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The woman was angry at Rotha's silence, and, failing to conciliate the girl, she was determined to hold her by other means. Rotha perceived the purpose, and wondered within herself why she did not go. "But he's gone on a bootless errand, I tell ye," continued Mrs. Garth. "What errand?" It was impossible to resist the impulse to probe the woman's meaning. Mrs. Garth laughed.
Then he stepped up to where his mother stood petrified with dismay, and kissed her tenderly. He had rarely done so before. The good dame understood him and wept. Rotha put her arms about the mother's neck and kissed her too, and helped her in. Willy was unmanned. "You don't mean that you know that father " He could say no more.
Garth's menace or as having occasioned it, was speedily to find realization. A day or two after the rencontre, three strangers arrived at Shoulthwaite, who, without much ceremony, entered the house, and took seats on the long settle in the kitchen. Rotha and Willy were there at the moment, the one baking oaten cake, and the other tying a piece of cord about a whip which was falling to pieces.
Robbie had recovered his wakefulness, and was kneeling at Sim's feet, chafing his hands. Rotha stood at her father's side, motionless. "There, he's coming to. Martha," said Ralph, "hadn't you better take Rotha to the kitchen fire?" The two women left the room. Sim's eyes opened; there was a watery humor in them which was not tears.
Having heard this, Liza had heard enough, and she was not unwilling that the blacksmith should make what speed he could out of her sight, so that she in turn might make what speed she could out of his sight, and, returning to the Moss without delay, communicate her fearful burden of intelligence to Rotha.
But, back or not back, it can't be Ralph, I says to 'Becca." "There's not a girl worthy of him, Liza; not a girl on the country side. But we'll not repeat their old wife's gossip, eh, lass?" "Not if you're minded not to, Rotha.
"Nay, saucer een," said Mrs. Garth with a snirt, "art tryin' to skiander me like yon saucy baggish, laal Liza?" "Come, Mrs. Garth, let us understand one another," said Rotha solemnly. "What is it you wish to tell me? You said my father had gone on a bootless errand. What do you know about it? Tell me, and don't torment me, woman." "Nay, then, I've naught to say.
"The roads are bad to-night, mother," Ralph said, with a violent effort to control the emotion that was surging up to his throat. "God help us, Ralph; you can't mean that!" said Willy, catching his brother's drift. "Give me the lantern, boy," said Ralph to a young cowherd that stood near. "Rotha, my lass, take mother into the house."
Sim has aged fast these last six months, but he is brighter looking and more composed. The dalespeople have tried hard to make up to him for their former injustice. He receives their conciliatory attentions with a somewhat too palpable effort at cordiality, but he is only less timid than before. Ralph leads Rotha to a vacant chair near to where his mother sits.
"Is that all you have to say to me?" said Rotha, in a voice as husky as the raven's. Willie glanced at her again. He felt a passing pang of remorse. "I had forgotten, Rotha; your father, he is in the same case with Ralph."
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