The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900 ... - Gredos

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
“Your woman's instinct quotha," laughed Humphrey. "In truth you must tell me before
we proceed further how long it is since you have been a woman, Rachel."
Rachel fixed her eyes serenely on him, and answered sedately: "About half an hour, I
think, Cousin ".
"Indeed!" he cried amused. "And what may have been the cause of the sudden
metamorphosis?”
[130]
"I cannot tell” she replied more seriously, "unless it was your very insulting and
disrespectful remarks about my sex. When I heard you speak slightingly of women, I
felt all at once that I was a woman."
Humphrey was becoming interested; he began to edge his chair closer to the window,
but she threw out her hand with a little frown. "You need come no nearer, I assure you. I
can see and hear you very well where you are.”
He stopped short with a bewildered laugh; the minx had, indeed, suddenly developed.
“I most humbly crave pardon for any remarks of mine which have offended you,” he
said, after a pause. “Pray forgive me, and teach me what I must do and say to please you
better. I will be a most meek and docile pupil, I promise you."
He spoke in jest, yet with a little underlying note of earnestness which she was quick to
detect. She stitched away in silence, however, and after a moment or two he continued:
"How would you have me deal with your sex, Rachel?"
She laid down her work and gazed at him earnestly; to her surprise she saw his colour
mount beneath her glance. Her mother had been right, it seemed; there was a certain
power in a girl's eyes. With feigned unconsciousness, yet with a delightful inward sense
of triumph, she averted them presently, and said with a gravity that was not assumed:—
"I would have you treat all women with honour and respect, Cousin Humphrey; and as
to the woman you are wooing"
She paused, glanced at him again, and then dropped her eyes.
“Go on," he cried eagerly. "The woman I am wooing"
[131]