Even when a child, he had scarcely ever seen her in tears; it was to him a new aspect of her being.
'Dear Dorothy!' he said, 'I am very much grieved to learn this of your beautiful mother.' 'She IS beautiful,' responded the girl, and her voice was softer than he had ever heard it before; 'but she will die, and I shall be left alone.' 'No, Dorothy! that you shall never be,' exclaimed Richard, with a confidence bordering on presumption.
'Master Herbert is with her now,' resumed Dorothy, heedless of his words.
'You do not mean her life is even now in danger ?' said Richard, in a tone of sudden awe.
'I hope not, but, indeed, I cannot tell.

I left master Herbert comforting her with the assurance that she was taken away from the evil to come.

"And I trust, madam," the dear old man went on to say, "that my departure will not long be delayed, for darkness will cover the earth, and gross darkness the people." Those were his very words.' 'Nay, nay!' said Richard, hastily; 'the good man is deceived; the people that sit in darkness shall see a great light.' The girl looked at him with strange interrogation.
'Do not be angry, sweet Dorothy,' Richard went on.

'Old men may mistake as well as youths.

As for the realm of England, the sun of righteousness will speedily arise thereon, for the dawn draws nigh; and master Herbert may be just as far deceived concerning your mother's condition, for she has been but sickly for a long time, and yet has survived many winters.' Dorothy looked at him still, and was silent.