Between Snow and Fire — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

4 s e . 7 Vf " y ¢ . C ar ; r ' - J an a She J re } : i ba - % al “ ~ fi - y ~ - ‘ _ ‘ ~ | she A couple of native stable-hands appeared, leading three horses, saddled and bridled. ‘Then there was a good deal of tumultuous leave-taking between Hoste and his family circle, mingled with sniffling and handkerchiefs, and of quieter farewells as concerned the rest of the party. But the torn heart of one in that group suffered in silence. Eanswith’s sweet, proud face was marveilously self-pos- sessed. | “Extraordinary creatures, women,” said Payne, as the three men rode out of the settlement. ‘“ I believe they pos- itively enjoy the fun of a good shivel. It’s just the same with my own crowd. When I left home [ was obliged to send a note by a boy to say ‘ta-ta’ to escape it all, don’t you know.”’ Hoste guffawed. It was just the sort of thing that George Payne, philosopher and cynic, would do. “Some few of them are sensible, though,’’ went on the latter, flaring upa vesuvian to light his pipe. ‘* Mrs, Car- hayes, for instance. She don’t make any fuss, or turn on the hose. ‘Takes things as they come—as a rational per- son should.” Hoste guffawed again. “ Now, George, who the very deuce should she make a fuss over or turn on the hose for?”’ he said. ‘* You or me, for instance. Eh?” “ N-no, [suppose not. Milne, perhaps. He’s a sort of brother or cousin or something, isn't he?” If Eustace had felt disposed to resent this kind of free- and-easiness he forebore, and that for two reasons. He liked the speaker, who, withal, was something of an original, and therefore a privileged person, and again the very care- lessness of the remark of either man showed that no suspi- cion as to his secret had found place in their minds—a mat- ter as to which he had not been without a misgiving a few minutes back. On opening the packet which Eanswyth had put into his hand at parting, Eustace found it to consist of a little an- tique silver tobacco-box, beautifully chased. This contained a photograph of herself, and a letter ; the last a short, hur- riedly penned note, which, perused there alone, with all the desolation of the recent parting fresh upon him, was effect- ual to thrill his heart to the very core. “And now,” it ended—* And now, oh, my precious one, ,=* call | * * Eomicbooks