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

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
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Simon, she was conscious of something that was very like fear. He held his hat in his
hand, and she noticed the nervous grip of the strong brown fingers. Lifting her eyes
almost timidly to his face, she saw that his colour came and went, and that he was
evidently struggling with some overpowering emotion. The tall, commanding presence,
a sudden recognition of the strength of the man's nature, the consciousness of the
fierceness of that silent battle, combined to overawe her. She leaned back in her chair,
dropping her eyes again, and waited with bated breath till he should speak. All at once
he made a step nearer to the table, and, thrusting his hand into his bosom, drew forth a
lace-edged handkerchief.
He laid it on the table without a word. She took it up, gazing inquiringly at him, her
courage returning now that he had begun to take action. "It is my daughter's,” she said,
with a little laugh that grated on her own ears. "She lost it some days ago."
"Yes," returned Simon, "I found it."
"Well, it is very good of you to bring it to me," quoth Madam, smiling with a quivering
lip.
"I found it three days ago," said Simon, speaking steadily and deliberately," and I have
carried it about with me ever since. It has lain against my bosom night and day."
She looked at him now, her colour rising and her eyes flashing.
"I came to speak to you about it," he went on, keeping his eyes unflinchingly on hers.
"It seemed to me right that you should know. I have the misfortune to love your
daughter, and to-day I made up my mind to come and tell you so."
The lady stood up and faced him, the pride of race asserting itself, every instinct and
tradition of her line
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rushing to reinforce her outraged dignity; but Yeoman Fleetwood held his ground,
dominating all by the mere force of his personality.
"I have kept my word to you,” he went on. "When she was in the house, I have gone out
— I have remained away; but every time that she comes my love grows stronger. I can