Slowly and as with one motion we sheathed our swords, and
more slowly still repeated the few words after the Governor. His
Honor's countenance shone with relief. "Take each other by the
hand, gentlemen, and then let 's all to breakfast at my own house,
where there shall be no feud save with good capon pasty and jolly
good ale." In dead silence my lord and I touched each other's finger
tips.
The world was now a flood of sunshine, the mist on the river
vanishing, the birds singing, the trees waving in the pleasant
morning air. From the town came the roll of the drum summoning
all to the week-day service. The bells too began to ring, sounding
sweetly through the clear air. The Governor took off his hat. "Let's
all to church, gentlemen," he said gravely. "Our cheeks are flushed
as with a fever and our pulses run high this morning. There be
some among us, perhaps, that have in their hearts discontent,
anger, and hatred. I know no better place to take such passions,
provided we bring them not forth again."
We went in and sat down. Jeremy Sparrow was in the pulpit.
Singly or in groups the town folk entered. Down the aisle strode
bearded men, old soldiers, adventurers, sailors, scarred body and
soul; young men followed, younger sons and younger brothers,
prodigals whose portion had been spent, whose souls now ate of
the husks; to the servants' benches came dull laborers, dimly
comprehending, groping in the twilight; women entered softly and
slowly, some with children clinging to their skirts.
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