His Other Wife: A Novel — page 204: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

196 SERPENT AND DOVE. She started to a sitting posture, and peered nervously through the shadows of the dingy cabin. Next she became aware of the rapid motion of the vessel, and heard the creaking of its timbers as they met the swell of the sea that was growing boisterous. Saving these sounds, all else was still as possible. _A low, smothered cry of fear escaped the girl. She had hardly uttered it when a voice behind said, gently: ‘What is it, dear child?” She turned with a movement of momentary relief and pleasure at hearing atone that she knew, and met the dark, quiet face of the creole. He was sitting just in rear of the sofa, with his elbow resting on its high, carved back, and his head leaned on his hand. He had evi- dently been keeping watch over Faith’s slumbers. There was a sad pathos of mingled tenderness and compassion in his large, beautiful eyes, that sometimes wore the touching expression of a fawn’s. wih ‘‘Oh! where are we, Mr. Vernois? Why did you not speak sooner? I was so scared, and felt so lost to waken in this awful, still place !” She spoke with hurried, panting breath, looking agit; into Vernois’ face, ‘*T did not want to startle you till you had quite waked up. You need have no. fear, we are safe. I have not left you for a moment.” _ ‘But where are we? This is a ship we are on, is it not? I hear waves, and feel the plunging motion of a Eomicbooks.¢o