Farina by George Meredith
page 32 of 141 (22%)
page 32 of 141 (22%)
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back a leg.
Werner knotted his stringy brows, and seemed torn to pieces with the different pulling tides of his wrath. He grasped the mane of his horse and flung abroad handfuls, till the splendid animal reared in agony. 'You shall none of you live over this night, villains! I 'll hang you, every hag's son! My last orders were,--Keep quiet in the city, ye devil's brood. Take that! and that!' laying at them with his bare sword. 'Off with you, and carry these two pigs out of sight quickly, or I'll have their heads, and make sure o' them.' The latter injunction sprang from policy, for at the head of the chief street there was a glitter of the city guard, marching with shouldered spears. 'Maiden,' said Werner, with a bull's bow, 'let me conduct thee to thy father.' Margarita did not reply; but gave her hand to Farina, and took a step closer to the stranger. Werner's brows grew black. 'Enough to have saved you, fair maid,' he muttered hoarsely. 'Gratitude never was a woman's gift. Say to your father that I shall make excuses to him for the conduct of my men.' Whereupon, casting a look of leisurely scorn toward the guard coming up in the last beams of day, the Baron shrugged his huge shoulders to an |
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