’It is true. I know it is true,’ said Honor disconsolately. ’It is no use denying it.’
’But, as Sam said, why act on it till it is proved? Where is Charles? All you know is from Taverner Langford, and he is an interested party; he may be mistaken, or he may put things wrong way on wilfully.’
’No, Kate, no! You should not have spoken.’
’But I have spoken. If a pitcher is full, will it not run over the brim? I have been over-full, and have overflowed. That is nature, my nature, and I can’t help it. No hurt is done. Sam will not talk about it to anyone; and what he says shows more sense than is to be found in all the nine heads that go under our cottage roof, wise as you consider yourself, Honor. Sam says nothing ought to be promised or done till Charles has been seen and you have heard what account he can give of himself.’
’Well, what of his letter? He says nothing about stealing in it—stealing a thousand pounds. What he says may mean no more than his running away and leaving ninepence a day for nothing.’
’I am glad I spoke,’ said Kate sharply. ’I tell you Sam’s brain is bigger than all our nine. He saw the rights of the matter at once, and—look here!—he promised me that he would go and find Charles if he’s gone no further than Plymouth.’
’You told him where he was!’ exclaimed Honor, aghast.
’Of course I did. I wasn’t going to send him off searching to Lundy Isle or Patagonia. Well, Sam says that he’ll go and find him on certain conditions?’
’Never mind, they don’t concern you, they are private. And he wants to have a talk with Larry first; but Sam says he don’t believe Charles took the money. He’s too much of a Luxmore to act dishonourable, he said.’
Honor was still unconvinced. ’Larry,’ continued Kate, ’will you go at once to Swaddledown and see Sam?’
’Yes; but I understand nothing of what this is about. You must explain it to me.’
In after years, when the gorse was flowering full, Honor said to Larry, ’The honey scent always brings back to my memory _one_ day.’
’Yes,’ he replied; ’the furze is like love, thorns and flowers; but the flowers grow, and swell, and burst, and blaze, and swallow up the thorns, that none are seen.’
The amazement of Larry was equalled by his indignation when he heard from Sam Voaden the whole story of the charge against Charles, and of Honor consenting to save him at the cost of herself. He did not share Sam’s confidence in the groundlessness of the charge; he thought Charles quite rascal enough to have robbed his master and bolted with the money. Nevertheless he thought that the best thing that could be done was for Sam to go after Charles, as he himself could not do so, on account of his arm and collar-bone; and he urged on Voaden to use his best endeavours, if he found Charles, which was doubtful, to persuade him to return the money, through him, to Langford.