Sons of fire, Vol. II.Braddon, M. E. (Mary Elizabeth)
General
Sons of fire, Vol. II.
Braddon, M. E. (Mary Elizabeth)
English fiction -- 19th century
"'Yes, it was Miss Marjorum that came. She asked to see Esperanza
alone, and they were shut up together for over an hour, and then
the bell was rung, and Miss Marjorum told the girl to pack up Miss
Campbell's things, bring her box down to the hall, and when she had
done that, to fetch a four-wheeler. Sarah was nearly as upset as I was,
but she and I packed the things between us--such a few things, poor
child--and carried the box downstairs, and I waited in the hall while
Sarah ran for the cab. And presently Esperanza came out of the parlour
with Miss Marjorum, and put on her hat and jacket, and then came to bid
me good-bye.
"'She put her arms round my neck and kissed me; and though I had done
my duty by you and your ma, Mr. George, I felt like Judash. "It was
right of you to tell," she said; "it was only right--for his sake," and
Miss Marjorum hurried her down the steps and into the cab before she
could say another word. I do believe the poor dear child gave you up
without a murmur, Mr. George, because she knew that it would have been
your ruin to marry her.'
"'Bosh! That had been drummed into her by Miss Marjorum. You have done
me the worst turn you ever did any one in your life, Martha; and yet
I thought if there was anybody in the world I could trust it was you.
Where did the cab go--do you know that?'
"'Charing Cross Station. I heard Miss Marjorum give the order.'"
CHAPTER X.
"AND THAT UNREST WHICH MEN MISCALL DELIGHT."
Allan went back to Matcham sobered by grief, and longing for the
comfort his betrothed could give him, the comfort of sympathy and
gentle words, the deeper comfort in the assurance of her love.
Suzette looked very pale in her black frock when Allan appeared at
Marsh House after his bereavement. They stood side by side in the
grey light of a hopelessly dull day, finding but little speech in the
sadness of this first meeting.
"My darling, you have been grieving for my grief," he said tenderly,
looking into the dark eyes, noting the tired look as of many tears, the
sharper line of the cheek, the settled pallor, where a lovely carmine
had been wont to come and go like warm light.
"My dearest, you have lost all your roses--and for my sake. For me
those dear eyes have known sleepless nights, those lovely cheeks have
grown pinched and pale."
"Do you think that I could help being sorry for you, Allan?" she
murmured, with downcast eyelids.
"You had no other cause for sorrow, I hope?"
"No, no; only in every life there are saddening intervals. I was sorry
for your sake--sorry that I was never to see your father again. I liked
him so much, Allan. And then somehow I got into a low-spirited way, and
old Dr. Podmore gave me a tonic which made my head ache. I don't know
that it had any other effect."
"Suzette, it was cruel of you not to tell me that you were ill."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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