Weaker than a Woman — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. © 131 “Helix,” she said, ‘listen to this. It is a verse I read last night in a poem by Adelaide Anne Procter. I copied it to read to you because I thought it so beautiful.” She ' was sitting by his side in the attitude that painters of old gave to guardian angels, so full of love and protection. In her sweet, clear voice she read to him: ‘¢ Who is the angel that cometh? Pain ! Let us arise and go forth to greet him ; Not in vain Is the summons come for us to meet him, He will stay And darken our sun ; He will stay A desolate night, a weary day, Since in that shadow our work is done, And in that shadow our crowns are won, Let us say still while his bitter chalice Slowly into our hearts is poured— Blessed is he that cometh In the name of the Lord! “It is very beautiful,” he said, when the sweet voice ceased—it was as though a strain of solemn music had died away—‘very beautiful. I shall remember the angel of pain, and show him a brave face, I hope, when he comes. But tell me why you speak to me in this strain to-night? It may be only my fancy, but it has seemed to me that on the face of every man and woman I have met to-day I have read pity ; it must be fancy, but it seems to me so strange.”’ She could have told him that every man, woman, and child in Lilford knew that on the morrow Violet Haye was to marry Sir Owen. She could have told him also that there was none among them who did not feel sorry for him and indignant with her. “I had almost begun to fear that there was something fresh concerning that unfortunate will,” he said, “people have been so strange with me. It cannot be my love-story ; no one knows that. People all know, of course, that Violet has gone away to London; but I do not think any one out of our own household knows that she has broken with me.” Eve could not tell him; she could help him, she could strengthen his heart and his mind, but she could not look at him and say, ‘To-morrow will be Violet’s wedding- day.” She turned away sick at heart when she remem- bered the treachery, the cruelty, and the deceit—sick at heart that she could not take the whole burden upon her- self, and suffer for him. She was brave enough, but she . mn GoOMmIcbDOOKS