As he sat crushed and stunned under the blow, there came a furious knocking at the door, and Mrs. Marley called out in an agitated voice—
"It's the Squire, and isn't he in a rage!"
As Eli sat in his chair by the fire he again conjured up the picture of Redmond Maynard striding furiously into the room, knocking the snow from his boots with his hunting crop.
"Is my son here, or has he been here?" he asked, angrily.
"He was here last night," said Eli, in a hollow voice.
"And is he here still?"
"No."
"Where is he?"
"I don't know; he went away after—after——"
"After what?" thundered the Squire.