Access Online - The European Library
Access Online - The European Library Access Online - The European Library
84 BLACK SHEEP.what is itthat you mean?You cannot make methe pastime of an hour; yrou cannot shake off thehold yvhich such love as mine lays upon your life— would still layuponit yvere youafeebler yvomanthan you are. What then? Are you going totake the wine of life, or are you going to contentyourself yvith the vapid draughts you havehitherto drank ? You must tell me, and tell meto-night, what it is you mean; for a crisis in mylife has come, anclImust knoyv, yvithout palteringor delay, hoyv it is to be dealt with."He lifted his hand from her arm, and, standingdirectly before her, bade her look up anclspeak to him.She did not move. Then he satdown on a velvet footstool before her sofa, anddreyv her hands ayvay from before her face.There yvere signs of agitation on it, and he readthem, not quite correctly perhaps, but to his ownsatisfaction." Listen tome," he said, in the gentlest tones"within the compass of his voice. Ihave a right— haveInot?— to ask you, to knoyv yvhat is yourmeaning towards me?here for ?What did you bring meRemember the yvordsIhave spoken to
THE SEVERING OF THE HAIR.85you, not once only, or tyvice;remember the storyItold you on the balcony yonder; remember thetone you have occasionally adopted in all yourlevity, and then do not attempt to deny my rightto speak asIam speaking, and to demand your" You— you found me alone here— in my oyvnansyver."house — and — "" Absurd !" he cried." You are talking nonsense,and you knoyv it. Did you not intend meto understand thatIshould find you alone?Didyour note, your summons (I toreit up, but youremember the yvords as well asIdo), mean anythingelse?Do you not knoyv this is all folly.There is no need to play yvith me. Iam a sureprize, or victim, yvhich you please;you know thatwell enough, andImust know which you doplease, for this is, asIsaid before, a crisis for me.Which isit?" he said,and he held her hands moretightly, ancl looked at her yvith a pale face."Which is it? Mere coquetiy — a dangerousgame with a man like me,I yvarn you — a gameyou yvon't find it possible to play; or— or thedeep, deep love of alifetime — the devotion which
- Page 41: A FIRST APPEAL. 33Stewart," said Ha
- Page 44 and 45: 36 BLACK SHEEP." Iwill," she said,
- Page 46 and 47: 38 BLACK SHEEP." But how can he dis
- Page 48 and 49: 40 BLACK SHEEP." There are not many
- Page 50 and 51: 42 BLACK SHEEP.in yours — in mine
- Page 52 and 53: 44 BLACK SHEEP.thing,Ican tell you.
- Page 54 and 55: 46 BLACK SHEEP.ask me anything now.
- Page 56 and 57: 48 BLACK SHEEP.man of stronger will
- Page 58 and 59: 50 BLACK SHEEP.you, she knows all a
- Page 60 and 61: 52 BLACK SHEEP.accompany beauty, we
- Page 62 and 63: 54 BLACK SHEEr." Indeed," saidMr. F
- Page 64 and 65: 56 BLACK SHEEP.he, on the other han
- Page 66 and 67: 58 BLACK SHEEP.cruelty of coquetry
- Page 68 and 69: 60 BLACK SHEEP.yvith him just enoug
- Page 70 and 71: 62 BLACK SHEEP.him well enough to s
- Page 72 and 73: 64 BLACK SHEEP.sign which his capto
- Page 74 and 75: 66 BLACK SHEEP." Iam happy to hear
- Page 76 and 77: 68 BLACK SHEEP.ever, yvith hope, yv
- Page 78 and 79: 70 BLACK SHEEP.coming light and eas
- Page 80 and 81: 72 BLACK SHEEP.bleyv and raged over
- Page 82 and 83: 74 BLACK SHEEP.How dreary the place
- Page 84 and 85: 76 BLACK SHEEP.he sawa man standing
- Page 86 and 87: 78 BLACK SHEEP.Rich purple amethyst
- Page 88 and 89: 80 BLACK SHEEP."What a temper you h
- Page 90 and 91: 82 BLACK SHEEP.told you so," he con
- Page 94 and 95: 86 BLACK SHEEP.will never swerve or
- Page 96 and 97: 88 BLACK SHEEP.as soon as he releas
- Page 98 and 99: 90 BLACK SHEEP.manner, his look yva
- Page 100 and 101: 92 BLACK SHEEP.merous progeny of a
- Page 102 and 103: 94 BLACK SHEEP.and pointing to some
- Page 104 and 105: CHAPTER Y.MOVING ON.Unconscious of
- Page 106 and 107: 98 BLACK SHEEP.technical sense that
- Page 108 and 109: 100 BLACK SHEEP.with the mysterious
- Page 110 and 111: 102 BLACK SHEEP.mother yvas the onl
- Page 112 and 113: 104 BLACK SHEEP.illness ?He set him
- Page 114 and 115: 106 BLACK SHEEP.He found his step-s
- Page 116 and 117: 108 BLACK SHEEP.presence, ancl the
- Page 118 and 119: 110 BLACK SHEEP.phew yvas a "good-f
- Page 120 and 121: 112 BLACK SHEEP." Ishould think you
- Page 122 and 123: 114 BLACK SHEEP.Carruthers, had sai
- Page 124 and 125: 116 BLACK SHEEP.police on this matt
- Page 126 and 127: 118 BLACK SHEEP.now. Every day her
- Page 128 and 129: 120 BLACK SHEEP.rible conviction of
- Page 130 and 131: 122 BLACK SHEEP.yvith infinitely mo
- Page 132 and 133: 124 BLACK SHEEP.change which her ne
- Page 134 and 135: 126 BLACK SHEEP.tions of maternal c
- Page 136 and 137: 128 BLACK SHEEr.ing, and then, when
- Page 138 and 139: 130 BLACK SHEEP."I am sure it has b
- Page 140 and 141: 132 BLACK SHEEP.think of me?Idare s
84 BLACK SHEEP.what is itthat you mean?You cannot make methe pastime of an hour; yrou cannot shake off thehold yvhich such love as mine lays upon your life— would still layuponit yvere youafeebler yvomanthan you are. What then? Are you going totake the wine of life, or are you going to contentyourself yvith the vapid draughts you havehitherto drank ? You must tell me, and tell meto-night, what it is you mean; for a crisis in mylife has come, anclImust knoyv, yvithout palteringor delay, hoyv it is to be dealt with."He lifted his hand from her arm, and, standingdirectly before her, bade her look up anclspeak to him.She did not move. <strong>The</strong>n he satdown on a velvet footstool before her sofa, anddreyv her hands ayvay from before her face.<strong>The</strong>re yvere signs of agitation on it, and he readthem, not quite correctly perhaps, but to his ownsatisfaction." Listen tome," he said, in the gentlest tones"within the compass of his voice. Ihave a right— haveInot?— to ask you, to knoyv yvhat is yourmeaning towards me?here for ?What did you bring meRemember the yvordsIhave spoken to
Change language