Bebee by Ouida
page 52 of 209 (24%)
page 52 of 209 (24%)
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Bébée hesitated: take the stockings she would not; but perhaps she had refused them too roughly. She wished so that he would look up and save her speaking first; but he knew what he was about too warily and well to help her thus. She waited awhile, then took one little red moss-rosebud that she had saved all day in a corner of her basket, and held it out to him frankly, shyly, as a peace offering. "Was I rude? I did not mean to be. But I cannot take the stockings; and why did you tell me that falsehood?" He took the rosebud and rose too, and smiled; but he did not meet her eyes. "Let us forget the whole matter; it is not worth a sou. If you do not take the box, leave it; it is of no use to me." "I cannot take it." She knew she was doing right. How was it that he could make her feel as though she were acting wrongly? "Leave it then, I say. You are not the first woman, my dear, who has quarrelled with a wish fulfilled. It is a way your sex has of rewarding gods and men.--Here, you old witch, here is a treasure-trove for you. You can sell it for ten francs in the town anywhere." As he spoke he tossed the casket and the stockings in it to an old |
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