"Why you: 'twas but a dream, you know," she added, blushing to the
temples. Then, as the colour faded from her calm face, even more quickly
than it came, she continued, "And we all looked so beautiful! and I
thought you so like the Cavalier Walter, and I felt so peaceful and
happy. But just as you touched my hand, there came a mist between us--a
dense and chilling mist, that made the marrow curdle in my bones, and my
joints stiff and iron-bound; and a voice, a low mournful voice, like the
wail of a dying bird, said, 'Come!'--and I attempted to answer, 'Not
yet;' but my tongue felt frozen to my teeth, and my teeth were as
icicles within my lips; and I was enshrouded in the mist. Then suddenly
a pang shot through my heart, as if it were the dart of death, and I
would have screamed, such was its agony; but still my tongue was frozen!
And I suffered, I cannot tell you what: when suddenly a soft breath
breathed upon my cheek, and it felt warm and soothing, and a
voice--sounding--I may as well tell it all, Robin--so like yours, said,
'Pray.' And as I prayed--not in words, but in spirit, the pain departed
from me, and the blood flowed again through my veins; and gazing
upwards, I found that I was not in the ruined chapel, but in the
presence of the blessed Saviour! He looked upon us--upon us both----"
"Stop, Barbara!" exclaimed Robin, whose imagination, at all times easily
worked upon, now became absolute torture, "for mercy, stop! It was but
the dream of a weak girl."
For the first time since she had grown to woman's estate, he pressed
her to his bosom, and then silently walked with her to the little gate
that led to the garden.
"Let Crisp stay with me. Bright-eye and he agree better than usual,"
said Barbara with a quiet smile.
"I will," replied Robin, adding, as he turned away, "Trust in the God
you worship, and put no faith in dreams."
CHAPTER V.
Tell men of high condition
That rule affairs of state,
Their purpose is ambition,
Their practice only hate;
And if they once reply,
Then give them all the lie.
Tell Wit how much it wrangles
In tickle points of niceness--
Tell Wisdom she entangles
Herself in over-wiseness;
And when they do reply,
Straight give them both the lie.
JOSHUA SILVESTER.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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