The three remaining pirates, armed with our spades
and picks and dispensing a great deal of jocular profanity, set out
for the cave under the guidance of Mr. Tubbs.
Thankful as I was for the departure of Captain Magnus, I underwent
torments in the stifling interior of the cabin. Aunt Jane wept
piteously. I had almost a fellow-feeling with Miss
Higglesby-Browne when she relapsed from her rigidity for a moment
and turning on Aunt Jane fiercely ordered her to be still. This
completed the wreck of Aunt Jane's universe. Its two main props
had now fallen, and she was left sitting solitary amid the ruins.
She subsided into a lachrymose heap in the corner of the cabin,
where I let her remain for the time, it was really such a comfort
to have her out of the way. At last I heard a faint moan:
"Virginia!"
I went to her. "Yes, auntie?"
"Virginia," she murmured weakly, "I think I shall not live to leave
the island, even if I am not--not executed. In fact, I have a
feeling now as though the end were approaching. I have always
known that my heart was not strong, even if your Aunt Susan _did_
call it indigestion. But oh, my dear child, it is not my
digestion, it is my heart that has been wounded! To have reposed
such confidence in a Serpent! To realize that I might have been
impaled upon its fangs! Oh, my dear, faithful child, what would I
have done if you had not clung to me although I permitted Serpents
to turn me from you! But I am cruelly punished.
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