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"Which is the nearest way to Headcorn?" repeats Barnabas, scowling blackly; whereat the fellow answers to the point and Barnabas falls to his feverish striding to and fro until, glancing from the watch in his hand to "The Terror's" lofty crest, observing that his heaving flanks labor no more and that he paws an impatient hoof, Barnabas thrusts watch in fob, tightens girth and surcingle and, having paid his score, swings himself stiffly into the saddle and is off and away, while the gaping ostlers stare after him through the falling rain till he has galloped out of sight.
Chichester has learned your awful secret, and I am the price of his silence. So, because of my promise to our dying mother, and because life can hold nothing for me now, because life and death are alike to me now, I am going to marry him to-night, at his house at Headcorn. Good-by, Ronald dear, and that God may forgive and save you in this life and hereafter, is the undying prayer of
At Headcorn I shall at least be nearer you, my best of sisters, and it is my hope that you may be persuaded to steal away now and then, to spend an hour with two lonely bachelors, and cheer a brother's solitude. Ah, Cleone! Chichester's devotion to you is touching, such patient adoration must in time meet with its reward.
Thereafter Barnabas stands by anxious-eyed what time two ostlers rub down the great, black horse; or, striding swiftly to and fro, the silver watch clutched in impatient hand, he questions the men in rapid tones, as: "Which is the nearest way to Headcorn?" "'Eadcorn, sir? Why surely you don't be thinking "
Your Sister, CLEONE. Barnabas refolded the letter and, giving it back to Barrymaine, took out Natty Bell's great silver watch. "It is a long way to Headcorn," said he, "I must start at once!" "Ah! You'll g-go then, Beverley?" "Go? Of course!" "Then, oh Beverley, whatever happens whether you're in time or no, you'll k-kill him?"
"Headcorn," said Barnabas, nodding, "then Ashleydown should be near here?" "Why, sir," said the man, nodding in turn, "I do believe you leastways it were here about yesterday." "And where is it?" "Half a mile back down the road, you must ha' passed it, sir. A great house it be though inclined to ruination.
Chichester, with his unfailing kindness, has offered me an asylum at his country place near Headcorn, where I hope to regain something of my wonted health. But for Chichester I tremble to think what would have been my fate long before this.
So Barnabas sat there amid the gloom, and watched Happiness go from him. Very still he sat until the grind of wheels had died away in the distance; then he sighed, and spurring his jaded horse, rode back towards Headcorn.
Riding thither, he raised himself in his stirrups and, reaching up, tapped upon the panes; and, in a while, the casement was opened and a man peered forth, a drowsy being, touzled of head and round of eye. "Pray," said Barnabas, "what village is this?" "Why, sir," answered the man, "five an' forty year I've lived here, and always heard as it was called Headcorn."
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