The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900 ... - Gredos

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
fingers up and down with a gentle patting movement, and he endeavoured to murmur
something, almost inarticulately
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however. But Simon, bending low, caught the words:—
“I’ll hang my harp on the hollow willow tree, And may the world— may the world-
I cannot remember the words to-night, love, but I will carry you — I will carry you just
now”.
"What is he saying?" inquired Mr. Richmond, craning his head forward from the foot of
the bed.
Simon raised himself with a white, convulsed face.
"Go out of the room," he cried, "if you can do no good. I will not have you prying at
them. And now, Aunt Binney and Susan,” he added, when the other had withdrawn,
much affronted, "kneel down. Good God! how can you stand gaping at them when they
are at the gates of Eternity?”
They all knelt down, and Simon, clasping his hands, began in firm, manly tones, "Let us
pray" and then, being but a lad, after all, on the point of losing all which he had hitherto
cherished and clung to, his self-possession deserted him, and he fell a-sobbing.
But they were beyond the reach of his voice; they had gone far on the long journey
which the little mother had so much dreaded. The gates were open which were soon to
close behind them both; but she had no fear now, for the loving arms which had so long
sustained her were clinging close about her — they would carry her all the way.
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PART II.
THE TREE.
CHAPTER V
She was a Phantom of delight
When first she gleamed upon my sight;