In his present nervous, enfeebled state, any sudden
emotions of doubt or surprise, no matter how slight and temporary in
their nature, always proved too powerful for his self-control, and
betrayed themselves in his speech and manner painfully.
Mat said not a word to break the ominous silence. Was he at that
moment, in very truth, standing face to face with Arthur Carr? Could
this man--so frail and meager, with the narrow chest, the drooping
figure, the effeminate pink tinge on his wan wrinkled cheeks--be indeed
the man who had driven Mary to that last refuge, where the brambles and
weeds grew thick, and the foul mud-pools stagnated in the forgotten
corner of the churchyard?
"You have come, sir," resumed Mr. Thorpe, controlling himself by an
effort which deepened the flush on his face, "to tell me news of my
son, which I am not entirely unprepared for. I heard from him
yesterday; and, though it did not strike me at first, I noticed on
referring to his letter afterwards, that it was not in his own
handwriting. My nerves are not very strong, and they have been
tried--pleasurably, most pleasurably tried--already this morning, by
such testimonies of kindness and sympathy as it does not fall to the
lot of many men to earn.
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