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The Little Minister, a novel by James Matthew Barrie |
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Chapter VII - Has the Folly of Looking into a Woman's Eyes by Way of Text |
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_ "This is the woman, captain," one of the policemen said in triumph; "and, begging your pardon, will you keep a grip of her till the sheriff comes back?" Halliwell did not turn his head. "You can leave her here." he said carelessly, "Three of us are not "But she's a slippery customer." "You can go," said Halliwell; and the policemen withdrew slowly, "Now then," he drawled, "why--By Jove!" The gallant soldier was as much taken aback as if he had turned to Before he spoke again she had perhaps made up her mind about him, "Why don't you look at me?" asked Halliwell, selfishly. "I daurna." "Am I so fearsome?" "You're a sojer, and you would shoot me like a craw." Halliwell laughed, and taking her wrists in his hands, uncovered "Oh, by Jove!" he said again, but this time to himself. As for the Egyptian, she slid the ring into her pocket, and fell "Oh," she cried, "is all sojers like you?" There was such admiration in her eyes that it would have been "Who on earth are you?" he asked, finding it wise not to look her "Dinna be angry at that, captain," the Egyptian implored. "I Thus put on his mettle, Halliwell again faced her, with the result "What I want to know," he explained severely, "is how you were He was pacing the room now, and she had her face to herself. It "Does the shirra blame the sojers?" exclaimed this quick-witted "What!" cried Halliwell, delighted. "It was the sheriff who told Perhaps the gypsy had two reasons for withholding her answer. If "If I tell you," she said eagerly, "will you set me free?" "I may ask the sheriff to do so." "But he mauna see me," the Egyptian said in distress. "There's "Why, surely you have not been before him on other occasions," "No in the way you mean," muttered the gypsy, and for the moment Halliwell thought it was the one cause of her woe, and great was "Tell me the truth," he said, "and I promise to befriend you." "Weel, then," the gypsy said, hoping still to soften his heart, "You can scarcely expect me to believe that. Where did you meet "In Glen Quharity. He was riding on a horse." "Well, I allow he was there yesterday, and on horseback. He was on "Ay, he did, without kenning. He was gieing his horse a drink when "You are trifling with me," interposed the indignant soldier. "You "And that's just what I am telling you, only you hinna the "You drew the whole thing out of him without his knowing?" "'Deed I did, and he rode awa' saying I was a witch." The soldier heard with the delight of a schoolboy. "Now if the sheriff does not liberate you at my request," he said, He looked at her with fun in his face, but the fun disappeared, "By Jove!" he said, "I don't wonder you bewitched the sheriff. I At this notion he smiled, but he also ceased looking at her. "You're angry wi' me," she sobbed. "I wish I had never set een on "Why do you wish that?" Halliwell asked. "Fine you ken," she answered, and again covered her face with her He looked at her undecidedly. "I am not angry with you," he said, gently. "You are an Had he really made a conquest of this beautiful creature? Her There was silence, save for the Egyptian's sobs. Halliwell's heart "My poor girl--" He stopped. Was she crying? Was she not laughing at him rather? He The gypsy peeped at him between her fingers, and saw that he was "If you're no angry wi' me," she said, sadly, "how will you no "I am looking at you now." He was very close to her, and staring into her wonderful eyes. I "Captain dear." She put her hand in his. His chest rose. He knew she was seeking Now she was further from him, but the spell held. She reached the Just in time he came to. It was when she turned from him to find "Sit down there," he said hoarsely, pointing to the chair upon Halliwell opened the door presently, and called to the soldier on "Davidson, see if you can find the sheriff. I want him. And The captain paused. "Yes," he muttered, and the old soldier marvelled at his words, Davidson did as he was ordered, and again the Egyptian was left "Afraid of a woman!" she said, contemptuously, though her heart "I admit it," he answered, calmly. He walked up and down the room, and she sat silently Watching him. "That story of yours about the sheriff was not true," he said at "I suspect it wasna," answered the Egyptian coolly, "Hae you been "Silence!" said the captain, and not another word would he speak "Why is the door locked?" cried the sheriff, shaking it. "All right," answered Halliwell; "the key is on your side." At that moment the Egyptian knocked the lamp off the table, and "Why are you in darkness?" asked the sheriff, as he entered. "Shut the door," cried Halliwell. "Put your back to it." "Don't tell me the woman has escaped?" "I have her, I have her! She capsized the lamp, the little jade. Still keeping firm hold of her, as he thought, the captain relit A moment passed before either man found his tongue. "Open the door. After her!" cried Halliwell. But the door would not open. The Egyptian had fled and locked it What the two men said to each other, it would not be fitting to "But she shan't escape us," Riach cried, and hastened out to Halliwell was in such a furious temper that he called up Davidson |