What did she know? What did she mean?
In any case he must face it out, be strong--and merciful and affectionate
afterwards.
"Wait, Hylda," he said. "We must talk this out."
She freed her arm. "There is nothing to talk out," she answered.
"So far as our relations are concerned, all reason for talk is gone."
She drew the fatal letter from the sash at her waist. "You will think so
too when you read this letter again." She laid it on the table beside
him, and, as he opened and glanced at it, she left the room.
He stood with the letter in his hand, dumfounded. "Good God!" he said,
and sank into a chair.
CHAPTER XXXIX
FAITH JOURNEYS TO LONDON
Faith withdrew her eyes from Hylda's face, and they wandered helplessly
over the room. They saw, yet did not see; and even in her trouble there
was some subconscious sense softly commenting on the exquisite refinement
and gentle beauty which seemed to fill the room; but the only definite
objects which the eyes registered at the moment were the flowers filling
every corner. Hylda had been lightly adjusting a clump of roses when she
entered; and she had vaguely noticed how pale was the face that bent over
the flowers, how pale and yet how composed--as she had seen a Quaker
face, after some sorrow had passed over it, and left it like a quiet
sea in the sun, when wreck and ruin were done. It was only a swift
impression, for she could think of but one thing, David and his safety.
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