The Foot of Time: A Novel of Australia and the South Seas: (1933)

90 THE FOOT OF TIME
Sir Bruce, then I might have to reconsider even a
promise."
"But however could I with you waiting for
me?"
"I shouldn't think you could, dear, but do you
mind if I confide everything you have told me to
someone?"
"Must you?"
"Only one person."
"Whoever is it?"
"Aunt Florence."
"Great God, Edith! Why, the woman's mad!"
"Oh, dear no, she isn't, darling. Auntie is as
sane as your father. More so, in fact. She is eccentric,
but I promise you she is far, very far, from
being mad. Perhaps one day you will have reason
to think so, too. Auntie is a particularly clever
woman. May I confide it to her?"
"If you really want to," the boy agreed, slightly
irritably, "I do wish you needn't, though."
"Something makes me want to. You see, I feel
I must whisper it to someone or I'll burst. I can't
tell father. Bruce, father must never know. He
would never—do you hear?—never agree to my
marrying you, I am as certain of it as I breathe.
Also, I cannot tell mother, as she tells dad everything.
So I may tell Aunt Florence, mayn't I?"
"Very well."
After that they wended their way slowly back.
But there was a tension in the air born of something
outside themselves, outside Bruce's fear of the
attitude of Florence Tooth, outside the shock which
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THE FOOT OF TIME 91
the revelation had brought the girl. It hung in the
air, and would not be dispelled.
At one stage Edith, feeling the depression,
asked:
"Do you think it possible your father may be
dead, Bruce, and if there is anything at all in
spiritualism it's that which you and your mother
feel?"
"I asked mother that, Ede, and she said spiritualism,
so far as she was concerned, was mostly a delusion
and a snare; that if father were dead she is
certain his influence would leave her; that she
would know if he were dead. As a matter of fact,
too, we know he isn't. You see, he's a frightfully
important man. His death would be in all the
papers—like Birkenheads—and we see now and
again some mention of him: big game hunting.
Now that you know about him you may do so
also."
"Perhaps I shall see a notice that he is outward
bound for Australia."
"He wouldn't look for mother in Australia; he
would look her up in Devonshire. You see, he
doesn't know she ever came here, doesn't know
about me, and—and Edith!" The boy looked so
tragic Edith gasped at him.
"Whatever now?"
"Mother has always said eventually she wants
to return home—to Devonshire, you know. That's
what makes me think about putting down shipyards
there, I expect."
"Well?"
it