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The earth was shovelled in and stamped down； and I was glad that no
orisons were said and no speechifying took place。 The whole thing was
natural and right and self…explanatory； and needed no justifying or
interpreting to our audience of stars and flowers。 The connexion was not
entirely broken nowone link remained between us and them。 The
Noah's Ark； with its cargo of sad…faced emigrants； might be hull down on
the horizon； but two of its passengers had missed the boat and would
henceforth be always near us； and； as we played above them； an elephant
would understand； and a beetle would hear； and crawl again in spirit along
a familiar floor。 Henceforth the spotty horse would scour along far…
distant plains and know the homesickness of alien stables； but Potiphar；
though never again would he paw the arena when bull…fights were on the
bill； was spared maltreatment by town…bred strangers； quite capable of
mistaking him for a cow。 Jerry and Esmeralda might shed their limbs
and their stuffing； by slow or swift degrees； in uttermost parts and
unguessed corners of the globe； but Rosa's book was finally closed； and no
worse fate awaited her than natural dissolution almost within touch and
hail of familiar faces and objects that had been friendly to her since first
she opened her eyes on a world where she had never been treated as a
stranger。
As we turned to go； the man in the moon； tangled in elm…boughs；
caught my eye for a moment； and I thought that never had he looked so
friendly。 He was going to see after them； it was evident； for he was
always there； more or less； and it was no trouble to him at all； and he
would tell them how things were still going； up here； and throw in a story
or two of his own whenever they seemed a trifle dull。 It made the going
away rather easier； to know one had left somebody behind on the spot； a
good fellow； too； cheery； comforting； with a fund of anecdote； a man in
whom one had every confidence。
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