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

244 THE FOOT OF TIME
ing in was most opportune. Bruce told me he was
going down to Orange. Old people are not blind,
you know, my dear, though you younger people so
often seem to think we are. But I quite expected
Bruce back late last night. In fact, he told me most
definitely he would be back unless he telephoned
me to the contrary. I've seen and heard nothing of
him, and I am beginning to feel quite alarmed. One
reads such terrible accounts of things in the
papers."
Edith had regained her colour, but now began to
lose it again. "How extraordinary!" she said. And
Clare noticed the girl sink her head in intense concentration
of thought,
"What time did Bruce leave your house, Edith?"
"There was an awful row—it was horrid—but
father came in. Then when I thought it was all
finished, I went out—right out of the house. I
felt I couldn't stand it, so I walked down the road
away from the railway station so that Bruce would
not run into me again when he left. Then ever so
long afterwards, to my horror, because, you see, I
thought it would be wiser not to meet again just
then—"
"Yes, I see. Go on."
"I saw Bruce coming towards me—away from
the railway station, and then he—"
Intent on Edith's face, Clare suddenly stared
excitedly at her. She had turned positively green.
"Great God in Heaven! Oh! Oh! Oh!"
"Edith! What is it? Tell me, quick! What is it?
Tell me!"
THE FOOT OF TIME 245
"He's bushed! Do you hear? Bushed! It's fatal!
Oh, God!—and all through me. Heavens! what
can I do? Oh, God, Bruce! Oh, my own darling!"
Edith flung herself out of her chair. Frigid in
her horror she stared into space, thinking—thinking.
Clare stood beside her, a tragic figure, shaking
with the horror of it. "Quick, Edith!" she said.
"We must 'phone the police at Orange."
"Utterly hopeless—useless. Best fellows anywhere,
but you don't realise what you are saying.
Yes, we must do it, of course, but it's useless, I tell
you—useless. It would take twenty thousand of
them to find him in time, and then they couldn't.
Black trackers might help, but time! time! time!
Oh! it's going so fast!"
Suddenly, dramatically, Edith seized Clare by the
shoulder. A loud shriek went out from her, hysterical
yet sanguine.
"Habeo, habeo? Oh, God, I have it!" the girl
almost shrieked. "Quick, where's your telephone, I
want Mascot!"
"Mascot?" Clare stared at her aghast, fearing for
her reason.
"Don't stand staring at me there like a stuck boar!"
she shouted, scarce knowing what she said, "Mascot,
I tell you, Mascot! 'Phone Mascot. I can fly—I'll
get him or die! I want your dog. Give me Bruno,
Mrs. Swinton. Come with me instantly; bring
Bruno. When's the next boat—I must get to Mascot
instantly? I'll find him if it kills me. Bruce,