"Come no closer," said Rotha, thrusting out the palm of one hand; "you know where I"ve been--there, that is near enough."
"Nonsense, Rotha!" said w.i.l.l.y, stepping up to her and putting a hand on her arm. There was confidence in the touch.
"To-morrow is the day," w.i.l.l.y added, in an altered tone. "I am leaving for Carlisle at noon--that is, in four hours."
"Could you not wait four hours longer?" said Rotha.
"I could if you wish it; but why?"
"I don"t know--that is, I can"t say--but wait until four o"clock, I beg of you."
The girl spoke with deep earnestness.
"I shall wait," said w.i.l.l.y, after a pause.
"And you"ll meet me at the bridge by the smithy?" said Rotha.
w.i.l.l.y nodded a.s.sent.
"At four precisely," he said.
"This is all I came to ask. I must go back."
"Rotha, a word: what is your interest in these Garths? Does it concern your father and Ralph?"
"I"ll tell you at the bridge," said Rotha, sidling off.
"Every one is aghast at your going," he said.
"I have better reasons than any one knows of," she replied.
"And better faith, and a n.o.bler heart," he added feelingly as he turned his head away.
Garth was still asleep when she got back to the cottage. A feeble gleam of winter sunshine came languidly through the little window. It fell across the bed and lit up the blue eyelids and discolored lips of the troubled sleeper.
The fire had smouldered out. Only a charred bough and a damp clod of peat lay black among the gray ashes on the hearth.
As Rotha re-entered Mrs. Garth got up from the stool on which she had sat the long night through. There was a strange look on her face.
During the heavy hours she had revolved within herself a dark problem which to her was unsolvable, and the puzzle was still printed on her face. Drawing the girl aside, she said in a grating whisper,--
"Tell me, do ye think it"s reet what the lad says?"
"About Ralph and father?" asked Rotha.
"Tush! about hissel". Do ye think he"ll die?"
Rotha dropped her head.
"Tell me: do ye think so?"
Rotha was still silent. Mrs. Garth looked searchingly into her face, and in answer to the unuttered reply, she whispered vehemently,--
"It"s a lie. He"ll be back at his anvil to-morrow. Why do you come wi"
yer pale face to me? Crying? What"s it for? tell me!"
And the old woman shook the girl roughly by the shoulders.
Rotha made no response. The puzzled expression on Mrs. Garth"s face deepened at that instant, but as she turned aside she muttered again, with every accent of determination,--
"He"ll be back at his anvil to-morrow, that he will."
The blacksmith awoke as serene as a child. When he looked at Rotha his hard, drawn face softened to the poor semblance of a smile. Then a shadow crossed it, and once more he turned his head to the wall.
And now to Rotha the hours went by with flying feet. Every hour of them was as precious to her as her heart"s blood. How few were the hours of morning! The thing which above all she came here to do was not being done. A dull dead misery seemed to sit cold on her soul.
Rotha tended the sufferer with anxious care, and when the fitful sleep slid over him, she sat motionless with folded hands, and gazed through the window. All was still, sombre, chill, and dreary. The wind had slackened; the river ran smoother. In a field across the valley a woman was picking potatoes. No other human creature was visible.
Thus the hours wore on. At one moment Garth awoke with a troubled look, and glanced watchfully around. His mother was sitting in her accustomed seat, apparently asleep. He clutched at Rotha"s gown, and made a motion to her to come closer. She did so, a poor breath of hope fluttering in her breast. But just then Mrs. Garth shifted in her seat, and faced about towards them. The blacksmith drew back his hand, and dropped his half-lifted head.
Towards noon Mrs. Garth got up and left the bedroom. Her son had appeared to be asleep but he was alert to every movement. Again he plucked Rotha"s gown, and essayed to speak. But Mrs. Garth returned in a moment, and not a word was said.
Rotha"s spirits flagged. It was as though she were crawling hour after hour towards a gleam of hope that fled farther and farther away.
The darkness was gathering in, yet nothing was done. Then the clock struck four, and Rotha drew on her shawl once more, and walked to the bridge.
w.i.l.l.y was there, a saddled horse by his side.
"You look jaded and out of heart, Rotha," he said.
"Can you stay four hours longer?" she asked.
"Until eight o"clock? It will make the night ride cold and long," he answered.
"True, but you can stay until eight, can you not?"
"You know why I go. G.o.d knows it is not to be present at that last scene of all: that will be soon after daybreak."
"You want to see him again. Yes; but stay until eight o"clock. I would not make an idle request, w.i.l.l.y. No, not at a solemn hour like this."
"I shall stay," he said.
The girl"s grief-worn face left no doubt in his mind of her purpose.
They parted.
When Rotha re-entered the sick-room a candle was burning on a table by the bedside. Mrs. Garth still crouched before the fire. The blacksmith was awake. As he lifted his eyes to Rotha"s face, the girl saw that they wore the same watchful and troubled expression as before.
"Shall I read to you, Mr. Garth?" she asked, taking down from a shelf near the rafters a big leather-bound book. It was a Bible, dust-covered and with rusty clasps, which had lain untouched for years.