XVI

steady,hopelessrainthatsoakedmanyaleafoffthetreesbeforeitstimeandmadetheyearlooksuddenlyquiteold.FromthewindowsofCreeperCottageyoucouldseethewaterrunninginrivuletsdownthehillintothedesertedvillage,andwreathsofmisthangingaboutthedownsbeyond.ThedrippingtombstonethatblockedPriscilla'swindowgrewdankerandblackerasthedaywentby.Thefiresinthecottageburntbadly,forthewoodhadsomehowgotwet.Theoilclothandthewall-paperslookedverydismalinthegreydaylight.Raincameinunderneaththetwofrontdoorsandmadepuddlesthatnobodywipedaway. Priscillahadgotupverylate,afteranightspentstaringintothedarkness,andthenhadsentforFritzingandtoldhimwhatRobinhaddone.Theunhappyman'shorrorwillbeeasilyimagined.Shewasinbedthenightbeforewhenhecamein,quitecuredofherhungerandonlywantingtobealonewithherwrath.FritzinghadfoundnooneintheparlourbutTussieclaspinganimmensebiscuit-tininhisarms,withafacesotragicthatFritzingthoughtsomethingterriblemusthavehappened.Tussiehadreturnedjoyfully,ladenwithbiscuitsandsardines,tofindthegirlstandingstraightandspeechlessbythetable,herfacerigid,hereyesablaze.Shehadnotsomuchasglancedatthebiscuitsshehadnotsaidasinglewordherlookrestedonhimamomentasthoughshedidnotseehimandthenshewentintothenextroomandupstairstobed.HeknewshewentupstairstobedforinCreeperCottageyoucouldheareverything. Fritzingcominginafewminuteslaterwithoutthecookhehadhopedtofind,wasgladenoughofTussie'ssardinesandbiscuits—theyweregingerbiscuits—andwhileheatethem,abstractedlyandtogether,Tussielookedonandwonderedinspiteofhiswretchednesswhatthecombinationcouldpossiblytastelike.Then,afteralatebreakfastontheWednesdaymorning,PriscillasentforFritzingandtoldhimwhatRobinhaddone.Theburdenedman,sofullalreadyofanxietiesandworries,wasshatteredbytheblow."Ihavealwaysheldduellinginextremecontempt,"hesaidwhenatlasthecouldspeak,"butnowIshallcertainlyfight." "Fight?You?Fritzi,I'veonlytoldyoubecauseI—Ifeelsounprotectedhereandyoumustkeephimoffifheevertriestocomeagain.Butyoushallnotfight.What,firstheistoinsultmeandthenhurtorkillmyFritzi?Besides,nobodyeverfightsduelsinEngland." "Thatremainstobeseen.Ishallnowgotohishouseandinsulthimsteadilyforhalfanhour.Attheexpirationofthattimehewillprobablybehimselfanxioustofight.WemightgotoFrance—" "OhFritzidon'tbesodreadful.Don'tgotohim—leavehimalone—nobodymusteverknow—" "Ishallnowgoandinsulthim,"repeatedFritzingwithaninflexibilitythatsilencedher. Andshesawhimaminutelaterpassherwindowunderhisumbrella,splashingindifferentlythroughallthepuddles,battleanddestructioninhisface. Robin,however,wasatUllertonbythetimeFritzinggottothevicarage.Hewavedtheservantasidewhenshetoldhimhehadgone,andinsistedonpenetratingintothepresenceoftheyoungman'sfather.HewavedMrs.Morrisonasidetoowhenshetriedtosubstituteherselfforthevicar,anddidatlastbyhisstonypersistencygetintothegoodman'spresence.Notuntilthevica