"You asked me to save your brother, and I could see no other way--"
"How so? Please explain."
"I meant to free him from the debt which is crushing him down and
unmanning him."
"But--oh, don't you see--he would still be in debt--to you?"
"I had forgotten that!" sighed Barnabas.
"Forgotten it?" she repeated.
"Quite!"
Surely no man could lie, whose eyes were so truthful and steadfast.
"And so you went and offered to--buy up his debts?"
"Yes."
"For three times the proper sum?"
"I would have paid whatever was asked."
"Why?"
"Because I promised you to help him," answered Barnabas, staring at
the ground again.
"You must be--very rich?" said Cleone, stealing another look at him.
"I am."
"And--supposing you had taken over the debt, who did you think would
ever repay you?"
"It never occurred to me."
"And you would have done--all this for a--stranger?"
"No, but because of the promise I gave."
"To me?"
"Yes,--but, as God sees me, I would have looked for no recompense at
your hands."
"Never?"
"Never--unless--"
"Unless, sir?"
"Unless I--I had dreamed it possible that you--could ever
have--loved me." Barnabas was actually stammering, and he was
looking at her--pleadingly, she knew, but this time my lady kept
her face averted, of course. Wherefore Barnabas sighed, and his
head drooping, stared at the ground again. And after he had stared
thus, for perhaps a full minute, my lady spoke, but with her face
still averted.
"The moon is at the full to-night, I think?"
Barnabas (lifting his head suddenly). "Yes."
Cleone (quite aware of his quick glance). "And--how do you like--the
Duchess?"
Barnabas (staring at the ground again). "I don't know."
Cleone (with unnecessary emphasis). "Why, she is the dearest, best,
cleverest old godmother in all the world, sir!"
Barnabas (humbly). "Yes."
Cleone (with a side glance). "Are you riding back to London to-night?"
Barnabas (nodding drearily). "Yes."
Cleone (watching him more keenly). "It should be glorious to gallop
under a--full-orbed moon."
Barnabas (shaking his head mournfully). "London is a great way
from--here."
Cleone (beginning to twist a ring on her finger nervously).
"Do you remember the madman we met--at Oakshott's Barn?"
Barnabas (sighing). "Yes. I met him in London, lately."
Cleone (clasping her hands together tightly). "Did he talk about--the
moon again?"
Barnabas (still sighing, and dense), "No, it was about some shadow,
I think."
Cleone (frowning at him a little). "Well--do you remember what he
prophesied--about--an 'orbed moon'--and 'Barnaby Bright'?"
Barnabas (glancing up with sudden interest). "Yes,--yes, he said we
should meet again at Barnaby Bright--under an orbed moon!"
Cleone (head quite averted now, and speaking over her shoulder).
"Do you remember the old finger-post--on the Hawkhurst road?"
Barnabas (leaning towards her eagerly). "Yes--do you mean--Oh,
Cleone--?"