Moths by Ouida — page 368: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

$64 MOTHS. is ill we come to her; she is strong enough sometimes to jet us see her face, touch her hand; the sun is out; perhaps she will appear to-day; twice a week the charities are given.”’ Corrine east his furs close about him, so that his face was not seen, and stood in the shadow of the great gateway. | The doors of the building opened; for a moment he could see nothing; his eyes were blind with the intensity of his desire and his fear. When the mist passed from his sight he saw a tall and slender form, moving with the grace that he knew so well, but very wearily and very siowly, come out from the great doors, and through the gates; the throng of cripples and sufferers and poor of all sorts fell on their knees and blessed her. He kneeled with them, but he could not move his lips to any blessing: with all the might of his anguish he cursed Sergius Zouroff. Vere’s voice, much weakened, but grave and clear as of old, pame to his ear through the rarefied air: ‘*My people, do not kneel to me: you know it painsme, It is long since I saw you: what can I do?” She spoke feebly; she leaned on a tall cane she bore, and as she moved the thick,veil from about her head, the man who would have given his life for hers saw that she was changed and aged as if by the passing of many years. He stified a cry that rose to his lips, and stood and gazed on her. The poor had long tales of woe; she listened patiently, and moved from one to another, saying a few words to each; behind her were her women, who gave alms toeach as she directed them. She seemed to have little strength; after a time she stood still, leaning on her cane, and the people grouped about her, and kissed the furs she wore. Correze went forward timidly and with hesitation, and kneeled by her, and touched with his lips the hem of her clothes. ‘‘ What do you wish?” she said to him, seeing in him only a stranger, for his face was hidden; then as she looked at him a tremor ran through her; she started and quivered a little. ‘‘ Who are you?” she said, quickly and faintly, and before he could answer muttered to him, ‘‘Is this how you keep your word?—you are cruel!” : ‘‘ For the love of God let me see you alone, let me speak one word,” he murmured, as he still kneeled on the frozen snow. You are suffering? you are ill?” . She moved a little away, apart from the people, who only saw in him the traveler they knew, and thought he besought some succor from the mistress of Szarisla. He followed her. Bg promised——” she said, wearily, and then her voice sank, _ **T promised,” he murmured, ‘‘and I had not strength to kee it; I will go away now that I have seen you. But you are ill; this pantry kills you, your people say so; it is you who are cruel,’ He could scarcely see herin the veilsand the heavy fur-lined sobes that screened her from the cold; he could only see the deli- He aay ’ eomicbooks.co