She covered her face with her hands.
The Schoolmaster was thinking deeply too; the iron of despair had entered his soul.
"What will it mean?" she asked, looking up at him.
"Three years hard labour on the roads of the Colony or other place as the judge may direct," he quoted, his voice a little uncertain.
"Tell me," she said, rising, a tide of feeling carrying fire to her eyes, dignity to her figure and a subtle timbre to her voice, "would you rather I had not come? Would you rather I had let Davey take his punishment? I'm not sure that he does not deserve it in spite of what you say."
"No!" Farrel cried, passionately.
He grasped her hand. His face fell over it.
"It is the best thing in the world ... for me ... to do something for you," he said.
Mrs. Cameron caught her breath when for a moment he carried her fingers to his lips.
"You'll look after Deirdre," he said, "if—"