And even
so, what of it, if the journey has been shortened? Perhaps the way has
been a little steeper, but it has brought me more quickly to my goal.
Stumpy, Stumpy, if it weren't for leaving you, I would go as gladly--as
gladly--as a happy bride--to her wedding."
She broke off, breathing fast.
He lifted his head swiftly, and saw the shadow of mortal pain gathering
in her eyes. He commanded himself on the instant and rose. Self-contained
and steady, he found and administered the remedy that was always kept at
hand.
Then, as the spasm passed, he stooped and quietly kissed the white
forehead. "Don't trouble about me, dear!" he said. "God knows I would not
keep you from your rest."
And with that calmly he turned and left her.
But Biddy, whom he sought a few moments later to send her to her
mistress, saw in him notwithstanding his composure, an intensity of
suffering that struck dismay to her honest heart. "The Lord preserve us!"
she said. "But Master Scott has the look of a man with a sword in his
soul!" She wiped her own tears away with a trembling hand. "And what'll
he do at all when Miss Isabel's gone," she said, "unless Miss Dinah does
the comforting of him?"
CHAPTER XXV
THE TRUSTY FRIEND
The trains from the junction to Heath-on-Sea were few and invariably
late. Scott had been pacing the platform for half an hour on the evening
of the day that followed his own arrival ere a line of distant smoke told
of the coming of the train he was awaiting.
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