United States or Lesotho ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
She shuddered, and her eyes looked wild. "I recognized him no matter how! . . . he bore my mark upon him he was my son, mine! the deformed, crazy creature who yet had wit enough to love you you, whom then I hated but now " She stopped and advanced a little closer to Thelma's bedside. "Now, there is nothing I would not do for you, my dear!" she said very gently. "But you will not need me any more.
"Say, why don't you come over to the hotel with me now," she suggested enthusiastically. "I'm just finishing my wash, and while I wrench out the last few things you can feed the baby; than I'll show you Thelma's things, and we can have lunch. Then him and Thel can take their naps, and you 'n' me'll go over to Miss Bates's and see what we can git. You'll want shoes for him, an' a good, strong hat "
"Froeken Thelma!" said Britta at last, timidly. "Yes, Britta?" And her mistress looked up inquiringly. "Of what use is it for you to spin now?" queried the little handmaid. "You will be a great lady, and great ladies do not work at all!" Thelma's wheel revolved more and more slowly, till at last it stopped altogether. "Do they not?" she said half inquiringly and musingly.
A bachelor is no better than a gossiping old woman. He that is always alone must talk, if it be only to woods and waves. It is the married men who know best how excellent it is to keep silence!" They all laughed, though Thelma's eyes had a way of looking pensive even when she smiled. "You would not blame poor Svensen because he is alone, father?" she said. "Is he not to be pitied?
She stared, but was soon on the defensive. "Miladi is in a little error!" she said rapidly and with soft persuasiveness. "It is la mode. Miladi has perhaps lived in a country where the fashions are different. But if she will ask the most amiable Sieur Bruce-Errington, she will find that her dress is quite in keeping with les convenances." A pained blush crimsoned Thelma's fair cheek.
Gueldmar accepted the invitation at once, and, the hour for their visit next day being fixed and agreed upon, the young men began to take their leave. As Errington clasped Thelma's hand in farewell, he made a bold venture. He touched a rose that hung just above her head almost dropping on her hair. "May I have it?" he asked in a low tone. Their eyes met.
The others listened, amused at his enthusiasm, and, meanwhile, the Altenfjord altogether disappeared, and the Eulalie was soon plunging in a rougher sea. They were bound for Christiania, where it was decided Thelma's marriage should at once take place after which Sir Philip would leave his yacht at the disposal of his friends, for them to return in it to England.
Her anxiety was very great she could not disguise from herself that Thelma's life was in danger, and both she and Valdemar wrote to Sir Philip Errington, preparing him for the worst, and urging him to come at once, little aware that the very night the lifeless child was born, was the same on which he had started from Hull for Christiansund, after his enforced waiting for the required steamer.
Stooping, she kissed Thelma's hand, and, before any one had time to speak a word, she left the room abruptly. When, in a few minutes, Britta went to look after her, she was gone. She had departed to her own house in Bosekop, where she obstinately remained.
He had entered quite noiselessly his footsteps making no sound on the thick velvet-pile carpet, and he stood quite close to Lorimer, who dropped Thelma's hands hastily and darted a suspicious glance at the intruder. But Sir Francis was the very picture of unconcerned and bland politeness, and offered Thelma his arm with the graceful ease of an accomplished courtier.
Word Of The Day