Page:Bianca, or, The Young Spanish Maiden (Toru Dutt).djvu/4

Rh ground, her head bent down. How long she remained there she did not know. It was getting dark when a hand was placed on her shoulder; and a voice, Martha’s voice said. 'Miss Bianca whatever are you at?' She opened her eyes but without stirring. 'Miss Bianca, Miss Bianca,' cried Martha beseechingly, 'Pair thing, puir thing, she does not hear.' And Martha shook her by the shoulders. 'Are ye benumbed, are ye frozen?' She rose now. 'No Martha; there’s nothing the matter with me.' 'But why are ye out, all alone, in the snow? If ye go on in this way, ye’ll soon fallow sweet Miss Inez.’ 'Would to God, I could;’ exclaimed she below her breath, and her brown eyes looked dreamily and longingly at the drear scenery around. 'And if ye were baith to leave your auld father, what’s to become of him I should like to know She turned her face towards the old Scotch woman. 'You are right, Martha. Poor papa;‘ she murmured, and got up. 'Yeare wet through Miss Bianea, ye must change your clothes.' 'I’ll take a cup of tea first Martha, and papa must have something.' She entered the dining room. Reader lot me describe her to you a little.

She was not beautiful; of the middle height; her slight figure was very graceful; her face was not quite oval; her fore-head was low; her lips wore full, sensitive and mobile; her colour was dark; have you ever soon an Italian peasant girl? When she blushed or was excited, the color mounted warm and deep to her pale olive cheek; she was beautiful then; her dark brown eyes, 'just like Keeper’s' (the dog’s) her father would say, smiling,—were large and full; in fact this pair of eyes and her long, black curls were her only points of beauty.

Martha brought her a cup of tea, she took it; then made one large cup for her father and went upstairs. She hung up her dress; her father must not see her thus drenched; he would be anxious. Then,he softly entered the room where the much- loved had died. Her father was on his knees beside the bod; she put the cup gently on the side-table, and came quietly and knelt beside him. Some time elapsed; she was weeping silently to herself; when a hand was placed heavily and slowly on her