Page:In defense of Harriet Shelley, and other essays.djvu/338

 MARK TWAIN

&quot;This is yesterday to you.&quot;

&quot;Certainly it is. But my mind is confused, these days; there are reasons for it. . .Is this the be ginning of the procession?&quot;

&quot;Oh, no, it began to move an hour ago.&quot;

&quot;Is there much more of it still to come?&quot;

&quot;Two hours of it. Why do you sigh?&quot;

&quot;Because I should like to see it all.&quot;

&quot;And why can t you?&quot;

&quot;I have to go presently.&quot;

&quot;You have an engagement?&quot;

After a pause, softly: &quot;Yes.&quot; After another pause: &quot;Who are these in the splendid pavilion?&quot;

&quot;The imperial family, and visiting royalties from here and there and yonder in the earth.&quot;

&quot;And who are those in the adjoining pavilions to the right and left?&quot;

&quot;Ambassadors and their families and suites to the right; unofficial foreigners to the left.&quot;

&quot;If you will be so good, I &quot;

Boom! That distant bell again, tolling the half- hour faintly through the tempest of wind and sleet. The door opened, and the governor and the mother and child entered the woman in widow s weeds! She fell upon her husband s breast in a passion of sobs, and I I could not stay; I could not bear it. I went into the bedchamber, and closed the door. I sat there waiting waiting waiting, and listen ing to the rattling sashes and the blustering of the storm. After what seemed a long, long time, I heard a rustle and movement in the parlor, and knew that the clergyman and the sheriff and the

�� �