DOI article:
D'Arcy, Ella: Irremediable
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20196#0103
By Ella D'Arcy 97
" P'raps you don't care to see me ? " she Said. " Well, why did
you kiss me, then ? "
Why, indeed ! thought Willoughby, marvelling at his own
idiotcy, and yet—such is the inconsistency of man—not wholly
without the desire to kiss her again. And while he looked at her
she suddenly flung herseif down on the hedge-bank at his feet and
burst into tears. She did not cover up her face, but simply pressed
one cheek down upon the grass while the water poured from her
eyes with astonishing abundance. Willoughby saw the dry earth
turn dark and moist as it drank the tears in. This, his first
experience of Esther's powers of weeping, distressed him horribly ;
never in his life before had he Seen any one weep like that; he
should not have believed such a thing possible, and he was alarmed,
too, lest she should be noticed from the house. He opened the
gate ; " Esther ! " he begged, " don't cry. Come out here, like
a dear girl, and let us talk sensibly."
Because she stumbled, unable to see her way through wet eyes,
he gave her his hand, and they found themselves in a field of com,
Walking along the narrow grass-path that skirted it, in the shadow
of the hedgerow.
" What is there to cry about because you have not seen me for
two days ?" he began ; " why, Esther, we are only strangers, after
all. When we have been at home a week or two we shall scarcely
remember each other's names."
Esther sobbed at intervals, but her tears had ceased. "It's fine
for you to talk of home," she Said to this. " You've got some-
thing that is a home, I s'pose f But me ! my home's like hell,
with nothing but quarrellin' and cursin', and father who beats us
whether sober or drunk. Yes! " she repeated shrewdly, seeing
the lively disgust on Willoughby's face, " he beat me, all ill as I
was, jus' before I come away. I could show you the bruises on
my
" P'raps you don't care to see me ? " she Said. " Well, why did
you kiss me, then ? "
Why, indeed ! thought Willoughby, marvelling at his own
idiotcy, and yet—such is the inconsistency of man—not wholly
without the desire to kiss her again. And while he looked at her
she suddenly flung herseif down on the hedge-bank at his feet and
burst into tears. She did not cover up her face, but simply pressed
one cheek down upon the grass while the water poured from her
eyes with astonishing abundance. Willoughby saw the dry earth
turn dark and moist as it drank the tears in. This, his first
experience of Esther's powers of weeping, distressed him horribly ;
never in his life before had he Seen any one weep like that; he
should not have believed such a thing possible, and he was alarmed,
too, lest she should be noticed from the house. He opened the
gate ; " Esther ! " he begged, " don't cry. Come out here, like
a dear girl, and let us talk sensibly."
Because she stumbled, unable to see her way through wet eyes,
he gave her his hand, and they found themselves in a field of com,
Walking along the narrow grass-path that skirted it, in the shadow
of the hedgerow.
" What is there to cry about because you have not seen me for
two days ?" he began ; " why, Esther, we are only strangers, after
all. When we have been at home a week or two we shall scarcely
remember each other's names."
Esther sobbed at intervals, but her tears had ceased. "It's fine
for you to talk of home," she Said to this. " You've got some-
thing that is a home, I s'pose f But me ! my home's like hell,
with nothing but quarrellin' and cursin', and father who beats us
whether sober or drunk. Yes! " she repeated shrewdly, seeing
the lively disgust on Willoughby's face, " he beat me, all ill as I
was, jus' before I come away. I could show you the bruises on
my