Then for the space of minutes there was silence in the room save for the wail of the bitter wind outside, and Violet lay staring at the fire with vacant eyes. Hester found it becoming unendurable, and touched her companion gently.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” she said.
“No,” said Violet, with a visible effort as she rose. “I think I will go home. You will tell your father and the vicar, Hester. I can get my hat and wraps myself. I don’t wish you to come with me.”
She straightened herself slowly and passed out of the room, while when she entered it again dressed for the drive Mr. Earle laid his hand upon her shoulder.
“You have our sincere sympathy, but I can’t help fancying that it is not altogether hopeless yet,” he said.
The girl looked up at him with incredulity in her eyes. “You must know it is. What do you mean?” she said.
“Well,” said Earle, with a glance at the vicar, who had come in and heard the news, “it is a little difficult to make clear. Still, you see, my dear, that men who do not answer to the roll after a battle now and then turn up again. A blunder may have been made in the confusion, while we do not after all know anything very much to the credit of Mr. Appleby. I would suggest that your mother ask lawyer Craythorne to meet him. Men are apt to believe what they wish to now and then.”
“I don’t in the least understand you.”
Earle appeared disconcerted. “If this distressful news were true Appleby would be the gainer.”
Once more the girl looked up with a chilling serenity that unpleasantly affected him.