J. Sheridan Le Fanu

The Evil Guest J. Sheridan Le Fanu

Excerpt: ...her hand kindly, and drawing her to the prie-dieu chair beside herself. Mademoiselle de Barras sate down, and, as she did so, read the countenance of her patroness with one rapid glance of her flashing eyes. These eyes, however, when Mrs. Marston looked at her the next moment, were sunk softly and sadly upon the floor. There was a heightened color, however, in her cheek, and a quicker heaving of her bosom, which indicated the excitement of an anticipated and painful disclosure. The outward contrast of the two women, whose hands were so lovingly locked together, was almost as striking as the moral contrast of their hearts. The one, so chastened, sad, and gentle; the other, so capable of pride and passion; so darkly excitable, and yet so mysteriously beautiful. The one, like a Niobe seen in the softest moonshine; the other, a Venus, lighted in the glare of distant conflagration. "Mademoiselle, dear mademoiselle, I am so much grieved at what I have to say, that I hardly know how to speak to you," said poor Mrs. Marston, pressing her hand; "but Mr. Marston has twice desired me to tell you, what you will hear with far less pain than it costs me to say it." Mademoiselle de Barras stole another flashing glance at her companion, but did not speak. "Mr. Marston still persists, mademoiselle, in desiring that we shall part." "Est-il possible?" cried the Frenchwoman, with a genuine start. "Indeed, mademoiselle, you may well be surprised," said Mrs. Marston, encountering her full and dilated gaze, which, however, dropped again in a moment to the ground. "You may, indeed, naturally be surprised and shocked at this, to me, most severe decision." "When did he speak last of it?" said she, rapidly. "But a few moments since," answered Mrs. Marston. "Ha," said mademoiselle, and remained silent and motionless for more than a minute. "Madame," she cried at last, mournfully, "I suppose, then, I must go; but it tears my heart to leave you and dear Miss Rhoda. I would be...