Part 5 (2/2)
When that was done and the old servant stood up again, Sir Oliver shortly bade hi now,” said he ”And give me to drink, Nick 'Tis what I most require”
”I've brewed ee a posset o' canary sack,” announced Nicholas; ”there'ht, Sir Oliver”
He departed to return presently with a black jack that was stearantly He found hisat the fire, and frowning darkly Sir Oliver's thoughts were still of his brother and Malpas, and so insistent were they that his own concerns were for thewhether it was not his duty, after all, to atteh and got to table There he bethought hiroom, and asked Nicholas for news of him Nicholas reported the fellow to be much as he had been, whereupon Sir Oliver took up a cup and bri posset
”Take him that,” he said ”There's no better medicine for such an ailment”
Outside fell a clatter of hooves
”Here be Master Lionel at last,” said the servant
”No doubt,” agreed Sir Oliver ”No need to stay for him Here is all he needs Carry that to Tom ere it cools”
It was his object to procure the servant's absence when Lionel should arrive, resolved as he was to greet hiht him the assurance that this was become his duty in view of his projected absence from Penarrow; and in his brother's interest he was deterht of the posset, and as he set it down he heard Lionel's step without Then the door was flung open, and his brother stood on the threshold a aze
Sir Oliver looked round with a scowl, the well-considered reproof already on his lips
”So” he began, and got no further The sight that met his eyes drove the ready words froasp of dismay that he came immediately to his feet ”Lionel!”
Lionel lurched in, closed the door, and shot ho his brother again He was deathly pale, with great dark stains under his eyes; his ungloved right hand was pressed to his side, and the fingers of it were all s froht side there was a spreading dark stain whose nature did not intrigue Sir Oliver a moment
”My God!” he cried, and ran to his brother ”What's happened, Lal? Who has done this?”
”Peter Godolphin,” came the answer from lips that writhed in a curious smile
Never a word said Sir Oliver, but he set his teeth and clenched his hands until the nails cut into his palms Then he put an arm about this lad he loved above all save one in the whole world, and with anguish in his mind he supported him forward to the fire There Lionel dropped to the chair that Sir Oliver had lately occupied
”What is your hurt, lad? Has it gone deep?” he asked, in terror alht--a flesh wound; but I have lost a ht I should have been drained or ever I got er and ripped away doublet, vest, and shi+rt, laying bare the lad's white flesh A moment's examination, and he breathed more freely
”Art a very babe, Lal,” he cried in his relief ”To ride without thought to stanch so simple a wound, and so lose all this blood--bad Tressilian blood though it be” He laughed in the immensity of his reaction from that momentary terror ”Stay thou there whilst I call Nick to help us dress this scratch”
”No, no!” There was note of sudden fear in the lad's voice, and his hand clutched at his brother's sleeve ”Nick must not know None must know, or I am undone else”
Sir Oliver stared, bewildered Lionel shtened save better than I took, Noll,” said he ”Master Godolphin is as cold by now as the snohich I left him”
His brother's sudden start and the fixed stare fro face scared Lionel a little He observed, almost subconsciously, the dull red wheal that came into prominence as the colour faded out of Sir Oliver's face, yet never thought to ask how it came there His own affairs possessed him too completely
”What's this?” quoth Oliver at last, hoarsely