Bereaved

           Itwasabouttenmonthssincewehadlastseenhim:butthattimehadsufficedtomakeanalterationofyearsinhisappearance.Hehadgrownthinner;somethingofgloomandanxietyhadtakentheplaceofthatcordialserenitywhichusedtocharacterizehisfeatures.Hisdarkblueeyes,alwayspenetrating,nowgleamedwithasternerlightfromunderhisshaggygreyeyebrows.Itwasnotsuchachangeasgriefaloneusuallyinduces,andangrierpassionsseemedtohavehadtheirshareinbringingitabout.

           Wehadnotlongresumedourdrive,whentheGeneralbegantotalk,withhisusualsoldierlydirectness,ofthebereavement,ashetermedit,whichhehadsustainedinthedeathofhisbelovednieceandward;andhethenbrokeoutinatoneofintensebitternessandfury,inveighingagainstthe"hellisharts"towhichshehadfallenavictim,andexpressing,withmoreexasperationthanpiety,hiswonderthatHeavenshouldtoleratesomonstrousanindulgenceofthelustsandmalignityofhell.

           Myfather,whosawatoncethatsomethingveryextraordinaryhadbefallen,askedhim,ifnottoopainfultohim,todetailthecircumstanceswhichhethoughtjustifiedthestrongtermsinwhichheexpressedhimself.

           "Ishouldtellyouallwithpleasure,"saidtheGeneral,"butyouwouldnotbelieveme."

           "WhyshouldInot?"heasked.

           "Because,"heansweredtestily,"youbelieveinnothingbutwhatconsistswithyourownprejudicesandillusions.IrememberwhenIwaslikeyou,butIhavelearnedbetter."