“Yes, the Washington girl. But he got over that and you straightened him out finally. Still, Emma probably thinks yours is the prior claim, knowing, of course, nothing of facts. And Bles knows she thinks of him and you, and I’m convinced if you say the word, they’d love and marry.”
Zora walked silently with her to the door, where, looking out, she saw Bles and Emma coming from Aunt Rachel’s. He was helping her from the carriage with smiling eyes, and her innocent blue eyes were fastened on him.
Zora looked long and searchingly.
‚ÄúPlease run and tell them of the legacy,‚Äù she begged. ‚ÄúI‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI will come‚ÅÝ‚Äîin a moment.‚Äù And Mrs. ¬ÝCresswell hurried out.
Zora turned back steadily to her room, and locked herself in. After all, why shouldn‚Äôt it be? Why had it not occurred to her before in her blindness? If she had wanted him‚ÅÝ‚Äîand ah, God! was not all her life simply the want of him?‚ÅÝ‚Äîwhy had she not bound him to her when he had offered himself? Why had she not bound him to her? She knew as she asked‚ÅÝ‚Äîbecause she had wanted all, not a part‚ÅÝ‚Äîeverything, love, respect and perfect faith‚ÅÝ‚Äînot one thing could she spare then‚ÅÝ‚Äînot one thing. And now, oh, God! she had dreamed that it was all hers, since that night of death and circling flame when they looked at each other soul to soul. But he had not meant anything. It was pity she had seen there, not love; and she rose and walked the room slowly, fast and faster.
With trembling hands she drew the Silver Fleece round her. Her head swam again and the blood flashed in her eyes. She heard a calling in the swamp, and the shadow of Elspeth seemed to hover over her, claiming her for her own, dragging her down, down.‚ÅÝ‚Ää‚Å݂Ķ She rushed through the swamp. The lagoon lay there before her presently, gleaming in the darkness‚ÅÝ‚Äîcold and still, and in it swam an awful shape.