Glears. "Taking you by
the way," he said, "before going to my private La Trappe."
Prometesky took leave of me, not quite as if we were never to meet
again, for his experimental retreat was to be over at Christmas, and
he would then be able to receive letters. He promised me that, if I
then wrote to him that, Harold stood in need of him for a time, he
would return to us instead of commencing the novitiate which would
lead to his becoming dead to the outer world.
Harold was gone only ten days, and came back late on a Friday
evening. He tried to tell me about what he had done and seen, but
broke off and said, "Well, I am very stupid; I went to all the places
they told me to see at Rouen and everywhere else, but I can't
recollect anything about them."
So I let him gaze into the fire in peace, and all Saturday he was at
the potteries or at the office, very busy about all his plans and
also taking in hand the charge for George Yolland, for both brothers
were going on Monday to take a fortnight's holiday among their
relations. He only came in to dinner, and after it told me very
kindly that he must leave me alone again, for he wanted to see Ben
Yolland. A good person for him to wish to see, "but was all this
restlessness?" thought this foolish Lucy.
When he came in, only just at bed-time, there was something more of
rest, and less of weary sadness about his eyes than I had seen since
the troubles began, and as we wished one another good night he said,
"Lucy, God forgives while He punishes.
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