“By-and-by,” he replied, standing before her.
Could this be the safe old house in which childish days had passed, in which all around were always friendly and familiar faces? The window stood reflected upon the wall beside her in dim sunset light, and the shadows of the flowers sharp and still that stood there.
“I have friends here who will turn you out, Sir!”
“You have no friends here,” he replied, with the same fixed smile.
She hesitated; she stepped down, but stopped in the hall. She remembered instantly that, as she turned, she had seen him take the key from the hall door.
“My brother will protect me.”
“Is he here?”
“He'll call you to account to-morrow, when he comes.”
“Will he say so?”
“Always—brave, true Richard!” she sobbed, with a strange cry in her words.