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Hichens, Robert Smythe, 1864-1950

"A Spirit in Prison"

"
"But I believe I am, perfectly well. You know I am always well. I
never even have fever. And you have that sometimes."
He continued to look at her searchingly.
"You have something."
He said it firmly, almost as if he were supplying her with information
which she needed and had lacked.
Hermione made a sound that was like a little laugh, behind which there
was no mirth.
"I don't know what it is."
Then, after a pause, she added that phrase which is so often upon
Sicilian lips:
"Ma forse e il destino."
Gaspare moved his head once as if in acquiescence.
"When we are young, Signora," he said, "we do what we want, but we
have to want it. And we think we are very free. And when we are old we
don't feel to want anything, but we have to do things just the same.
Signora, we are not free. It is all destiny."
And again he moved his head solemnly, making his liquid brown eyes
look more enormous than usual.
"It is all destiny," Hermione repeated, almost dreamily.


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