He looked so forbidding and so formidable that Juliet
wondered a little at her own temerity in remaining. She decided then and
there that a serious disagreement with the squire would be too great a
tax upon any woman's strength, and she did not wonder that Vera's had
broken down under it.
Suddenly he spoke. "Has she had any breakfast?"
"Not yet," said Juliet.
"Oh, don't!" implored Vera, with a shudder.
He got up and went to the untouched tray. Juliet watched him pour out
some tea as she smoothed the tumbled hair back from his wife's forehead.
He came back with the cup in his hand. "Now," he said, "you are going to
drink this."
She lifted scared eyes to his stern face. "Edward!" she whispered.
"Don't--oh, don't look at me like that!"
He stooped over her, and put the cup to her lips. She drank, quivering,
not daring to refuse. When she had finished he brought her bread and
butter and fed her, mouthful by mouthful, while the tears ran silently
down her face.
At last he turned again to Juliet. "Miss Moore, my wife will not object
to your leaving us now."
It was a distinct command. But she hesitated to obey. Vera looked up at
her piteously, saying no word.
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