"You need not fear," I returned. "He shall not even drag me away."
"He will not try force. He may try fraud. I distrust him. He used to be so frank and outspoken. Will you be careful? Do not be trapped into anything, for he is deep as the sea. It may be all this copper business. I have seen men go mad about speculation before, when they could dance a hornpipe standing on their heads, their brains were so befuddled. It is not drink, but some curious influence I cannot divine."
"I shall stay with you always. It was one of the conditions of my marriage. It was as solemn a promise as anything else."
"Thank God, my darling."
There certainly was what I should call an intense change in Dan, not any superficial emotion. He sometimes sat with his lips compressed, and his brow in a frown, then it would suddenly lighten in such a wonderful glow, an absolute radiance. What was he thinking of?
Once, when I saw it, I went over and kissed him in a kind of fascinated mood.
"Don't!" He pushed me away roughly.
A month before I would have cried, and felt stabbed to the heart. Now I walked quietly away.
What weeks they were, not many of them, but the days seemed shodden with lead, the sun hung high in the heavens, as if loth to leave her throne.
I stayed mostly at home, helping father to go over accounts. I remember the last week. Norman was not in at all.