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Show 25-7 Mother lifted her hands in a helpless gesture, then turned and left the room. In a moment, I heard the back door slam. Silence in the room below me. The fire had died down to almost nothing and the room was almost dark except for the dim glow from the one lamp. Father turned and lit another one. Reverend Bingham and Mr. Glade silently found their hats and coats. The minister shook my father's hand and they talked for a moment but so quietly I couldn't hear, even though they stood right below me. John stood where he was, his back to the others, his head tilted back a bit as if he were studying the print on the wall in front of him. When Father came back into the room after seeing out the other two, he paused and looked at John a moment and then went to stir the fire. John stood a moment longer and then suddenly, without saying a word, left. The front door banged behind him. Father stood alone in the room, the fire poker in his hand. Then he placed it in its holder carefully, slowly, then rubbed his hands over his face. "Father?" I said quietly- He didn't hear me. Or he didn't want to talk to me. I stood up silently, waited a moment to let the blood flow back into my legs and then backed up the stairs. I heard no sound from the living room. After I was in bed, I heard the back door shut quietly and then voices. Mother and Father talking. Soon, they both came up the stairs, preceeded by Fidelio. Mother let him in my room and stood a moment looking in at me. I looked back at her but in the darkness she could not see me. Then I saw Father come up behind her and she turned and went with him into their room. The door shut. Around me, the house quieted down, deepening into the silence of night. |