Out of her sphere - University Library

BORNE BACK TO LIFE. 33
other still, as if in anticipation of their
prey—no, rather was it not as if now, like
wild beasts, with their hunger satisfied,
they were gloating over the memory of their
banquet ?
It was all over,—long ere this she must
have paid the penalty of her sin. How
strange the chance that had spared him,
and had taken her ! Chance ! did he dare
to call it so ? rather was it not thus that
his Lord had shown him He had still work
for him to do ? that he was not to fling
away his life because he was weary of it,
or because he loved so weakly the fair, false
woman sleeping her last beneath the cold
dark waves below ?
Something of this floated through his
mind, vaguely and dreamily ; he had no
strength as yet to think coherently. He
tried to walk—he felt numbed, feeble, and
chilled—but his limbs refused to carry him.
What should he do ? stay where he was,
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