“SWEAR THAT YOU WILL NEVER MENTION JUD LASHER’S NAME TO ANYBODY”
CHAPTER XXII
RoBards was afraid to leave the house. How could he trust it to keep the secret? There would be nobody to guard the cellar from intrusion. Yet no intruder would be interested in studying the stone walls. Anyone who entered the house would seek jewelry or silver or clothes.
He dared not ask the children to deny themselves the visit to the city. They were already nagging him to make haste lest they be too late for the parade.
So he locked the house up and drove away. When he cast his last glance back he sent a prayer in his eyes to the house to be good to him and to protect him and its other children.
The tulip tree stood at attention, solemn and reliable.
He approached the Lasher hovel with dread and tried to make the horses gallop past, but Mrs. Lasher stood in the middle of the road and held up her arms.
He had to face her, and he checked his horses while his heart plunged and galloped. But all she said was:
“I just wanted to tell you that Jud left home yesterday to go to sea. It broke my heart, but I hope you’re satisfied.”