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A Lady of Quality | Frances Hodgson Burnett | |
"I give to him the thing he craves with all his soul-- myself" |
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Anne started forward, trembling, her hands clasped upon her breast, and fell at her feet with sobs. "Yes, yes," she gasped, "I came--for something--to speak--to pray you -! Sister--Clorinda, have patience with me--till my courage comes again!" and she clutched her robe. Something which came nigh to being a shudder passed through Mistress Clorinda's frame; but it was gone in a second, and she touched Anne- -though not ungently--with her foot, withdrawing her robe. "Do not stain it with your tears," she said "'twould be a bad omen." Anne buried her face in her hands and knelt so before her. "'Tis not too late!" she said--"'tis not too late yet." "For what?" Clorinda asked. "For what, I pray you tell me, if you can find your wits. You go beyond my patience with your folly." "Too late to stop," said Anne--"to draw back and repent." "What?" commanded Clorinda--"what then should I repent me?" "This marriage," trembled Mistress Anne, taking her poor hands from her face to wring them. "It should not be." "Fool!" quoth Clorinda. "Get up and cease your grovelling. Did you come to tell me it was not too late to draw back and refuse to be the Countess of Dunstanwolde?" and she laughed bitterly. "But it should not be--it must not!" Anne panted. "I--I know, sister, I know--" Clorinda bent deliberately and laid her strong, jewelled hand on her shoulder with a grasp like a vice. There was no hurry in her movement or in her air, but by sheer, slow strength she forced her head backward so that the terrified woman was staring in her face. |
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A Lady of Quality Frances Hodgson Burnett |
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