Part 9 (2/2)
CHAPTER VIII
VIII
Debora went to her own room swiftly that third evening, and, turning the key, stood with her two hands pressed tight above her heart. ”'Tis over,” she said--”'tis over, an' well over. Now to tell Darby. I'
faith, I know not rightly who I am. Nay, then, I am just Deb Thornbury, not Darby, nor Juliet, for evermore. Oh! what said he at the steps? 'I know thee, I have known thee from the first. See, thou art mine, thou art mine, I tell thee, Juliet, Juliet!'”
Then the girl laughed, a happy little laugh. ”Was ever man so imperative? Nay, was ever such a one in the wide, wide world?”
Remembering her dress, she unfastened it with haste and put on the kirtle of white taffeta.
The thought of Sherwood possessed her; his face, the wonderful golden voice of him. The words he had said to her--to her only--in the play.
Of the theatre crowded to the doors, of the stage where the Lord Chamberlain's Company made their exits and entrances, of herself--chief amongst them--she thought nothing. Those things had gone like a dream.
She saw only a man standing bareheaded before the little house of Dame Blossom. ”I know thee,” he had said, looking into her eyes. ”Thou art mine.”
”Verily, yes--or will be no other's,” she had answered him; ”and as for Fate, it hath been over-kind.” So, with her mind on these thoughts, she went to Darby's room.
He was standing idly by the window, and wheeled about as the girl knocked and entered.
”How look I now, Deb?” he cried. ”Come to the light. Nay, 'tis hardly enough to see by, but dost think I will pa.s.s muster on the morrow? I am weary o' being mewed up like a cat in a bag.”
Debora fixed her eyes on him soberly, not speaking.
”What is't now?” he said, impatiently. ”What art staring at? Thine eyes be like saucers.”
”I be wondering what thou wilt say an' I tell thee somewhat,” she answered, softly.
”Out with it then. Thou hast seen Berwick, I wager. I heard he was to be in town; he hath followed thee, Deb, an'--well, pretty one--things are settled between thee at last?”
”Verily, no!” she cried, her face colouring, ”an' thou canst not better that guessing, thou hadst best not try again.”
”No? Then what's to do, little sister?”
”Dost remember I told thee they had found one to take thy part at Blackfriars?”
”Egad, yes, that thought has been i' my head ever since. 'Fore Heaven, I would some one sent me word who 'twas. I ache for news. Hast heard who 'twas, Deb?”
”'Twas I,” she answered, the pink going from her face. ”'Twas I, Debora!”
The young fellow caught at the window ledge and looked at her steadily without a word. Then he broke into a strange laugh. Taking the girl by the shoulder he swung her to the fading light.
”What dost mean?” he said, hoa.r.s.ely. ”Tell me the truth.”
”I' faith, that is the truth,” she answered, quietly. ”The only truth.
There was no other way I could think of--and I had the lines by heart.
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