I heard Neil Doherty bolt and bar the hall door on his way to bed and I
knew then that it must be eleven. There were many things to think of.
To-morrow the preparations for the wedding must all be put a stop to.
The presents must be returned. There was so much to be done, so many
things to be cancelled. I wondered when and how Garret Dawson's blow
would fall. He was one to seek an opportunity of doing it publicly. That
it would fall I had no doubt. There was no relenting behind that face of
granite.
Well, for to-night the old souls might sleep. To-morrow there would be
Mary Champion to stand by them. I did not yet dare to think of the joy
that was coming to me from over the world. It would be another blow to
them that I loved Anthony Cardew.
Also through my thoughts there came the face of Richard Dawson, and I
wondered if he was somewhere out in the night. I did not feel that the
house to which he was to have brought me a bride could contain him that
night. What was he doing? Where had he gone for consolation? My pity for
him and my remorse were great.
A coal fell out of the fire with a sudden noise, and the displaced coals
fell in, sending up a big shower of sparks.
Pages:
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234