"Where to? I relied upon Tennant; I thought Tennant would be able to do
something," said the old man, miserably.
Paul meanwhile, his back turned squarely to Eve, was again holding out
the letter to Cicely.
Cicely did not take it.
"I'll read it aloud, then." He drew the sheet from its envelope, and,
opening it, began, "'Dear old Paul--'"
Cicely put out both her hands,--"Give it to me." She took it hastily.
"Oh, how can you treat him so--Ferdie, your own brother!" Her eyes were
full of tears.
"I cared for him before you ever saw him," answered Paul, exasperated.
"What do you know about my feelings? Ferdie wishes you to stay here, and
every one thinks you exceedingly wrong to go--every one except Miss
Bruce, who seems to have lost her head." Here he flashed a short look at
Eve.
"I shall go!" cried Cicely.
"Because you think he cannot get on without you?"
"I know he cannot."
"Read the letter, then."
"No, take the letter away from her," said Eve. She spoke to Paul, and
her tone was a command. He looked at her; with a sudden change of
feeling he tried to obey her. But it was too late, Cicely had thrust the
letter into the bodice of her dress; then she rose, her sleeping child
in her arms. "Grandpa, will you come with me? Will you carry Jack?"
"I will take him," said Paul.
"No, only grandpa, please; not even you, Eve; just grandpa and I. You
may come later; in fifteen minutes." She spoke with a dignity which she
had never shown before, and they went away together, the old man
carrying the sleeping child.
"What was in that letter?" Eve demanded accusingly, as soon as they were
left alone.
"Well, another woman."
"Cruel!"
"Yes, it seems so now," said Paul, disturbed. "My one idea about it was
that it might make her less confident that she was all-important to him;
in that way we could keep her on here a while longer."
"Yes, with a broken heart."
"Oh, hearts! rubbish!--the point was to make her stay. You haven't half
an idea how important it is, and I can't tell you; she cannot go back to
him until I have been down there and--and changed some things, made new
arrangements."
"I think it the greatest cruelty I have ever heard of!" She hurried
through the woods towards the tents; Paul followed her.
The judge came out as they approached. "She is reading it," he said in a
whisper. "Tennant, I hope you know what you are about?"
"Yes; that letter will make her stay," answered Paul, decisively.
Eve turned to enter the tent.
"The fifteen minutes are not up," said Paul, holding her back.
She drew away from him, but she did not try to enter again; they waited
in silence.
Then came a sound. Eve ran within, the two men behind her.
Little Jack, on the bed, was sleeping peacefully. Cicely had fallen from
her seat to the matting that covered the floor.
Eve lifted her; kneeling on the matting, she held her in her arms.