‘I think I will. Anything rather than return as anxious as I came.’

‘I can’t answer for that. This, however, I promise you: be ruled by me, and you shall see Moore yourself.’

‘See him myself?’

‘Yourself.’

‘But, dear Martin, does he know?’

‘Ah! I’m dear now. No; he doesn’t know.’

‘And your mother and the others?’

‘All is right.’

Caroline fell into a long, silent fit of musing, but still she walked on with her guide. They came in sight of Briarmains.

‘Have you made up your mind?’ he asked.

She was silent.

‘Decide. We are just on the spot. I won’t see him —that I tell you—except to announce your arrival.’

‘Martin, you are a strange boy, and this is a strange step; but all I feel is and has been for a long time strange. I will see him.’

‘Having said that, you will neither hesitate nor retract?’

‘No.’

‘Here we are, then. Do not be afraid of passing the parlour-window, no one will see you. My father and Matthew are at the mill, Mark is at school, the servants are in the back-kitchen, Miss Moore is at the cottage, my mother in her bed, and Mrs. Horsfall in Paradise. Observe—I need not ring; I open the door; the hall is empty, the staircase quiet, so is the gallery; the whole house and all its inhabitants are under a spell, which I will not break till you are gone.’

‘Martin, I trust you.’

‘You never said a better word. Let me take your shawl; I will shake off the snow and dry it for you. You are cold and wet; never mind, there is a fire upstairs. Are you ready?’

‘Yes.’

‘Follow me.’

He left his shoes on the mat, and mounted the stair unshod; Caroline stole after, with noiseless step; there was a gallery, and there was a passage; at the end of that passage Martin paused before a door and tapped; he had to tap twice—thrice; a voice, known to one listener, at last said:

‘Come in.’

The boy entered briskly.

‘Mr. Moore, a lady called to inquire after you; none of the women were about; it is washing-day, and the maids are over the crown of the head in soap-suds in the back-kitchen, so I asked her to step up.’


  By PanEris using Melati.

Previous chapter/page Back Home Email this Search Discuss Bookmark Next chapter/page
Copyright: All texts on Bibliomania are © Bibliomania.com Ltd, and may not be reproduced in any form without our written permission. See our FAQ for more details.