Winding Paths Part 75

"Yes," was the low response; "please ask him."

The little old man who took care of the souls of the little old-world village, and had done for three parts of a century, came to her at once, with a womanly tenderness in his face. In a low voice he blessed her, and then knelt down and prayed quietly.

After a time, som of the anguish died out of Lorraine's eyes. She turned to him weakly and said:

"I am not a Catholic. I do not know if I am anything, but I want to ask you something. If one has sinned, and led another astray, might an act of renunciation perhaps save that other from the consequences of the sin that was not his?"

"Self-sacrifice and renunciation are ever pleasing to G.o.d," he told her simply. "He knows that whatever else there is in a heart, with self-sacrifice there is also purity and n.o.bility."

"If I thought I alone need bear the consequences, I think I could do anything," she whispered - "bear anything, renounce anything."

Again the quiet soothing of a prayer fell on her ears. She listened, and heard the old priest praying G.o.d an the Holy Virgin to help her to find the courage for the sacrifice her heart called for, that if she were about to enter the presence of the Most High, she might take with her the cleansing of repentance and a self-sacrificing spirit.

She lay still for some little time listening to the soft cadence of his voice, and then she opened her eyes and looked at him with a full, sweet look.

"I will do it, Father," she said to him. "Perhaps, if G.o.d understands everything, He will let my anguish of renunciation absolve that other from all sin. It is the most I have to ask of all the powers in heaven and earth."

"The Holy Mother comfort you, my child," he said; and with an earnest benediction left her.

Then Lorraine motioned to the French nurse that she wanted her, and gathering all her remaining strength asked for a telegraph form and pencil. The nurse supported her in her arms, while with a trembling hand she traced faintly the words of her message. It ran:

"Marked change for the better. No need for haste. Come in a few days.

- Lorraine."

It was addressed to Alymer Hermon, at The Middle Temple.

"Please take it now at once," she said. She knew that the Frenchwoman could not read English, and that Jean was not yet awake.

CHAPTER XLIV

In Alymer's room at the Middle Temple he and Hal were making their arrangements to catch the next boat.

The moment he had spoken his decision she had turned to him with a swift expression of approval, but, for the rest, her manner was somewhat curt and business-like, and showed little of the old friendliness.

It made him feel that, as far as she was concerned, he had sinned past forgiveness; and he knew with that unerring instinct that sometimes illumines a wrong action, that she judged him harshly because she knew he had not loved Lorraine with all his strength. How then could he ever hope to tell her that one reason he had not loved Lorraine thus was because, unconsciously, another woman had won his heart; further, that that other woman was herself?

No; of course the day would never dawn when he would dare to tell her that. An eternity separated them.

But he tried not to think of it now; to remember only that Lorraine, his best friend and his benefactress, was dying, and that she had sent Hal to fetch him to her side.

His face was very grave, and he looked white and ill as Hal explained what time he must meet her at the station, but he gave no sign of flinching; no triumph in the world could now weaken his resolution.

"Very well, that is all arranged," said Hal, and at that moment there was a knock at the door. Alymer crossed the room and opened it himself, and was handed a telegram. He read it, looked for a moment as if he could not grasp it, then, telling the bearer there was no reply, closed the door, went back to Hal, and handed it to her without a word.

Hal read, half aloud:

"Marked change for the better. No need for haste. Come in a few days.

- Lorraine."

For some moments there was only silence, and then she looked at him with troubled, perplexed eyes, and said:

"I don't quite know what to make of it."

"Doesn't it mean that she has pa.s.sed some crisis and will live?" he suggested. "I think it must."

Hal still looked doubtful; and at that moment there was another knock at the door.

Again Alymer opened it himself. "Lord Denton particularly wishes to see you," he was told.

"Show him in at once," he replied, and turned to tell Hal who was coming.

Flip Denton had come to inquire for more detailed news of Lorraine than he could get from her letters. He gathered from them that she was remaining away for the whole winter theatrical season, because her health was bad; but any suggestion on his part to run over to Brittany and see her was persistently negatived. Finally he had come to Alymer.

The moment he saw them he knew that something serious was wrong, and that it concerned Lorraine. But when, after learning she was very ill, he asked Hal wat was the matter, and saw the scarlet blood flame into her face, he said no more.

"I was with her yesterday," she told him, "and the doctor said he feared she would not live many days. She wanted Alymer, and I came over to fetch him."

"And you are going at once?" Denton asked him, with a curious expression in his eyes.

"I have arranged to."

"Doesn't your great case come on this afternoon, or to-morrow morning?"

"Yes."

Denton's grave face did not change. "I see," he said, and turned a little aside.

Then Hal, who had the telegram in her hand, held it out to him.

"This has just come."

He read it, and his face cleared joyously.

"Why, that is splendid news - don't you think so?" And he regarded Hal with a slightly puzzled air.

"I hardly know what to think," Hal said. "Yesterday she was very ill."

"Ah, but you had to leave early," rea.s.suringly, "and she may have been gaining strength all the afternoon, and had a very good night. What are you going to do?" looking at Alymer.

Alymer looked at Hal, and waited for her decision.

Hal only looked doubtful and troubled.

"I think you should stay for the lawsuit," Denton said, to help her.