"
Maud Barrington's eyes were grateful, but there was something that
Winston could not fathom behind her smile.
"If you undertook it. One could almost believe you had the wonderful
lamp," she said.
Winston smiled somewhat dryly. "Then all its virtues will be tested
to-night, and I had better make a commencement while I have the
courage. Colonel Barrington is in?"
Maud Barrington went with him to the door, and then laid her hand a
moment on his arm. "Lance," she said, with a little tremor in her
voice, "if there was a time when our distrust hurt you, it has recoiled
upon our heads. You have returned it with a splendid generosity."
Winston could not trust himself to answer, but walked straight to
Barrington's room, and finding the door open, went quietly in. The
head of the Silverdale settlement was sitting at a littered table in
front of a shaded lamp, and the light that fell upon it showed the care
in his face. It grew a trifle grimmer when he saw the younger man.
"Will you sit down?" he said. "I have been looking for a visit from
you for some little time. It would have been more fitting had you made
it earlier."
Winston nodded as he took a chair. "I fancy I understand you, but I
have nothing that you expect to hear to tell you, sir."
"That," said Barrington, "is unfortunate. Now, it is not my business
to pose as a censor of the conduct of any man here, except when it
affects the community, but their friends have sent out a good many
young English lads, some of whom have not been too discreet in the old
country, to me.
Pages:
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299