would gratify them by disclosing it.
Pointing to the long crescents he said,—
“You see those beautiful tusks?”