The Explorer

might find her alone. She sat in the library at Lady Kelsey's and waited for him. She held a book in her hands, but she could not read. And presently she began to weep. Ever si

strength. But now the strain was too great for her; she was alone; the

the prison, and she recalled now the details of the brief intervie

y condemned, and she was horrified at the baseness of the crime. His letters to the poor woman he had robbed, were read in court, and Lucy flushe

even, expressed a firm belief in his innocence; but a ghastly terror had lurked in some hidden recess of her consciousness. It haunted her soul like a mysterious shadow which there was no bodily shape to explain. The fear had caught her, as though with material hands, when first the news of his arrest was brought to C

he could not speak. He looked from one to the other of his children silently, with appealing eyes; and he saw the utter wretchedness which was on George's face. George was ashamed to look at him and kept his eyes averted. Fred Allerton was suddenly grown old and ben

don't hate me

d you more than I lo

e her, and she wondered bitterly what she had l

to do it,' he

ied eyes. It seemed very crue

ave given me time. Luck was against me all th

had lost. The good creature had thought of it even before Lucy made the suggestion. At al

He clung to Lucy as though she were his only ho

ee you whenever

long. I hope I s

and strong for my sake and George's. We

happen to Georg

ing for him. You need

angry. He wanted to get away quickly from that place of horror,

orge,' said F

od-

And it had been on him that all his light affection was placed. He had been very proud of the handsome boy. And now his son merely wante

all I've done ag

ther, we will nev

in what she said, but he knew that she spoke only for h

re. Alec MacKenzie must be there soon. She wondered why he had written, and what he could have to say that mattered. She could only think

s of her eyes gave a pathetic grandeur to her wan face. She advanced to meet sorrow with an unquailing glance, and Alec, who knew something of heroism, recognised the greatness of her heart. Of late he had been more than once to see that portrait of Diana of the Upland

ou to-day,' he said slowly. 'But my time is ve

embarrassed, and did not know what exactly

gh he were turning over in his min

ng these two or three weeks. You've been very good to me,

er heart gave a great beat against her chest. The thought had never entered her head. She sat down and waited

wanted to say it ever since we were at Court Leys together, but I was going away-heaven only knows when

e fixed upon hers. She

sk you if you

Her face kept its expres

u to suggest it. You mustn't think m

' he aske

. If it is any use I shall g

y you should not do th

ook he

y to live with him. And I can't take an honest man's name. It looks

very shy to say what she had in mind. When

at me because I was so proud of my family. I daresay I was stupid. I never paid much attention to rank and that kind of thing, but it did seem to me that family was different. I've seen my father, and he simply does

and put his hands on her shoulders. His calmness, a

r if you are my wife. I'm afraid your position will be very di

eet. I'm very grateful, but

derstand then what had happened; I suddenly felt that something new and strange had come into my life. And day by day I loved you more, a

and she cast hers down. He saw the exqui

d you to me when I was starting on this expedition. But now I must speak. I go in a week. It would

s were shining with tears, but they w

uld be unfair to you. I owe m

s from her shoulder

be as y

d that I have your love. It seems to lift me up from the

, and you will let me

he gave a little cry of amazement, for here

hing for me. Will you

org

a moment, while he cons

and a strong man of him. Oh, won't you give him this

hunger and thirst and every kind of hard

e is splendid. His self-respect is wavering in the balan

well on the dangers that await me, but I do realise that they are

ater than those his ancest

wounded o

tant. The words she utter

man's death I can as

inite courage. He was

hat I shall be g

call hi

ucy. He looked worn and ill. He was broken down with shame. The corners of his mouth drooped querulously, and his handsome face bore an expression of utter misery. Alec looked at him steadily. He felt infinite pity for his youth

d to take you with him to Africa,

y. 'I feel people are looking at me in the street when I go out, and they're saying to

of his hands with

d; no one would speak to me. There's nothing I ca

don't s

doesn't matter. Do you suppose anyone would trust m

forget it, George,

f together and gave A

pping of you to

that you'll have to rough it all the t

ed it's Hobson's choice, isn

and, with one of hi

ll well together an

u've got everything before you, George. I think no man has ever had such an opportunity. All our hope is in you. I want to be proud of

h a deep emotion, and Georg

ve been thinking of myself all the ti

nly want you to be brave

is arms around her neck. He nestled agai

lly hard to le

it and watch. But I want you to go.' Her voice broke, and she spoke almost in a whisper. 'And don't forget that yo

ou'll never be ashamed

Alec had watched them silen

acKenzie will think us a pair of fools.' She looke

ost at once,' he said. 'Geor

n twenty-four hours if

indow and lit a cigarette. H

the next few days,' said Alec. 'I have a great deal to

sor

u change

ook he

hat. I must have

en I co

ed delig

k, if you still ca

the a

erhaps will b