No word of the future had been said, not a plan had been made. Only, at
parting, to meet later in the evening at the Newlyns, he said to her, "I
will be the greatest violinist in the world, my woman."
And her heart beat high with honest pride in him.
Too happy to think, she went down the stairs, and half-way down found
herself face to face with Gerald Carron.
It was nearly dark, but she could just see that his white face was drawn
and hideous with anger.
"What are you doing here?" she cried, drawing back, but furious in her
turn.
"What are you doing here? You--you!"
"You have been spying on me," she returned with a good assumption of
courage that she was very far from feeling. "Well--I have been to talk
to Mr. Joyselle. Have you any objection to my doing so?"
"Objection? Yes, I have. You have fooled us all. Engaged to the boy,
and--I have always known that you didn't care for that child, and
wondered--Now I know." He laughed shrilly. "And other people shall know,
too! Your mother will be pleased, and--the clean peasant! I only wonder
you haven't _married_ that poor wretch. The situation would then be even
more--biblical."
She tried to pass him, but he barred her way.
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