The revels of Orsera : a mediaeval romance / by Ronald Ross.

  • Ross, Ronald, Sir, 1857-1932.
Date:
1920
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The revels of Orsera : a mediaeval romance / by Ronald Ross. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    For the weather was warm with the sea-wind, though stormy. The girl looked up sharply. “ It has sore eyes,” she said, “and the light hurts it.” “ How I love children ! ” cried Pompilia, giving her the milk ; “ for such a child as yours I have prayed Heaven morning, noon, and night. Will you let me look at it ? Alas ! I love to see their innocent eyes.” The girl now looked sharply at Pompilia and said, “ Good madam, it is not well and this chill air wTill hurt it.” “ It is not chill,” Morva exclaimed suddenly. “ Why will you not let us see it ? Is it deformed ? ” “ Deformed ? ” reiterated the woman. “ Ha,” said Morva, “ I have guessed it.” “It is my child,” she answered, hugging the bundle. Morva strode forward and put her hand on the shawl covering the infant. “ I will see it,” she cried. The stranger flushed deep red ; and, starting up, she shrieked loudly, glaring at the other in terror. While they all shrank back in amazement at this strange conduct she rushed to the door and, refusing the milk which Pompilia had offered her, disappeared in the storm. “ I guessed it,” said Morva, folding her hands under her cloak ; “ the brat must be deformed.” The girl’s name was Brunde Wilstern. She had scarcely gone when Zozimo, who had been watching the scene silently, turned round With a small sigh to resume his work. As he did so his eye fell on a bench which he had but lately brought in and placed out of the way behind a butt. To his surprise there wrere some things novr heaped upon it; stepping up to them, he found a cloak and hat of the finest black stuff with clasps of the most magnificent emeralds set in Venetian silver-wrork ; a green plume ; and a long basilard in a chased silver scabbard and with a hilt of enormous diamonds and emeralds em-