Rahal, however, came to the table alone. She said, “Ian asked that he might lie still and sleep an hour or two. He has not slept all night long, I think,” she added. “His voice sounded full of trouble.”
So the two women ate their breakfast alone for Ragnor did not return in time to join them. And Rahal’s hopefulness left her, and she was silent and her face had a grey, fearful expression that Thora could not help noticing. “You look ill, Mother!” she said, “and you were looking so well when we came downstairs. What is it?”
“I know not. I feel as if I was going into a black cloud. I wish that thy father would come home. He is in trouble. I wonder then what is the matter!”
In about an hour they saw Ragnor and the Bishop coming towards the house together.
“They are in trouble, Thora, both of them are in trouble.”
“About Thora they need not to be in trouble. She will do what they advise her to do.”
“It is not thee.”
“What then?”
“I will not name my fear, lest I call it to me.”