Or
else he walks about the woods--sometimes quite late at night.
Forest believes he sleeps very little. I told you he never came
to Desmond's funeral. All business he hands over to Elizabeth,
and what she asks him he generally does. But we all have vague,
black fears about him. I know Elizabeth has. Yet she is quite
clear she can't stay here much longer. Dear Arthur, I don't
know exactly what happened, but I _think_ father asked her to
marry him, and she said no. And I am tolerably sure that I
counted for a good deal in it--horrid wretch that I am!--that
she thought it would make me unhappy.
'Well, I am properly punished. For if or when she goes
away--and you and I are married--if there is to be any marrying
any more in this awful world!--what will become of my father?
He has been a terrifying mystery to me all my life. Now it is
not that any longer. I know at least that he worshipped
Desmond. But I know also that I mean nothing to him.
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