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They sat down on a bench, where the green cliff stretched out before them, over a sea quite clear of haze, far down and very blue. "Why should he resign," cried Noel again, "now that I've gone? He'll be lost without it all." George smiled. "Found, my dear. He'll be where he ought to be, Nollie, where the Church is, and the Churchmen are not in the air!" "Don't!" cried Noel passionately.
Horribly affected he stood bending over her, stroking her head. Then the habit of a hundred death-beds helped him. "Come, Nollie! This life is but a minute. We must all die." "But not they not so young!" She clung to his knees, and looked up. "Daddy, I don't want you to go; promise me to come back!" The childishness of those words brought back his balance. "My dear sweetheart, of course!
She had a longing for George to know what he thought and felt. "Do you mind if I tell George?" she said. Noel shook her head. "No! not now. Tell anybody." And suddenly the misery behind the mask of her face went straight to Gratian's heart. She got up and put her arms round her sister. "Nollie dear, don't look like that!"
George sends you his love; we are both very well. And Nollie is looking splendid still, after her harvest work. All, all my love, Dad dear. Is there anything we can get, and send you? Do take care of your blessed self, and don't grieve about Nollie. A half-sheet of paper fluttered down; he picked it up from among the parched fibre of dead palm-leaves. "I've done it. Forgive me I'm so happy.
Noel smiled, showing her upper teeth, and her eyes seemed to swim under their long lashes. "It isn't necessary, but it's nice." "Ah, ha!" said Bob Pierson. "Here you are, Nollie!" But Noel shook her head. At that moment she struck her father as startlingly grown-up-so composed, swaying above that young man at her feet, whose sunny face was all adoration. 'No longer a child! he thought.
And, taking her in his arms, he said: "I know; but it'll all come right, if we put a good face on it. Shall I talk to Nollie?" Gratian assented, from the desire to be able to say to her father: "George is seeing her!" and so stay the need for a discussion. But the whole thing seemed to her more and more a calamity which nothing could lessen or smooth away.
She dropped the little cross, and took hold of his hand, pressing it against her heart. But still her voice was calm: "No; much better, Daddy; you think I don't know my own feelings, but I do." The man in Pierson softened; the priest hardened. "Nollie, true marriage is the union of souls; and for that, time is wanted. Time to know that you feel and think the same, and love the same things."
Noel gave his huge hand a squeeze; her eyes had filled with tears, and she turned quickly up towards the Square, where a dark figure was coming towards her, in whom she recognised her father. His face was worn and harassed; he walked irresolutely, like a man who has lost something. "Nollie!" he said. "Thank God!" In his voice was an infinite relief. "My child, where have you been?"
He stood, timidly stroking her hair, murmuring to her what he had said to Gratian, and to so many others in these days: "There is no death; look forward to seeing him again; God is merciful" And he marvelled at the calmness of that pale face so young. "You are very brave, my child!" he said. "There's nothing else to be, is there?" "Isn't there anything I can do for you, Nollie?" "No, Daddy."
It's not so bad for young Morland; he's got the excitement though I shouldn't like to be leaving Nollie, if I were young again. Thank God, neither of our boys is engaged. By George! when I think of them out there, and myself here, I feel as if the top of my head would come off. And those politician chaps spouting away in every country how they can have the cheek!" Thirza looked at him anxiously.
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