There was always ill blood after this, it appeared, and on the morning of your uncle's death Abner was seen crossing the pasture from Poplar Spring with his gun on his shoulder." "It's an ugly story all round," remarked Gay quietly, "and I wish to heaven that I were out of it.

How has my poor mother stood it ?" "She has known very little about it," Mr.Chamberlayne answered, while his jutting eyebrows twitched nervously as he turned away.

"Your mother, my dear boy, is one of those particularly angelic characters from whose presence even the thought of evil is banished.

You have only to look into her face to discern how pure and spotless she has kept her soul.
My old friend Jonathan was very devoted to her.

She represented, indeed, the spiritual influence in his life, and there was no one on earth whose respect or affection he valued so highly.