A sudden stillness seemed to take possession of him. His lips parted; his head was thrust forwards slightly as though he saw something in the distance. He spoke scarcely above a whisper.
“I didn’t know the New York man was coming. I didn’t know there was any hope at all,” he said with awe in his tones.
“We told you there was,” she answered.
“Yes, I know. But I thought you were all only trying to make it easier for me, and I heard Warbeck say to Rockwell, when they thought I was asleep, ‘It’s ten to one against him.’”
“Did you hear that?” she said sorrowfully. “I’m so sorry; but Mr. Warbeck said afterwards—only a week ago—that the chances were even. That’s the truth. On my soul and honour it’s the truth. He said the chances were even. It was he suggested Mr. Hindlip, and Hindlip is coming now. He’s on the way. He may be here to-day. Oh, be sure, be sure, be sure, it isn’t all over. You said your life was broken. It isn’t. You said my life had been broken. It wasn’t. It was only the wrench of a great change. Well, it’s only the wrench of a great change in your life. You said I gained everything in the great change of my life. I did; and the great change in your life won’t be lost, it will be gain, too. I know it; in my heart I know it.”
With sudden impulse she caught his hand in both of hers, and then with another impulse, which she could not control, she caught his head to her bosom. For one instant her arms wrapped him round, and she murmured something in a language he did not understand—the language of the Roumelian country. It was only one swift instant, and then with shocked exclamation she broke away from him, dropped into a chair, and buried her face in her hands.
He blindly reached out his hand towards her as if to touch her. “Mother-girl, dear mother-girl—that’s what you are,” he said huskily. “What a great, kind heart you’ve got!”
She did not reply, but sat with face hidden in her hands, rocking backwards and forwards. He understood; he tried to help her. There was a great joy in his heart, but he dared not give it utterance.
“Please tell me about your life—about that great change in it,” he said at last in a low voice. “Perhaps it would help me. Anyhow, I’d like to know, if you feel you can tell me.”
For a moment she was silent. Then she said to him with an anxious note in her voice: “What do you know about my life-about the ‘great change,’ as you call it?”