The account of it had gone
abroad through the neighborhood, and with it the intelligence that the
auction would be postponed until that day week. And now that he was
gone, all their hearts turned with sorrow and sympathy to the deep and
almost agonizing' struggles which their coming departure caused their
father to contend with. Bryan whose calm but manly firmness sustained
them all, absolutely feared that his courage would fail him, or that his
very health would break down. He also felt for his heroic little sister,
Dora, who, although too resolute to complain or urge her own sufferings,
did not endure the less on that account.
"My dear Dora," said he, after their grandfather had been laid out, "I
know what you are suffering, but what can I do? This split between
the Cavanaghs and us has put it out of my power to serve you as I had
intended. It was my wish to see you and James Cavanagh married; but God
knows I pity you from my heart; for, my dear Dora, there's no use in
denyin' it, I understand too well what you feel."
"Don't fret for me, Bryan," she replied; "I'm willin' to bear my share
of the affliction that has come upon the family, rather than do anything
mane or unworthy. I know it goes hard with me to give up James and
lave him for ever; but then I see that it must be done, and that I must
submit to it.
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