He had called the woman wanton and the man a villain,
but here the verdict was less easy to render. He liked Mrs. Burke, and
he loved his friend. He had looked into their faces many times during
the last six months without detecting any signs of degradation; on the
contrary, Blanche had apparently grown in womanly qualities; and as for
Jim, he had never been more manly, more generous and kind. If their acts
were crimes, why could they remain so clear of eye?
Without reaching a conclusion, he put the question from him and willed
himself to sleep.
When he awoke it was morning, but there was no change in the wind,
except in an increase of its ferocity. The roar was still steady,
high-keyed, relentless. A myriad new voices seemed to have joined the
screaming tumult. The cold was still intense.
He looked at his watch and found it marking the hour of sunrise, but
there was no light. The world was only a gray waste. He renewed the
fire, and began preparations for breakfast, his sturdy heart undismayed
by the demons without.
Pages:
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90