“Very well,” she laughed with well-feigned defiance. “I will give Gordon your message. And we shall see!”
With those words she passed to the heavy plush curtains and disappeared behind them out upon the lawn, beyond which, separated only by a wire fence, lay a small and picturesque wood which ran down the hill for a quarter of a mile or so.
Old Mr Homfray followed her, and with a sigh, closed the long glass door and bolted it.
Then, returning to the fireplace, he stood upon the hearthrug with folded arms, thinking deeply, faintly murmured words escaping his pale lips.
“Roddy must never know!” he repeated.
“If he knew the truth concerning that slip in my past what would he think of me? He would regard his father as a liar and a hypocrite!”
Again he remained silent for a considerable time.
“Gordon Gray!” he muttered. “It seems impossible that he should rise from the grave and become my enemy, after all I have done in his interests. I believed him to be my friend! But he is under the influence of that woman—that woman who means to ruin me because I refused to render her assistance in that vile scheme of hers!”
Suddenly, as he stood there before the blazing logs, he recollected the sixth chapter of St. Luke.
“Love your enemies,” he repeated aloud. “Do good to those who hate you. And unto him that smiteth you on the one cheek, offer also the other.”