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If we had not met again like this, then silence might have been best; but as she is not cured of her tender friendship made upon the hills at Playmore, isn't it well to end it all? Your conscience will be clearer, and so will mine. We shall have done the right thing at last. Why did you not tell her who her father was? Then why blame me! You held your peace to save your daughter, as you thought.
A hard-headed, sensible man the lawyer, no doubt. You will listen to Mr. Playmore, won't you, though you wouldn't listen to me?" Playmore's confidence in me when Benjamin and I met on my return to the hotel. "You must forgive me, my old friend," I said, answering Benjamin. "I am afraid it has come to this try as I may, I can listen to nobody who advises me.
When I took him the news of his father's death, and told him the creditors were swallowing what was left of Playmore, what do you think he did?" Old Christopher Dogan smiled; his eyes twinkled with a mirth which had more pain than gaiety. "God love you, I know what he did. He flung out his hands, and said: 'Let it go! It's nothing to me. Michael, have I said true?" Michael nodded.
I have known all that has happened since we left Ireland, through the letters my mother has received. I know that Playmore has been sold, and I am sorry. Now that your day of release is near, and you are to be again a free man, have you decided about your future? Is it to be in Ireland? No, I think not. Ireland is no place for a sane and level man to fight for honour, fame, and name.
There's no more to be said. I wish you good-morning, ma'am." He went away with the tears in his eyes; and he left me, I own it, with the tears in mine. An hour later there came some news which revived me. I received a telegram from Mr. Playmore, expressed in these welcome words: "Obliged to go to London by to-night's mail train. Expect me to breakfast to-morrow morning."
If he persist in his present way of life or, in other words, if further mischief occur to that sensitive nervous system his lapse into insanity must infallibly take place when the mischief has reached its culminating point. The balance once lost, will be lost for life." There it ended. Mr. Playmore put the letter back in his drawer.
If I'm condemned, go back to Playmore; if I'm set free, go back to Playmore. That's the place for you to be. You've got your own troubles there." "And you if you're acquitted?" "If I'm acquitted, I'll take to the high seas till I'm cured." A moment later, without further words, Dyck was alone. He heard the door clang. He sat for some time on the edge of his bed, buried in dejection.
Here he was, after four years of prison, walking the highway with two of the humblest creatures of Ireland, and yet, as his soul said, two of the best. Stalking along in thought, he suddenly became conscious that Michael and Christopher had fallen behind. He turned round. "Come on. Come on with me." But the two shook their heads. "It's not fitting, you a Calhoun of Playmore!" Christopher answered.
I had all my reward for all that I had given up. I forgot Mr. Playmore; I forgot Gleninch. Our new honeymoon dates, in my remembrance, from that day. The quiet time passed, in the by-street in which we lived. The outer stir and tumult of Parisian life ran its daily course around us, unnoticed and unheard. Steadily, though slowly, Eustace gained strength.
He is already three weeks old; and he is now lying fast asleep by his mother's side. My good Uncle Starkweather is coming to London to baptize him. Mrs. Macallan will be his godmother; and his godfathers will be Benjamin and Mr. Playmore. I wonder whether my christening will pass off more merrily than my wedding? The doctor has just left the house, in some little perplexity about me.
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