"We're all a bit crazy now and then, Tim. But I was never afraid of the sea. Get me the lantern!"
Still Burke hesitated. But suddenly Asshlin stepped forward, with a look so full of pride and domination, that by instinct he succumbed.
"As quick as you can, Burke!"
And the old man hobbled off.
There was silence between the cousins after he had gone. Asshlin leaned upon the mantelpiece, with his face averted; Clodagh walked nervously about the room, changing the arrangement of the silver on the sideboard, snuffing the candles that had begun to gutter, doing any aimless and unnecessary thing that could blur her sense of impending solitude. At last she paused in the middle of the room.
"Larry——" she began desperately.
But at the same instant Burke's step sounded in the hall, and his voice came to them through the open door.
"The lanthern is here, Masther Larry!"
Asshlin started.
"All right! I'm coming!" he called. "Good-night, Clo!" He walked forward almost awkwardly, and took her cold hand.