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Richard dismissed Walter almost at once, and Walter hurried away, marshaling not only reasons why he and Sybelle must leave in such haste but various ways of implying, without actually saying, that he was innocent of Marie's accusations and that rushing off to Clyro had no connection with her. To his surprise and relief, Walter found that none of the difficulties he feared arose. When Sybelle had come swiftly to him in response to his summons, she had smiled at him sunnily with no shadow in face or manner. Walter concealed a sigh of relief and dismissed the question of Marie from his mind. And when he told her he wished to leave for Clyro that day, she merely asked what time, frowned in thought, not in anger, and said she would be ready then or soon after. |
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"And for how many men must there be food on the road?" she asked. "The cart with the baggage will have to follow more slowly. Will you assign men to guard it, my lord? Or should I so direct those Papa left for me? There are only ten, but he thought I would not need more since I am in your care." |
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Instead of answering, Walter said, "I love you." |
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Sybelle put out her hand to him. What she had been told all her life was true: If she shouldered without fuss her portion of any task her husband had, asking only such questions as were necessary to good performance of her share of the business, this would bind her man closer than any lamenting over the difficulties so that he would know how hard she labored for him. It was irrelevant that her ready response was as much owing to the fact that Walter's order to leave corresponded exactly with her own desire to do so as to her mother's and grandmother's lectures. What was important was that she had experienced a practical example of their teaching. |
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"Then perhaps I can leave out two portions," Sybelle |
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