The Argosy — page 372: what you’re looking at

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

300 Sabrina. It was not always pleasant weather, and in the depth of winter we often came home damp and tired. But there was the evening, with its cosy meal, and the lounge by the sparkling wood fire heaped on the hearth between the dogs ; the black coffee, best modern substitute for nectar, the last Tauchnitz volume, and the talk which often lasted into the small hours. Sometimes we went to the theatre ; sometimes we had little recep- tions, mostly of women, when we tried to keep the talk from getting narrow by mixing it with music and games. For a time I was perfectly happy, for Sabrina was joyous; but it was only for a time. When the spring came she began to droop, and the doctor ordered change for both of us. So we put our lessons aside for a while and went to Braie, a tiny village near St. Germain, pleasantly embowered in apple and pear trees. Our lodging was in a farm-house, whence we could look down the green aisles of the forest. On fine days we sat on the mossy. carpet beneath the trees, looking up through the swaying branches to a heaven whose blue was subdued by little white clouds. But one April day dawned when the ground was covered with snow and the trees shivered in the icy wind. Before this Sabrina had been brighter and stronger; but on this desolate day she resumed her mental solitude and took to reading Thomas 4 Kempis. In answer to my remonstrances she remarked: ‘‘T love no one now, not even you, dear ; my heart is dead ; only duty remains; that must be enough for me.” “ Your duty is to get well and amuse yourself,” I retorted, glancing at the pile of really good novels, some of which had brought smiles to her lips during the past days. ‘¢Qh! those books are frivolous,” said she. ‘“ Let me read you some of this, Miss Patience.” I assented, and she read on till she came to the eighth chapter: ‘**¢ Converse not much with young people and strangers . . . . Be not familiar with any woman, but in a general way commend all good women to God.’ ” I became cross. ‘“ What can one expect from an old monk but that he should despise women? Depend upon it, my dear, it is best for men and women to meet, aye, and love each other. Take it for all in all, marriage is the noblest life, if you meet with the right person. Of course all hangs upon that sf/ I think it was better for Adam to fall with Eve, than to live on in Eden a hermit.” ‘‘ But is not renunciation always right ?” ‘‘ For those who have a superfluity of anything to renounce. Now put away your very good book till you have done your share in renouncing the world, the flesh, and the devil, having bravely fought them all.” Was it my speech which had brought life and colour to Sabrina’s ECONMCOOOKS.CO mn