The Argosy — page 320: what you’re looking at

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

Sabrina. 301 face, as Thomas 4 Kempis slipped from her lap and she passed from a nun into a woman? IV. I LOOKED round involuntarily, and in the doorway stood Miles, with a mischievous smile on his sunburnt face. How very welcome he was, to be sure! “ Having fought them all,” he repeated. ‘‘ Now, I wonder who they can be? Ah! I know: Margery’s naughty boys.” “No, I said, half vexed; “‘the world, the flesh, and the devil— more terrible opponents even than those naughty boys.” He laughed, and Sabrina, with her hand lingering in his, laughed too. I looked out of the window. One of those sudden changes which take place in April had come over the weather ; the greyness had passed into a mellow afternoon tint, a warm wind was melting the snow. Within, they two stood, with the air of people awakening from a dream. ‘Sabrina, sit down. She has been ill, Mr. Grace. Didn’t Margery tell you? She has corresponded with you, I know.” Sabrina’s face had lost its glow and grown pale again. ‘No; Margery said nothing about it. What has been the matter ?” said he, softly leaning towards her. ‘Only weakness, but it is nearly over now,” with a long breath, as of one laying down a burden. Miles stayed, talking of the winter. We did not know that he had spent it in Egypt, at which he seemed vexed. We walked back part of the way to St. Germain with him, and in the middle of the long chestnut avenue, facing the chateau, we said goodbye. I shook hands with him and turned to go, but they lingered. Sabrina had in her hand a few violets, and he asked her for them. There are a few faults without which a woman cannot well get on; one of these is coquetry. At this period Sabrina was absolutely lack- ing init. The stupid girl actually never caught the look with which he made his request, though I do not believe she saw the violets very distinctly. I perceived all this, however, out of the corner of my eye. “These?” said she; “ they are not very fresh ; I have been holding them in my hand; but you may have them if you like,” and she put a few leaves with them. As she gave them to him, he touched her hands with his lips, then with a look of pain I could not understand, he walked rapidly away. Sabrina fell into a fit of musing, as she walked beside me. She was again standing by that mysterious stream, whose ripples touched her very feet. For some days after this I sat and watched her icy sweetness expand into that warm and fragrant blossom which we call by so many names. We read and we talked, but never once of Miles ; he was too near our thoughts for that. CoOnniiclooOolxs (CO) mn