"I can't," he said. "Besides I wanted to walk with you alone. I had
something special I wanted to say."
"Bless me, how you frighten one! You look solemn as a hearse; but I
promised to go with Bill to-night, and I suspect another time will do
just as well. What you have to say will _keep_, I suppose," she said
mischievously.
He turned away quickly.
"I should really like to know what's the matter with you to-night," she
added, but as she spoke he went up-stairs and shut the door.
"He's cross to-night," was Diana's comment. "Well, he'll have to get over
his pet. I sha'n't mind it!"
Up-stairs in his room James began the work of putting up the bundle with
which he was to go forth to seek his fortune. There stood his books,
silent and dear witnesses of the world of hope and culture and refined
enjoyment he had been meaning to enter. He was to know them no more.
Their mute faces seemed to look at him mournfully as parting friends. He
rapidly made his selection, for that night he was to be off in time to
reach the vessel before she sailed, and he felt even glad to avoid the
Thanksgiving festivities for which he had so little relish. Diana's
frolicsome gaiety seemed heart-breaking to him, on the same principle
that the poet sings:
"How can ye chant, ye little birds,
And I sae weary, fu' o' care?"
To the heart struck through with its first experiences of real suffering
all nature is full of cruelty, and the young and light-hearted are a
large part of nature.
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