It was gone in a flash as it had come, for Marley, with a shudder, dropped his hands limply to his sides, and the color crept slowly back into his cheeks.
“There is no chance for her?”—no trace of the passionate outburst of an instant before remained. The question came low, hesitating—more like an assertion combined with a wistful appeal for contradiction.
It took Regan longer to recover himself, and it was a minute before he answered. Then he shook his head.
“She’ll be stone blind in a month,” he said gruffly.
Marley’s eyes came up to the master mechanic’s—and dropped instantly with their habitual little flutter.
“Ain’t no doubt, no chance of a mistake?” he ventured.
Again Regan shook his head.
“Not a chance. The best man we could find East made the examination. We’re arranging to get her into an institute—a home for the blind somewhere.”
“I thought you would”—Marley’s voice was monotonous. “That’s what she was talking about, wasn’t it?”
“Yes,” said Regan.