A strong smell of garden
mould rose from a basket in her hands, Sherman recognized the child who
had given him tea that evening in the schoolhouse three years before.
mould rose from a basket in her hands, Sherman recognized the child who
had given him tea that evening in the schoolhouse three years before.
Yeats
She blew out the candle,
and replaced it among the photographs on the mantelpiece, and stood
there as calm as a portion of the marble.
'John, our friendship is over--it has been burnt in the candle. '
He started forward, his mind full of appeals half-stifled with despair,
on his lips gathered incoherent words: 'She will be happy with Howard.
They were made for each other. I slipped into it. I always thought I
should marry someone who was rich. I never loved anyone but you. I did
not know I loved you at first. I thought about you always. You are the
root of my life. '
Steps were heard outside the door at the end of a passage. Mary Carton
went to the door and called. The steps turned and came nearer. With a
great effort Sherman controlled himself. The door opened, and a tall,
slight girl of twelve came into the room.
A strong smell of garden
mould rose from a basket in her hands, Sherman recognized the child who
had given him tea that evening in the schoolhouse three years before.
'Have you finished weeding the carrots? ' said Mary Carton.
'Yes, Miss. '
'Then you are to weed the small bed under the pear-tree by the
tool-house. Do not go yet, child. This is Mr. Sherman. Sit down a
little. '
The child sat down on the corner of a chair with a scared look in her
eyes. Suddenly she said--
'Oh, what a lot of burnt paper! '
'Yes; I have been burning some old letters. '
'I think,' said John, 'I will go now. ' Without a word of farewell he
went out, almost groping his way.
He had lost the best of all the things he held dear. Twice he had gone
through the fire.
and replaced it among the photographs on the mantelpiece, and stood
there as calm as a portion of the marble.
'John, our friendship is over--it has been burnt in the candle. '
He started forward, his mind full of appeals half-stifled with despair,
on his lips gathered incoherent words: 'She will be happy with Howard.
They were made for each other. I slipped into it. I always thought I
should marry someone who was rich. I never loved anyone but you. I did
not know I loved you at first. I thought about you always. You are the
root of my life. '
Steps were heard outside the door at the end of a passage. Mary Carton
went to the door and called. The steps turned and came nearer. With a
great effort Sherman controlled himself. The door opened, and a tall,
slight girl of twelve came into the room.
A strong smell of garden
mould rose from a basket in her hands, Sherman recognized the child who
had given him tea that evening in the schoolhouse three years before.
'Have you finished weeding the carrots? ' said Mary Carton.
'Yes, Miss. '
'Then you are to weed the small bed under the pear-tree by the
tool-house. Do not go yet, child. This is Mr. Sherman. Sit down a
little. '
The child sat down on the corner of a chair with a scared look in her
eyes. Suddenly she said--
'Oh, what a lot of burnt paper! '
'Yes; I have been burning some old letters. '
'I think,' said John, 'I will go now. ' Without a word of farewell he
went out, almost groping his way.
He had lost the best of all the things he held dear. Twice he had gone
through the fire.
