Trembling, she crept up the stairway to her room, treading lightly
along the dark entry, dazed, fatigued, with the wonder of it all. Then,
as she laid her hand on the knob of her bedroom door, the door of her
father's room opened abruptly.
"Molly?"
"Yes, dear," she answered vaguely.
He stood staring at her on the threshold, fully dressed, and she looked
back at him, her eyes slightly confused by the light.
"Where have you been?" he said.
"With Mr. Marche."
"Where?"
"To the dory--and back."
"What did he say to you, child?"
She came silently across the threshold and put her arms around his neck;
and the man lost every atom of his color.
"What did he say?" he repeated harshly.
"That he loves me."
"What!"
"It is true, father."
The man held her at arm's length roughly. "Good God!" he groaned, "how
long has this been going on?"
"Only to-night. What do you mean, father?"
"He tells you that he--he is in love with you? With you?" repeated
Herold unsteadily.
"Yes. It is true, too."
"You mean he asked you to marry him!"
"Yes. And I said I would."
"You love him!"
The man's pallor frightened her silent. Then he dropped her arms, which
he had been clutching, and stood staring at nothing, gnawing at his
colorless lips.
The girl watched him with dawning terror and finally ventured to speak.
"Dear, what is the matter? Are you displeased with me? Do you think that
he is not a man I should care for? You don't know him, dear. You have
only to see him, to speak with him, hear his voice, look into his
eyes----"
"Good God!" groaned Herold, closing his sunken eyes. Then, almost
feeling his way out and along the dark passageway, he descended the
stairs, heavily.
Marche, cleaning his gun in the sitting-room, looked up in surprise,
then rose, laying aside stock, fore-end, and barrel, as Herold came into
the room. The next instant, stepping nearer, he stared into Herold's
face in silence. And so they met and confronted each other after many
years.
"Are you Herold?" said the young man, in a low voice.
"That is my name--now."
"You have been in my employment--for five years?"
"Yes. Judge Gilkins gave me the chance. I could not suppose that the
club would ever become your property."