[image]"'AH! BARBARA, IF YOU KNOW MERCY, BID ME NOT LEAVE YOU NOW'"He paused, then as she sat dumbstricken by the force of his passion, he continued with a sudden bitterness:"And yet how should I stay, seeing my love is nought to you. Better to leave you now. For in truth, a man must not ask too much of Heaven. But to leave you—to see your face no more! Ah! madame, madame, what is this you have done to me, seeing I cannot leave you now, and yet I dare not stay?"There was silence. Then Barbara, turning away her face, said slowly:"Captain Protheroe! I supposed you and Ralph fought concerning the affair on Sedgemoor. I—I knew of no other cause of quarrel betwixt you."Captain Protheroe raised his head with a quick hope. "Ah?" he questioned breathlessly."Yes. And"—she continued hurriedly—"in this quarrel Ralph was in the wrong. I—I do not wish you to leave me."A moment he paused. Then he answered in a low restrained voice:"While I can serve you I will remain. But, an you need me no more, I pray you then, in pity, turn away your face and let me go."But Barbara turned her head and looked at him, and she whispered softly, so softly that he but caught the words ere they died away:"Nay, sir, but what an I need thee all my days?" And having so spoken again she turned away her head.The birds' chorus rose loud and triumphant in the human silence that followed, while he took her hands in his and pressed them to his lips.Then he tried to see her face, but 'twas still turned from him, he could but see one crimson cheek and the curling lashes resting upon it. He sighed softly, but smiled withal."Mistress Barbara," he pleaded, "have I not told you your eyes are like unto the clear depths of the heavens? Alas! why are the heavens so oft veiled from the gaze of man?"She answered not, but turned her head slightly, and he saw a smile was playing round her lips."Is it lest by too long contemplation of their beauty, a man should lose himself in longing?" he asked again.Then Barbara turned her head and faced him, but still her lashes drooped, and she whispered very softly:"Nay, but rather lest by too long contemplation a man should learn their secret.""Ah, Barbara," he pleaded; "be merciful. Show me the secret of the heavens."So she raised her eyes to his, and far in their depths he read her secret.And she, stooping, gave her face to his kisses, and her life to him for all its span.*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOKBARBARA WINSLOW, REBEL***
[image]"'AH! BARBARA, IF YOU KNOW MERCY, BID ME NOT LEAVE YOU NOW'"
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"'AH! BARBARA, IF YOU KNOW MERCY, BID ME NOT LEAVE YOU NOW'"
He paused, then as she sat dumbstricken by the force of his passion, he continued with a sudden bitterness:
"And yet how should I stay, seeing my love is nought to you. Better to leave you now. For in truth, a man must not ask too much of Heaven. But to leave you—to see your face no more! Ah! madame, madame, what is this you have done to me, seeing I cannot leave you now, and yet I dare not stay?"
There was silence. Then Barbara, turning away her face, said slowly:
"Captain Protheroe! I supposed you and Ralph fought concerning the affair on Sedgemoor. I—I knew of no other cause of quarrel betwixt you."
Captain Protheroe raised his head with a quick hope. "Ah?" he questioned breathlessly.
"Yes. And"—she continued hurriedly—"in this quarrel Ralph was in the wrong. I—I do not wish you to leave me."
A moment he paused. Then he answered in a low restrained voice:
"While I can serve you I will remain. But, an you need me no more, I pray you then, in pity, turn away your face and let me go."
But Barbara turned her head and looked at him, and she whispered softly, so softly that he but caught the words ere they died away:
"Nay, sir, but what an I need thee all my days?" And having so spoken again she turned away her head.
The birds' chorus rose loud and triumphant in the human silence that followed, while he took her hands in his and pressed them to his lips.
Then he tried to see her face, but 'twas still turned from him, he could but see one crimson cheek and the curling lashes resting upon it. He sighed softly, but smiled withal.
"Mistress Barbara," he pleaded, "have I not told you your eyes are like unto the clear depths of the heavens? Alas! why are the heavens so oft veiled from the gaze of man?"
She answered not, but turned her head slightly, and he saw a smile was playing round her lips.
"Is it lest by too long contemplation of their beauty, a man should lose himself in longing?" he asked again.
Then Barbara turned her head and faced him, but still her lashes drooped, and she whispered very softly:
"Nay, but rather lest by too long contemplation a man should learn their secret."
"Ah, Barbara," he pleaded; "be merciful. Show me the secret of the heavens."
So she raised her eyes to his, and far in their depths he read her secret.
And she, stooping, gave her face to his kisses, and her life to him for all its span.
*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOKBARBARA WINSLOW, REBEL***