第83章

"Not as an explanation of my own trouble," answered Garth; "because I know the greatness of her nature would have lifted her far above such a consideration.But I do indeed agree as to the complete oblivion to self of the man in love.How else could we ever venture to suggest to a woman that she should marry us? Ah, Brand, when one thinks of it, the intrusion into her privacy; the asking the right to touch, even her hand, at will; it could not be done unless the love of her and the thought of her had swept away all thoughts of self.Looking back upon that time I remember how completely it was so with me.And when she said to me in the church: 'How old are you?'--ah, I did not tell you that last night--the revulsion of feeling brought about by being turned at that moment in upon myself was so great, that my joy seemed to shrivel and die in horror at my own unworthiness."Silence in the wood.The doctor felt he was playing a losing game.

He dared not look at the silent figure opposite.At last he spoke.

"Dalmain, there are two possible solutions to your problem.Do you think it was a case of Eve holding back in virginal shyness, expecting Adam to pursue?""Ah, no," said Garth emphatically."We had gone far beyond all that.

Nor could you suggest it, did you know her.She is too honest, too absolutely straight and true, to have deceived me.Besides, had it been so, in all these lonely years, when she found I made no sign, she would have sent me word of what she really meant.""Should you have gone to her then?" asked the doctor.

"Yes," said Garth slowly."I should have gone and I should have forgiven--because she is my own.But it could never have been the same.It would have been unworthy of us both.""Well," continued the doctor, "the other solution remains.You have admitted that the One Woman came somewhat short of the conventional standard of beauty.Your love of loveliness was so well known.Do you not think, during the long hours of that night,--remember how new it was to her to be so worshipped and wanted,--do you not think her courage failed her? She feared she might come short of what eventually you would need in the face and figure always opposite you at your table; and, despite her own great love and yours, she thought it wisest to avoid future disillusion by rejecting present joy.Her very love for you would have armed her to this decision."The silent figure opposite nodded, and waited with clasped hands.

Deryck was pleading her cause better than she could have pleaded it herself.

Silence in the woods.All nature seemed to hush and listen for the answer.

Then:--"No," said Garth's young voice unhesitatingly."In that case she would have told me her fear, and I should have reassured her immediately.Your suggestion is unworthy of my beloved."The wind sighed in the trees.A cloud passed before the sun.The two who sat in darkness, shivered and were silent.

Then the doctor spoke."My dear boy," he said, and a deep tenderness was in his voice: "I must maintain my unalterable belief that to the One Woman you are still the One Man.In your blindness her rightful place is by your side.Perhaps even now she is yearning to be here.

Will you tell me her name, and give me leave to seek her out, hear from herself her version of the story; and, if it be as I think, bring her to you, to prove, in your affliction, her love and tenderness?""Never!" said Garth."Never, while life shall last! Can you not see that if when I had sight, and fame, and all heart could desire, Icould not win her love, what she might feel for me now, in my helpless blindness, could be but pity? And pity from her I could never accept.If I was 'a mere boy' three years ago, I am 'a mere blind man' now, an object for kind commiseration.If indeed you are right, and she mistrusted my love and my fidelity, it is now out of my power forever to prove her wrong and to prove myself faithful.

But I will not allow the vision of my beloved to be dimmed by these suggestions.For her completion, she needed so much more than Icould give.She refused me because I was not fully worthy.I prefer it should be so.Let us leave it at that.""It leaves you to loneliness," said the doctor sadly.

"I prefer loneliness," replied Garth's young voice, "to disillusion.

Hark! I hear the first gong, Brand.Margery will be grieved if we keep her Sunday dishes waiting."He stood up and turned his sightless face towards the view.

"Ah, how well I know it," he said."When Miss Gray and I sit up here, she tells me all she sees, and I tell her what she does not see, but what I know is there.She is keen on art, and on most of the things I care about.I must ask for an arm, Brand, though the path is wide and good.I cannot risk a tumble.I have come one or two awful croppers, and I promised Miss Gray--The path is wide.Yes, we can walk two abreast, three abreast if necessary.It is well we had this good path made.It used to be a steep scramble.""Three abreast," said the doctor."So we could--if necessary." He stepped back and raised Jane from her seat, drawing her cold hand through his left arm."Now, my dear fellow, my right arm will suit you best; then you can keep your stick in your right hand."And thus they started down through the wood, on that lovely Sabbath morn of early summer; and the doctor walked erect between those two severed hearts, uniting, and yet dividing them.

Just once Garth paused and listened."I seem to hear another footstep," he said, "besides yours and mine.""The wood is full of footsteps," said the doctor, "just as the heart is full of echoes.If you stand still and listen you can hear what you will in either.""Then let us not stand still," said Garth, "for in old days, if Iwas late for lunch, Margery used to spank me."