Page:Between Two Loves.djvu/182

Rh and sympathy. Steve was not in his place. Their eyes met again over his empty loom, and Sarah dropped hers with a sigh. Jonathan could no longer be silent He stood near her and asked, "How is ta, dear lass?"

"I'm well, master."

But Jonathan felt a keen pang at the words. For her face was white and wasted. There were dark, heavy rings around her eyes, and the eyes themselves were wells of sorrow. For when the weird is very long, and the cup very bitter, it always leaves a permanent shadow in the eyes. It was hard work to pass her without another word, but Jonathan did it.

About the middle of the day Ben Holden came to him, and said, "I hev just heard that Aske is home again."

"Varry well. Let him come. He can only hurt me as far as he's let hurt me."

"And after a', Jonathan, what's t' good o' worriting thysen to death about such trash as looms and money?"

"There is a good deal o' use in it, Ben. Job didn't call God's gifts trash. He didn't tell himsen that it was a good thing when his riches were taken away from him. The Eternal hed 12