But, during her brief absence, a new and more
ominous prospect of calamity had presented itself before the old man's
mind.
As she entered the room, she saw that he had returned to his couch, and
that he was holding before him the little wooden bowl which had
contained his last supply of food, and which was now empty. He addressed
not a word to her when he heard her enter; his features were rigid with
horror and despair as he looked down on the empty bowl; he muttered
vacantly, 'It was the last provision that remained, and it was I that
exhausted it! The beasts of the forest carry food to their young, and I
have taken the last morsel from my child!'
In an instant the utter desolateness of their situation--forgotten in
the first joy of their meeting--forced itself with appalling vividness
upon Antonina's mind. She endeavoured to speak of comfort and hope to
her father; but the fearful realities of the famine in the city now rose
palpably before her, and suspended the vain words of solace on her lips.
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