“Oh, stop!” Frances said, shocked beyond words by the deadly emphasis with which he spoke.
He uttered a sound that was half-laugh and half-groan. “You’ve got to know it. Yes, he is my father, but I only endure him for my mother’s sake. I have wished him dead for years. I wish it more than ever now.”
“Oh, hush!” Frances said. “Please don’t say it! Don’t think it! You will be so sorry afterwards.”
“Why should I be sorry?” he said sombrely. “Do you think I shall ever regret him? He who has all my life stood in the way of my gaining anything I hold worth having? It’s too late now. My chances are gone. And I don’t complain—even to you. As I say, his brain is affected. He suffers from delusions. I have got to bear with him to the end. So what is the good?”
She could not answer him. Only, after a few seconds, she said quietly, “I think I should be too sorry for him to—hate him.”
He stood for a few moments looking at her. Then, very abruptly: “Is that by any chance the reason why you don’t hate me?” he said.
She met his look unflinching. “No,” she said. “At least not entirely.”
“There is another reason?” he questioned.
“And I am not to know what it is?” His voice was low but it held urgency.
Her hand was on the catch of the gate, but still she met his look. “Mr. Dermot,” she said, “there is a French saying that applies very closely to you and to me. Do you know what it is?”
“‘_Tout comprendre est tout pardonner_,’” he said.
She opened the gate. “Even so,” she said. “When that happens, you will know why I have not hated you.”
She left him with the words, but not before the sudden fire of his look had reached her soul. As she went away down the garden-path, she knew that her limbs were trembling. But there was that in her heart which filled her with a burning exultation. The stones were turning to bread indeed.
“Don’t take any notice of anything he says!” whispered Nurse Dolly. “Just sit beside him and keep him quiet! He’s got some queer fancies, poor old man. Sure you won’t mind them?”
“That’s right. And give him some bromide if he gets tiresome! Otherwise, that digitalis stuff. You understand, don’t you?”
“Then I’ll go,” said Dolly. “Be sure to call if you want anyone! I shall only be in the next room. I expect he’ll be quite good. He likes you. But don’t stand any nonsense from him! Because if once he gets the upper hand, he’s difficult.”