Carr. And he forthwith told Lord Hartledon what the man
had said.
A silence ensued. Lord Hartledon was in deep and evidently not pleasant
thought; and the barrister stole a glance at him.
"Hartledon, take comfort. I am as cautious by nature as I believe it is
possible for any one to be; and I am sure the man is dead, and can never
rise up to trouble you."
"I have been sure of that for years," replied Hartledon quietly. "I have
just said so."
"Then what is disturbing you?"
"Oh, Carr, how can you ask it?" came the rejoinder. "What is it lies on
my mind day and night; is wearing me out before my time? Discovery may be
avoided; but when I look at the children--at the boy especially--it would
have turned some men mad," he more quietly added, passing his hand across
his brow. "As long as he lives, I cannot have rest from pain. The sins of
the fathers--"
"Yes, yes," interposed Mr. Carr, hastily. "Still the case is light,
compared with what we once dreaded."
"Light for me, heavy for him."
Mr. Carr remained with them until the Monday: he then went back to London
and work; and time glided on again. An event occurred the following
winter which shall be related at once; more especially as nothing of
moment took place in those intervening months needing special record.
The man Pike, who still occupied his shed undisturbed, had been ailing
for some time.
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