The
best plan would be to bring the interview to an end as quickly as
possible, so she should not dwell too long on her sorrow.
"If I have done anything to help you, my dear lady," he said with
gentle courtesy, rising from his chair and taking her hand again,
"or can do anything for you in the future, I shall be most happy,
and you must certainly let me know. And now, may I not ask you to
go upstairs and lie down. You are greatly fatigued--I assure you
I feel for you most deeply."
But his mind was still disturbed. Ruth and Jack wondered at his
quiet as he sat beside them on the way back to MacFarlane's--
gazing out of the carriage window, his clean-shaven, placid face
at rest, his straight thin lips close shut. He hardly spoke until
they reached the house, and then it was when he helped Ruth
alight. Once inside, however, he beckoned Jack, and without a word
led him alone into MacFarlane's study--now almost dismantled for
the move to Morfordsburg--and closed the door.
"Mrs. Minott has just told me the most extraordinary thing, Jack--
an unbelievable story.
Pages:
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564