Volume I Part 75 (2/2)
said Charlton.
”Very likely,” said his friend, composedly; ”I could have guessed as much; but that is a fire you may warm yourself at; no eternal phosph.o.r.escence ? it is the leaping up of all internal fire, that only shows itself upon occasion.”
”I suppose you know what you are talking about,” said Charlton; ”but I can't follow you into the region of volcanoes. Constance Evelyn has superb eyes. It is uncommon to see a light blue so brilliant.”
”I would rather trust a sick head to the handling of the lovely lady than the superb one, at a venture.”
”I thought you never had a sick head,” said Charlton.
”That is lucky for me, as the hands do not happen to be at my service. But no imagination could put Miss Constance in Desdemona's place, when Oth.e.l.lo complained of his headache ?
you remember, Charlton, ?
”Faith, that's with watching ? 'twill away again ?
Let me but bind this handkerchief about it hard.' ”
Thorn gave the intonation truly and admirably.
”Fleda never said anything so soft as that,” said Charlton.
”No?”
”No.”
”You speak ? well, but _soft!_ ? do you know what you are talking about there?”
”Not very well,” said Charlton. ”I only remember there was nothing soft about Oth.e.l.lo; what you quoted of his wife just now seemed to me to smack of that quality.”
”I forgive your memory,” said Thorn, ”or else I certainly would not forgive you. If there is a fair creation in all Shakespeare, it is Desdemona; and if there is a pretty combination on earth that nearly matches it, I believe it is that one.”
”What one?”
”Your pretty cousin.”
Charlton was silent.
”It is generous in me to undertake her defence,” Thorn went on, ”for she bestows as little of her fair countenance upon me as she can well help. But try as she will, she cannot be so repellent as she is attractive.”
Charlton pushed his horse into a brisker pace not favourable to conversation; and they rode forward in silence, till, in descending the hill below Deepwater, they came within view of Hugh's work-place, the saw-mill. Charlton suddenly drew bridle.
”There she is.”
”And who is with her?” said Thorn. ”As I live! ? our friend ?
what's his name? ? who has lost all his ancestors. ? And who is the other?”
<script>