She was not
beautiful, but she carried herself well, and one would always look at
her twice. It would be worth something to see the meeting between father
and daughter.
But fate, the greatest artist of us all, takes little count of the
careful drawing and the bright colouring of our fancy's pictures, but
with rude hand deranges all, and with one swift sweep paints out the
bright and paints in the dark. And this trick he served me when, one
June night, after long and anxious waiting for some word from the west,
my door suddenly opened and Graeme walked in upon me like a spectre,
grey and voiceless. My shout of welcome was choked back by the look in
his face, and I could only gaze at him and wait for his word. He gripped
my hand, tried to speak, but failed to make words come.
'Sit down, old man,' I said, pushing, him into my chair, 'and take your
time.'
He obeyed, looking up at me with burning, sleepless eyes. My heart was
sore for his misery, and I said: 'Don't mind, old chap; it can't be so
awfully bad. You're here safe and sound at any rate,' and so I went on
to give him time.
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