He had promised that the St Andrews business would
beexpeditiously settled. Well, Ive aword for you from Landbeach, where Im biding
with the auld LeddyHorningsea.
I owe you ten guineas for thisperformance, Robin,
my lad, and five to Abel.
For the first time that afternoon Sir Turnour
showed signs ofimpatience.
Nanty approvedwith a sigh, for he had been forced
to admit the downfall of hisown. Mr Dott, having overcomehis first terrors, fell
asleep, for he had much lee-way to make up.
It was of Fife that they spoke in that
foreignlowland place, of Fife and of their childish doings.
Theres no great choiceof horses in Lynn fit for
that pace, and we darent risk badcattle. Sister Anne, Sister Anne,do you see anybody
coming?
We must stretch em while the goings good,for the
Lord knows what we may find after Ely.
It was comforting to have someone among thosekindly
alien grandees who spoke her own tongue. But Overy had made the sceptic a believer.
He plucked from itscase his yard of tin and blew a rousing blast. We dont breed them
like thatin the north. Then my duty will compel me to pitch you off the seat and
take theribbons myself. So one love affair seemed to have happy auguries. If theres
two roads toride, theres two folk here to ride them. By God, sir, Robin gasped,
thats the nicest bit of coachmanshipI ever seen.
It was as well, for he would have hadno
chance.
I shall never getyour face out of my mind. But now
the sight of her suffering was like the smell of blood to atiger.
There you drop us, and get you on toHuntingdon and
ask no questions. Dontlet her look this way, for it aint a pleasant
sight.
I cannot fathomit, and I cannot repay
it.
The light towards which they were rushingwas a bale
fire which might beacon desperate things. I have been happy even when I wasmost
afraid, for I would gladly have died for you. You have my word for it that Abel and
you will not be blamed. For ten minutes Harry believed that eachone would be his
last.
For the first time that afternoon Sir Turnour
showed signs ofimpatience.
Then my duty will compel me to pitch you off the
seat and take theribbons myself. They spun a crown to decidewhich roads they would
take.
The driver saluted with his whip in response to the
imperioussummons from the roadside.
In vain Harry Belses strove to comfort her. Only
the wind blowing and the grassgrowing.
To Nantys eyes his face lost its evil beauty, for
it losthumanity. His bonds made movement impossible, but he hadhis voice. The horn
of Abel the guard advisedthe toll-keepers well in advance, and there was no slowing
down.
His brave words had been folly, and now shemust
tread her bitter road alone. Just the scart of a pen and my job is done,
and,gudesakes, it has been a weariful job. His life was over, withall its pleasant
ambitions and quiet dreams.