"Judge Kent, if you realized how serious was your attack in the library,
you would not risk the imprudence of a railway journey. You ought to see
your doctor. Let me go and meet Eglah in Philadelphia."
His bloodshot eyes twinkled as they met hers.
"Doctor? Absurd! Attack? You mean that unlucky slip? It amounts to
nothing except a stubborn stiffness on the side where I struck those
diabolical sand-scoured boards. I particularly desire the matter should
not be mentioned to my daughter, who would reproach herself severely for
that 'dry-rubbed' floor she knows I detest as a cat does swimming."
During his absence a cabinet maker was summoned and removed the ugly
grey stains on Eglah's favorite piece of old claw-footed mahogany. For a
time the incident seemed forgotten by all save the quiet, silent woman
keeping watch for the consequences.
A few days after Eglah's return she sat at a window in her bedroom,
noting the deepening glory of the west, where the sun was just sinking
behind purple hills. It was the date on which the "Ahvungah" would leave
Sydney and begin her voyage to the world of eternal ice.
The day had seemed one of doom, as if set for a funeral, and the going
down of the sun brought other shadows--darker than the mists that would
soon swim under the stars. If Mr. Herriott had forgiven her she might
have gone to Cape Breton, could have been with him till the last moment.
Now he was upon the ocean, and only God knew the future that looked so
black, so spectral, so full of desolation.
Mrs. Mitchell opened the door and handed her a package.
"Dearie, the express messenger brought this, and I signed for you."
She went back to her own room and resumed her darning.
The parcel was addressed in Mr. Herriott's handwriting: "Mrs. Noel
Herriott. Care Hon. Allison Kent." A wave of color flowed over Eglah's
pale face as she looked at her new name, and felt assured his eyes had
gleamed with scorn as he penned it. A pass-book and check-book of a New
York bank, with note from the cashier, were the first objects that met
her eye, and were instantly thrown aside; then a square box, elaborately
sealed. When she removed the wrapping paper a red morocco case appeared,
and around it was tied a note without a personal address.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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