It was never easy to detect expressions of feeling or spirits on his
massive face, and he could hardly be more silent than usual; but it
was noticeable that he never fell asleep after his former wont when
sitting still. Indeed, he seldom was still, for he had a great deal
of business both for the estate and the potteries on his hands, and
stayed up late at night over them; and not only over them, for my
room was next to his, and I heard the regular tramp, tramp of his
feet, and the turn at the end of the room, as he walked up and down
for at least an hour when the rest of the house were asleep, or the
closing of the door when he returned from wandering on the moor at
night. And in the early morning, long before light, he always walked
or rode over to Arked House, bestowed on Dermot's hurts the cares
which both had come to look on as essential, and stayed with him till
the family were nearly ready to appear at their nine o'clock
breakfast, not seeing Viola at all, unless any special cause led to a
meeting later in the day, and then his eyes glowed, and he would do
her devoted, unobserved service--no, not unobserved by her, whom it
made blush and sparkle--and utter little words of thanks, not so gay
as of old, but deeper, as if for a great honour and delight. And
then he would bow his head, colour, and draw into the background,
where, with folded arms, he could watch her.
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