‘There ain’t no answer.’
‘Somebody else has spoken to you before Caleb, and has been luckier than he.’
‘Nobody else has spoken to me—if you mean in the way of asking me.’
This cleared away a simoom of disagreeable speculations which had been whirling through Madge’s brain. Caleb’s happiness was not wrecked yet.
‘And there is nobody you expect to ask you?’
‘Oh, I don’t say that—I don’t know. Who can tell what may happen? But there’s no use speaking about that. I wish things hadn’t gone so far with Caleb.’
Madge agreed that there was no use speaking any more at present; but although she did not feel quite so assured as she had done a moment before of Caleb’s speedy restoration to favour, she was hopeful that he would be in the end, since no one else had spoken. At the same time, she was satisfied that there was another who had contrived to catch the wayward fancy of the girl by touching some hidden spring of vanity. Worst of all, there was the unpleasant probability that this ‘other’ who disturbed the peace of two honest folk was one whose position was so different from her own that the girl was afraid or ashamed to confess her folly at once. But this would be transient, and Pansy would come back to her senses in good time. Clearly, whatever silly notions possessed her for the moment, it was Caleb she loved, or she would never have been so much worried on his account.
Having, however, some conception of the headstrong nature of the man, Madge was aware of the importance of promptitude in clearing up the misunderstanding between the lovers, and she did not see how that could be done unless Caleb remained steady and patient. She and Philip must persuade him to be so. For the present, nothing more could be said to Pansy with advantage.
The girl was glad of the excuse to go to the doctor’s, as it afforded her time to recover self-possession before she came under the keen eyes of her father. On their way through the forest, no further reference was made to Caleb, although Madge talked about Philip’s work, and the happy future which they believed was in store for every man who laboured under him. Of course she intended her companion to understand that Caleb would share largely in that brilliant future. Whether it was this suggestion or the brisk exercise which had the effect, Pansy looked sufficiently composed on their arrival in the village not to attract the particular attention of passing acquaintances.
The injured hand was attended to, and Dr Joy complimented Madge on her skill as a dresser.