And it would be better so, she thought. The sooner Gartram bade her turn out homeless, almost penniless in the world, the easier would be her task. It would give her fresh cause for hatred, a new stimulus for destroying the man who had caused her husbands death.
It was hour by hour, with the dead lying so near, becoming easier to her to think of Gartram as her husbands murderer. Isaac had with his dying lips insisted upon it that this was so, and he could not lie. The seed he had planted then was rapidly growing into a tree, and, accepting the task, she brooded over the deed she was to do, telling herself that it was to give immortal rest to him who was gone before; and once the task was accomplished, she prayed that she might soon rejoin him in the realms of bliss, and look him again in the eyes and say It is done.
How was it to be?
She sat there, with a strange, lurid light in her dark eyes, thinking over the vengeance and of those of whom she had read; of how Jael slew
Sisera with the hammer and nail that deadly enemy of the chosen race. Then of Judith; and a strange exultation filled her breast, and in her weak, ignorant way she began to feel herself more and more as one selected to become the instrument of Heavens punishment upon one accursed.
The way will be opened unto me, she said to herself. The way will be opened unto me, and the wicked shall perish. Yes, husband, you shall rest in peace.
She started erect in her chair, and turned a fierce look of anger towards the door, as at that moment there was a light step, a shadow fell across the clean white stone, a sweet-toned, tremulous voice uttered her name, and there was the rustling of a dress upon the floor, while the next moment two soft arms were about her neck, her cheeks were wet with anothers tears. For Claude was kneeling by her, with her head resting on the hard, heavily-beating heart, and the girls broken voice fell upon her ears.
My poor, poor Sarah! I could not come to you before. What can I do to help you? What can I say?
Claude could not see the wild, agonised face, as she rested upon the trembling womans breast. There had been kindly, sympathetic, neighbourly words enough spoken to her before, but these the words of the girl she had years before tended and loved, winning her gentle young love in return went straight to her overcharged heart. The tears falling for her sorrow seemed to quench the burning glow of bitterness and hate, and the next moment vengeance, and the determination to execute her husbands command, were swept away: her arms were tightening round the slight, girlish form as if it were something to which she could cling for safety, and the tears that had seemed dried up, after searing her brain, poured forth as she bent down sobbing hysterically, and in broken accents calling her visitor, My darling bairn.
Half-an-hour had passed, and the bitter wailing and hysterical cries had ceased, while the suffering womans breast heaved slowly now, like the surface of the sea quieting after a storm; but she still held Claude tightly to her, and rocked herself gently to and fro, as in bygone years she had held the girl when some trouble had brought her, motherless, and smarting from some bitter scolding, to seek for consolation and help.
The words came at last to break the silence of the solitary place.
It was like you to come, my darling, and I shall never, never forget it. It was like you.
You know I would have come to you before, but poor papa has been so ill, and I dared not come away. But he is better now, and sitting up.
The mention of Gartram seemed to harden the woman once more, and with a catching sigh she sat up rigidly in her chair. The thoughts of him who lay waiting in the next chamber brought with them the terrible scenes through which she had passed, and the scale of tenderness which Claude had borne down now rose upward to kick the beam.
It was a terrible shock to him, continued Claude. You have been too full of your own trouble to know, but he was seized with a fit, and when I reached home I thought he was dead.
The woman drew her breath hard, but did not speak; only sat frowning, her brow a maze of wrinkles, her lips drawn to a thin pink line, and her teeth set fast, gazing once more straight before her at the drawn-down blind.
Hah! she ejaculated at last. It has all come to an end.
Claude started, and looked up in the womans face, the words were spoken in so strange and hard a tone.
I dont like to talk to you about the future, and hope, Claude said at last; it seems such a vain kind of way to comfort any one in affliction.
Yes; life is all affliction, said the woman bitterly; and she frowned now at the kneeling girl.
No, no; you must not look at things like that, Sarah. But it is hard to bear. How well I remember coming to see your home directly you were married.
Dont talk about it, child, said the woman hoarsely.
No, well talk about something else; or will it not be kinder if I sit with you only, and stay as long as I can?