“Can I help you with these? Sorting or stringing?”
“But surely it’s against the rules.”
“It is advisable to break them in emergency. And I doubt if this be not finished, some great calamity will rise. The Master is away. The work is out of all proportion to the time. For his sake, for yours, and for hers, I wish to help you, for this day, at least.”
So Mariana gave way, and one little flame of heat passed over the icy barrier almost unconsciously. The cell, being less lonely now, lost its ghastliness.
Thus the time passed away until completion, the last day of the old year, the eve of the new.
And on that afternoon at four o’clock Mariana heaved a sigh of apparent contentment, for all was now in readiness. And Everard, having done his full share in the arrangement of jewels, and whatever else was needed, returned to the door in order to welcome Mr. Barringcourt, who just then returned.
CHAPTER XXXIV
“A GIFT, A FRIEND, A FOE, A BEAU, A JOURNEY TO GO.”
To return again for a brief interval to that day following Christmas Day. Mr. Barringcourt, when he had left Mariana, went to see the Great High Priest, and afterwards attended with many others the Service of Dedication of the Curtain. Miss Crokerly was there, but not Rosalie. Afterwards Mr. Barringcourt said to the new High Priest when left alone together, and the guests departed:
“Why didn’t you invite Miss Paleaf?”
“I have told you why. I am only waiting for a sufficiently good opportunity to bring forward the trial.”