pictured him as looking as Sir Galahad. But if _this_ was what he
really looked like--Again she glanced wonderingly at Belle. How could she
care so hard for ten long years for just an ordinary man like that?

When it was time to go home Belle suggested that they walk around by
Fishburn Court. It would be out of their way, but she had heard that Aunt
Elspeth wasn't as well as usual.

"Emmett always called her Aunt," she explained to Georgina as they walked
along, "so I got into the way of doing it, too. He was so fond of Dan's
mother. She was so good to him after his own went that I feel I want to
be nice to her whenever I can, for his sake."

"You know," she continued, "Aunt Elspeth never would give up but that Dan
was innocent, and since her memory's been failing her this last year, she
talks all the time about his coming home; just lies there in bed half her
time and babbles about him. It almost kills Uncle Dan'l to hear her,
because, of course, he knows the truth of the matter, that Dan _was_
guilty. He as good as confessed it before he ran away, and the running
away itself told the story."

When they reached Fishburn Court they could see two people sitting in
front of the cottage. Uncle Darcy was in an armchair on the grass with
one of the cats in his lap, and Richard sat on one seat of the red,
wooden swing with Captain Kidd on the opposite site one. Richard had a
rifle across his knees, the one Georgina had suggested borrowing. He
passed his hand caressingly along its stock now and then, and at
intervals raised it to sight along the barrel. It was so heavy he could
not keep it from wobbling when he raised it to take aim in various
directions.