As soon as dinner was over the Squire announced that he should walk into Boisingham to inquire how the wounded man was getting on.  Shortly afterwards he started, leaving his daughter and Harold alone.

They went into the drawing-room and talked about indifferent things.  No word of love passed between them; no word, even, that could bear an affectionate significance, and yet every sentence which passed their lips carried a message with it, and was as heavy with unuttered tenderness as a laden bee with honey.  For they loved each other dearly, and deep love is a thing that can hardly be concealed by lovers from each other.

It was happiness for him merely to sit beside her and hear her speak, to watch the changes of her face and the lamplight playing upon her hair, and it was happiness for her to know that he was sitting there and watching.  For the most beautiful aspect of true affection is its accompanying sense of perfect companionship and rest.  It is a sense which nothing else in this life can give, and, like a lifting cloud, reveals the white and distant peaks of that unbroken peace which we cannot hope to win in our stormy journey through the world.

And so the evening wore away till at last they heard the Squire’s loud voice talking to somebody outside.  Presently he came in.

“How is he?” asked Harold.  “Will he live?”

“They cannot say,” was the answer.  “But two great doctors have been telegraphed for from London, and will be down to-morrow.”

CHAPTER XXXI

IDA RECANTS

The two great doctors came, and the two great doctors pocketed their hundred guinea fees and went, but neither the one nor the other, nor eke the twain, would commit themselves to a fixed opinion as to Edward Cossey’s chances of life or death.  However, one of them picked out a number of shot from the wounded man, and a number more he left in because he could not pick them out.  Then they both agreed that the treatment of their local brethren was all that could be desired, and so far as they were concerned there was an end of it.

A week had passed, and Edward Cossey, nursed night and day by Belle Quest, still hovered between life and death.

It was a Thursday, and Harold had walked up to the Castle to give the Squire the latest news of the wounded man.  Whilst he was in the vestibule saying what he had to say to Mr. de la Molle and Ida, a man rung the bell, whom he recognised as one of Mr. Quest’s clerks.  He was shown in, and handed the Squire a fully-addressed brief envelope, which, he said, he had been told to deliver by Mr. Quest, and adding that there was no answer bowed himself out.

As soon as he had gone the envelope was opened by Mr. de la Molle, who took from it two legal-looking documents which he began to read.  Suddenly the first dropped from his hand, and with an exclamation he snatched at the second.