He opened his lips as if to speak.  But there was nothing more to say.  He turned towards the door.

Beth could not suppress one little cry.

“Oh!” It was half a moan, half a shuddering gasp.

With her last rally of strength she faced the stairway, and weakly stumbled up the steps.

A spasm of agony seized Van by the cords of his heart.  He went blindly away, with a vision in his eyes of Beth groping weakly up the stairs—­a doe with a mortal hurt.

CHAPTER XL

GLEN AND REVELATIONS

How she spent that night Beth never could have told.  Her mind had refused to work.  Only her heart was sensible of life and emotions, for there lay her wound, burning fiercely all the long hours through.  That Van had made excuses to his partners and disappeared on “business” was a matter of which she received no account.

In the morning the unexpected happened.  Her brother Glen arrived in Goldite, having driven from Starlight with a friend.  He appeared at Mrs. Dick’s while Beth was still in her room, indisposed.  She had eaten no dinner.  She took no breakfast.  But with Glenmore’s advent she was suddenly awakened to a new excitement, almost a new sort of hope.

Young Kent was a smooth-faced, boyish chap, slightly stooped, exceedingly neat, black-haired, and of medium height.  He was like Beth only in a “family” manner.  His nose was a trifle large for his face, but something in his modest, good-natured way, coupled to his earnest delivery of slang in all his conversation, lent him a certain charm that no one long resisted.

He was standing in his characteristic pose, with one hand buried in his pocket, as he laughingly explained himself to Mrs. Dick, when Beth came running down the stairs.

“Glen!” she cried, as she ran along the hall, and casting herself most fervently upon him, with her arms about his neck, she had a good, sky-clearing cry, furious and brief, and looked like a rain-wet rose when she pushed him away and scrutinized him quickly through her tears.

“I say, Sis, why this misplaced fountain on the job?” he said.  “Do I look as bad as that?”

“Oh, Glen,” she said, “you’ve been ill!  You were hurt!  I’ve worried so.  You’re well?  You’ve entirely recovered?  Oh, I’m so glad to see you.  Glen!  There’s so much I’ve got to say!”

“Land snakes!” said Mrs. Dick.  “If I don’t hurry——­” and off she went.

“You’re the phonograph for mine,” said Glen.  “What’s the matter with your eyes?  Searle hasn’t got you going on the lachrymals already?”

“No, I—­I’m all right,” she said excitedly.  “I didn’t sleep well, that’s all.  Do sit down.  I’ve so many things to say, so much to ask, I don’t know where to begin.  It was such a surprise, your coming like this!  And you’re looking so well.  You got my letter, of course?”