A Secret Inheritance (Volume 2 of 3)

  IV.

  Within a fortnight of that day Gabriel Carew's passions were roused toan almost uncontrollable pitch.

  It was evening, and he saw Eric and Emilius in the woods. They wereconversing with more than ordinary animation, and appeared to bediscussing some question upon which they did not agree. Carew sawsigns which he could not interpret--appeals, implorings, evidences ofstrong feeling on one side and of humbleness on the other, despairfrom one, sorrow from the other; and then suddenly a phase whichstartled the watcher and filled him with a savage joy. Eric, in aparoxysm, laid hands furiously upon his brother, and it seemed for amoment as if a violent struggle were about to take place.

  It was to the restraint and moderation of Emilius that thisunbrotherly conflict was avoided. He did not meet violence withviolence; after a pause he gently lifted Eric's hands from hisshoulders, and with a sad look turned away, Eric gazing at hisretreating figure in a kind of bewilderment. Presently Emilius wasgone, and only Eric remained.

  He was not long alone. From an opposite direction to that taken byEmilius the watcher saw approaching the form of the woman he loved,and to whom he was shortly to be wed. That her coming was notaccidental, but in fulfilment of a promise was clear to Gabriel Carew.Eric expected her, and welcomed her without surprise. Then the twobegan to converse.

  Carew's heart beat tumultuously; he would have given worlds to hearwhat was being said, but he was at too great a distance for a word toreach his ears. For a time Eric was the principal speaker, Lauretta,for the most part, listening, and uttering now and then merely a wordor two. In her quiet way she appeared to be as deeply agitated as theyoung man who was addressing her in an attitude of despairing appeal.Again and again it seemed as if he had finished what he had to say,and again and again he resumed, without abatement of the excitementunder which he was labouring. At length he ceased, and then Laurettabecame the principal actor in the scene. She spoke long and forcibly,but always with that gentleness of manner which was one of hersweetest characteristics. In her turn she seemed to be appealing tothe young man, and to be endeavouring to impress upon him a sad andbitter truth which he was unwilling, and not in the mood, torecognise. For a long time she was unsuccessful; the young man walkedimpatiently a few steps from her, then returned, contrite and humble,but still with all the signs of great suffering upon him. At lengthher words had upon him the effect she desired; he wavered, he held outhis hands helplessly, and presently covered his face with them andsank to the ground. Then, after a silence, during which Lauretta gazedcompassionately upon his convulsed form, she stooped and placed herhand upon his shoulder. He lifted his eyes, from which the tears wereflowing, and raised himself from the earth. He stood before her withbowed head, and she continued to speak. The pitiful sweetness of herface almost drove Carew mad; it could not be mistaken that her heartwas beating with sympathy for Eric's sufferings. A few minutes morepassed, and then it seemed as if she had prevailed. Eric accepted thehand she held out to him, and pressed his lips upon it. Had he at thatmoment been within Gabriel Carew's reach, it would have fared ill withboth these men, but Heaven alone knows whether it would have avertedwhat was to follow before the setting of another sun, to theconsternation and grief of the entire village. After pressing his lipsto Lauretta's hand, the pair separated, each going a different way,and Gabriel Carew ground his teeth as he observed that there weretears in Lauretta's eyes as well as in Eric's. A darkness fell uponhim as he walked homewards.