"I must think, mother," I said. "I know you love Wilfred the better; I know you think him far more fit to be the head of the house than I; you think I ought to make the sacrifice, but I must have time to think." "How long, Roger? The day after to-morrow Ruth leaves Trewinion Manor." "Leave! Why?" "Need you ask? She cannot wait here in the house with the man she thinks she has to marry, when the thought of such a thing is terrible." I was driving Ruth away then. Not only was I giving her pain and sorrow, but because of me she was going to leave the only home wherein she could be happy. It was true she could return to her own home, which had been kept in repair, but I knew she did not intend going there until she came of age. "She does not wish to be with me longer than she thinks she is forced by her father's will?" I said. "She knows she is not expected to marry you until she is twenty-one. That will not be for some time, and so she is going away." This was hardest of all to bear, it drove me to madness. Her detestation of me was so great that she determined to shun me. "Just one word more, mother. Have you spoken to me because of Ruth's desire, or with her sanction?" A strange look flashed across my mother's face; then she said, "Roger, never think I can answer that question." My brain seemed on fire, and I could not tell what to do, I could not decide. I simply rushed out of the room saying, "You will soon know." I made my way to my room upstairs, and in passing along a corridor I saw a light in Mr. Inch's room. Immediately I knocked at his door, and on receiving permission, entered. I found him busy with a lot of papers. "Is it correct that you and Miss Morton are going to leave us, Mr. Inch?" I said. He bowed, and said, quietly but distinctly, "It is so decided." "Might I ask the reason for this abrupt departure?" I said. "I have heard nothing about it until to-night." He looked at me for a moment steadily; then he said, "It is not for me to say; surely you should know that it is next to impossible for her to remain here now." He also had told me in words as plain as words could tell what she felt. I must think, think alone. I found my way to my bedroom, but my mind would not work there. I must get out under the broad sky, where all was free. So again I left the house, went away towards the highest point on the headland, where, hundreds of feet below, the waves were lashing themselves into foam as they broke upon the great rugged rocks. CHAPTER XII NIGHT "And Esau hated Jacob. . . . And Esau said in his heart, the days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob."--_The Book of Genesis._