But he felt also that Peter's destiny was something higher and larger than anything that he could ever compass--it must be Peter's life that he should always be leaving people behind him--stages on his road--until he had attained his place. But for Stephen, a loneliness swept down upon him that seemed to turn the world to stone. Never, in all the years of his wandering, had he known anything like this. It is very hard that a man should care for only two creatures in the world and that he should be held, by God's hand, from reaching either of them.
The door of Brockett's was opened to him by a servant and he asked for Mrs. Brockett. In the cold and dark hall the lady sternly awaited him, but the sternness fell from her like a cloak when he told her the reason of his coming--
“Dear me, and the poor boy so ill,” she said. “We have all been very anxious indeed about poor Mr. Peter. We had tried every clue but could hear nothing of him. We were especially eager to find him because Miss Monogue had some good news for him about his book. There is a gentleman--a friend of Mr. Peter's--who has been doing everything to find him--who is with Miss Monogue now. He will be delighted. Perhaps you will go up.”
Stephen can have looked no agreeable object at this time, worn out by the struggle of the last weeks, haggard and gaunt, his beard unkempt--but Norah Monogue came forward to him with both her hands outstretched.
“Oh, you know something of Peter--tell us, please,” she said.
A stout, pleasant-faced gentleman behind her was introduced as Mr. Galleon.
Stephen explained. “But why, why,” said the gentleman, “didn't you let us know before, my good fellow?”
Stephen's brow darkened. “Peter didn't wish it,” he said.
But Norah Monogue came forward and put her hand on his arm. “You must be the Mr. Brant about whom he has so often talked,” she said. “I am so glad to meet you at last. Peter owes so much to you. We have been trying everywhere to get word of him because some publishers have taken his novel and think very well of it indeed. But come--do let us go at once. There is no time to lose--”
So they had taken his novel, had they? All these days--all these terrible hours--that starving, that ghastly anxiety, the boy's terror--all these things had been unnecessary. Had they only known, this separation now might have been avoided.