Marie Belloc Lowndes

Barbara Rebell Marie Belloc Lowndes

He looked down at the delicate, sensitive face of the young woman standing before him, with an intent, scrutinising gaze, allowed it to travel slowly downwards till it seemed wholly to envelop her, and yet Barbara felt no offence: she realised that this strange being only so far examined her outward shape, inasmuch as he believed it would help him to probe her character and nature. In very truth the doctor's mind was filled at the present moment with the thought of one in every way differing from Mrs. Rebell. How would this still young creature-Barbara's look of fragility and youth gave him something of a shock-affect Madame Sampiero? That was the question he had set himself to solve in the next few moments. "Are you one of those," he said suddenly, and rather hoarsely, "who shrink from the sight of suffering?-who abhor distortion?-who only sympathise with pain when they themselves are in the way to require sympathy?" Barbara hesitated. His questions, flung at her with quick short words, compelled true answers. "No," she said, looking at him with steady eyes, "I have not-I have never had-the feelings you describe. I believe many people shrink from seeing suffering, and that it is not to their discredit that they do so shrink--" There was a defiant note in her voice, and quickly her companion registered the challenge, but he knew that this was no time to wage battle.