"
Three days later Hugh and Grey Dick, in the character of royal
messengers from the King of England to the Doge of Venice, took passage
in a great vessel bound for Genoa with a cargo of wool and other goods.
On board this ship before he sailed Hugh handed to his father letters
for Eve and for Sir Andrew Arnold. Also he received from him money in
plenty for his faring, and bills of exchange upon certain merchants of
Italy, which would bring him more should it be needed.
Their parting was very sad, since the prophecies of Sir Andrew had taken
no small hold upon Master de Cressi's mind.
"I fear me greatly, dear son," he said, "that we part to meet no more.
Well, such is the lot of parents. They breed those children that heaven
decrees to them; with toil and thought and fears they rear them up from
infancy, learning to love them more than their own souls, for their
sakes fighting a hard world. Then the sons go forth, north and south,
and the daughters find husbands and joys and sorrows of their own, and
both half forget them, as is nature's way. Last of all those parents
die, as also is nature's way, and the half forgetfulness becomes whole
as surely as the young moon grows to full. Well, well, this is a lesson
that each generation must learn in turn, as you will know ere all is
done. Although you are my youngest, I'll not shame to say I have loved
you best of all, Hugh.
Pages:
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195