The girl's
words, "But don't do him any harm," rang in my ears unceasingly--
whether he walked about or stood still or sat down. I knew that he
would certainly be beheaded, and, believing that it must be soon,
I was filled with horror at the thought of his saying to himself,
In a month I shall die--and then in a week--in a day--an hour...
it must be utterly unendurable. I slipped behind him to see his
neck, and just at that moment he lifted his hand up to it, a
little brown hand; and I could not get rid of the thought that
perhaps his fingers would come in the way when the axe was
falling.
He and the warders were asked to come in and dine. I felt I must
see if it were really possible for him to eat. Yes, he ate and
chatted just like the rest, and for a time I forgot my terror. But
no sooner was I outside again and alone than I fell to thinking of
it with might and main, and it seemed to me very hard that her
words, "But you mustn't do him any harm," should be so utterly
disregarded. I felt I must go in and say as much to father. But
he, slow and serious, and the clerk, little and dapper, were
walking up and down the room deep in conversation, far, far above
all my misery.
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