But, upon the whole, she had obeyed the
call with an unreasoning obedience worthy of a disciple in primitive
times. A conviction that the Baron's life might depend upon her
presence--for she had by this time divined the tragical event she had
interrupted on the foggy morning--took from her all will to judge and
consider calmly. The simple affairs of her and hers seemed nothing
beside the possibility of harm to him.
A well-known step moved on the sanded floor within, and she went
forward. That she saw her father's face before her, just within the
door, can hardly be said: it was rather Reproach and Rage in a human
mask.
'What! ye have dared to come back alive, hussy, to look upon the
dupery you have practised on honest people! You've mortified us all;
I don't want to see 'ee; I don't want to hear 'ee; I don't want to
know anything!' He walked up and down the room, unable to command
himself. 'Nothing but being dead could have excused 'ee for not
meeting and marrying that man this morning; and yet you have the
brazen impudence to stand there as well as ever! What be you here
for?'
'I've come back to marry Jim, if he wants me to,' she said faintly.
'And if not--perhaps so much the better. I was sent for this morning
early. I thought--.' She halted. To say that she had thought a
man's death might happen by his own hand if she did not go to him,
would never do.
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