He was certain that he had made not the slightest sound in opening the
door, but presently the head of the watcher turned slowly, and Byrne was
looking into those same yellow, terrible eyes. At the same instant the
sick man moaned faintly. The doctor closed the door as softly as he had
opened it and turned a drawn face upon Kate Cumberland.
"I don't understand; it isn't possible!" he whispered.
"No one understands," said the girl, and smiled mirthlessly. "Don't try
to, Doctor Byrne. Go to bed, and sleep. If you can. Good night."
"But you," said Byrne, following her, "are almost as ill as your father.
Is there nothing I can do for you?"
"You?" she asked, surprised. "No, nothing."
"But there's not the slightest colour in your face. And you are
trembling, Miss Cumberland!"
She did not seem to hear him.
"Will he stay?" she asked of herself. "Will he leave before the
morning?"
"I shall see that he stays," said the doctor. "I will stay here outside
the door and see that he does not leave, if you wish."
Once more she smiled in that baffling manner.
"Could you keep the wind from blowing, Doctor Byrne? If I thought that
he could be kept----" she stopped. "He has forgotten us. He has
forgotten all of us except Dad. And if Dad cannot keep him, nothing will
keep him. It's useless for you to wait here. Good night again, Doctor
Byrne."
He watched her up the stairs. By the dim light he saw her hand catching
at the balustrade as if she were drawing herself up, step by step.
Pages:
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171