For her sake he made time that night to go to Ditsworthy and speak with David; and the following evening--at the hour in which he had promised to visit ’Meavy Cot’ for a final farewell--he was aboard and watching Devon fade swiftly along the edge of the sea. A shadow lay above the grey, rolling ridges; and then that shadow sank out of his eyes for ever. But Bartley Crocker belonged to the order of lighter spirits who can close the book of their past without a pang; and he did so now. *CHAPTER XII* *RHODA AND MARGARET* When Rhoda returned from Ditsworthy, she stated briefly that a doctor had seen Mr. Bowden and declared there was no immediate cause for uneasiness. David, however, proposed to stop for the night and help his mother. The women supped silently--each angered with the other; and then happened that which loosed the flood-gates of Rhoda’s passion and precipitated a deed which, since the recent meeting in the wood, she had strongly considered. She had changed her mind with regard to David; and now, instead, it had come to her as a reasonable thing to attack Margaret directly. But she hesitated to do so until the latter unconsciously provoked her. Rhoda had not spoken to David of the meeting with Madge and Bartley Crocker; but now David’s wife returned to the subject and awoke anger in Rhoda, so that she lost self-control and spilled out all the bitterness of her mind. "Since your father’s not in danger, one has time for one’s own thoughts again," said Madge, "and they are dark enough for the minute. You looked terrible surprised in Dennycoombe wood a bit ago, and you was terrible rude to me; but why for I don’t know. You puzzle me sometimes, Rhoda. Can’t you even feel that ’tis sad the man who loved you so well be going so far ways off?" "The sooner the better." "You’re heartless, I do believe." "You make up for it, if I am." "I suppose you’re shocked because I kissed him. Did you tell David? I lay he didn’t pull a very long face about it. But what’s come over me? To think of me talking in this loud, wild way! Forgive me, Rhoda. I meant nothing. You can’t help being what you are, and feeling what you feel, any more than I can. I’m not myself to-night. I shall miss him cruel, and I don’t care who knows it." The other kept silence. Her colour had gone and her breast was rising and falling rapidly. Anger put a strain on her lungs and called for air. "Oh, Rhoda," cried Madge feebly, "why didn’t you take him? Nobody will ever love you like that again; and nobody will ever understand you so well as Bartley did. You were a fool--a fool not to take him. Now look at it--your life all useless and nowhere to turn, unless you come to Tavistock with us. Think better of it even now. Go to him to-morrow; keep him here afore ’tis too late and he’s gone." Then the other rose to her feet, and spoke slowly, and crushed the slighter creature for ever.