Whilst in her lap, he poured out his morning orison. It was a
simple but affecting request. Julia knelt also; and Alice, laying a hand
on each, blessed the children.
"God of their fathers, I commit them to Thy care!"
She could say no more; loud sobs checked her utterance; but leaning over
these little ones, she convulsively clasped them in her embrace.
Old Hardpiece grew unusually busy about matters of no importance, and
the hard-featured trooper was seen to brush his brows, as though some
unpleasant suspicions had crossed his brain. He raised his arm as he
gazed on the children, muttering as he clenched his hand--
"If he dare!"--He then carelessly examined his sword, returning it
quickly into its sheath, as the weeping Alice drew away the children to
her own apartment. Old Geoffery now grew more talkative. Leaning his
chin upon his hand, and his elbow on the table, he thus proceeded:--
"It's four long years come St Barnabas since Sir Harry's death; and my
lady, rest her soul! went melancholy soon after. Everything was
bequeathed in trust to my master, Hildebrand Wentworth, a great friend
of Sir Harry's, and his secretary or purse-bearer, I forget which--no
matter--all the property, I say, was left in trust for Sir Harry's wife
and children.
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