FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   507   508   509   510   511   512   513   514   515   516   517   518   519   520   521   522   523   524   525   526   527   528   529   530   531  
532   533   534   535   536   537   538   539   540   541   542   543   544   545   546   547   548   549   550   551   552   553   554   555   556   >>   >|  
r face had not so much as the faintest tinge of hectic, but was utterly colourless--worse, it was wan, ghastly. A distressing sight to look upon, was she, as she stood there; she and the festal attire were so completely at variance. She came forward, before the servants could recover from their astonishment. "Where's Richard?" she asked, speaking in a low, subdued tone, as if fearing to be heard--though there was nobody in the house to hear her, save Lucy Tempest. And probably it was from her wish to avoid all attention to her proceeding, that caused her to come down stealthily to the servants, instead of ringing for them. "Richard is not come back, ma'am," answered Catherine. "We have just been saying that he'll most likely stop up there with the Hall servants until my lady returns." "Not back!" echoed Sibylla. "Cook, you must go out for me," she imperiously added, after a moment's pause. "Go to Dean's and order one of their flys here directly. Wait, and come back with it." The cook, a simple sort of young woman, save in her own special department, did not demur, or appear to question in the least the expediency of the order. Catherine questioned it very much indeed; but while she hesitated what to do, whether to stop the cook, or to venture on a remonstrance to Mrs. Verner, or to appeal to Miss Tempest to do it, the cook was gone. Servants are not particular in country places, and the girl went straight out as she was, not staying to put anything on. Sibylla appeared to be shivering. She took up her place right in front of the fire, holding out her hands to the blaze. Her teeth chattered, her whole frame trembled. "The fire in my dressing-room went out," she remarked. "Take care that you make up a large one by the time I return." "You'll never go, ma'am!" cried old Catherine, breaking through her reserve. "You are not strong enough." "Mind your own business," sharply retorted Sibylla. "Do you think I don't know my own feelings, whether I am strong, or whether I am not? I am as strong as you." Catherine dared no more. Sibylla cowered over the fire, her head turned sideways as she glanced on the table. "What's that?" she suddenly cried, pointing to the contents of a jug. "It's beer, ma'am," answered Catherine. "That stupid girl drew as much as if Richard and Therese had been at home. Maybe Therese will be in yet for supper." "Give me a glass of it. I am thirsty." Again old Catherine hesitate
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   507   508   509   510   511   512   513   514   515   516   517   518   519   520   521   522   523   524   525   526   527   528   529   530   531  
532   533   534   535   536   537   538   539   540   541   542   543   544   545   546   547   548   549   550   551   552   553   554   555   556   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Catherine

 

Sibylla

 
Richard
 

servants

 

strong

 

Therese

 

Tempest

 

answered

 

trembled

 
dressing

chattered

 

remarked

 
return
 

faintest

 

country

 
places
 

utterly

 

straight

 

colourless

 

Servants


Verner

 
appeal
 

staying

 

hectic

 

holding

 
breaking
 

appeared

 
shivering
 

stupid

 
contents

suddenly
 

pointing

 

thirsty

 
hesitate
 

supper

 

glanced

 
sideways
 

sharply

 

retorted

 
business

reserve

 

cowered

 
turned
 

feelings

 

venture

 

recover

 
astonishment
 
returns
 

variance

 
forward