myconsciencebyconfessingtohimafterwardswhatIhaddone.ItistruethatifanysuddendangerhadthreatenedhimIwastoofarawaytobeofuse,andyetIamsurethatyouwillagreewithmethatthepositionwasverydifficult,andthattherewasnothingmorewhichIcoulddo.
Ourfriend,SirHenry,andtheladyhadhaltedonthepathandwerestandingdeeplyabsorbedintheirconversation,whenIwassuddenlyawarethatIwasnottheonlywitnessoftheirinterview.Awispofgreenfloatingintheaircaughtmyeye,andanotherglanceshowedmethatitwascarriedonastickbyamanwhowasmovingamongthebrokenground.ItwasStapletonwithhisbutterfly-net.HewasverymuchclosertothepairthanIwas,andheappearedtobemovingintheirdirection.AtthisinstantSirHenrysuddenlydrewMissStapletontohisside.Hisarmwasroundher,butitseemedtomethatshewasstrainingawayfromhimwithherfaceaverted.Hestoopedhisheadtohers,andsheraisedonehandasifinprotest.NextmomentIsawthemspringapartandturnhurriedlyround.Stapletonwasthecauseoftheinterruption.Hewasrunningwildlytowardsthem,hisabsurdnetdanglingbehindhim.Hegesticulatedandalmostdancedwithexcitementinfrontofthelovers.WhatthescenemeantIcouldnotimagine,butitseemedtomethatStapletonwasabusingSirHenry,whoofferedexplanations,whichbecamemoreangryastheotherrefusedtoacceptthem.Theladystoodbyinhaughtysilence.FinallyStapletonturneduponhisheelandbeckonedinaperemptorywaytohissister,who,afteranirresoluteglanceatSirHenry,walkedoffbythesideofherbrother.Thenaturalist’sangrygesturesshowedthattheladywasincludedinhisdispleasure.Thebaronetstoodforaminutelookingafterthem,andthenhewalkedslowlybackthewaythathehadcome,hisheadhanging,theverypictureofdejection.
WhatallthismeantIcouldnotimagine,butIwasdeeplyashamedtohavewitnessedsointimateascenewithoutmyfriend’sknowledge.Irandownthehillthereforeandmetthebaronetatthebottom.Hisfacewasflushedwithangerandhisbrowswerewrinkled,likeonewhoisathiswit’sendswhattodo.
“Halloa,Watson!Wherehaveyoudroppedfrom?”saidhe.“Youdon’tmeantosaythatyoucameaftermeinspiteofall?”
Iexplainedeverythingtohim:howIhadfounditimpossibletoremainbehind,howIhadfollowedhim,andhowIhadwitnessedallthathadoccurred.Foraninstanthiseyesblazedatme,butmyfranknessdisarmedhisanger,andhebrokeatlastintoaratherruefullaugh.
“Youwouldhavethoughtthemiddleofthatprairieafairlysafeplaceforamantobeprivate,”saidhe,“but,bythunder,thewholecountrysideseemstohavebeenouttoseemedomywooing—andamightypoorwooingatthat!Wherehadyouengagedaseat?”
“Iwasonthathill.”
“Quiteinthebackrow,eh?Butherbrotherwaswelluptothefront.Didyouseehimcomeoutonus?”
“Yes,Idid.”
“Didheeverstrikeyouasbeingcrazy—thisbrotherofhers?”
“Ican’tsaythatheeverdid.”
“Idaresaynot.Ialwaysthoughthimsaneenoughuntiltoday,butyoucantakeitfrommethateitherheorIoughttobeinastraitjacket.What’sthematterwithme,anyhow?You’velivednearmeforsomeweeks,Watson.Tellmestraight,now!Isthereanythingthatwouldpreventmefrommakingagoodhusbandtoawo