by God.
Then to Dirk,
'Stay here!'
He swung down from his horse, handed the reins to Dirk and went through
the gate. At the door he paused self-consciously and adjusted his
cravat. He glanced down at the severe dark broadcloth suit and new
boots which he had purchased in Pietermaritzburg, slapped the dust from
his breeches, stroked his newly trimmed beard into place, gave his
moustache a twirl and knocked on the door.
It was opened at last by a young lady. Sean did not recognize her. But
the girl reacted immediately, flushing slightly, attempting to pat her
hair into place without drawing attention to its disarray, tying to
dispose of the sewing in her hands, and exhibiting all the signs of
confusion peculiar to the unmarried female who finds herself suddenly
and unexpectedly in the presence of a large, well-dressed and
attractive male. But Sean felt a twinge of pity as he looked at her
scarred face, ugly with the purple cicatrice of acne.
Sean lifted his hat. 'Is Mrs. Courtney here?
'She's in the workroom, sir. Who shall I tell her is calling?
'Don't tell her anything-it's a surprise. ' Sean smiled at her, and
she lifted her hands self-consciously in an attempt to mask the ruin of
her face.
'Won't you come in, sir? ' She turned her head aside, shyly as though
to hide it.
'Who is it, Mary? ' Sean started at the voice from the depths of the
cottage, it hadn't changed at all-and the years dropped away.
'It's a gentleman, Aunt Ada. He wants to see you.
'I'm coming. Ask him to sit down, and please bring us coffee, Mary.
'Mary escaped thankfully and left Sean standing alone in the small
sitting-room, twisting his hat in big brown hands, staring up at the
daguerreotype print of Waite Courtney above the mantel. Although he
did not recognize the fact, the face of his father in the picture was
almost his own-the same eyes under heavy black brows, the same
arrogance about the mouth, even the identical thrust of stubbornness in
the jaw beneath the thick spade-shaped beard-and the big, hooked
Courtney nose.
The door from the work-room opened and Sean swung quickly to face it.
Ada Courtney came through it smiling, until she saw him, then she
stopped and the smile died on her lips and she paled. Uncertainly her
hand lifted to her throat and she made a small choking sound.
'Dear God,' she whispered.
'Ma.' Sean fidgeted his feet awkwardly. 'Hello, Ma. It's good to see
you. ' 'Sean.' The colour flooded back in her cheeks. 'For a moment
I thought-you're grown so much like your father. Oh, Sean! ' And she
ran to him. He tossed his hat on to the sofa and caught her around the
waist as she came.
'I've waited for you. I knew you'd come.'
Sean scooped her up and kissed her into a concision of joy and
laughter, swinging her while he did it, laughing himself.
'Put me down,' Ada gasped at last, and when he did she clung to him.
