Despair

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21186, 5 November 1938, Page 5 (Supplement)

Despair

But smile on my suit, lady, and the wounded champion shall have nothing to fear from Front-de-Boeuf, whom else your may mourn for, as in the hands of one who has never shown compassion.” “I do not believe that your purpose is so wicked as your words, Sir Knight,” said Rowena to De Bracy. “Flatter yourself, then, with that belief,” said De Bracy, “until time shall prove it false. But not only Ivanhoe’s but Cedric’s fate, too, depends on you.” “Cedric also,” said Rowena, “I deserve the evil 1 have encountered, for forgetting his fate even in that of his son!”

And she burst into a passion of uncontrolled vexation and sorrow. De Bracy was not unmoved, though he was yet more embarrassed than touched. He had, in truth, gone too far to recede. He paced the floor to and fro, thinking to himself: “If 1 should be moved by the tears and sorrow of this disconsolate lady, what should I reap but the loss of those fair hopes for which I have encountered so much risk, and the ridicule of Prince John and his jovial comrades. I cannot look at so fair a face while it is disturbed with agony or on those eyes when they are drowned in tears. I wish she had retained her original haughtiness of disposition.” Agitated by these thoughts, he could only bid the unfortunate Rowena be comforted, but in this task De Bracy was interrupted by the horn, which had at lire same time alarmed the other inmates of the castle. Of them all, perhaps, De Bracy least regretted the interruption. He seized the opportunity of leaving the apartment at once.