``You were seeking happiness, as every one must in their own way.That happiness lay, apparently, with Mr.Riddle.''
``Ah,'' she cried, with a catch of her breath, ``I thought you would be judging me.''
``I am stating facts.Your son was a sufficient embarrassment in this matter, and I should have been an additional one.I blame you not, Mrs.Temple, for anything you have done to me, but I blame you for embittering Nick's life.''
``And he?'' she said.It seemed to me that I detected a faltering in her voice.
``I will hide nothing from you.He blames you, with what justice I leave you to decide.''
She did not answer this, but turned her head away towards the bayou.Nor could I determine what was in her mind.
``And now I ask you whether I have acted as your friend in begging you to meet me.''
She turned to me swiftly at that.
``I am at a loss to see how there can be friendship between us, Mr.Ritchie,'' she said.
``Very good then, Madame; I am sorry,'' I answered.
``I have done all that is in my power, and now events will have to take their course.''
I had not gone two steps into the wood before I heard her voice calling my name.She had risen, and leaned with her hand against the oak.
``Does Nick--know that you are here?'' she cried.
``No,'' I answered shortly.Then I realized suddenly what I had failed to grasp before,--she feared that Iwould pity her.
``David!''
I started violently at the sound of my name, at the new note in her voice, at the change in the woman as Iturned.And then before I realized what she had done she had come to me swiftly and laid her hand upon my arm.
``David, does he hate me?''
All the hope remaining in her life was in that question, was in her face as she searched mine with a terrible scrutiny.And never had I known such an ordeal.It seemed as if I could not answer, and as I stood staring back at her a smile was forced to her lips.
``I will pay you one tribute, my friend,'' she said; ``you are honest.''
But even as she spoke I saw her sway, and though Icould not be sure it were not a dizziness in me, I caught her.I shall always marvel at the courage there was in her, for she straightened and drew away from me a little proudly, albeit gently, and sat down on the knee of the oak, looking across the bayou towards the mist of the swamp.There was the infinite calmness of resignation in her next speech.
``Tell me about him,'' she said.
She was changed indeed.Were it not so I should have heard of her own sufferings, of her poor, hunted life from place to place, of countless nights made sleepless by the past.Pride indeed was left, but the fire had burned away the last vestige of selfishness.
I sat down beside her, knowing full well that I should be judged by what I said.She listened, motionless, though something of what that narrative cost her I knew by the current of sympathy that ran now between us.Unmarked, the day faded, a new light was spread over the waters, the mist was spangled with silver points, the Spanish moss took on the whiteness of lace against the black forest swamp, and on the yellow face of the moon the star-shaped leaves of a gum were printed.
At length I paused.She neither spoke, nor moved--save for the rising and falling of her shoulders.The hardest thing I had to say I saved for the last, and I was near lacking the courage to continue.
``There is Mademoiselle Antoinette--'' I began, and stopped,--she turned on me so quickly and laid a hand on mine.
``Nick loves her!'' she cried.
``You know it!'' I exclaimed, wondering.
``Ah, David,'' she answered brokenly, ``I foresaw it from the first.I, too, love the girl.No human being has ever given me such care and such affection.She--she is all that I have left.Must I give her up? Have I not paid the price of my sins?''
I did not answer, knowing that she saw the full cruelty of the predicament.What happiness remained to her now of a battered life stood squarely in the way of her son's happiness.That was the issue, and no advice or aid of mine could change it.There was another silence that seemed to me an eternity as I watched, a helpless witness, the struggle going on within her.At last she got to her feet, her face turned to the shadow.
``I will go, David,'' she said.Her voice was low and she spoke with a steadiness that alarmed me.``I will go.''
Torn with pity, I thought again, but I could see no alternative.And then, suddenly, she was clinging to me, her courage gone, her breast shaken with sobs.``Where shall I go?'' she cried.``God help me! Are there no remote places where He will not seek me out? I have tried them all, David.'' And quite as suddenly she disengaged herself, and looked at me strangely.``You are well revenged for Temple Bow,'' she said.
``Hush,'' I answered, and held her, fearing I knew not what, ``you have not lacked courage.It is not so bad as you believe.I will devise a plan and help you.Have you money?
``Yes,'' she answered, with a remnant of her former pride; ``and I have an annuity paid now to Mr.Clark.''
``Then listen to what I say,'' I answered.``To-night I will take you to New Orleans and hide you safely.And I swear to you, whether it be right or wrong, that I will use every endeavor to change Nick's feelings towards you.
Come,'' I continued, leading her gently into the path, ``let us go while there is yet time.''
``Stop,'' she said, and I halted fearfully.``David Ritchie, you are a good man.I can make no amends to you,''--she did not finish.
Feeling for the path in the blackness of the wood, Iled her by the hand, and she followed me as trustfully as a child.At last, after an age of groping, the heavy scents of shrubs and flowers stole to us on the night air, and we came out at the hedge into what seemed a blaze of light that flooded the rows of color.Here we paused, breathless, and looked.The bench under the great tree was vacant, and the garden was empty.