"Now," she resumed, "you understand why Dick Brandon kept back the
letters. It is obvious that he loves you, but he is disfigured and may
have to give up his profession----"
She stopped, for Clare's face changed and her eyes shone with a gentle
light.
"But what does that matter?" she exclaimed. "He can't think it would
daunt me."
Ida rose, for she saw that she had said enough. "Then perhaps you had
better show him that you are not afraid. If you will dine with us this
evening at the dam, you will see him. Jake will come for you and bring
you back."
When she left a few minutes later she had arranged for the visit, and
Clare sat still, overwhelmed with compassionate gentleness and relief.
Her father did not blame Dick and there was no reason she should harden
her heart against him. He knew that she was innocent, but he was tied by
honorable scruples. Well, since he would not come to her, she must go to
him, but she would do so with pride and not false shame. It was clear
that he loved her unselfishly. By and by, however, she roused herself. As
she was going to him, there were matters to think about, and entering the
house she spent some time studying her wardrobe and wondering what she
would wear.
That evening Dick sat on the veranda of his shack, with a shaded lamp,
which he had turned low, on the table close by. His comrades were dining
at Fuller's tent and he had been asked, but had made excuses although he
was well enough to go. For one thing, it hurt him to sit in a strong
light, though the oculist, whom he had seen in the morning, spoke
encouragingly about his eye. Indeed, Dick had begun to think that there
was now no real danger of its having received a permanent injury. For all
that, he was listless and depressed, because he had not got rid of the
fever and malaria is generally worse at night. He had been cautioned not
to read and his cigarette had a bitter taste. There was nothing to do but
wait until Jake came home. Now he thought of it, Jake had accepted his
excuses rather easily.
By and by, he heard the lad's voice and footsteps on the path. Jake was
returning early and there was somebody with him, but Dick wished they had
left him alone. He rose, however, as Ida came up the steps and into the
light, which did not carry far. Dick imagined there was another person as
well as Jake in the shadow behind.
"Jake brought me over to see his last sketches and I'm going in to
criticize them," she said. "As you couldn't come to us, I've brought you
a visitor, whom you know."