n became so wild and furious that I shrank back in my chair
and covered my face with my hands.

"You needn't be afraid of me," he said; "that is all over. Come: there
is nothing more to see. You had better go home."

He had regained control over himself, although his features still
worked and his eyes were bloodshot. Indeed, he had such a look of
suffering that I should have been sorry for him no matter how much I
hated him, and now, curiously enough, my hatred seemed to have passed
away.

"What are you going to do?" I asked.

"Send you home," he replied.

"But you are coming with me?"

"No. I shall not trouble Aghadoe any more by my presence. You will be
quite safe with the Chauffeur."

"But what are you going to do?"

"I am not going to cut my throat, if that's what you are afraid of. I am
going to--console myself as soon as I can."

I did not dare ask him how. He held his arm to me ceremoniously, and I
could not help thinking that he could play the fine gentleman after all.
My thoughts were so bewildered that I could not take in yet all that
this involved, but seeing that he held his arm to me I took it and went
out with him.

The night had come on dark outside. Looking back from the gate, I
thought that the little house glowed like a ruby in the darkness.

He put me into the carriage with a careful politeness. As he wrapped the
rug about me I had a sudden sense of the finality of it and the trouble
that lay before me and the others, and a pity for his disappointment as
well that was so poignant as to be almost unbearable.

"Forgive me," I whispered in the darkness. "I would have loved you if I
could."

"Was there some one else, Bawn?" he whispered back.

"Yes, there was some one else." I felt he had a right to that truth.

"You ought to have told me," he said. "And you should not have believed
that I would win you by blackmail, even though I am Garret Dawson's
son."

"I am sorry. Indeed I am sorry."

I clutched at his sleeve as he was stepping out of the carriage.

"What are you going to do?" I asked again.

"Find consolation where I can. There are some ready to offer it, Bawn."

He closed the door, and I heard him telling the chauffeur to drive me to
Aghadoe. I put my head out to see the last of him as we drove away, and
he was standing in the darkness still looking after me.

My thoughts were in a whirl of confusion. At first I could think of
nothing except that Richard Dawson himself ha