Captivity by M. Leonora Eyles
page 67 of 514 (13%)
page 67 of 514 (13%)
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promised someone she would not notice herself any more.
But insensibly her dreams changed; instead of being a Deliverer now she dreamed, in spite of herself, of a Deliverer with whom she could go hand in hand; as the mild May days drew along to a hot June the dreams varied strangely. Up on Ben Grief all alone in the wind, hungry and blown about she would see herself preaching in the wilderness, eating locusts and wild honey, clad in the roughest sheep-skins. At home, or on Lashnagar, or in the water she saw herself like Britomart in armour--always in armour--while a knight rode at her side. When they came to dragons or giants she was always a few paces in front--she never troubled to question whether the knight objected to this arrangement or not. At feasts in the palace, or when homage was being done by vast assembled throngs of rescued people, he and she were together, and together when they played. She had definitely dismissed the doctor's talk of natural weakness. Not realizing all its implications she had nevertheless quite deliberately taken on the man's part. Then came a gipsy to the kitchen door one morning when Jean was in the byre. It was a good thing Jean was not there or she would have driven her away as a spaewife. She asked for water. Marcella gave her oatcake and milk and stood looking at her olive skin, her flashing eyes, her bright shawl curiously. As she drank and ate slowly she watched Marcella without a word. At last she said in a hoarse voice: "You will go on strange roads." "I wish I could," said Marcella, flushed with eagerness. "This place |
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