The Broken Road

ing or fresh honours. But most of all it was remembered by Sybil Linforth, so that even after fourteen years a chance word, or a trivial coincidence, would br

re climb a stile and come towards the house along a footpath, increasing in stature as it approached. It was Colonel Dewes, and her thoughts went back to the day when first, with reluctant

home," she said, as they sho

My time is up." Sybil Linforth looke

rry?" she s

good work in me yet. But there! That's the trouble with the medi

spoke, and looked

not set upon her the marks of their passage as they had upon Dewes. Indeed

o her with a smi

and creased like a dry pippin. There are you-" and he broke

e; into her eyes there came a glint of fear. C

er, Sybil?" he s

is qui

what i

wn for a moment at the g

ing her eyes, she

m af

, as he rubbed h

n he came against anything

Boys will get into trouble, you know. It is their nature to.

mouth, but she repressed it. She would not for worl

eeling that she ought not to say what she greatly desired to say; that speech would be disloy

overlooked the garden hedge. To the left, the little village of Poynings with its grey church and tall tapering spire, lay at the foot of the gap in the Downs where runs the Brighton road. Behind them the

to feed his thoughts with imaginings and dreams. I have seen it. I don't believe that anything but harm ever comes of it. It builds up a barrier which will last for life. I did not want that

ly nodding his head. "I have se

w closely he was in agreement with it, they had a way of becoming reticent in the very moment of expansion. The current of sympathy was broken, and as often as not they turned

said Dewes, turn

hen with a touch of

ch to each other-how should I not know?" And again she leaned forward with her hands clasped tightly together upon her knees and a look of great distress lying like a shadow upon her face. "The first secrets," she continued,

ts?" asked Dewes. "

eyes there came a look of actual terror-"something is calling him. He goes alone up on to the top of the Downs, and stays there alone for hours. I have seen him. I have come upon him unawares lying on the grass with his face towa

to be a sailor,"

Sybil answered quietly. "If it

"Yes, he would have t

at his age to want to be alone, is it? I don't think it is good either. It is not natural for a boy of

was not telling him all of the trouble which oppressed her. Her fears were more definite than she had given him as yet reason to un

since you last wrote to me, and I hope you haven't changed your mind. All that he wants really," the

A smile of pride made her face very tender, and as she turned to

ed in very hi

t?" said Dewes

e before him." Then she rose from her seat. "Would you

windows rose-trees climbed the house-walls. It was a house of red brick, darkened by age, and with a roof of tiles. To Dewes' eyes

" she whispered, "or your shad

ated with his side towards the window and his hands concealed his face. But in a moment he removed one hand and turned the page. Colonel Dewes could now see the profile of

ole aspect one of dismay. Dewes could not understand the change in her. A moment ago she had been laughing playfully as she led him towards the window. Now it seemed as though a sudden disaster had turned her t

he matter?

e window with a smile of welcome. There was no embarrassment in his manner, no air of being surprised. He h

tion," said the Colonel, as he shook hands. "If you ke

Dick with a laugh. "How

el De

dia a fort

e sill and with his eyes on the Colonel's face

explain to the Colonel the perplexing problem of her fears. He understood now. The Linforths belonged to the Road. The

gh Chiltistan?"

Dick. "Of what other

was aware that Sybil Linforth drew a deep breath. "The road r

the Colonel had some trouble to meet their look with th

d see my

ittle rose-garden with a stone sun-dial in the middle, surrounded by low red brick walls. He

well-your rose

nk so? I am rather proud of them," said Sybil;

w passionate voice. "Is the road st

mpted no evasion w

so true that for the moment there is no

ed Sybil took

te of hopelessness in her voice. "The Power of the Road is beyond the P

en the alleys of ros

the book which D

a bound volume

odded h

denly cried out, "Oh, how I wish he had never lived. He was an uncle of Harry's-my husband. He predicted it. He was in th

N

all his arrangements to come home, and then one night he walked out of the hotel in Bombay,

wife?" as

ink he went back to the north, back to his Road. I t

him," cried Dewes, "or across

ugged her

Dick was reading, the r

s," and she b

over it, Englishmen and Chiltis, and Gurkhas and Sikhs. It will cost millions of money, and from policy or economy successive Governments will try to stop it; but the power of the Road will be greater than the power of any Government. It will wind through valleys so deep that the day's sunsh

hed the q

ified. I have no doubt the rest will be in time. I think he went north whe

mply and quietly. Yet it was evident to

d. "That is w

nderstand something of the terror

ed, how he died-I dreamed of it-I used to see horrible things happening on that road-night after night I saw them. Dreadful things h

aggard face. Dewes so

close watch on that country, I can tell you. I do

een years ago had beaten her down with too strong a hand. She could not reason

ou do, then?

le further on bef

ork upon that road is his heritage, if he wants to follow in hi

real to him at all events the great strength of her hostili

ould do," he said, "i

ge i

at him with

ought home to me from Harry? There were three sentences in that which

hat Harry wanted him to take up the work. You can read that in the words. I can imagine him speaking them and hear the tone he would use. Besides-I have still a greater

," said Col

he really di

," said Sybil, and they