"
But he was conscious, as he said this, that he was not precisely voicing
his own sentiments. He himself was mystified. He was still wondering why
Pratt had been so pertinacious in asking the old woodman when,
precisely, he had told Mrs. Mallathorpe about the unsafe condition of
the bridge--still wondering about a certain expression which had come
into Pratt's face when the old man told them what he did--still
wondering at the queer look which Pratt had given the information as he
went off into the plantation. Was there, then, something--some secret
which was being kept back by--somebody?
He was still pondering over these things when he went back to the
Grange, later in the evening--but he was resolved not to say anything
about them to Nesta. And he saw Nesta only for a few minutes. Her
mother, she said, was very ill indeed--the doctor was with her then, and
she must go back to them. Since her son's death, Mrs. Mallathorpe had
scarcely spoken, and the doctor, knowing that her heart was not strong,
was somewhat afraid of a collapse.
"If there is anything that I can do,--or if you should want me, during
the night," said Collingwood, earnestly, "promise me that you'll send at
once to the inn!"
"Yes," answered Nesta. "I will. But--I don't think there will be any
need. We have two nurses here, and the doctor will stop.
Pages:
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123