The Midnight Queen [29]
at
once, for the night-air is said to be unhealthy, and as good
people are scarce, I want to take care of myself."
"In that case, perhaps you had better let me enter, too. I hate
to talk on the street, for every wall has ears."
"I am aware of that. When I was talking to my old friend,
Prudence, two minutes ago, I saw a tall shape that I have reason
to know, since it haunts me, like my own shadow, standing there
and paying deed attention. I hope you found our conversation
improving, Mr. Ormiston!"
"Madame!" began Ormiston, turning crimson.
"Oh, don't blush; there is quite light enough from yonder lamp to
show that. Besides," added the lady, easily, "I don't know as I
had any objection; you are interested in Leoline, and must feel
curious to know something about her."
"Madame, what must you think of me? I have acted unpardonably."
"Oh, I know all that. There is no need to apologize, and I don't
think any the worse of you for it. Will you come to business,
Mr. Ormiston? I think I told you I wanted to go in. What may
you want of me at this dismal hour?"
"O madame, need you ask! Does not your own heart tell you?"
"I am not aware that it does! And to tell you the truth, Mr.
Ormiston, I don't know that I even have a heart! I am afraid I
mast trouble you to put it in words."
"Then, madame, I love you!"
"Is that all? If my memory serves me, you have told me that
little fact several times before. Is there anything else
tormenting you, or may I go in?"
Ormiston groaned out an oath between his teeth, and La Masque
raised one jeweled, snowy taper finger, reprovingly.
"Don't Mr. Ormiston - it's naughty, you know! May I go in?"
"Madame, you are enough to drive a man mad. Is the love I bear
you worthy of nothing but mockery!"
"No, Mr. Ormiston, it is not; that is, supposing you really love
me, which you don't."
"Madame!"
"Oh, you needn't flash and look indignant; it is quite true!
Don't be absurd, Mr. Ormiston. How is it possible for you to
love one you have never seen?"
"I have seen you. Do you think I am blind?" he demanded,
indignantly.
"My face, I mean. I don't consider that you can see a person
without looking in her face. Now you have never looked in mine,
and how do you know I have any face at all?"
"Madame, you mock me."
"Not at all. How are you to know what is behind this mask?"
"I feel it, and that is better; and I love you all the same."
"Mr. Ormiston, how do you know but I am ugly."
"Madame, I do not believe you are; you are all too perfect not to
have a perfect face; and even were it otherwise, I still love
you!"
She broke into a laugh -one of her low, short, deriding laughs.
"You do! O man, how wise thou art! I tell you, if I took off
this mask, the sight would curdle the very blood in your veins
with horror - would freeze the lifeblood in your heart. I tell
you!" she passionately cried, "there are sights too horrible for
human beings to look on and live, and this -this is one of
them!"
He started back, and stared at her aghast.
"You think me mad," she said, in a less fierce tone, "but I am
not; and I repeat it, Mr. Ormiston, the sight of what this mask
conceals would blast you. Go now, for Heaven's sake, and leave
me in peace, to drag out the rest of my miserable life; and if
ever you think of me, let it be to pray that it might speedily
end. You have forced me to say this: so now be content. Be
merciful, and go!"
She made a desperate gesture, and turned to leave him, but he
caught her hand and held her fast.
"Never!" he cried, fiercely. "Say what you will! let that mask
hide what it may! I will never leave you till life leaves me!"
"Man, you are mad! Release my hand and let me go!"
"Madame, hear me. There is but one way to prove my love, and my
sanity, and
once, for the night-air is said to be unhealthy, and as good
people are scarce, I want to take care of myself."
"In that case, perhaps you had better let me enter, too. I hate
to talk on the street, for every wall has ears."
"I am aware of that. When I was talking to my old friend,
Prudence, two minutes ago, I saw a tall shape that I have reason
to know, since it haunts me, like my own shadow, standing there
and paying deed attention. I hope you found our conversation
improving, Mr. Ormiston!"
"Madame!" began Ormiston, turning crimson.
"Oh, don't blush; there is quite light enough from yonder lamp to
show that. Besides," added the lady, easily, "I don't know as I
had any objection; you are interested in Leoline, and must feel
curious to know something about her."
"Madame, what must you think of me? I have acted unpardonably."
"Oh, I know all that. There is no need to apologize, and I don't
think any the worse of you for it. Will you come to business,
Mr. Ormiston? I think I told you I wanted to go in. What may
you want of me at this dismal hour?"
"O madame, need you ask! Does not your own heart tell you?"
"I am not aware that it does! And to tell you the truth, Mr.
Ormiston, I don't know that I even have a heart! I am afraid I
mast trouble you to put it in words."
"Then, madame, I love you!"
"Is that all? If my memory serves me, you have told me that
little fact several times before. Is there anything else
tormenting you, or may I go in?"
Ormiston groaned out an oath between his teeth, and La Masque
raised one jeweled, snowy taper finger, reprovingly.
"Don't Mr. Ormiston - it's naughty, you know! May I go in?"
"Madame, you are enough to drive a man mad. Is the love I bear
you worthy of nothing but mockery!"
"No, Mr. Ormiston, it is not; that is, supposing you really love
me, which you don't."
"Madame!"
"Oh, you needn't flash and look indignant; it is quite true!
Don't be absurd, Mr. Ormiston. How is it possible for you to
love one you have never seen?"
"I have seen you. Do you think I am blind?" he demanded,
indignantly.
"My face, I mean. I don't consider that you can see a person
without looking in her face. Now you have never looked in mine,
and how do you know I have any face at all?"
"Madame, you mock me."
"Not at all. How are you to know what is behind this mask?"
"I feel it, and that is better; and I love you all the same."
"Mr. Ormiston, how do you know but I am ugly."
"Madame, I do not believe you are; you are all too perfect not to
have a perfect face; and even were it otherwise, I still love
you!"
She broke into a laugh -one of her low, short, deriding laughs.
"You do! O man, how wise thou art! I tell you, if I took off
this mask, the sight would curdle the very blood in your veins
with horror - would freeze the lifeblood in your heart. I tell
you!" she passionately cried, "there are sights too horrible for
human beings to look on and live, and this -this is one of
them!"
He started back, and stared at her aghast.
"You think me mad," she said, in a less fierce tone, "but I am
not; and I repeat it, Mr. Ormiston, the sight of what this mask
conceals would blast you. Go now, for Heaven's sake, and leave
me in peace, to drag out the rest of my miserable life; and if
ever you think of me, let it be to pray that it might speedily
end. You have forced me to say this: so now be content. Be
merciful, and go!"
She made a desperate gesture, and turned to leave him, but he
caught her hand and held her fast.
"Never!" he cried, fiercely. "Say what you will! let that mask
hide what it may! I will never leave you till life leaves me!"
"Man, you are mad! Release my hand and let me go!"
"Madame, hear me. There is but one way to prove my love, and my
sanity, and