"'O'er moor and fen--o'er crag and torrent ti-ill----'"
The evocation was intolerable to Rowcliffe.
He turned away and Greatorex's voice went after him.
"'And--with--the--morn tho-ose angel fa-a-ce-es smile
Which I-i--a-ave looved--long since--and lo-ost awhi-ile.'"
Again Rowcliffe turned; but not before he had seen that Greatorex had
his hand on Alice's shoulder a second time, and that Alice's hand had
gone up and found it there.
The latch of the west door jerked under Rowcliffe's hand with a loud
clashing. Alice and Greatorex looked round and saw him as he went out.
Alice got up in terror. The two stood apart on either side of the
organ bench, staring into each other's faces.
Then Alice went round to the back of the organ and addressed the small
organ-blower.
"Go," she said, "and tell the choir we're waiting for them. It's five
minutes past time."
Johnny ran.
Alice went back to the chancel where Greatorex stood turning over the
hymn books of the choir.
"Jim," she said, "that was Dr. Rowcliffe. Do you think he saw us?"
"It doesn't matter if he did," said Greatorex. "He'll not tell."
"He might tell Father."
Jim turned to her.
"And if he doos, Ally, yo' knaw what to saay."
"That's no good, Jim. I've told you so. You mustn't think of it."
"I shall think of it. I shall think of noothing else," said Greatorex.
* * * * *
The choir came in, aggrieved, and explaining that it wasn't six yet,
not by the church clock.
Pages:
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228