The Black Opal - Katharine Susannah Prichard (open ebook .TXT) 📗

back to Michael. He had no doubt, he said, that Mr. Riley had taken the stones to do just what he had done⁠—and because he feared the influence possession of them was having on him, Michael, since they should have been returned to Paul long ago.

“That’s the truth, as far as I know it,” Michael said. “There’s been attempts made to injure⁠ ⁠… the Ridge, our way of doing things here, because of me, and because of those stones.⁠ ⁠… What happened to me doesn’t matter. What happens to the Ridge and the mines does matter. I done wrong. I know I done wrong holding those stones. I’d give anything now if I⁠—if I’d given them to Paul when Sophie went away. But I didn’t⁠ ⁠… and I’ll stand by anything the men who’ve been my mates care to say or do about that. Only don’t let the Ridge, and our way of doing things here, get hurt through me. That’s bigger⁠—it means more than any man. Don’t let it!⁠ ⁠… I’d ask George to call a meeting, and get the boys to say what they think about all this⁠—and where I stand.”

Michael put on his hat, dragged it down over his eyes, and walked out of the hall.

When the slow fall of his footsteps no longer sounded on the wooden floor, George Woods rose from his place on the front bench. He turned and faced the men. The smoke from their smouldering pipes had created such a fog that he could see only the bulk of those on the near rows of forms. With the exception of M’Ginnis and half a dozen Punti men who had the far end of one of the front seats, the mass of men in the hall, who a few moments before had been cheering for Michael, were as inert as blown balloons. Depression was in every line of their heavy, squatted shapes and unlighted countenances.

“Well,” George said, “it’s been a bit of a shock what we’ve just heard. It wasn’t easy what Michael’s just done⁠ ⁠… and Snowshoes, if he’d wanted it, had provided the get-out. But Michael he wouldn’t have it.⁠ ⁠… At whatever cost to himself, he wanted you to have the truth and to stand by the Ridge⁠ ⁠… he’d stand by it at any cost.⁠ ⁠… If there’s a doubt in anyone’s mind as to what he is, what he’s just done proves Michael. I don’t say, as he says himself, that it wouldn’t have been better if he had handed the stones over to Paul when Sophie went away⁠ ⁠… but after all, what does that amount to as far as Michael’s concerned? We’ve got his record, every one of us, his life here. Does anybody know a mean or selfish thing he’s ever done, Michael?”

No one spoke, and George went on:

“Michael’s asked for trial by his mates⁠—and we’ve got to give it to him, if it’s only to clear up the whole of this business and be done with it.⁠ ⁠… I move we meet here tomorrow night to settle the thing.”

There was a rumbling murmur, and staccato exclamations of assent. Men in back seats moved to the door; others surged after them. Armitage and his proposals were forgotten.

XVII

When Michael got back to his hut he found Martha there.

“Oh, Michael,” she said, “a dreadful thing has happened.”

Michael stared at her, unable to understand what she said. It seemed to him all the terrible things that could happen had happened that evening.

“While you were away Arthur Henty came here to see Sophie,” Martha said. “She hasn’t been feeling well⁠ ⁠… and I came up to have a look at her. She’s been doing too much lately. Things haven’t been too right between her and Potch, either, and that’s her way of taking it out of herself. Arthur was here when I got here, Michael, and⁠—you never heard anything like the way he went on.⁠ ⁠…”

Michael had fallen wearily into his chair while she was talking.

Martha continued, knowing that the sooner she got rid of her story the better it would be for both of them.

“It’s an old story, of course, this about Arthur Henty and Sophie.⁠ ⁠… When he was ill after the ball he talked a good bit about her.⁠ ⁠… He always has⁠ ⁠… to me. I was with his mother when he was born⁠ ⁠… and he’s always called me Mother M’Cready like the rest of you. He told me long ago he’d always been fond of Sophie.⁠ ⁠… He didn’t know at first, he said. He was a fool; he didn’t like being teased about her.⁠ ⁠… Then she went away.⁠ ⁠… He doesn’t seem to know why he got married except that his people wanted him to.

“After the ball he’d made up his mind they were going away together, Sophie and he. But while he was ill⁠ ⁠… before he was able to get around again, Sophie married Potch. Then he went mad, stark, starin’ mad, and started drinking. He’s been drinking hard ever since.⁠ ⁠… And tonight when he came, he just went over to Sophie.⁠ ⁠… She was lying on the couch under the window, Michael.⁠ ⁠… He said, I’ve got a horse for you outside. Sophie didn’t seem to realise what he meant at first. Then she did. I don’t know how he guessed she wouldn’t go⁠ ⁠… but the next minute he was on his knees beside her⁠ ⁠… and you never heard anything like it, Michael⁠—the way he went on, sobbing and crying out⁠—I never want to hear anything like it again.⁠ ⁠… I couldn’t ’ve stood it meself.⁠ ⁠… I’d ’ve done anything in the world if a man’d gone on to me like that. And Sophie⁠ ⁠… she put her arms round him, and mothered him like.⁠ ⁠… Then she began to cry too.⁠ ⁠… And there they were, both crying and sayin’ how much they loved each other⁠ ⁠… how much they’d always loved each other.⁠ ⁠…

“It fair broke me up, Michael.⁠ ⁠… I didn’t know what to do. They didn’t seem to notice me.⁠ ⁠… Then he said again they’d go away together, and