Page:Bianca, or, The Young Spanish Maiden (Toru Dutt).djvu/11

274 I find not yet one single thought,

That cries against my wish for thee!

She went quietly and sat down beside him, with her sewing in her hand. He passed his hand over her hair. "It is better so," he said, "after all she is safer in the Master's fold than here."

After some cursory talk, Bianca as her custom was, brought a French book; her father read aloud from it and she sowed; then in her turn she read aloud and he listened. It was About's 'Germaine.' M. Garcia had been asked by the editor of a magazine to write an article on French light literature of the present day. A refugee, and in exile for a long time, he eked out his scanty income by writing occasionally for the press. A perfect knowledge of the literature of many countries qualified him well for such work. "About is always "spirituel," isn’t he father? Though his standard of morality isn’t very high;" remarked Bianca "He is very epigrammatic, and the dullest subject he can make interesting as a novel. The "Grece Contemporaine" is an instance.” "I don't wonder the Empress used to have him at her soirées to make him tell a tale impromptu. I should like to hear him."

As the night came on, they closed the book and remained silent. Bianca was looking at the moon. What were the thoughts passing through her head? It would be hard to tell. Her face was very thoughtful, yet there was a quiet brightness in it, and her eyes had a dreamy far-off look. She rose up suddenly, and a rather sad smile parted her lips. "We must be going father, it is late." They both went in; as she was going to bed she said; "Father, Maggie ask me to go and see her to-morrow; I may go?" "Yes,by all moans. But stop—the old lady may think you want to hook her son as a husband." She laughed, and her father smiled too. “He isn't here now, he is in London, father." "Well, then you can go. When are you going?" "Oh tomorrow; any time will do. Shall you want me tomorrow?" "The article I am going to write should be looked at. I should like to have your opinion Bianca. I have to send it to-morrow." "Oh I will look over it, and, then I shall go." She said