Part 27 (2/2)
Magdalen glanced at Fay, but she still lay back with closed eyes. She had not seen that pa.s.sing figure.
Magdalen's mind followed Wentworth.
”Does she realise the complications that must almost certainly ensue with Wentworth directly her confession is made?
”Will her first step towards a truer life, her first action of reparation estrange him from her?”
The Bishop was pacing up and down in the library at Lostford, waiting for Magdalen and Fay, when the servant brought in the day's papers. He took them up instantly with the alertness of a man who can only make time for necessary things by seizing every spare moment.
”Oh! you two wicked women,” he said as he opened the _Times_. ”Why are you late? Why are you late?”
They were only five minutes late.
His swift eye travelled from column to column. Suddenly his attention was arrested. He became absorbed. Then he laid down the paper, and said below his breath ”Thank G.o.d.”
At that moment Magdalen and Fay were announced.
For a second it seemed as if the Bishop had forgotten them. Then he recollected and went forward to meet them. He knew that only a matter of supreme urgency could have made Magdalen word her telegram as she had worded it, and when he caught sight of Fay's face he realised that she was in jeopardy.
All other preoccupations fell from him instantly. He welcomed them gravely, almost in silence.
The sisters sat down close together on a sofa. Fay's trembling hand put up her long black veil, and then sought Magdalen's hand, which was ready for it.
There was a short silence. Magdalen looked earnestly at her sister.
Fay's face became suddenly convulsed.
”Fay is in great trouble,” said Magdalen. ”She has come to tell you about it. She has suffered very much.”
”I can see that,” said the Bishop.
”I wish to confess,” said Fay in a smothered voice.
”That is a true instinct,” said the Bishop. ”G.o.d puts it into our hearts to confess when we are unhappy so that we may be comforted. When we come to see that we have done less well than we might have done--then we need comfort.”
Fay looked from him to Magdalen with wide, hardly human eyes, like some tiny trapped animal between two executioners.
The Bishop's heart contracted.
Poor, poor little thing!
”Would you like to see me alone, my child?” he said, seeing a faint trembling like that of a b.u.t.terfly beginning in her. ”All you say to me will be under the seal of confession. It will never pa.s.s my lips.”
It was Magdalen's turn to become pale.
”Shall I go?” she said, looking fixedly at her sister.
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