Part 3 (1/2)
”Thatme were abroad, and I held them in the same contempt as I hold their utterer But he went further, Rose: he poisoned your brother'srancour that in my father's time ant to lie between our houses To-day Peter came to me with the clear intent to make a quarrel He affronted me as no man has ever dared”
She cried out at that, her already great alarm redoubled He smiled
”Do not suppose that I could harm him He is your brother, and, so, sacred to me He came to tell me that no betrothal was possible between us, forbade ain to visit Godolphin Court, dubbed me pirate and vampire to my face and reviled my father's rew, and rode straight to Arwenack to dam that source of falsehood for all time I did not accomplish quite so much as I intended You see, I am frank, my Rose It may be that Sir John will live; if so I hope that he ht to you,” he concluded, ”that you n ”
”You you hed
She sat very still and white, looking straight before her and not at all at Sir Oliver At length she spoke
”I a men,” she said in a sad, small voice ”How should I be, that am but a maid who has led a cloistered life I was told of you that you were violent and passionate, a man of bitter enmities, easily stirred to hatreds, cruel and ruthless in the persecution of the to Sir John,” he hed shortly
”All this was I told,” she pursued as if he had not spoken, ”and all did I refuse to believe because iven to you Yet yet of what have you made proof to-day?”
”Of forbearance,” said he shortly
”Forbearance?” she echoed, and her lips writhed in a smile of weary irony ”Surely you mock me!”
He set himself to explain
”I have told you what Sir John had done I have told you that the greater part of it--and matter all that touchedsince Yet I suffered it in silence and contempt
Was that to show myself easily stirred to ruthlessness? What was it but forbearance? When, however, he carries his petty huckster's rancour so far as to seek to choke for me my source of happiness in life and sends your brother to affront nize your brother to be no ht to the hand that wielded hiave hiiven hiard, still sat in that frozen attitude of horror at learning that the man she loved had imbrued his hands with the blood of another who quickened to a war hireat sinewy hands the slender fingers which she listlessly surrendered ”Rose,” he cried, and his deep voice quivered with intercession, ”dismiss all that you have heard fro that has befallen Suppose that Lionelsome measure of power and authority to support him, he swore to you that you should never wed e because he deemed you such a woman as could not bear my name with honour to myself; and suppose that to all this he added insult to the memory of your dead father, what ansould you return him? Speak, Rose! Be honest with thyself and me Deem yourself in my place, and say in honesty if you can still condemn me for what I have done Say if it differs much from what you would wish to do in such a case as I have named”
Her eyes scanned now his upturned face, every line of which was pleading to her and calling for irew troubled, and then almost fierce She set her hands upon his shoulders, and looked deep into his eyes
”You swear to me, Noll, that all is as you have told it ht to make the tale more favourable to yourself?”
”You need such oaths from me?” he asked, and she saw sorrow spread upon his countenance
”If I did I should not love thee, Noll But in such an hour I need your own assurance Will you not be generous and bear withthat may be said hereafter?”
”As God's my witness, I have told you true in all,” he answered sole softly, overwrought by this climax to all that in silence and in secret she had suffered since he had co her
”Then,” she said, ”I believe you acted rightly I believe with you that no man of honour could have acted otherwise I must believe you, Noll, for did I not, then I could believe in naught and hope for naught You are as a fire that has seized upon the better part of me and consumed it all to ashes that you may hold it in your heart I am content so you be true”
”True I shall ever be, sweetheart,” he whispered fervently ”Could I be less since you are sent to ain, and now she was sh her tears