Part 19 (1/2)
For a second time he stooped and raised the sobbing woman; bodily picked her up. He was naturally a strong man, and the feeling filling him just then lent additional strength.
He was so much moved by the present that he lost sight of all he had heard, all he had seen in the past. Only knew that this woman, whom he loved with all his heart and soul, whose shoes he would have kissed, knelt to him.
”How dare you?”
His question was put fiercely, as in that moment of lifting, he held her tightly to him. He repeated it:
”How dare you kneel to me? How dare you beg of me to do what the most inhuman wretch in the world would do?”
For a moment he left her side; inside that time had slipped into his overcoat and drawn a cap from his pocket.
”Finish that brandy.”
There was that in his voice which commanded obedience; she never thought of disobeying.
”You will come?”
She put the question tremblingly; holding the gla.s.s to her lips as she did so with a shaking hand.
”At once.”
A feeling of anger took possession of him: that she could put such a question; he continued:
”How can you ask?”
Her only answer was a soulful, grateful cry; a cry from her heart:
”Thank G.o.d!”
He was feeling himself considerably less of a hero than on the last occasion of their meeting. But this was not a time for thought; as he opened the door he said, speaking almost gruffly:
”You can see your way?”
There was quite light enough shed by the moon for that; and there was light ahead too! She knew she could rely on him; the very sound of his voice told her that; was an inspiration in itself. Making her way to the hall door she staggered out; down the little stone flight to the pavement.
Ere she reached the bottom step, he had turned down the lamp, closed the house door and joined her.
”Take my arm.... Cling to me tightly. You are not fit to walk alone.”
And she clung. Forgot all he had said to her. Just had something strong and powerful to cling to in her time of trouble, and she clung. Her heart beat so as to pain her. She heard him speak and spoke to him in reply. But all the while her heart was full of prayers of grat.i.tude. G.o.d had been very good to her.
Every step they took brought them nearer the bungalow. Nearer the realization of hopes upon which she had almost erected a monument. She knew--felt rather--for certain that he would save Gracie. Faith was strong in her.
He kept her talking all the way they walked. Thought to divert her mind from thoughts of the sick chamber they were coming to. But she wanted to think of it; there was happiness in the thought. Her companion's voice rang so cheerily--it gave her hope. There seemed magic in it; power to dispel doubts and fears.
”What did you mean by a girl and a message you sent half-an-hour ago? My landlady went to bed about nine o'clock. There has not been a soul near the house since.”
”A mistake evidently.”