Clare leading
the way. The old man walked straight up to the table, without any
preliminary greeting, and looked across it at the three women, with a
stern pity for them in his ragged, wrinkled face.
"Bad news," he said. "I am an enemy to all unnecessary suspense.
Plainness is kindness in such a case as this. I mean to be kind--and I
tell you plainly--bad news."
Mr. Pendril followed him. He shook hands, in silence, with Miss Garth
and the two sisters, and took a seat near them. Mr. Clare placed himself
apart on a chair by the window. The gray rainy light fell soft and sad
on the faces of Norah and Magdalen, who sat together opposite to him.
Miss Garth had placed herself a little behind them, in partial shadow;
and the lawyer's quiet face was seen in profile, close beside her. So
the four occupants of the room appeared to Mr. Clare, as he sat apart in
his corner; his long claw-like fingers interlaced on his knee; his dark
vigilant eyes fixed searchingly now on one face, now on another. The
dripping rustle of the rain among the leaves, and the clear, ceaseless
tick of the clock on the mantel-piece, made the minute of silence
which followed the settling of the persons present in their places
indescribably oppressive.
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