“I’m going to clear it up,” answered the culprit.  “Don’t you worry.  These things can’t be done in a minute.  This infernal place is always so quick to think evil, apparently, and judges decent people by its own dirty opinions.  I’ve asked Daniel to give me a holiday, so that I may go away and think over life in general.  And he won’t give me a holiday.  It’s very clear to me, Uncle Ernest, that no self-respecting man would be able to work under Daniel for long.  Things are coming to a climax.  I doubt if I shall be able to keep on here.”

“You evade the subject, which is your friendship with Sabina, Raymond.  As to Daniel, there ought to be no difficulty whatever, and you know it very well in your heart and head.  Your protest deceives nobody.  But Sabina?”

Here the conversation ceased abruptly, for Raymond committed an unique offence.  He told Mr. Churchouse to go to the devil, and left him, standing transfixed with amazement, at the outer gate of ’The Magnolias.’

With the insult to himself Ernest was not much concerned.  His regretful astonishment centred in the spectacle of Raymond’s downfall.

“To what confusion and disorder must his mind have been reduced, before he could permit himself such a lapse,” reflected Mr. Churchouse.

CHAPTER XIV

THE CONCERT

The effect of Raymond’s attitude on Sabina’s mind proved very serious.  It awoke in her first anger and then dismay.  She was a woman of fine feeling and quick perception.  Love and ambition had pointed the same road, and the hero, being, as it seemed, without guile, had convinced her that she might believe every word that he spoke and trust everything that he did.  She had never contemplated any sacrifice before marriage, and, indeed, when it came, the consummation of their worship proved no sacrifice to her, but an added joy.  Less than many a married woman had she mourned the surrender, for in her eyes it made all things complete between them and bound them inseparably with the golden links of love and honour.

When, therefore, upon this perfect union, sinister light from without had broken, she felt it no great thing to ask Raymond that their betrothal should be known.  Reason and justice demanded it.  She did not for an instant suppose that he would hesitate, but rather expected him to blame his own blindness in delay.  But finding he desired further postponement, she was struck with consternation that rose to wrath; and when he persisted, she became alarmed and now only considered what best she might do for her own sake.  Her work suffered and her friends perceived that all was not well with her.  With the shortening days and bad weather, the meetings with Raymond became more difficult to pursue and she saw less of him.  They had patched their quarrel and were friendly enough, but the perfect understanding had departed.  They preserved a common ground and she did not mention subjects likely to annoy him.  He appeared to be working steadily, seldom came into the shops and was more reserved to everybody in the Mill.