What Necessity Knows by Lily Dougall
page 328 of 550 (59%)
page 328 of 550 (59%)
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with her he perceived, more by quickness of sympathy than by any sign,
that, in her effort to speak, she had begun to weep. She walked erect, giving no heed to her own tears nor lifting a hand to wipe them, only at first her throat refused to articulate a reply, and when she spoke it was quickly, a word or two at a time, as though she feared her voice would be traitor to her. "She left a paper for me." And then she added, "She wrote on it--what she was afraid to say--dear child!" He was silent a moment, listening with bowed head lest she should tell more. He thought he saw her now dash the tears from her face. She was walking fast, and he felt that she must not go further, also that he had no time to lose; so he told her hastily that he thought his housekeeper had gone also to the mountain, and why he thought so. He said that he hoped and believed Winifred would be with her, and that it was not many minutes since they had driven away. He would go at once, hoping to overtake them on the difficult ascent, and Miss Rexford, he said, must go home and send her father and brother to aid him in his search. She never stopped in her steady walk. "You know they are not at home." He was shocked to remember it. "Never mind!" he cried, "I will go with your authority. I will bring her back." Still she did not waver in her walk. She spoke thickly out of her tears. "You may go to find this woman who has worked for you so long; I will go for Winifred." "You must not come," he said almost harshly. "It is far too late; it is |
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