“I want work alone, not marriage, sir.”
“He would pay thee his debt.”
“He owes me nothing. What happened was no fault of his, but of the life we were born in. He tired of me, and left me. Husbands tire of their wives, but stay on and beat them.”
“He drove thee mad almost, I remember.”
“Wives go mad and are never cured, so many of them. I’ve seen them die, poor things, and leave the little ones behind. I had the luck wi’ me. I took the right turning at the cross-roads yonder.”
“Thee must be Jasper’s wife if he asks thee again,” he urged.
“He will come when I call, but I will not call,” she answered.
“But still thee will marry him when the heart is ready,” he persisted. “It shall be ready soon. He needs thee. Good-bye, friend. Leave Soolsby alone. He will be safe. And do not tell him that I have seen him so.” He stooped over and touched the old man’s shoulder gently.
He held out his hand to her. She took it, then suddenly leaned over and kissed it. She could not speak.
He stepped to the door and looked out. Behind the Red Mansion the sun was setting, and the far garden looked cool and sweet. He gave a happy sigh, and stepped out and down.