Mr. Achilles by Jennette Barbour Perry Lee
page 82 of 149 (55%)
page 82 of 149 (55%)
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windows--out toward the garden. Grapevines climbed the posts and tendril
shadows were on the ground beneath. They rested on the frail figure moving under them toward the light. Marie hovered near her, with pillows and a sunshade, and her face full of care. But the woman waved her back. "I do not need you, Marie. Here--I will take the sunshade. Now, go back." She moved on slowly. The voices had died away. In the distance, she saw Miss Stone, moving toward the wood, alone. She paused for a moment, watching the grey figure--a little cloud passed across her face. She had not seen Miss Stone--since... she did not blame her--but she could not see her. She moved on slowly, the light from the sunshade touching the lines in her face and flushing them softly. Suddenly she stopped. On a low couch, a little distance away, a boy lay asleep. She came up to him softly and stood watching him. There was something in the flushed face, in the childish, drooping lip and tossed hair--that reminded her. Slowly she sank down beside him, hardly breathing. All about them, the summer went on--the quiet, gentle warmth and the fresh scent of blossoms. The boy murmured a little, and threw out an arm, and slept on. The woman's eyes watched the sleeping face. Something mysterious was in it--a look of other worlds. It was the look of Betty--at night... when she lay asleep. It certainly was from some other world. The woman bent forward a little. The dark eyes opened--and looked at her--and smiled. The boy sat up. "I sleep," he said. He rubbed his eyes, boyishly, smiling still to her. "I very sleepy," he said. "I work." He rubbed his arms. "I work hard." |
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