Part 39 (1/2)

Afterwards she went for a tramp on the moors, and steadied her nerve by the rapid swing of her walk, and the deep inbreathing of that glorious air. Once or twice she took a telegram from her pocket, stood still and read it; then tramped on, to the wonder of the words: ”Special license easily obtained.” Ah, the license might be easy to obtain; but how about his forgiveness? That must be obtained first. If there were only this darling boy to deal with, in his white flannels and yellow roses, with a May-Day madness in his veins, the license might come at once; and all he could wish should happen without delay. But this is a pa.s.sing phase of Garth. What she has to deal with is the white-faced man, who calmly said: ”I accept the cross,” and walked down the village church leaving her--for all these years. Loving her, as he loved her; and yet leaving her,--without word or sign, for three long years. To hire, was the confession; his would be the decision; and, somehow, it did not surprise her, when she came down to luncheon, a little late, to find HIM seated at the table.

”Miss Gray,” he said gravely, as he heard her enter, ”I must apologise for my behaviour this morning. I was what they call up here 'fey.'

Margery understands the mood; and together she and I have listened to kind Mother Earth, laying our hands on her sympathetic softness, and she has told us her secrets. Then I lay down under the fir trees and slept; and awakened calm and sane, and ready for what to-day must bring. For it WILL bring something. That is no delusion. It is a day of great things. That much, Margery knows, too.”

”Perhaps,” suggested Nurse Rosemary, tentatively, ”there may be news of interest in your letters.”

”Ah,” said Garth, ”I forgot. We have not even opened this morning's letters. Let us take time for them immediately after lunch. Are there many?”

”Quite a pile,” said Nurse Rosemary.

”Good. We will work soberly through them.”

Half an hour later Garth was seated in his chair, calm and expectant; his face turned towards his secretary. He had handled his letters, and amongst them he had found one sealed; and the seal was a plumed helmet, with visor closed. Nurse Rosemary saw him pale, as his fingers touched it. He made no remark; but, as before, slipped it beneath the rest, that it might come up for reading, last of all.

When the others were finished, and Nurse Rosemary took up this letter, the room was very still. They were quite alone. Bees hummed in the garden. The scent of flowers stole in at the window. But no one disturbed their solitude.

Nurse Rosemary took up the envelope.

”Mr. Dalmain, here is a letter, sealed with scarlet wax. The seal is a helmet with visor--”

”I know,” said Garth. ”You need not describe it further. Kindly open it.”

Nurse Rosemary opened it. ”It is a very long letter, Mr. Dalmain.”

”Indeed? Will you please read it to me, Miss Gray.”

A tense moment of silence followed. Nurse Rosemary lifted the letter; but her voice suddenly refused to respond to her will. Garth waited without further word.

Then Nurse Rosemary said: ”Indeed, sir, it seems a most private letter.

I find it difficult to read it to you.”

Garth heard the distress in her voice, and turned to her kindly.

”Never mind, my dear child. It in no way concerns you. It is a private letter to me; but my only means of hearing it is through your eyes, and from your lips. Besides, the lady, whose seal is a plumed helmet, can have nothing of a very private nature to say to me.”

”Ah, but she has,” said Nurse Rosemary, brokenly.

Garth considered this in silence.

Then: ”Turn over the page,” he said, ”and tell me the signature.”

”There are many pages,” said Nurse Rosemary.

”Turn over the pages then,” said Garth, sternly. ”Do not keep me waiting. How is that letter signed?”

”YOUR WIFE,” whispered Nurse Rosemary.

There was a petrifying quality about the silence which followed. It seemed as if those two words, whispered into Garth's darkness, had turned him to stone.

At last he stretched out his hand. ”Will you give me that letter, if you please, Miss Gray? Thank you. I wish to be alone for a quarter of an hour. I shall be glad if you will be good enough to sit in the dining-room, and stop any one from coming into this room. I must be undisturbed. At the end of that time kindly return.”