"Show him up--at once!"
"Oh!--cer-tainly, sir!" And though the bow of the
Gentleman-in-Powder was all that it should be, his legs quivered
disapprobation as they took him downstairs.
When next the door opened it was to admit the person in gaiters, a
shortish, broad-shouldered, bullet-headed person he was, and his
leggings were still rank of the stables; he was indeed a very horsey
person who stared and chewed upon a straw. At sight of Barnabas he
set a stubby finger to one eyebrow, and chewed faster than ever.
"You have a letter for me, I think?"
"Yessir!"
"Then give it to me."
The horsey person coughed, took out his straw, looked at it, shook
his head at it, and put it back again.
"Name o' Beverley, sir?" he inquired, chewing feverishly.
"Yes."
Hereupon the horsey person drew a letter from his pocket, chewed
over it a moment, nodded, and finally handed it to Barnabas, who,
seeing the superscription, hurriedly broke the seal. Observing which,
the horsey person sighed plaintively and shook his head, alternately
chewing upon and looking at his straw the while Barnabas read the
following: Oh, Barnabas dear, when shall I see you again? I
am very foolish to-day perhaps, but though the sun shines
gloriously, I am cold, it is my heart that is cold, a
deadly chill--as if an icy hand had touched it. And I
seem to be waiting--waiting for something to happen,
something dreadful that I cannot avert. I fear you will
think me weak and fanciful, but, dear, I cannot help wondering
what it all means. You ask me if I love you.
Can you doubt? How often in my dreams have I seen
you kneeling beside me with your neck all bare and the
dripping kerchief in your hand. Oh, dear Wood of Annersley!
it was there that I first felt your arms about me,
Barnabas, and I dream of that too--sometimes. But
last night I dreamed of that awful race,--I saw you
gallop past the winning post again, your dear face all cut
and bleeding, and as you passed me your eyes looked into
mine--such an awful look, Barnabas. And then it
seemed that you galloped into a great, black shadow
that swallowed you up, and so you were lost to me, and
I awoke trembling. Oh Barnabas, come to me! I want
you here beside me, for although the sky here is blue and
cloudless, away to the north where London lies, there is a
great, black shadow like the shadow of my dream, and
God keep all shadows from you, Barnabas. So come to
me--meet me to-morrow--there is a new moon. Come
to Oakshott's Barn at 7:30, and we will walk back to
the house together.
I am longing to see you, and yet I am a little afraid
also, because my love is not a quiet love or gentle, but
such a love as frightens me sometimes, because it has
grown so deep and strong.