The Vicissitudes of Bessie Fairfax by [pseud.] Holme Lee
page 130 of 528 (24%)
page 130 of 528 (24%)
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the building. She knew every word he would hear, every antiquity he
would admire. She saw him in the choir turning over the splendid manuscript books of Holy Writ and of the Mass which were in use in the church when the kings of England were still dukes of Normandy; saw him carried off into the crypt where is shown the pyx of those long-ago times, a curious specimen of mediƦval work in brass; and after that she lost him. Would they climb the dome, those enterprising young men? Bessie took it for granted that they would. But she must see dear Harry again; and oh for a word with him! Perhaps he would seek her out--he might have learnt from her mother where she was at Bayeux--or perhaps he would not _dare_? Not that Harry's character had ever lacked daring where his wishes were concerned; still, recollecting the trouble that had come of his former unauthorized visit, he might deny himself for her sake. It was not probable, and Bessie would not have bidden him deny himself; she would willingly go through the same trouble again for the same treat. Why had she not taken courage to arrest his progress? How foolish, how heartless it would appear to-morrow if the chance were not renewed to her to-day! She would not have done so silly a thing three years ago--her impulse to follow him, to call out his name, would have been irresistible--but now she felt shy of him. A plague on her shyness! Bessie's little temper had the better of her for a minute or two. She was very angry with herself, would never forgive herself, she said, if by her own trivial fault she had thrown away this favor of kind Fortune. What must she do, what could she do, to retrieve her blunder? Where seek for him? How find him? She quivered, grew hot and cold again with excitement. Should she go to the Green Square?--he was sure to visit that quarter. Then she remembered a high window in the canon's house |
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