He was concerned as to whether he should tell Mrs. Detlor at once
what Baron had told him or hold it till next day, when she might, perhaps,
be better prepared to hear it, though he could not help a smile at this,
for would not any woman--ought not any woman to--be glad that her husband
was alive? He would wait. He would see how she had borne the interview
with Telford.
Presently he saw that Telford was gone. When he reached her, she was
sitting, as he had often seen her, perfectly still, her hands folded in
her lap upon her parasol, her features held in control, save that in her
eyes was a bright, hot flame which so many have desired to see in the eyes
of those they love and have not seen. The hunger of these is like the
thirst of the people who waited for Moses to strike the rock.
He sat down without speaking. "He is gone," he said at last.
"Yes. Look at me and tell me if, from my face, you would think I had been
seeing dreadful things." She smiled sadly at him.
"No, I could not think it. I see nothing more than a kind of sadness. The
rest is all beauty."
"Oh, hush!" she replied solemnly. "Do not say those things now."
"I will not if you do not wish to hear them. What dreadful things have
you seen?"
"You know so much you should know everything," she said, "at least all of
what may happen.
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