"As much as that? Oh, husband mine, it is indeed an answer to my prayers. And now you will be quite free?"
"Yes, free—quite free."
His voice took a fuller tone as he said it. He threw his head back and laughed like his old happy self. Then, seating himself beside her, he began to question her on other subjects.
"It's a funny thing that Murkard should have chanced to be away just when I arrived. What time did he cross to the township?"
"About eleven o'clock, I think. Cuthbert, I want to talk to you about him."
"Well," he said, looking at her laughingly, "what has the old fellow been up to while I've been away? Making love to you? I'll certainly break his head for him if he has."
"Don't be silly! I want to talk to you seriously; I am alarmed about him. He frightens me terribly at times."
"Come, come, you mustn't be silly. There's nothing but what's honest about Murkard, I'll stake my life on that. He wouldn't willing hurt a fly. But in what way does he frighten you?"
"He looks so queer, and once or twice when I've sent for him he hasn't been able to come. I have serious suspicions that he has been drinking heavily lately."
"Is that so? Well, I'll soon stop that. And yet we must not be too hard on him, poor fellow, he has much to put up with. Hark! that sounds like his voice."