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THE SEXTON'S OLD HOKSE 21J
' What matters it for me ? I love them ; and love works no evil. I will go.'
But the truth was, I forgot the children, infatuate with the horse.
Eyes flashed through the darkness, and I knew that Adam stood in his own shape beside me. I knew also by his voice that he repressed an indignation almost too strong for him.
' Mr. Vane,' he said, ' do you not know why you have not yet done anything worth doing ? '
' Because I have been a fool,' I answered.
' Wherein ? '
' In everything.'
' Which do you count your most indiscreet action ? '
' Bringing the princess to life : I ought to have left her to her just fate.'
' Nay, now you talk foolishly ! You could not have done otherwise than you did, not knowing she was evil! —But you never brought any one to life ! How could you, yourself dead ? '
I dead ? ' I cried.
' Yes,' he answered ; ' and you will be dead, so long as you refuse to die.'
' Back to the old riddling !' I returned scornfully.
' Be persuaded, and go home with me,' he continued gently. ' The most—nearly the only foolish thing you ever did, was to run from our dead.'
I pressed the horse's ribs, and he was off like a sudden wind. I gave him a pat on the side of the neck, and he went about in a sharp-driven curve, close to the ground, like a cat when scratchingly she wheels about after a mouse,' leaning sideways till his mane swept the tops of the heather. |
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