Chapter 54

He had seen all. He knew of the kisses, of the naked shoulders, the marriage of loveless bodies, the shame. With a cry of anguish she covered her face and turned to run away. ‘Nay, Gillian. You mun answer first.’ Obediently she waited. ‘Did Elmer make ye stay?’ There was a long silence. Little breezes lifted and sank in the half-unfurled leaves of the chestnut tree in the garden of the ‘Drover’s Arms.’ In its top bough a blackbird sang musingly. It was as though he passed the whole of life through the crucible of h…