Part 43 (1/2)
”Aunt Trina is fond of the old place, and I have asked her to spend July here, with any friends she may wish to bring. She and Amos spar like prize fighters over immersion and close communion, and he brands her extreme ritualism 'idolatry rank as the groves of Baal.'”
He looked at his watch, and called to the coachman:
”Rivers, we have very little time to spare.”
His closed right hand rested on his knee, and Eglah laid hers upon it.
”Since I was a little girl you have been my faithful, sympathizing, patient friend, and now I can not bear that you should leave me without uttering one kind word of forgiveness for the great wrong I realize at last that I have done you.”
”Eglah, for G.o.d's sake don't open that door, which shuts out--what I can not discuss again with you, because I must not wound you.”
She noticed the suppressed pant in his voice, and as he did not respond to the touch of her hand, her slender fingers crept between and twined around his.
”Mr. Herriott, when you come home----”
”I shall try not to come home.”
”If I promise you shall never see me there, perhaps that a.s.surance may tempt you back. You are casting me out of your life, and I have no right to complain, but I wish to say that I hope you will have no fear for the name you gave irrevocably into my keeping.”
”You bear my name, my father's name, but I am very sure your little white hands will hold it clean, pure, and sacred. Should you invoke legal aid to free you from merely nominal matrimonial bonds, I prefer you should then resume your father's name. If you choose to make no change, and I do not return, the name will die with you, and I believe you will guard it as you would the Grail.”
Unconsciously his hand tightened on hers, until the edge of the ring cut into her finger.
”Mr. Herriott, you will write to me?”
He shook his head.
Looking intently at her, he noticed the deep blue shadows under her eyes, and the first tears he had ever seen her shed rolled slowly over her worn face.
”Unless my letters were hollow shams, they would only distress you, and all future annoyance I wish to avoid. Silence is the only possible peace.”
At this moment the carriage stopped, and he looked out.
”Why do you lag, Rivers?”
”A train, sir. Switch engine and gravel cars.”
”Drive around it.”
”I can't, sir. Red signal just ahead of the horse's nose.”
Mr. Herriott stepped out, and walked for some minutes up and down the embankment. Then the train pulled out, and when he re-entered his carriage he took the front seat.
”I sent a telegram to your father, which ought to reach him in Was.h.i.+ngton, telling him the number of your train, and your hotel in Philadelphia; and I hope your return journey will prove more agreeable than your trip with me. If any necessity should arise that would require you to communicate with me, you will find this card in the outside pocket of your satchel, but the address means only that letters will be forwarded to Upernavik. When we leave there no mail will reach us.”
The carriage drew up to the platform, and Mr. Herriott a.s.sisted Eglah into the train. With her wraps and satchel he preceded her to the drawing-room.