Carmody people , who stayed at home , thought so ; and old Abel Blair , who had roamed afar in many lands , thought so ; and even the Rev. Stephen Leonard , who taught , and tried to believe , that favour is deceitful and beauty is vain , thought so . He was a slight lad , with sloping shoulders , a slim brown neck , and a head set on it with stag-like grace and uplift . His hair , cut straight across his brow and falling over his ears , after some caprice of Janet Andrews , the minister 's housekeeper , was a glossy blue-black . The skin of his face and hands was like ivory ; his eyes were large and beautifully tinted -- gray , with dilating pupils ; his features had the outlines of a cameo . Carmody mothers considered him delicate , and had long foretold that the minister would never bring him up ; but old Abel pulled his grizzled moustache when he heard such forebodings and smiled . `` Felix Moore will live , '' he said positively . `` You ca n't kill that kind until their work is done . He 's got a work to do -- if the minister 'll let him do it . And if the minister do n't let him do it , then I would n't be in that minister 's shoes when he comes to the judgment -- no , I 'd rather be in my own . It 's an awful thing to cross the purposes of the Almighty , either in your own life or anybody else 's . Sometimes I think it 's what 's meant by the unpardonable sin -- ay , that I do ! '' Carmody people never asked what old Abel meant . They had long ago given up such vain questioning . When a man had lived as old Abel had lived for the greater part of his life , was it any wonder he said crazy things ? And as for hinting that Mr. Leonard , a man who was really almost too good to live , was guilty of any sin , much less an unpardonable one -- well , there now ! what use was it to be taking any account of old Abel 's queer speeches ? Though , to be sure , there was no great harm in a fiddle , and maybe Mr. Leonard was a mite too strict that way with the child . But then , could you wonder at it ? There was his father , you see . Felix finally lowered the violin , and came back to old Abel 's kitchen with a long sigh .
Old Abel smiled drearily at him -- the smile of a man who has been XXXXX the hands of the tormentors .
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