Chapter 19

           Foranhour,tiedupwithhisprofoundreactiontohisfather’sdeath,themagnificentfaçadeofthehomeland,theharborofNewYork,seemedallsadandglorioustoDick,butonceashorethefeelingvanished,nordidhefinditagaininthestreetsorthehotelsorthetrainsthatborehimfirsttoBuffalo,andthensouthtoVirginiawithhisfather’sbody.Onlyasthelocaltrainshambledintothelow-forestedclaylandofWestmorelandCounty,didhefeeloncemoreidentifiedwithhissurroundings;atthestationhesawastarheknew,andacoldmoonbrightoverChesapeakeBay;heheardtheraspingwheelsofbuckboardsturning,thelovelyfatuousvoices,thesoundofsluggishprimevalriversflowingsoftlyundersoftIndiannames.

           NextdayatthechurchyardhisfatherwaslaidamongahundredDivers,Dorseys,andHunters.Itwasveryfriendlyleavinghimtherewithallhisrelationsaroundhim.Flowerswerescatteredonthebrownunsettledearth.Dickhadnomoretiesherenowanddidnotbelievehewouldcomeback.Hekneltonthehardsoil.Thesedead,heknewthemall,theirweather-beatenfaceswithblueflashingeyes,thespareviolentbodies,thesoulsmadeofnewearthintheforest-heavydarknessoftheseventeenthcentury.

           "Good-by,myfather—good-by,allmyfathers."

           Onthelong-roofedsteamshippiersoneisinacountrythatisnolongerhereandnotyetthere.Thehazyyellowvaultisfullofechoingshouts.Therearetherumbleoftrucksandtheclumpoftrunks,thestridentchatterofcranes,thefirstsaltsmellofthesea.