Chapter 44: August

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​⁠I am not alone unfortunate. All men are disappointed in their hopes, and deceived in their expectations. I have paid a visit to my good old woman under the lime-trees. The eldest boy ran out to meet me: his exclamation of joy brought out his mother, but she had a very melancholy look. Her first word was, "Alas! dear sir, my little John is dead." He was the youngest of her children. I was silent. "