Chapter 38

She heard the rumour of his return in time to get a longer look. And exactly what Ralph Elmer intended came to pass. She was dazzled, stormed, inebriated with his recklessness, his pride of life, the hard physical beauty of him. She fell into a dream about next Sunday. It was lucky that she had finished the cross, for her thoughts were at the ‘Mermaid’s Rest’ till Robert came to release her. ‘Did you see?’ she asked. ‘See what?’ ‘Why, Ralph Elmer, galloping down the lane like a cowboy from the west.’ ‘Ah, I saw un.…