came to me when he had drunk too much. I thought I did well for his own
sake to be angry and I sent him away unforgiven. There were many ready
to comfort him, and it was not in him to rebuff a woman, especially a
woman who let him see that she was in love with him. He was often with
Irene Cardew while I was angry with him. It gave colour to the stories
afterwards."

"I know; Maureen told me."

"No one that knew him could believe it. It was like Jasper Tuite that he
could not even die without wronging another."




CHAPTER VIII

THE STILE IN THE WOOD


After that she changed the conversation to other things; and when I had
drunk my tea and eaten with an appetite I went upstairs with her to see
things she had promised to show me.

I had had no idea that they were for me. I knew that she had a great
many old and beautiful things, and from my childhood I had delighted in
them. I could remember her calling for me in her pony phaeton before
Uncle Luke had left us, and she would carry me all over Castle Clody for
she was a tall, strong young woman; and while she changed her dress I
used to sit in the middle of her bed with the curtains of blue and