After what seemed an eternity Hugh came towards
her. I was only goingthrough with it because I didnt want to disappoint you. She and
Treewoofe were good friends again.
But Lawson Dark, with blood trickling from a cut on
hisforehead, had turned dazedly to his wife.
Margaret was too uplifted to mind his profanityOh,
Penny, I didnt want to marry you either. Likely youll find emover in Jake Harmers
wood-lot. You shouldnt be out without a jacket on a night likethis.
Brian trudged down the long grassy road to Little
Friday Cove.
She was standing there in themoonlight where she
had mocked him so long ago.
SHE didnt know it till hecome down to breakfast
this morning. I neverdid or could seem able to bake damsons so as to please Dandy.
Little Sam only pointed Aurora proudly out to Brian and asked himif he didnt think
her pretty. Brian started convulsively and got up, shrinking into
himself.
Harriet Dark perhaps turned over in her
grave.
Some thought it wasbecause of the fire but the
majority refused that opinion. And very tired, for he had been picking potatoes all
day. Now and then through an open door he caught delicious smells ofsuppers
cooking.
His heart was pounding with a wildexultation in his
breast.
It was simply impossibleeven to IMAGINE being
married to any one but Roger.
Oh, AuntMargaret, I wouldnt want you to be
disappointed in me when youfound out I wasnt a good boy.
Allthe lost colour and laughter of life seemed to
have returned. He simply made ablood-curdling sound that gave Mrs Toynbee a
spasm.
Tempest Dark, his eyes alight with good-humoured
mockery, haddecided that he would keep on living. It savoured too strongly of
something miraculous and unclan-like.
I always carried it round ina folder in my breast
pocket.
Naomi looked a little older and tirederand more
hopeless.
Do you suppose, suggested Sim Dark horribly, that
Mrs Dandy hassmashed the jug?
But if Cricket came he would likely just curl up
onBrians bed and be quite comfortable. Anddear Aunt Becky who had made it all
possible.
He would break theengagement before, if break it he
must. I wonder, he thought wistfully, what it would be like to beloved.
But as things were, he thought hed better makeit
six.
It wasplain to be seen now why she had thrown Penny
over so heartlessly. He had got so out of the habit of swearing he was afraidhe
could never get into it again.