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

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
proceeding, and to her husband's relief the renewed motion of the chaise did not rouse
her. To his relief, I say, for a certain resolve had gradually shaped itself in his mind. He
would relieve her of his presence even while she slept,
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sparing her thus further perplexities, it might be, further humiliations. The pain of her
home-coming should not be increased by the consciousness of his presence; she should
make the needful explanations to her parents in private, and thus avoid the confusion of
acknowledging their relations to each other while he actually stood by. Yes, he would
go; and she on awaking and finding herself alone would breathe more freely, and be
grateful for his forbearance.
Now one familiar landmark flashed in sight, and now another: the time had come. How
soundly she slept! Her little face was pale, but looked very peaceful; the lips had
dropped apart almost in a smile, the dark-rimmed eyes were fast sealed — there were
tears upon the lashes yet. Poor child! poor child! The small hands which had before
clutched the folds of the heavy coat so convulsively were relaxed, and lay softly curled
like the hands of an infant. Simon bent over them and kissed them very lightly; then
filled with an uncontrollable impulse he suffered his lips to rest for one moment on the
lips which were so gently smiling. The dark eyes opened, and gazed drowsily at him,
and his heart leaped; but they were full of slumber still, and closed again without
recognition. "It was for the last time,” he said to himself. "Good-bye, my sweet!"
They were ascending a hill now at a somewhat slackened pace, and he opened the door
softly, and, after closing it, dropped behind; doing all so cautiously that the postboy
himself knew nothing of what had happened.
The sun was high in the heavens when Simon drew near to his home. He came at a
swinging pace across the dewy fields, leaping ditches, forcing his way through the cool
dripping branches of the hedgerows, while the
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larks carolled above, and the waking nestlings querulously chirped. Simon, with his
heavy heart, felt himself at variance with this joyous world of spring; and pressed on,