“Perhaps I had better go,” said Eddy, carefully watching the other’s eyes.
“Do, my good lad. I had a disturbed night, and I’m out of the habit of keeping late hours. I will not appear myself, if you are going—though I dare say they will all go soon to their beds to-night.”
“Good night, sir,” said Eddy, “I hope you’ll sleep well.” There was almost a tender tone in the youth’s voice.
“Oh, I’ll sleep well enough. I always sleep. Good night—and thank you again, Eddy, for backing me up.”
As for Evelyn, she pressed his hand with a grateful look, and said also, “Thank you, Eddy,” in a soft tone, which, for some reason or other, seemed more than Eddy could bear. He almost tore his hand from hers, and turned his back upon her as though she had insulted him, which filled Mrs. Rowland with astonishment; but when there were so many things of importance to think of, what did Eddy’s look matter? She was glad when the girls too said good night, and left her alone with her husband—who, however, was in no humour for conversation.
“I’m going to bed,” he said. “I can always sleep, thank God. Evelyn, if you ever write to that lad’s father——”
“I never do, James.”
“Well, you might, my dear. It would have been no offence to me. I’m not one to sin against my mercies, as if I did not know when I had got a good woman. But you might say the lad had been a real stand-by. When you have a son, and the like of that can be said, it’s a pity that a man should not have the satisfaction——” He broke off with a sigh, and walked up and down the room with his hands deeply thrust into his pockets, and then pulled the heavy curtains aside and looked out. It was one of the windows under the colonnade just where the view was—the view through the trees over the triumphant Clyde, with its towns and hills beyond. There was a faint glimmer of light in sky and water, which showed where the opening was. Ah! this, which had been the star of his life for so many years—to what had it turned when it was granted to his eager desire?
“James! there is nothing to prevent you from having that satisfaction—yet.”
He looked at her and burst into a hoarse laugh—then, as she essayed to speak again, stamped his foot on the carpet in impatience and hurried away.