"Yes, I will," he said grimly. "I will find him. An eye for an eye; a
tooth for a tooth; disgrace for disgrace; misery for misery. Mother,
all you have suffered he shall suffer, and a thousand times more.
Wherever he is, whatever he is, I will find him." His eyes turned away
towards the dreary moors. Router and Brown Willy stood like grim
sentinels watching over the scene. A slight wind had arisen, which
soughed its way across the great silent spaces, dispelling the mists.
The black tors in the near distance became visible again; frogs croaked
in the marshes near by.
"But tell me more, mother. I know nothing yet. Who is he? What is
he? Tell me all you know of him."
"There is little I can tell," said the mother. "He told me his name
was Douglas Graham. I believe that to be true. I found out that from
the people at 'Highlands,' the big house close by my father's farm."
"Ah, they can tell us," he cried.
"Nay," replied the mother. "They only had the house for a short time,
and then left. They are gone, I know not whither, and I, fool that I
was, was too ignorant to find out in those days more about him. But he
was called Douglas Graham, there is no doubt about that."
"And is that all?"
"Only this," replied the mother, "he is a lawyer--what they call an
English barrister. I have heard that books are kept, containing a list
of such people. I expect they'll be in London; but these barrister men
go around the country, some of them. Anyhow, that is for you to find
out."
He nodded his head. "Yes, I will find out," he said; "but the thing
will be difficult, mother. I see what you mean now, and why you cannot
live with me. I must go to London, or to one of the other big places
where I can find out the truth about such things. Oh, I shall know,
and I will not spare him. Don't be afraid, mother, you shall be
avenged for all he's done to you."
A kind of evil joy flashed from the woman's eyes. "Yes, Paul," she
said presently, "and you are clever, you were the cleverest lad in the
workhouse school. I found out that. You were always ahead with your
lessons, and you are quick with your brains and you are strong. But
remember, he is clever and strong too, and he has much book-learning,
and he knows all about the law, English law especially. You must be
able to meet him on equal terms. You must learn, my boy--you must know
everything. You need not fear for me. I have a place now where I can
live comfortably; but remember, I shall never be happy until either he
sets me and you right before the world, or I have made him suffer all I
have suffered and all you have suffered."
For half an hour more they stood talking, he asking questions, she
answering and explaining. Night had fallen now, but the moon had risen
and made darkness impossible. The mists had cleared away, too, and
patches of blue were to be seen in the sky. Here and there a star
peeped out.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account