REUBEN
All heart gone out of it. “You’ve something, sure?
Oh, pay him off—don’t grudge it her that’s gone,
Pay him off, man! You must! To think o’ this!
Oh, dear, what will they say?”
He took a crock
Off the high shelf, and turn’d it upside down;
But not one coin fell out. “Last time he came
You saw me pay the doctor: an’ I sold
All I could carry into town with me,
An’ made a written promise o’ some more
(Leaving what’s justly right to quit the rent),
An’ paid the rest of em. There’s no more debts.
There’s no more money, but there’s no more debts.
He’s ta’en her in the nick o’ time—but, eh! . . .
He drove it near!”
She said no more; and both
Sat still while, she sobbing, patient he
As one whose only office is, to wait.
At last there came the knocking, and he rose.
“Say you will bury her, Sarah?”
Like a flash
She was between him and the door, both hands
Upon the undrawn bolt. “Yes, yes! But, oh,
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