I remember closing my eyes and leaning my head against the window-shutter.  I suppose I was tired after the wakefulness of the night.  Anyhow, I must have fallen asleep and slept a couple of hours.

When I began to wake the sky had become gloomy and overcast, but it was as hot as ever, and there was some one talking close at hand, a low, quiet talking which at first mixed with my dreams and was a part of them.

Presently I recognized the fact that I must have fallen asleep over the letter to Theobald, and also that the voice, the voices, near me were those of my grandfather and grandmother.

I had no intention to eavesdrop, but I was drowsy and for a moment or two I nodded again.

“But why should Luke have borrowed money from Jasper Tuite?” my grandmother said.  “He could have had what he liked from us.”

“He had as handsome an allowance as I could afford to give him,” my grandfather said, “and he knew that he could have come to me in a difficulty.”

“And why should Garret Dawson spring it on us at this time of day?” my grandmother went on.  “Why should he frighten us with it now that we are old, and have no son to lean upon?”

“Because he wants the money, and I wonder he has gone without it so long.  And also because we have not opened our doors to him nor accepted his invitations.  He is determined that we shall assist at his triumph.”

“And we must do it?”

“We must do it, else he will publish the boy’s disgrace.”

“And must Bawn go with us, Toby?”

“Yes; we have to do it thoroughly.  The invitation included Bawn.  She will not feel it as we shall; and she knows nothing of our cause for unhappiness.”

“She does not look over-happy,” my grandmother said, and sighed.  “I wish Theobald were home and that they were married.”

“Poor Theobald! poor boy!  We have placed him in Garret Dawson’s power.  When you and I are gone, Theobald and Bawn will be homeless, unless we can propitiate this man to spare them; and I have heard it said that Garret Dawson has as much mercy in his heart as a tiger.  But I had to sign, dear; you know I had to sign.”

“My poor Toby, I know!”

A silence followed; I did not dare to stir, to betray my presence.  But presently they got up and went away, and when I heard the slow steps die away in the distance I went out by the open window to ponder over what I had heard.

CHAPTER XXI

THE NEW MAID

I went away to that glade in the wood of happy memories to think things out, and dropped down there amid the flowers of which it was full, with my eyes fixed on the wood-anemones and violets without seeing them.