The old lady would have been shocked to learn how
the imagination of the ill-mothered lad interpreted her care over
him, but she would not have been surprised to know that the two were
merry in her absence. She knew that, in some of her own moods, it
would be a relief to think that that awful eye of God was not upon
her. But she little thought that even in the lawless proceedings
about to follow, her Robert, who now felt such a relief in her
absence, would be walking straight on, though blindly, towards a
sunrise of faith, in which he would know that for the eye of his God
to turn away from him for one moment would be the horror of the
outer darkness.
Merriment, however, was not in Robert's thoughts, and still less was
mischief. For the latter, whatever his grandmother might think, he
had no capacity. The world was already too serious, and was soon to
be too beautiful for mischief. After that, it would be too sad, and
then, finally, until death, too solemn glad. The moment he heard of
his grandmother's intended visit, one wild hope and desire and
intent had arisen within him.
When Betty came to the parlour door to lay the cloth for their
dinner, she found it locked.
'Open the door!' she cried, but cried in vain. From impatience she
passed to passion; but it was of no avail: there came no more
response than from the shrine of the deaf Baal. For to the boys it
was an opportunity not at any risk to be lost.
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