United States or Albania ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Why had she been such a fool as to come to Monk Lawrence at all, and then to submit to seeing it on sufferance! in Winnington's custody? And how he must be contrasting her with Susy Amberley! the soft sister of charity, plying her womanly tasks, in the manner of all good women, since the world began!
More wages more food more leisure more joy! By G d! we'll have them, or bring down your world and ours in one ruin together!" And then far back, from the middle of the last century, there came to Winnington's listening mind the cry of the founders of English democracy. "The vote! give us the vote! and bring in the reign of plenty and of peace." And the vote was given.
"I've just fallen in love! fallen in love!" the words repeated themselves brazenly, desperately, in her mind: "and I can't think for myself judge for myself any longer! It's abominable but it's true!" The very thought of Winnington's voice and look made her tremble as she walked. Eternal weakness of the eternal woman! She scorned herself, yet a bewildering joy sang through her senses.
That possibility, instead of frightening her, gave the girl some momentary comfort. For that might perhaps secure Winnington's silence? But no! her common sense dismissed the notion. Winnington would discover at once that she had had no connection whatever with the business. Lathrop's evidence alone would be enough.
The girl who is mentally deficient will be sent to a home and cared for. The father sees now that it is the best. Please trust it to me." "Why mayn't I know the facts!" persisted Delia, paler than before. A flash of some quick feeling passed through Winnington's eyes. "Why should you? Leave us older folk, dear Miss Delia, to deal with these sorrowful things." Indignation blazed up in her.
It took weeks and months, they say, before you and she arrived at an armed truce after a most appalling state of war! There's an old gardener here retired now who remembers you quite well. He told me yesterday that you used to be very friendly with him, and you said to him once 'I like Granny! she's the master of me!" The laughter in Winnington's eyes again kindled hers.
"Are you going to stay, Miss?" said the girl. "There's only the small bedroom vacant." Delia burst out laughing especially at the sight of Winnington's irate countenance. "All right. It'll do quite well. Now tell me where Miss Marvell is." "I mustn't interrupt her, Miss." "This is my flat," said Delia, good-humouredly "so I think you must. And please shew Mr. Winnington the drawing-room."
"Delia!" She looked at him still helplessly silent. She had thrown off her hat and furs, and, in her short walking-dress, she looked singularly young and fragile. The change which had tempered the splendid or insolent exuberance of her beauty, which Lathrop had perceived, had made it in Winnington's eyes infinitely more appealing, infinitely more seductive.
Whenever during these days Winnington's business took him in the Latchford direction, so that going or coming he passed Monk Lawrence, he would walk up to the Abbey in the evening, and in the course of the gossip of the day, all the reassuring news he had to give would be sure to drop out; while Delia sat listening, her eyes fixed on him.
Delia pitied herself, not only because she was Winnington's ward against her will, but because of the silent force of public opinion that upheld him, and must necessarily condemn her. So he had once been engaged? Lady Tonbridge had told her so. To a gentle, saintly person of course! a person to suit him. Delia could not help a movement of half petulant curiosity and then an involuntary thrill.
Word Of The Day