43
In n halting; manner, and keeping; his eyes fixed on the horse’s ears,
Hamilton tried to apologise for his brother’s lapse. The old woman
gathered from his remarks that Frank and Sarah had disappeared from the
house,
"Did she lay the table?" Martha asked*
"I didn pay any heed” answered Hamilton, touching up the horse,
"If it had been set you’d have noticed it" she said briefly.
As they turned off the road into the loanen they saw the blue smoke
of a replenished fire rise from the chimney of trie farmhouse.
Frank stood leaning over the half-door of tiro stable with his back
to them as they drew up in the close, Hamilton unloosed the horse and
led it out of the shafts, slipping the birchen over his arm. As he heard
his brother approach Frank unbolted the stable door and held it open, but
Hamilton checked the horse on the threshold, “What came intae ye?" he
demanded, scowling at the other. Frank smiled, “I forgot all about the
ould one" he answered. Although he smiled, his eyes were alert and he
rocked gently on the balls of his feet, Hamilton stared at him for a
moment then he spat contemptously on the ground and led the horse into the
stable. Frank loitered in the close until his brother appeared again, than
without looking up or speaking, folio ed him into the house.
They sat down to the meal in silence. Frank, carefully watching the
old woman, noted with apprehension that Sarah was doing the same, lie had
hoped that the two women would have had it out before lie and Hamilton
came in.As Sarah rose to bring the rennet dish to the table he suddenly
turned to Martha and opening his lips was about to speak. At his gesture
she looked up at him coldly and silently, -it the sight of her faded eyes
and indrawn lips the words died in his throat. He felt a sudden hatred
