A long and profound silence ensued, broken only by some change ofposition on the part of Barnaby, whose eyes were still wide openand intently fixed upon the fire; or by an effort of recollectionon the part of Grip, who would cry in a low voice from time totime, "Polly put the ket--" and there stop short, forgetting the remainder, and go off in a doze again.
After a long interval, Barnaby"s breathing grew more deep andregular, and his eyes were closed. But even then the unquietspirit of the raven interposed. "Polly put the ket--" cried Grip,and his master was broad awake again.
At length Barnaby slept soundly, and the bird with his bill sunkupon his breast, his breast itself puffed out into a comfortablealderman-like form, and his bright eye growing smaller and smaller,really seemed to be subsiding into a state of repose. Now and thenhe muttered in a sepulchral voice, "Polly put the ket--" but verydrowsily, and more like a drunken man than a reflecting raven.
The widow, scarcely venturing to breathe, rose from her seat. Theman glided from the closet, and extinguished the candle.
"--tle on," cried Grip, suddenly struck with an idea and very muchexcited. "--tle on. Hurrah! Polly put the ket-tle on, we"ll allhave tea; Polly put the ket-tle on, we"ll all have tea. Hurrah,hurrah, hurrah! I"m a devil, I"m a devil, I"m a ket-tle on, Keepup your spirits, Never say die, Bow, wow, wow, I"m a devil, I"m aket-tle, I"m a--Polly put the ket-tle on, we"ll all have tea."
They stood rooted to the ground, as though it had been a voice fromthe grave.
But even this failed to awaken the sleeper. He turned over towardsthe fire, his arm fell to the ground, and his head drooped heavilyupon it. The widow and her unwelcome visitor gazed at him and ateach other for a moment, and then she motioned him towards thedoor.
"Stay," he whispered. "You teach your son well."
"I have taught him nothing that you heard to-night. Departinstantly, or I will rouse him."
"You are free to do so. Shall I rouse him?"
"You dare not do that."
"I dare do anything, I have told you. He knows me well, it seems.
At least I will know him."
"Would you kill him in his sleep?" cried the widow, throwing herself between them.
"Woman," he returned between his teeth, as he motioned her aside,"I would see him nearer, and I will. If you want one of us to killthe other, wake him."
With that he advanced, and bending down over the prostrate form,softly turned back the head and looked into the face. The light ofthe fire was upon it, and its every lineament was revealeddistinctly. He contemplated it for a brief space, and hastilyuprose.
"Observe," he whispered in the widow"s ear: "In him, of whoseexistence I was ignorant until to-night, I have you in my power.
Be careful how you use me. Be careful how you use me. I amdestitute and starving, and a wanderer upon the earth. I may takea sure and slow revenge."
"There is some dreadful meaning in your words. I do not fathom it."
"There is a meaning in them, and I see you fathom it to its verydepth. You have anticipated it for years; you have told me asmuch. I leave you to digest it. Do not forget my warning."
He pointed, as he left her, to the slumbering form, and stealthilywithdrawing, made his way into the street. She fell on her kneesbeside the sleeper, and remained like one stricken into stone,until the tears which fear had frozen so long, came tenderly to herrelief.
"Oh Thou," she cried, "who hast taught me such deep love for thisone remnant of the promise of a happy life, out of whoseaffliction, even, perhaps the comfort springs that he is ever arelying, loving child to me--never growing old or cold at heart,but needing my care and duty in his manly strength as in hiscradle-time--help him, in his darkened walk through this sad world,or he is doomed, and my poor heart is broken!"