He looked fixedly at her, and her quivering became more violent. She did not ask what his condition was. She knew.
’Finish this bowl, and convince me you were not bent on my murder.’
She put out her hands to cover her face, but they trembled so that she could not hold them over her eyes.
’If you refuse, I shall know the whole depth of your wickedness, and you shall only leave this room under arrest. If you accept, the moor is before you; go over it where you will.’
He held the bowl to her. Then her trembling ceased—ceased as by a sudden spasm. She was still, set in face as if frozen; and her eyes, that glared on her master, were like pieces of ice. She said nothing, but took the bowl and put it to her lips, and, with her eyes on him, she drained it to the dregs.
Then the shivering, like a palsy, came over her again. ’Let me go,’ she said huskily. ’Let none follow. Leave me in peace.’ Langford opened the door and went back into the parlour. Mrs. Veale stole out after him, and those in the sitting-room heard her going down the passage like a bird, flapping against the walls on each side.
’Where is she going?’ asked Charles. ’She is not to escape us. She’s such a bad un, trying to involve me.’
’I’ve forgiven her.’ answered Langford in a surly tone. ’I mayn’t be over generous, but I’m just.’
’And now, Taverner, one word wi’ you,’ said old Nanspian. ’I reckon you thought to sloke away this Red Spider, as you did the first; but there you are mistaken. As I’ve heard, you have tried to force her to accept you—who are old enough to be her father—shame be to you! But this is your own house, and I’ll say no more on what I think. Now, Taverner, I venture to declare you have no more hold on the girl. Her brother never took your money; you were robbed by your own housekeeper. You say you’ve forgiven her because you are just. What the justice is, in that, I don’t see, but I do see one thing clear as daylight, and that is, you’ve no right any more to insist on Honor coming here as your wife, not unless by her free will and consent, and that, I reckon, you won’t have, as Larry, my boy, has secured her heart.’
Langford looked at Nanspian, then at Honor and Larry; at the latter he looked long.