Part 49 (1/2)
”'When you fled,' she sighed, 'I was asleep and there was no time to lose. I barely had a moment to go to Bombay, to find papa, and return in time to join you. This is an East-Indian costume.'
”Still I was silent.
”'Are you shocked?' she asked, simply.
”'No,' I replied, in a dull voice, 'I'm past that.'
”'You are very rude,' she said, with the tears starting to her eyes.
”'I do not mean to be. I only wish to go away--away somewhere and find out what my name is.'
”'Your name is Harold Kensett.'
”'Are you sure?' I asked, eagerly.
”'Yes--what troubles you?'
”'Is everything plain to you? Are you a sort of prophet and second-sight medium? Is nothing hidden from you?' I asked.
”'Nothing,' she faltered. My head ached and I clasped it in my hand.
”A sudden change came over her. 'I am human--believe me!' she said, with piteous eagerness. 'Indeed, I do not seem strange to those who understand. You wonder, because you left me at midnight in Antwerp and you wake to find me here. If, because I find myself reincarnated, endowed with senses and capabilities which few at present possess--if I am so made, why should it seem strange? It is all so natural to me.
If I appear to you--'
”'Appear?'
”'Yes--'
”'Wilhelmina!' I cried; 'can you vanish?'
”'Yes,' she murmured; 'does it seem to you unmaidenly?'
”'Great Heaven!' I groaned.
”'Don't!' she cried, with tears in her voice--'oh, please don't! Help me to bear it! If you only knew how awful it is to be different from other girls--how mortifying it is to me to be able to vanish--oh, how I hate and detest it all!'
”'Don't cry,' I said, looking at her pityingly.
”'Oh, dear me!' she sobbed. 'You shudder at the sight of me because I can vanish.'
”'I don't!' I cried.
”'Yes, you do! You abhor me--you shrink away! Oh, why did I ever see you?--why did you ever come into my life?--what have I done in ages past, that now, reborn, I suffer cruelly--cruelly?'
”'What do you mean?' I whispered. My voice trembled with happiness.
”'I?--nothing; but you think me a fabled monster.'