Part 75 (2/2)

He withdrew to another room, penned a line, and despatched it by a servant to the Bank. Then he rejoined Lord Averil, pa.s.sed his arm within his lords.h.i.+p's, and went out with him.

”Is this Canada project a joke?” asked he.

”Indeed, no. I have not quite made up my mind to go. I think I shall do so. If so, I shall be away in a week from this. Why should I not go? I have no settled home, no ties.”

”Should you not--I beg your pardon, Averil--be the happier for a settled home? You might form ties. I think a roving life must be the least desirable one of all.”

”It is one I was never fitted for. My inclination would lead me to home, to domestic happiness. But, as you know, I put that out of my power.”

”For a time. But that is over. You might marry again.”

”I do not suppose I ever shall,” returned Lord Averil, feeling half prompted to tell his unsuspicious friend that his own sister was the barrier to his doing so. ”_You_ have never married,” he resumed, allowing the impulse to die away.

Thomas G.o.dolphin shook his head. ”The cases are different,” he said. ”In your wife you lost one whom you could not regret----”

”Don't call her by that name, G.o.dolphin!” burst forth Lord Averil.

”And in Ethel I lost one who was all the world to me; who could never be replaced,” Thomas went on, after a pause. ”The cases are widely different.”

”Ay, widely different,” a.s.sented Lord Averil.

They walked on in silence, each buried in his own thoughts. At the commencement of the road, Lord Averil stopped and took Thomas G.o.dolphin's hand in his.

”You shall not come any farther with me.”

Thomas stopped also. He had not intended to go farther. ”You will really start for Canada?”

”I believe I shall.”

”Take my blessing with you then, Averil. We may never meet again in this world.”

”What?” exclaimed Lord Averil.

”The medical men entertain hopes that my life may not be terminated so speedily: _I_ believe that a few months will end it. I may not live to welcome you home.”

It was the first intimation Lord Averil had received of Thomas G.o.dolphin's fatal malady. Thomas explained it to him. He was overwhelmed.

”Oh, my friend! my friend! Cannot death be defied, or coaxed to spare you?” he called out in his pain. How many have vainly echoed the same cry!

A few more words, a long grasp of the lingering hands, and they parted.

Thomas with a G.o.d-speed; Lord Averil with a different prayer--a G.o.d-_save_--upon his lips. The peer turned to Prior's Ash; Thomas G.o.dolphin towards home.

Not by the path he had come. He had brought Lord Averil down the broad entrance to Ashlydyat: he turned to go round the path by the ash-trees in front of the Dark Plain. Possibly he had a mind to see whether the Shadow was abroad to-night.

Before he had well turned the corner of the trees, or had given more than a glance to the black Shadow--for there it was--he heard hasty footsteps behind him. Looking round, he beheld Lord Averil. Softened by the parting, by the tidings he had heard, an impulse had taken Lord Averil that he would speak of Cecil: and he turned back to do so.

”G.o.dolphin, I---- What's that?”

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