‘No, no; we might not,’ said she hastily.

’Very well.  But this is hard to bear!  “When I looked for good then evil came unto me, and when I waited for light there came darkness.”  So once said a sorely tried man in the land of Uz, and so say I now! . . .  I wonder if he is almost here at this moment?’

She told him she supposed Bellston was approaching by the path across the fields, having sent on his great-coat, which he would not want walking.

‘And is this meal laid for him, or for me?’

‘It was laid for you.’

‘And it will be eaten by him?’

‘Yes.’

’Christine, are you sure that he is come, or have you been sleeping over the fire and dreaming it?’

She pointed anew to the portmanteau with the initials ‘J.  B.,’ and to the coat beside it.

’Well, good-bye—­good-bye!  Curse that parson for not marrying us fifteen years ago!’

It is unnecessary to dwell further upon that parting.  There are scenes wherein the words spoken do not even approximate to the level of the mental communion between the actors.  Suffice it to say that part they did, and quickly; and Nicholas, more dead than alive, went out of the house homewards.

Why had he ever come back?  During his absence he had not cared for Christine as he cared now.  If he had been younger he might have felt tempted to descend into the meads instead of keeping along their edge.  The Froom was down there, and he knew of quiet pools in that stream to which death would come easily.  But he was too old to put an end to himself for such a reason as love; and another thought, too, kept him from seriously contemplating any desperate act.  His affection for her was strongly protective, and in the event of her requiring a friend’s support in future troubles there was none but himself left in the world to afford it.  So he walked on.

Meanwhile Christine had resigned herself to circumstances.  A resolve to continue worthy of her history and of her family lent her heroism and dignity.  She called Mrs. Wake, and explained to that worthy woman as much of what had occurred as she deemed necessary.  Mrs. Wake was too amazed to reply; she retreated slowly, her lips parted; till at the door she said with a dry mouth, ‘And the beautiful supper, ma’am?’

‘Serve it when he comes.’

‘When Mr. Bellston—­yes, ma’am, I will.’  She still stood gazing, as if she could hardly take in the order.

’That will do, Mrs. Wake.  I am much obliged to you for all your kindness.’  And Christine was left alone again, and then she wept.

She sat down and waited.  That awful silence of the stopped clock began anew, but she did not mind it now.  She was listening for a footfall in a state of mental tensity which almost took away from her the power of motion.  It seemed to her that the natural interval for her husband’s journey thither must have expired; but she was not sure, and waited on.