She locked her hands over her eyes and groaned , swaying her body to and fro as one in mortal agony . Presently she looked out again with hard , dry eyes . `` What a fool I am ! '' she said bitterly . `` How the Corner saints would stare if they saw me ! I suppose some of them do -- '' with a glance at the windows of a neighbouring house . `` Yes , there 's Mrs. Rawlings staring out and Rose peeking over her shoulder . '' Her face hardened . The old sway of evil passion reasserted itself . `` She shall never come back here -- never . Oh , she was a sweet-spoken cat of a thing -- but she had claws . I 've been blamed for all the trouble . But if ever I had a chance , I 'd tell that minister how she used to twit and taunt me in that sugary way of hers -- how she schemed and plotted against me as long as she could . More fool I to care what he thinks either ! I wish I were dead . If 't was n't for the child , I 'd go and drown myself at that black spring-hole down there -- I 'd be well out of the way . '' * * * * * It was a dull grey afternoon a week afterwards when Allan Telford again walked up the river road to the Palmer place . The wind was bitter and he walked with bent head to avoid its fury . His face was pale and worn and he looked years older . He paused at the rough gate and leaned over it while he scanned the house and its surroundings eagerly .
As he looked , the kitchen door opened and Min , clad in the old overcoat , came out and XXXXX swiftly across the yard .
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