Moths by Ouida — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

BB). 4 MOTHS. with eyes that he made most tender and persuasive. They were beautiful eyes, that lentithemselves with willingness to this famil- iar office. ““They must have been washed away by the tide; it is coming higher each moment. Indeed, you must not remain where you are,’or you will be surrounded very soon and carried off yourself. These Channel tides are treacherous and uncertain.” ‘TT will go to my maid,” murmured Vere, with a fawn-like spring from her stones to others, forgetting in her shame to even thant him for his services. . ‘“To that admirable person enthroned yonder?” said the singer of the songs. ****‘ But, mademoiselle, there is the deep sea between you and her already. Look!” Indeed, so rapidly had the tide run in, and the waters swelled up, that she was divided from her attendant by a broad sheet of blue shallows. Keziah, tired and sleepy from her journeyings, was nodding unconsciously on her throne of rocks. ‘* And she will be drowned!” said Vere, with a piercing cry, and she®began wading knee-deep into the sea before her com- anion knew what she was about. In a moment he had caught er and lifted her back on to the firm sand. ‘Your good woman is in no danger, but you cannot reach her so, and you will only risk your own life, mademoiselle,” he said, gently. ‘‘There is nothing to be alarmed about. Shout to your attendant to take the path up the cliffs—perhaps she would not understand me—and we will take this road; so we shall meet on the top of this table-land that is now above our heads. Thatis all. Shout loudly to her.” Vere was trembling, but she obeyed—she had learned the too oft forgotten art of obedience at Bulmer Chase—and she shouted loudly till she aroused Keziah, who awoke. rubbing her eyes, and dreaming, no doubt, that she was in the servants’ hall at Bulmer. | When she understood what had happened and what she was bidden to do, the stout North-countrywoman tucked up her pet- ticoats, and began to climb up the steep path witha will, once assured that her young mistress was out of all danger. The face ' of the cliff soon hid her figure from sight, and Vere felt her heart sink strangely. : . , But she had no time to refiect, for the stranger propelled her gently toward the worn ridge in the rocks near them, a path which the fisher-people had made in coming up and down. “ Let us mount quickly, mademoiselle.. I did not notice my- self that the tide was so high. Alas! I fear the rocks will hurt your feet. When we reach the first ledge you must wind some grass round them. Come!” Vere began to climb. The stones and the sand and the rough dry weeds cut her feet terribly, but these did not hurt her so much as the idea that he saw her without shoes and stockings. Reach- ing a ledge of stone, he bade her sit down, and tore upsome broad grasses and brought them to her. ‘‘ Bind these about your feet,” he said, kindly, and turned his wack to her. ‘‘ Ah! why will you mind so much? Madame, your CC 0) comic oKe le) <5