Chapter 99
Mercy lifted her tearful face. "Give me your hand at parting," she said in an imploring tone. He was on the opposite side of the bed from where she stood, and she reached her hand across it. He took a step nearer, and his hand closed in hers. Between them and beneath their clasped hands lay the child. "Hugh, we could not love in this world--something went astray with us; but we shall meet again, shall we not?"
He turned his eyes away.
"Perhaps," he answered.
"Promise me," she said--"promise me."
He drew his breath hard.
"If there is a G.o.d and a judgment, be sure we shall meet," he said.
His voice broke. He turned abruptly aside and hurried out of the house.
CHAPTER XI.
The night was now dark; there was no moon, and there were no stars; the wind soughed mournfully through the trees. In the occasional lull the rumble of the cataracts drifted heavily through the air.
Hugh Ritson walked in the darkness with drooping head. He was not making for the pit-brow; he had taken the opposite direction. When he reached the village, he stopped at the Flying Horse. Loud peals of laughter came from the parlor, hidden by red blinds from the road.
He stood at the door that opened into the bar. The landlady, her face turned from him, was talking with obvious animation to a daleswoman who stood with a jug in her hand at the other side of the counter.
"What, woman, thoo's surely heard what happen't at the Ghyll this morning?"
"Nay, Bessie, I's been thrang as Throp wife, cleaning and t.i.ttivating."
"Well, la.s.s, they've telt me as it were shocking. Two brothers, and such a fratch! It coom't to blows at last, and they do say 'at Master Hugh is nigh amaist dead with a bash the girt fellow gave him."
Hugh Ritson rapped sharply at the door.
"Tell your husband I wish to see him," he said.
The landlady looked up, fumbled with a napkin, and answered nervously, "Yes, sir." Then she hobbled
"Tommy!" she screamed above the babel.
The landlord appeared.
"Can you send me a dog-cart at half past four in the morning?" said Hugh.
"Maybe--it's a gay canny hour, I reckon," said the landlord.
He pulled at a long pipe as he spoke, and his face, which was flushed, wore an impudent smile.
"I have to catch the five-o'clock train," Hugh answered.
"To London?" One cheek was twisted into numerous wrinkles.
"I said the five train," said Hugh, sternly. "Can you do it?"
"I's niver said nay--it'll be three half-crowns."
Hugh put half a sovereign on the counter.
"Let it be sent at half past four promptly.
"To the Ghyll?"
The twist of the cheek was a shade less perceptible.
"To the pit-brow."
The parlor door opened again, and Natt stood on the threshold. The stableman's sleepy eyes awakened to a knowing twinkle. Then his flat face disappeared, and a thin t.i.tter mingled audibly with the clamor within. In another moment the door was thrown wide open, and Drayton came slouching out. His hair fell back over his forehead, from which his hat was tipped back. A cigar was perched between his teeth; the tips of his fingers were thrust into his waistcoat pockets.
"Come in; I've summat to show you," he said.
Hugh did not stir, but he lifted his head and looked into the room. Half a score of the riff-raff of the dale were seated amid clouds of smoke.
On the wooden mantel-shelf above the wide ingle a large book stood open, and the leaves fluttered with the wind that came through the door.
"I hain't forgotten what you said long ago about the parson's book,"
said Drayton, "so here it is, and a mighty valuable thing I call it. You thought to frighten me with it, but bless yer soul, I like it, I do.
Listen."
Drayton stepped back into the room, turned the leaves, and began to read in a l.u.s.ty tone:
"1847.--November 18.--Thomas said Allan was fresh from Scotland, being Scottish born, and that his wife was Irish, and that they had a child called Paul, only a few months old, and not yet walking."
It was the parson's diary.
"That's good enough, ain't it, Master Hugh Ritson?" said Drayton, with an ungainly bow, and a vast show of civility, followed instantly by a sidelong leer at his cronies about him.
Hugh Ritson held himself stiffly, and merely said:
"Where did you get it?"
At this question there were sundry snorts and t.i.tters and muttered responses from the men at the tables. Hugh's eyes pa.s.sed over them with a steely glance.
"Stolen it, I suppose," he said quietly.
"Ay," said Drayton, "and a neat job too. Natt 'ticed away the Methodee man while I borrowed it."
Drayton seemed to be proud of his share in the transaction, and his friends laughed loudly at the adroit turn he had given to the matter.
Natt's drowsy eyes were preternaturally bright at that great moment.
Hugh Ritson's forehead darkened with ire.