Clashing his door behind him he went into his bedroom and threw himself down on his bed. An immense joy had taken possession of him. Ambition, dead so long, had been restored to vivid life under Fenella's last words.
And then came a shock. Turning to the table by his bedside, his eyes fell on the photograph that stood upon it.
Bessie Collister!
II
The Deemster had a cheerful homegoing. Young Robbie Creer said afterwards that he had never seen the old man so strong and hearty. Driving himself, he saluted everybody on the roads, always by name and generally in the Anglo-Manx. All the way back it was "How do, John?" or "Grand day done, Mr. Killip."
Janet was waiting for him at the porch of Ballamoar.
"You must be tired after your long day, your Honour?"
"Not at all!"
"And Victor—how did he get on, Sir?"
"Wonderfully! Won his case and covered himself with honour."