John.
'How can I go to Aberdeen without him?' he thought as he walked down
the street.
Neither was a guide to the other; but the questioning of two may
give just the needful points by which the parallax of a truth may be
gained.
'Mr. Ericson's here, Miss St. John,' he said, the moment he was
shown into her presence.
Her face flushed. Robert had never seen her look so beautiful.
'He's verra ill,' he added.
Her face grew pale--very pale.
'He asked if I thought you would go and see him--that is if he were
going to die.'
A sunset flush, but faint as on the clouds of the east, rose over
her pallor.
'I will go at once,' she said, rising.
'Na, na,' returned Robert, hastily. 'It has to be manage. It's no
to be dune a' in a hurry. For ae thing, there's Dr. Gow says he
maunna speak ae word; and for anither, there's Miss Letty 'ill jist
be like a watch-dog to haud a'body oot ower frae 'im. We maun bide
oor time. But gin ye say ye'll gang, that 'll content him i' the
meantime. I'll tell him.'
'I will go any moment,' she said. 'Is he very ill?'
'I'm afraid he is. I doobt I'll hae to gang to Aberdeen withoot
him.'
A week after, though he was better, his going was out of the
question. Robert wanted to stay with him, but he would not hear of
it. He would follow in a week or so, he said, and Robert must start
fair with the rest of the semies.
But all the removal he was ever able to bear was to the 'red room,'
the best in the house, opening, as I have already mentioned, from an
outside stair in the archway.
Pages:
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474