Birch received the volume with habitual reverence; but there was an abstracted air about him, and a wandering of the eye, that induced his companion to think that alarm was getting the mastery of the peddler's feelings; accordingly, he proceeded in what he conceived to be the offices of consolation.
Birch a szokásos tisztelettel vette át a kötetet; de üres arckifejezését és elkalandozó pillantását látva Hollister őrmesternek azt kellett hinnie, hogy felülkerekedett benne a rettegés.