Between Snow and Fire — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

» 4 - a = a — 2 a 4 He, she, or it, has me at a disadvantage all round, for I a possess the gift of foresight in a degree so limited as to be practically zz. As for circumstances—so far from pretend- ing todirect them I am the mere creatureof them. So are weal.” _ « What has started you upon this train of thought?” she asked suddenly. «“ Several things. But I'll give you an instance of what I was saying just now. ‘This morning I was surprised and : surrounded by a gang of Kafirs, all armed to the teeth. Nearly all of them were on the very verge of shying their r assegais bang through me, and if Ncandiku—you know him —Nteya’s brother—hadn't appeared on the scene just in the very nick of time, I should have been a dead man. As it was, we sat down, had an zmdada and a friendly smoke, and parted on the best of terms. Now, wasn’t I helplessly, abjectly, the creature of circumstances—first in being mo- lested at all—second in Ncandtku’s lucky arrival ?” “Eustace! And you never told me this!” “T told Tom—yjust as he was starting—and he laughed. He didn’t seem to think much of it. To tell the truth, neither did I. Why—-what’s the matter, Eanswyth ?” Her face was deathly white. Her eyes, wide open, were dilated with horror ; then they filled with tears. The next moment she was sobbing wildly—locked in his close em- brace. “ Kanswyth, darling—my darling. What is it? Do not give way so! There is nothing to be alarmed about now— nothing.” His tones had sunk to a murmur of thrilling tenderness, He was showering kisses upon her lips, her brow, her eyes —upon stray tresses of soft hair which escaped beneath her hat. What had become of their attitude of guarded self- controlnow? Broken down, swept away at one stroke as the swollen mountain stream sweeps away the frail barri- cade of timber and stones which thought to dam its course —broken down before the passionate outburst of a strong nature awakened to the knowledge of itself—startled into life by the magic touch, by the full force and fury of a con- sciousness of real love. “You are right,” she said at last. “Wemust go away from here. I cannot bear that you should be exposed to > te A 7 Pe WU Za , A ; ‘ ‘ an 8 ” : : “ ; of anyone who may elect to do me a good or an ill turn. GComichboo ‘" oe * . i ac .: | 7 = » 7 - Po | - ¥ .*. , $ ~ % a £ a i