"Mr. Erskine," she said, "what have I done that you should—should——"
I thought I caught a sob in her voice. Certainly she seemed strangely wrought upon.
I was silent, for I did not know how to answer her. Longings, hopes, fears, and desires surged through my heart in a most unaccountable way. In one sense I felt strangely happy at being there with her on that bright moonlight night; for the clouds had now rolled away, and the moon sailed serenely in the sky above. On the other hand, I knew I was much depressed. While everything was possible, nothing seemed possible. Truly, life was a maddening maze!
She turned with me, as if to return to the house, and for some time we walked side by side without speaking.
"Won't you tell me what has taken place?" she asked.
"Your brother has joined the Army," I replied. "He has got married too—married to Mary Treleaven. He asked me to come with him to the house while he told his father."
"And——?" she asked.
"Need I tell you that?" was my response.
"You mean that my father has driven him out of the house," and her voice was hard and angry.
I do not know why it was, but at that moment I felt I must champion Josiah Lethbridge's cause. The man had angered me beyond words, and yet I found myself excusing him.