"
And there came on her a horror of the room and of all that had
happened in it, a horror of death and of the dead.
She turned away to the window and looked out. The long marshland
stretched below, white under the August sun. Beyond it the green hills
with their steep gray cliffs rose and receded, like a coast line, head
after head.
To Ally the scene was desolate beyond all bearing and the house was
terrible.
Her eyelids pricked. Her mouth trembled. She kept her back turned to
Greatorex while she stifled a sob with her handkerchief pressed tight
to her lips.
He saw and came to her and put his arm round her.
"What is it, Ally? What is it, loove?"
She looked up at him.
"I don't know, Jim. But--I think--I'm afraid."
"What are you afraid of?"
She thought a moment. "I'm afraid of father."
"Yo med bae ef yo staayed with him. Thot's why I want yo t' coom to
mae."
He looked at her.
"'Tisn' thot yo're afraid of. 'Tis soomthin' alse thot yo wawn't tall
mae."
"Well--I think--I'm a little bit afraid of this house. It's--it's so
horribly lonely."
He couldn't deny it.
"A'y; it's rackoned t' bae loanly. But I sall navver leaave yo.
I'm goain' t' buy a new trap for yo, soa's yo can coom with mae and
Daaisy. Would yo like thot, Ally?"
"Yes, Jim, I'd love it. But----"
"It'll not bae soa baad. Whan I'm out in t' mistal and in t' fields
and thot, yo'll have Maaggie with yo."
She whispered.
Pages:
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252