Oh, Maude, I cannot
live without you, I cannot leave you without a word of love. All
is changed to me since I have known you. I am poor and lowly and
all unworthy of you; but if great love may weigh down such
defects, then mine may do it. Give me but one word of hope to
take to the wars with me--but one. Ah, you shrink, you shudder!
My wild words have frightened you."
Twice she opened her lips, and twice no sound came from them. At
last she spoke in a hard and measured voice, as one who dare not
trust herself to speak too freely.
"This is over sudden," she said; "it is not so long since the
world was nothing to you. You have changed once; perchance you
may change again."
"Cruel!" he cried, "who hath changed me?"
"And then your brother," she continued with a little laugh,
disregarding his question. "Methinks this hath become a family
custom amongst the Edricsons. Nay, I am sorry; I did not mean a
jibe. But, indeed, Alleyne, this hath come suddenly upon me, and
I scarce know what to say."
"Say some word of hope, however distant--some kind word that I
may cherish in my heart.
Pages:
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271