She divined that his
hatred of Haddo was no longer within the bounds of reason. The desire for
vengeance filled him entirely, so that he was capable of any violence.
Several days went by.
At last, in concert with Dr Porhoet, she determined to make one more
attempt. It was late at night, and they sat with open windows in the
sitting-room of the inn. There was a singular oppressiveness in the air
which suggested that a thunderstorm was at hand. Susie prayed for it; for
she ascribed to the peculiar heat of the last few days much of Arthur's
sullen irritability.
'Arthur, you _must_ tell us what you are going to do,' she said. 'It
is useless to stay here. We are all so ill and nervous that we cannot
consider anything rationally. We want you to come away with us tomorrow.'
'You can go if you choose,' he said. 'I shall remain till that man is
dead.'
'It is madness to talk like that. You can do nothing. You are only making
yourself worse by staying here.'
'I have quite made up my mind.'
'The law can offer you no help, and what else can you do?'
She asked the question, meaning if possible to get from him some hint of
his intentions; but the grimness of his answer, though it only confirmed
her vague suspicions, startled her.
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