"Oh, it's not that.
Under the circumstances it was evident that the only place for you to come to was your father's house.
But the fact is that I've just been offered the post of Chief Justice of the Bahamas and I have accepted it."
"Oh, father, I'm so glad.
I congratulate you with all my heart."
"The offer arrived too late for me to tell your poor mother.
It would have given her a great satisfaction."
The bitter irony of fate!
After all her efforts, intrigues, and humiliations, Mrs. Garstin had died without knowing that her ambition, however modified by past disappointments, was at last achieved.
"I am sailing early next month.
Of course this house will be put in the agent's hands and my intention was to sell the furniture.
I'm sorry that I shan't be able to have you to stay here, but if you'd like any of the furniture to furnish a flat I shall be extremely pleased to give it you."
Kitty looked into the fire.
Her heart beat quickly; it was curious that on a sudden she should be so nervous.
But at last she forced herself to speak.
In her voice was a little tremor.
"Couldn't I come with you, father?"
"You?
Oh, my dear Kitty." His face fell.
She had often heard the expression, but thought it only a phrase, and now for the first time in her life she saw the movement that it described. It was so marked that it startled her.
"But all your friends are here and Doris is here. I should have thought you'd be much happier if you took a flat in London.
I don't exactly know what your circumstances are, but I shall be very glad to pay the rent of it."
"I have enough money to live on."
"I'm going to a strange place.
I know nothing of the conditions."
"I'm used to strange places.
London means nothing to me any more.
I couldn't breathe here."
He closed his eyes for a moment and she thought he was going to cry.
His face bore an expression of utter misery.
It wrung her heart.
She had been right; the death of his wife had filled him with relief and now this chance to break entirely with the past had offered him freedom.
He had seen a new life spread before him and at last after all these years rest and the mirage of happiness.
She saw dimly all the suffering that had preyed on his heart for thirty years.
At last he opened his eyes. He could not prevent the sigh that escaped him.
"Of course if you wish to come I shall be very pleased."
It was pitiful.
The struggle had been short and he had surrendered to his sense of duty.
With those few words he abandoned all his hopes.
She rose from her chair and going over to him knelt down and seized his hands.
"No, father, I won't come unless you want me.
You've sacrificed yourself enough.
If you want to go alone, go.
Don't think of me for a minute."
He released one of her hands and stroked her pretty hair.
"Of course I want you, my dear.
After all I'm your father and you're a widow and alone.
If you want to be with me it would be very unkind of me not to want you."
"But that's just it, I make no claims on you because I'm your daughter, you owe me nothing."
"Oh, my dear child."