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Updated: June 10, 2025


Though there was no telegram from my darling at Malta, there was one from the chairman of my committee, saying he was coming to Marseilles to meet our steamer and would sail the rest of the way home with us. Indirectly this brought me a certain comfort. It reminded me of the letter I had written for my dear one on the day I left Castle Raa.

"As old as our hearts and as hard as our heads, I suppose," said Lord Raa. "Harder than some, sir," said my father. "Exactly," said Lord Raa in his slow drawl, and then there was general laughter.

In a few minutes we sailed past the headlands of Port Raa, the lights of my husband's house shot out of view like meteors on a murky night, and the steamer turned her head to the open sea. I was standing by a rope which crossed the bow and holding on to it to save myself from falling, for, being alone with Nature at last, I was seeing my flight for the first time in full light.

I did not know then that the house which Alma had been talking of was not my father's house, but Castle Raa. I did not know then that the person who had lived there was her mother, and that in her comely and reckless youth she had been something to the bad Lord Raa who had lashed my father and sworn at my grandmother.

"My little Mary couldn't owe a grudge to anybody," said Father Dan. "She'll kiss his lordship and make amends; I'm certain." And then I did to the young Lord Raa what I had done to Aunt Bridget I held up my face and he kissed me.

It cut me to the heart's core to think of Martin amid thrilling scenes like those while I was here among degrading scenes like these. My love for Martin was now like a wound and I resolved that, come what might, before he reached Castle Raa I should liberate myself from the thraldom of my false position. Father Dan's counsels had faded away by this time.

Old Tommy was listening from the road. We sat late over our proofs and then, the dew having begun to fall, Martin said he must carry me indoors lest my feet should get wet which he did, with the result that, remembering what had happened on our first evening at Castle Raa, I had a pretty fit of hysterics as soon as we reached the house.

Or perhaps she had another reason, a secret reason, a reason that came of her own weakness and timidity as a woman, namely, that the man child to be born of her would be strong and brave and free. All went well down to the end of autumn, and then alarming news came from Castle Raa. The old lord had developed some further malady and was believed to be sinking rapidly.

"It is understood that the Cleopatra will leave Ravenstown Harbour to-morrow morning on her way back to Port Raa." That was the end of everything. It came upon me like a torrent and swept all my scruples away.

But before that I must go over to the island to say good-bye to the old folks, and I'll see you at your father's I suppose." Then Alma gave my husband a significant glance and said: "But, Mary, my love, wouldn't it be better for Mr. Conrad to come to Castle Raa? You won't be able to go about very much. Remember your delicate condition, you know." "Of course, why of course," said my husband.

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